Question about Watermelon Man Sax solo, trilling notes

[Michael Bishop]

😎 Hi Johnny,
Been working on the Watermelon man, my absolute favorite song of yours–it was Samba Pa Ti but when you released the Watermelon Man……that song took the cake.
On page 2 of the sheet music-Tenor Sax–the measures show a whole note of a G/E and a half note A/F# with the “tr” above them to trill here. Are you trilling back-and-forth BETWEEN these notes of G/E & A/F#or can you can pick G or E and A or F# to trill as a single note by itself? When practicing this part of the solo (which is where I’m at in learning the song) seems like it sounds better to trill between these notes G/E v.s. trilling a G note all by itself.
I’ll upload Mack the Knife to the blog when I replace the camera in a couple of weeks that went on the glitz, I’ve have finished learning it. Should be able to pay for the Altissimo course now in May. Thanks!

[john]

you play the E and trill with G, and the other one you play F# and trill with the A.
Those are minor 3rd trills, listen to how they sound, I use them a lot.
BTW… you can’t trill a single note by itself… the very meaning of trill is to incorporate a 2nd note to the main note.
The trill note is the 2nd note. Like in the music you play an E and trill using the G.

[Michael Bishop]

Thanks….watching you play the solo on video I can see what you’re doing and what you mean. Beautiful music by the Beatles on the Saxophone you’re releasing 🙂

[Author]

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