Forum: Playing Songs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN5xyZvMjJc This video has gone around a bit here at UNT, kind of a funny video. Thought I'd share it...It seems there are some people that think he is full of crap and some think he is absolutely right. Just curious what do you guys think?

Hi guys. I need suggestions on a few standards to play and that are easy for improvisation. I'm going home in October for my mother's 60th bday party and I'm planning on playing some songs at the party just like I used to do at every single party at my house when I was younger. My parents...

Is there such a thing? A guy at work that plays banjo says no - the "rules" won't allow it and he also adds that bluegrass won't allow dulcimers which is a mountain instrument even. Thoughts folks? My 0.02 is that since a sax imitates the voice it can go anywhere. It seems to me that soprano...

I was reading something the other day about music being a language of abstract ideas and that being a reason for its universal acceptance. That being said, I often take music and enjoy it just for the feelings it conveys i.e. the ups and downs, louds and quiets, the tensions and releases and so on....

one of my friends birthday is coming up, we used to date and we still talk and i thought it would be nice to play her a romantic jazz ballad, i was leaning towards in a sentimental mood or autumn leaves or an easy quick standard of the like but i just wanted to see if you guys had any suggestions.

I know I can't be the only one who wants to learn this... anyone got any sheet music for it?

I have been thinking lately, based on recordings of myself, that I'm playing too many patterns from my lessons, and I was talking about it with my teacher, saying I was thinking about changing my approach to that of "when you practise, practise. When you play, play". His response was you have still...

Can you list a few rock or blues recordings with tenor sax solos that are in guitar keys E,G,A or D that are good for learning some licks or phrases, please?

I'm putting together a Smart Music play-along that starts on the (I) then the (I) becomes a minor Making it a (ii) then going to the (V7) then (I) . (I) becomes minor etc.. modulating down whole steps. I'd like to be able to point to as many songs as possible for my students to listen/study to....

Hi all, Can anyone point me to a good Paso-doble for ballroom dancing style? For alto (or soprano) sax. Thank you very much, Kenny.

Anyone have a good backing track for the above? And what is the most common (as in the Real Book) key for it? TIA

I'm using the Jamey Aebersold version to solo over which is in G on the tenor. I can manage to get through it but the middle section is tricky. Are there any ways of simplifying it or any other tips for tackling that middle section?

http://cid-9769a17b3801d51b.office.live.com/self.aspx/.Documents/name%20this%20tune%20please.mp3.wma cheers

Hay Guys, Well getting back into playing after another "the world got in the way" layoffs I think we all run into. Was thinking about relearning Nocturn in a lower key. I have a Hal Leonard play along with it in concert F which I have used in the past but think going lower will give it an earier,...

Hey all - I'm a young tenor player, and I am curious as to what pop/rock/soul tunes I need to know the background horn parts and maybe the solos/changes for. It doesn't take me long to figure out, but it's a little embarrassing when the band wants to play a tune that you've never heard. I don't...

I was doing a search for Hal Crook and the 3rd or 4th link was this one at Berklee. http://learningresources.berklee.edu/public/pfd/ I assume they are putting this up for everyone since it's on the internet in a public folder. You can download the lead sheets in any key and also the play...

I've recently been trying the tune Invitation but am strugling with some of the 'dominant 7th b9 b5' chords. The first 8 bars of the sequence for tenor that I have written in my fake book is: Dm7 / / / - Dm7 / / / - Dm7 / / / - Dm7 / / / - Dm7 / / / - G7 / / / - C13 b9 b5 / / / - C13 b9 b5 /...

Ive been tryin to figure out waht song i wanna do for my high school talent show. Im really stuck in a rut here, but i was thinkin gsomething along the lines of What a Wonderful World, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and some romatic songs like If i Ain't got you by Alicia Keys. Any choices...

Hi, does anyone know famous recordings on which ones there are severe mistakes of players (such as forgetting to play a theme, going beyond the solo bars or playing out of time without intention)? thanks!

I might be misspelling this. How do you make the wah-wah sound on the same note like you do on a guitar. No pedals please. Thanks

Hi guys, who knows recording / videos / live performances etc. where "big name pros" really messed up? I mean, where they lost track of the rythm, of the harmonic context, of their insrtument etc. without intention....... the more examples, the better! thx!

Hi All, Anybody have some good changes, Coltrane Style, for Bessie's Blues? The Real Book changes don't jibe with the recording and, hate to admit, but I'm not hot enough to precisely transcribe them by ear. I'm getting close but I'm not there yet so I thought I would take the easy way...

Can anyone help me identify a 'hard bop/sidewinder' style tune?? I've heard it playing on the stereo in the background in 2 different bars and both times I've thought that it sounds awesome but neither time did I ask what the CD was?? The tune sounds like a clichéd hard bop blues tune with...

just wanted to say this site has been a great help!

Am I hot or not? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0FHqmiooX4

I've been practicing two songs, Marion Meadows "Suede" and Grover Washington Jr. "Soulful Strut" neither song have I mastered nor memorized, thus I'm still sight reading when I practice them. But what I've noticed is that when I just play both songs without the sheet music "or even thinking for...

Last Sunday morning, my wife was scheduled to sing while I played sax. I usually play soprano. But this week, I decided to try something new. I've been experimenting with synthetic reeds lately due to a continued problem with my reeds drying out while my saxes sit on stage waiting to be...

Please recommend some good minor blues melodies in the bebop/hardbop idiom to check out. The only ones I can really think of are Mr PC and stolen moments neither of which I particularly like. But I really want to play a nice medium tempo minor blues with my band but can't think of any good...

I've been practicing two songs, Marion Meadows "Suede" and Grover Washington Jr. "Soulful Strut" neither song have I mastered nor memorized, thus I'm still sight reading when I practice them. But what I've noticed is that when I just play both songs without the sheet music "or even thinking for...

A good example of a minor 2-5 is in stella by starlight. I'm an alto player, and think in the key of Eb. So, my question is, what scales do you use for the minor 2-5 in this piece. For example, in the first bar we have a C# flat 5 followed by an F# flat 9. I cannot find a scale for each of these...

Hello SOTW, I see there's a thread about memorizing songs so if this one appears redundant, or has already been covered, please excuse me. The last three or four days or so I've been forgetting various measures in songs I've played for over two months, nothing really major, in some cases just...

I have listened to the song below for a long time but still can't follow every notes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGDzDaNBNGM Especially at the time: 0:33-0:35 0:52-0:53 What notes the player has passed through? Any special technique he has used during the above time instants?

I would like to start a list of standards in uncommon keys. This comes from being able to shred rhythm changes in Bb, but can't even play at crotchet = 120 in F# So, if you know a standard in an uncommon key, post it! I'll start: Now's the Time - Sonny Rollins plays in concert B.

IF this is a stupid question, I ask you please to excuse me for your opinion truly indeed does matter to me. If you're having trouble with a measure or run could it help to finger the notes very slowly without actually blowing, or would this simply confuse you more when trying to play it?

The Storm (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slns_0xNpYc) I've been trying to work out the chords for this piece in C minor. Here's what I'm coming up with ... but I'm really not sure if these are right ( I've never done this before). ||Cm7 - F9 |F9 |Dm7 - G9 - Cm7 | F9 |Dm7 - G9| G9 | Cm7...

Hi all, I was wondering if it would be possible, as a collective effort, to put together a glossary or list of hand / body signals most frequently used in jam session-type situations. This thought occurred after playing with another sax player who used rather esoteric signs to signal stops. I...

...or know where I could find one on the web? The funky little jazz group I recently got involved in wants to do it, but this computer is having problems downloading and playing music and sound files, so I can't just transcribe it...

Hi All On Friday's some friends and I jam some funk tunes, lots of:rr: them are static grooves over a dominant chord. I run out of ideas quickly just using blues and pentatonics, what do you do to "mix it up" and keep it interesting? Cheers

I'm going to have a audition for middle school jazz academy and i need to play two contrasting pieces, so im going to play a fast one and a slow one, but i can't think/find a good slow song that shows off my talent. Any ideas?