Beginner impro Moondance range in B minor for tenor

[thomsax]

Morning drive you mad time again...I'd like to do moondance.....I have the score in B minor and the backing track in A Minor...The notes are to low for the tenor if I take it up an octave willn it still match the backing track....Thanks Eddie

"Moondance" by Van Morrison was originally recorded in concert Am. Bb instruments plays in Bm and Eb instruments in F#m. Van Morrison's ballads are often played by rock saxophonists. I think "Moondance" is a song you learn by ear. Nothing wrong to have the sheet music but don't read "Moondance". Van. Morrison is a singing saxophonist. The lyrics/words are very important. Try this:

• Download/write down the lyrics. Learn the song lyrics and the melody. If you can't sing it read the words loud. We are all different so figure out your "key words.
• Write down the chords as well.
• "Moondance" is a song that fit B minor pentatonic scale (B, D, E, F#, A. Just five tones and only one sharp! The relative major scale to B minor pentatonic is D major pentatonic; D, E, F#, A, B). The pentatonic scale is also called the singing scale, because many blues and rock singers use the pentatonic scale when they sing the melody lines and fills. Rock guitarists are also using the this scale a lot because it's easy to play on the guitar. It makes box pattern on the fret board. To think guitar and play sax is good! Lots of great rocksax solos that are played with the pentatonic scale as base. Andrew Clark ( rock saxophonist and teacher) told us this on the first workshop he taught here in Sweden (2005).
• Play along with your sax and learn the melody that way. Play it on your sax as you would sing it. Cut up the song in smaller pieces and repeat for your memory
• Try to play a pentatonic solo on your sax. Add som rocksax effects on your keywords or key parts. After some time you maybe want to add more tones, so borrow from other scales.

 

[eb424]

Thanxs @thomsax...wish I was that good lol..the guy I play with sometimes who gigs said to me the other night that my playing has come on a lot..but. i play all the notes right but theyre just tunes..I need to turn them into songs...just dont know how..

 

[Jimmymack]

Just pick up your horn, play the song, sing the first line and then play it on your horn, once you find the first note the rest is easy, repeat 4 times and you’ve got the whole A section. If you don’t try you’ll never be able to do it. Funnily enough, although I’ve never set out to play Moondance I often find that the first line just comes out when I’m just messing about and I have to stop myself playing it, so it must be a song that falls under your fingers. You’ll get a lot of help with the phrasing as well by taking it off the record.

 

[thomsax]

Thanxs @thomsax...wish I was that good lol..the guy I play with sometimes who gigs said to me the other night that my playing has come on a lot..but. i play all the notes right but theyre just tunes..I need to turn them into songs...just dont know how..

This is very basic. You don't have to be a reader to learn songs like this. Maybe your teacher can through some lessons that is not based on reading from charts? When I started to play back my goal was to be able to like the horns I heard on Stax recording. Later I tried to play a solo. To play and read blues and rock was not the thing that got me started. But of course, I read , or pretend to read, when I play in horn section. But that is very easy stuff.

 

[eb424]

OK so 2 things....do these threads go on in a beginner improver part of the forum...Really feel I am playing with the big boys here who are out of my league....I do get a bit over enthusiastic maybe i am posting in the wrong place....The whole point of me playing (aside from loving it) and doing things the way I do was to learn to read, transpose, learn scales, keys and the circle of fiths etc...Part of that process will be improvisation where I have to play over the instrumentals... would anyone fancy doing this as a song of the month? I could download the backing track and score I have and my lyrics..Because I use Karaoke version the layout of the song is sometimes different....also because I have noted it those who cant read could have a go...not sure @Jeanette whether I do npost in the wrong section whats easy for you guys I haven't experienced in my mere 6 years....but I don't want to be asking silly questions in the wrong side of the forum...

 

[thomsax]

The whole point of me playing (aside from loving it) and doing things the way I do was to learn to read, transpose, learn scales, keys and the circle of fiths etc...Part of that process will be improvisation where I have to play over the instrumentals... would anyone fancy doing this as a song

I'm sorry if I have written something stupid. I'm more or less autodidact that mean I have learn music in a very slow way. Jazz or classic saxophone was never my thing. I'm 100 % Rocksax.

For me it was fun to take my saxophone and go to blues and rock jam. Also some kind of freedom. To be able to play with old and new musicians that taught/told me the things I didn't knew. The older sax player that explained what a quick four is, or how to arrange the tenor saxes on the jam; " I take the third and you the fifth ... ", just follow me it's easy ..... .

It's not easy to learn or teach Rock & Roll Saxophone. Or maybe it is. Just follow your own ideas. I get some nice comments about my tone/sound. I'm playing a bright (bad) and extreme mouthpiece/set up !!!!!! And some guys says I'm a good sax teacher. An autodidact rocker ...... .

 

[eb424]

I'm sorry if I have written something stupid. I'm more or less autodidact that mean I have learn music in a very slow way. Jazz or classic saxophone was never my thing. I'm 100 % Rocksax.

For me it was fun to take my saxophone and go to blues and rock jam. Also some kind of freedom. To be able to play with old and new musicians that taught/told me the things I didn't knew. The older sax player that explained what a quick four is, or how to arrange the tenor saxes on the jam; " I take the third and you the fifth ... ", just follow me it's easy ..... .

It's not easy to learn or teach Rock & Roll Saxophone. Or maybe it is. Just follow your own ideas. I get some nice comments about my tone/sound. I'm playing a bright (bad) and extreme mouthpiece/set up !!!!!! And some guys says I'm a good sax teacher. An autodidact rocker ...... .

Why would you have written something stupid....i will never have as much experience as most on here thats all..youre always great for advice, help and replying...really appreciate it all tbf..

 

[jazzdoh]

OK so 2 things....do these threads go on in a beginner improver part of the forum...Really feel I am playing with the big boys here who are out of my league....I do get a bit over enthusiastic maybe i am posting in the wrong place....The whole point of me playing (aside from loving it) and doing things the way I do was to learn to read, transpose, learn scales, keys and the circle of fiths etc...Part of that process will be improvisation where I have to play over the instrumentals... would anyone fancy doing this as a song of the month? I could download the backing track and score I have and my lyrics..Because I use Karaoke version the layout of the song is sometimes different....also because I have noted it those who cant read could have a go...not sure @Jeanette whether I do npost in the wrong section whats easy for you guys I haven't experienced in my mere 6 years....but I don't want to be asking silly questions in the wrong side of the forum...

The options you have got is play the original key if it's too low play it an octave up, if this doesn't work change key to a more favourable key, Nigel has provided you with a backing track and the notes in Bb.
Remember the original key was designed for Van Morrison's vocal so changing key might be the best for you.

 

[Jeanette]

OK so 2 things....do these threads go on in a beginner improver part of the forum...Really feel I am playing with the big boys here who are out of my league....I do get a bit over enthusiastic maybe i am posting in the wrong place....The whole point of me playing (aside from loving it) and doing things the way I do was to learn to read, transpose, learn scales, keys and the circle of fiths etc...Part of that process will be improvisation where I have to play over the instrumentals... would anyone fancy doing this as a song of the month? I could download the backing track and score I have and my lyrics..Because I use Karaoke version the layout of the song is sometimes different....also because I have noted it those who cant read could have a go...not sure @Jeanette whether I do npost in the wrong section whats easy for you guys I haven't experienced in my mere 6 years....but I don't want to be asking silly questions in the wrong side of the forum...

Looks in the right place to me.

Jx

 

[mizmar]

do these threads go on in a beginner improver part of the forum

I can't see why it'd make any difference

 

[lydian]

I think eb is politely trying to avoid/decline unsolicited advice. I’m guilty of constantly giving more advice than was asked for.

 

[eb424]

I think eb is politely trying to avoid/decline unsolicited advice. I’m guilty of constantly giving more advice than was asked for.

No your not @lydian and all advice greatfully received. Just don't want anyone here to think im just going round invthe same old circles.Mostly fine with transposing wish i ccould read fast enough but can do enough for my purposes. Currently doing chatanooga choo choo and have trouble my way. Id have no chance on the dots..lol

 

[eb424]

I can't see why it'd make any difference

Hi @mizmar only that tbis is bread and butter stuff to you guys..I wasn't sure if it may be better on another prt of the site

 

[lydian]

Currently doing chatanooga choo choo and have trouble my way. Id have no chance on the dots..lol

Cool. I was born and raised in Chattanooga. My high school prom was at the Choo Choo back in the 80sas well as all-state jazz band, which was a blast. The station was converted to a hotel in the 70s. Have also played the song many, many times in several big bands over the years. Clarinet parts are also fun. That will be a good one for you to learn.

 

[stitch]

Currently doing chatanooga choo choo

Does that mean you've nailed 'Moondance'?

 

[eb424]

Lol...I wish...all transposed, lyriced up...just got to keep playing it now. Its the same with ccc, hello dolly, Ain't no pleasing you and jambalaya..need to learn them by may...but hey playing thems the fun part..

 

[thomsax]

Morning drive you mad time again...I'd like to do moondance.....I have the score in B minor and the backing track in A Minor...The notes are to low for the tenor if I take it up an octave willn it still match the backing track....Thanks Eddie

If you are going to read and play you must transpose so it fit the alto-,tenor-, baritone saxophone. You can buy, pay a person to do it or do it yourself. Note paper, pencil, eraser and coffee!!! Some kind of keyboard close to you is also fine, so you can hear/check what you have written down.

To learn songs by playing along or listened has changed over the years. I started to learn with a Tandberg "reel to reel". When the digital format CD and CD-R came I bought a CD and CC player so I could play along and mix in my sax as well. Also a key changer. Today it's audacity, K V ... that helps us.

I delete my earler posts because they are not giving you the right answers.

Where is the "edit" gone on the earlier posts?

 

[eb424]

Yiur replies are always cool @thomsax..

 

[mizmar]

Just thought I'd mention, as Ed is now getting into developing soloz etc.

This just popped up. An interesting, structured, tutorial

View: https://youtu.be/ud8N6fo8FYU

 

[turf3]

This song is SO simple the only thing to do is just to learn it by ear. NO need dots.