Saxophone beginners Working on songs

[AlonW]

Some recent thoughts about working on songs:

I like to play a song over and over again to study it. I get the sheet music, lyrics, and maybe backing track and learn to sing the song first.

I find it hard to flip through the real book while I'm holding my tenor. So I like to print out a few songs to work on for that day. Sometimes I like to work on just one song at a time.

I don't like using a metronome or backing track at first. When I feel I've mastered something, I might try recording myself with a backing, so I can hear my mistakes better.

I always try to play songs in the standard key for tenor, I use musescore or the real book to find the sheet music. I also like to play the verse of the song if it's available. Backing tracks don't always exist for these parts so I can either make it myself with iReal Pro or just add a beat and simply play it with that.

The final step might be trying to memorize the song and be able to play it without sheet music, something I'm not very good at yet.

 

[wakyct]

99% of the songs I play I learn from sheet music, and I've always had this nagging thought in the back of my mind that I'm doing it wrong. I would like to learn more songs by ear, but it's just way faster and more convenient in the limited time after work I have for practice to prepare for class, lessons, jams, etc. with sheet music.

On a side note isn't it funny how the standard 'verse' and 'chorus' got totally different meanings? I guess starting in the 60s/70s?

 

[skeller047]

I think reading from the sheet is a fine way to learn a tune. But abandon the paper as soon as possible.

One sure fire way to make sure you know a tune well is to make a playlist on your favorite streaming service (I use Apple Music, bit you can do this in Spotify or Amazon too). Add several different versions of the tune by various artists, including singers and instrumentalists. Then play along with the playlist. You will presented with different keys, different tempos, different styles and different arrangements. A week of going through this list every day and you will know the tune.

For example my playlist for Just One of Those Things includes versions by Frank Sinatra, Ella, Lee Morgan, Harry Connick Jr., Sarah and Louis Armstrong. 3 different keys and lots of tempo variation.

 

[Grumps]

The final step might be trying to memorize the song and be able to play it without sheet music, something I'm not very good at yet.

Learn it without sheet music and you'll remember it as you go.

 

[thomsax]

I like to play a song over and over again to study it.

Yes, that important to me as well. Listen over and over .... . Listen to the sax or horns. If there are no horns, I try to figure out how and where I could get my sax into the songs. I learn the lyrics as well, most rocksongs have vocal/lyrics.

I find it hard to flip through the real book while I'm holding my tenor. So I like to print out a few songs to work on for that day. Sometimes I like to work on just one song at a time.

I use to work with two new at the time. The sooner I repeat what I have learned the better. I use to give each new song c 20-30 min. If I use charts/sheet music I sometimes have the sheet music/charts sized up to double. A4 paper becomes A3. I also put the A3 laminating pouches. The sheet music becmomes more sturdy. You can have them on the floor or at a notestand in front of you. And bigger dots and letters is easier for an old man to read 😉

I don't like using a metronome or backing track at first. When I feel I've mastered something, I might try recording myself with a backing, so I can hear my mistakes better.

Beat 2 and 4 is important in rock. I try to have a metrone, click ... on beat 2 and 4 when I play along. When I had the drum kit I recorded the backing track with having the snare on 2 and bass drum on 4. Just to help me to get the rock groove.

The final step might be trying to memorize the song and be able to play it without sheet music, something I'm not very good at yet.

The lyrics and the keywords of the lyrics helps me to memorize better/easier.

 

[MikeMorrell]

Some recent thoughts about working on songs:

I like to play a song over and over again to study it. I get the sheet music, lyrics, and maybe backing track and learn to sing the song first.

I find it hard to flip through the real book while I'm holding my tenor. So I like to print out a few songs to work on for that day. Sometimes I like to work on just one song at a time.

I don't like using a metronome or backing track at first. When I feel I've mastered something, I might try recording myself with a backing, so I can hear my mistakes better.

I always try to play songs in the standard key for tenor, I use musescore or the real book to find the sheet music. I also like to play the verse of the song if it's available. Backing tracks don't always exist for these parts so I can either make it myself with iReal Pro or just add a beat and simply play it with that.

The final step might be trying to memorize the song and be able to play it without sheet music, something I'm not very good at yet.

Hi @AlonW, your approach to learning songs sounds really good to me. Especially in 'singing the song'. This is something my Big Band MD always emphasizes: just sing the song first to get a real 'feel' for the melody, timing and dynamics before playing the 'notes'.