Beginner impro Relative minors

[mizmar]

A good difference would be a backing track specific to falling in “the meat of the instrument “ ideal range for each instrument. Being able to specify a key when you buy it.

I did suggest an example of such material, post #9 - including; backing track, hints on how to noodle / improvise etc. Not, maybe, for stadium performance level; but a step on the road.
The sort of stuff I can manage and enjoy; though Ed seems more ambitious.

 

[Pete Thomas]

A good difference would be a backing track specific to falling in “the meat of the instrument “ ideal range for each instrument.

Well the ones that are designed for instrumentalists should be a key that suits his /her instrument,

That would make sense except if I understand correctly, you can change the key of the karaoke tracks - as mentioned here:

Change key except from major to minor apparrantly..

 

[thomsax]

A backing track in Bb or A is perfect for me and my tenors. The range of the tenor is close to the vocal.

Many Jr Walker songs fit the tenor perfect. He was often in Ab (Bb tenor).

 

[jazzdoh]

The problem is that you are getting the sheet music and the backing track from different sources both of which you can adjust the keys of, but it does rely on the player knowing the ranges of notes to suit his/hers instrument, but if you buy lets say a book with a backing with it, then the hard work of matching everything is done for you, allowing you to concentrate on the playing.

 

[thomsax]

I learned "I've been Loving You Too Long" in the same key as The Mar-Keys recorded it. Concert A/Bb. Vocal range is E4-A5 and that's ok on tenor. KV costume backing tracks are based on the original recordings so are most of the transcriptions available on the net. Maybe you may take some own decisions but that is what music is about. Improvising is not just to play tones ..... . We were playing Van Morrison "Real Real Gone" and the song is fading out ..... where and how to stop?

A guy that is into RockSax must learn to play in concert A and E? I think songs are often transposed to other keys because horn players are not familiar with A and E. Considered to difficult keys? That's why you can buy songs and choice key as well. Right or wrong? IMO you must sooner or later learn to play Rock keys.

 

[eb424]

I get it and those are good examples, but generally Karaoke backing tracks are usually meant for singers, I just think there are backing tracks that are designed especially for melody instruments ie saxophone, trumpet flute etc and these would save Eddie from a lot of heartache at this time in his musical journey.

Tbf ive done 30 tunes of kv and they all work..my mate performs with them..its just once in a while something crops up..

 

[eb424]

The problem is that you are getting the sheet music and the backing track from different sources both of which you can adjust the keys of, but it does rely on the player knowing the ranges of notes to suit his/hers instrument, but if you buy lets say a book with a backing with it, then the hard work of matching everything is done for you, allowing you to concentrate on the playing.

Ive tried that doesnt work so well..generally kv and me transposingvthe score works fine..with a couple of exceptions..lol

 

[eb424]

I learned "I've been Loving You Too Long" in the same key as The Mar-Keys recorded it. Concert A/Bb. Vocal range is E4-A5 and that's ok on tenor. KV costume backing tracks are based on the original recordings so are most of the transcriptions available on the net. Maybe you may take some own decisions but that is what music is about. Improvising is not just to play tones ..... . We were playing Van Morrison "Real Real Gone" and the song is fading out ..... where and how to stop?

A guy that is into RockSax must learn to play in concert A and E? I think songs are often transposed to other keys because horn players are not familiar with A and E. Considered to difficult keys? That's why you can buy songs and choice key as well. Right or wrong? IMO you must sooner or later learn to play Rock keys.

I always play in the original key..buy the original key music and transpose..E and A or ok great practice fingerings..

 

[jazzdoh]

Ive tried that doesnt work so well..generally kv and me transposingvthe score works fine..with a couple of exceptions..lol

What is it that doesn't work, I would have thought it would have been foolproof, someone else does the work and you just play, however whatever works for you is great.

 

[skeller047]

I guess I am just stuck with the idea that Karaoke tracks are horribly cheesy. Probably a result of seeing too many drunks trying to sing in bars, or being stuck in stupid corporate functions. (I actually had to sing Karaoke once as part of a big meeting at a company I worked in, it remains one of my most frightening memories…)

The other point is that one has to pay for these tracks. I’d rather spend my time crafting my own backing track. I am aware that many folks can’t or won’t do this, so for them I recommend YouTube as a resource. Two sources that are pretty good are Backingtracks JAZZ and Phil Wilkinson Music, also on the web at playjazztracks-dot-com.

 

[eb424]

If you take away the vocals the tracks arent bad..I have biab but would rather play i need the practice..tbf i think 1.99 plus 3.50 for the music is reasonable..Also it means i have bought the rights to the tune..Ive bought books but theres no lyrics i use these as rhythm. Also if theres 4 out of 20 songs i want to play the cost works out about the same..

 

[Pete Thomas]

Two sources that are pretty good are Backingtracks JAZZ and Phil Wilkinson Music, also on the web at playjazztracks-dot-com.

Immediate problem there seems to be these are all jazz oriented so a quite narrow field. Karaoke will include a much wider and to many people a more relevant selection of music.

 

[skeller047]

Immediate problem there seems to be these are all jazz oriented so a quite narrow field. Karaoke will include a much wider and to many people a more relevant selection of music.

True - but I’m a jazz guy… Most popular songs have backing tracks on YouTube as well. I agree that Karaoke might be a good resource for certain tunes, and if I needed a track for, say, a wedding I might pop for one. But for most of the stuff I would do with tracks - wallpaper music, maybe a quiet restaurant gig - those sources would be my first choice. I learned about Backingtracks JAZZ from a friend who plays every Wednesday night in an Italian restaurant.

 

[thomsax]

I'm an autodidact Rock guy!

Backing tracks can never compete to playing with real musicians. It's just a substitute. There is a huge difference between the 70's Abersold backing-/rhytm tracks (LP) and modern backing tracks (MP3).

I support all kind of saxophone playing, especially RockSax. If a sax player hesitates to go backing tracks or to lay down the sax I say: Backing tracks, even if the name of the company/site have the word karaoke in the company/site name. We need all sax players.

 

[Guenne]

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[thomsax]

I always play in the original key..buy the original key music and transpose..E and A or ok great practice fingerings..

A and E can be tricky to read and fingering ..... but B blues scale is just one sharp (F#) and F# blues scale is two sharps (F#,C#). it's easier if you have been listening to music that is in these keys.

 

[eb424]

A and E can be tricky to read and fingering ..... but B blues scale is just one sharp (F#) and F# blues scale is two sharps (F#,C#). it's easier if you have been listening to music that is in these keys.

Hey @thomsax can you check out my new thread

 

[eb424]

I did suggest an example of such material, post #9 - including; backing track, hints on how to noodle / improvise etc. Not, maybe, for stadium performance level; but a step on the road.
The sort of stuff I can manage and enjoy; though Ed seems more ambitious.

Not sur re ambitious lol. I just try to keep in context to what im doing. Im doing the Jamie Anderson improve course and hope that will help me..

 

[Wade Cornell]

In the Ozarks relative minors are the people you marry.

 

[jools28]

I had the same problem with a song I wanted to play on piano although it was the sheet music that was incorrectly labelled. They said it was in E minor but it was actually in G major. It threw me since I didn't know a lot of theory back then (I know the basics now) but I just didn't expect them to have got it wrong. The first chord was Em so I guess they just looked at that and labelled it as E minor when it clearly wasn't. It finished on G for a start. I just don't expect these music companies to be worse at theory than me!

If you try and find the original published key for a song it often varies on different sites annoyingly. These days I usually just figure out the key myself on piano as I'm a stickler for playing in the original key of the song where possible and then try and find the site that has it in the right key.

For backing music for the sax I usually pick youtube instrumentals-they have them for most of the songs I play. Karaoke tracks are usually fine too although I agree about karaoke being a bit cheesy but it's useful having the words and prompt on when to come in if you don't 100% know the song. Whatever I use I just play it against the original song just to check it's in the same key first.