Starting and Stopping notes

[Anonymous]

Following up the enforcing the habit of “Starting & Stopping” notes with the tongue this set of basic exercises (Jazz Swing) i have found useful, which are simple to try.

It involves playing pairs of 1/8 notes in 4/4 time to a comfortable metronome speed.
Again speed is not important, it’s the starting & stopping notes with the tongue while counting 1 2 3 4 in the mind in time to the metronome is crucial.

In swing time (Jazz), a pair of 1/8 notes is normally written as a triplet in classical music. So a pair of 1/8 notes is the same time as a triplet made up of 3 notes.
The reason for the comparison to the triplet will become clearer in these exercises.

Again in a Jazz environment, you always practice saying words in time with a metronome, then when you can do that properly, then and only then, get the sax out.
It makes learning the sax playing tons faster in terms of timing

The 1st exercise.
in two parts
Part a) No Sax Used
Set the metronome to 4/4 time, then Say the two words “Dah Da” in time with each beat while counting 1 2 3 4 in your mind, hitting the “Dah” on the start of each beat.
In Terms of a triplet, the “Dah” word is the same length of time as the 1st two notes in a triplet tied together, while the “Da” is the same length of time as the length of the 3rd note in a triplet. More simply, the “Dah” takes up 2/3 of a beat, and the “Da” takes up 1/3 of the beat. Don’t forget to start and stop with the tongue, as you improve, you will be using the tongue with out thinking about it.

Part b) Get the sax out.
Repeat part a, just playing the Mid B note just as if you were playing “Dah Da” words.

The 2nd exercise.
in two parts
Part a) No Sax Used
Set the metronome to 4/4 time, then Say the two words “Dat Da” in time with each beat while counting 1 2 3 4 in your mind, hitting the “Dat” on the start of each beat.
In Terms of a triplet, the “Dat” word is the same length of time as the 1st note in a triplet, while the “Da” is the same length of time as the length of the 3rd note in a triplet. More simply, the “Dat” takes up first 1/3 of a beat, and the “Da” takes up the last 1/3 of the beat. THE MIDDLE 1/3 OF THE BEAT IS SILENT (musical rest). So you HAVE to stop the note with your tongue after saying “Dat”. In terms of a triplet, the middle note of a triplet is written as a rest.

Part b) Get the sax out.
Repeat part a, just playing the Mid B note just as if you were playing “Dat Da” words.

Again i have found these beginner, basic (jazz) exercises great for practicing timing, as you have to start and stop with the tongue.

[Anonymous]

“Dah Da” in jazz sheets is written as a pair of 1/8 notes, with a “-” sign above each note.

“Dat Da” in jazz sheets is written as a pair of 1/8 notes, with a “.” sign above the 1st note and a “-” sign above 2nd note.

[Anonymous]

Hi James

Do you think it will help by playing this song’s chorus?

🙂

Thanks for the playing tips

[Anonymous]

These basic exercises are meant to be done on there own, without any backing music, so you can focus on what you are supposed to be doing without any distractions.

But yes, when you are up to speed, then play along to some backing tracks.

The song above, you could count from 1 to 8 in a bar. The chap sings the equivalent of Dah Dah Dah to the first 3 in every 8 if you listen to it that way, then you could try honking the sax (Dah) in time with the 8 beats. You could also play “Dah Da” or “Dat Da” on every beat.

If you do that, then you are replacing the metronome with the drummer, and keeping in time with him, like the singer is doing.

cool

[jak Swift]

Good stuff sxpoet….nice one !!

[Author]

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