Down to It - Soloing Ideas
With
Ollie WestonOllie Weston shares soloing ideas over 'Down to It' - from the minor-third-to-root blues sound over the B flat 7 chord to Parker-style trills and articulation.
What's in the course
51 lessons (2h 9m) · 1 free
01. Introduction + leaving town demonstration
Free lesson3:02
02. The Blues Scale
2:48
03. Swing Quavers
1:42
04. Combing the Blues Scale and Swing Quavers
3:57
05. Playing through the Blues form using root notes
1:18
06. Writes Your Own Blues
0:59
07. Leaving Town Blues - Improvise
4:13
08. Improvisation recap
0:49
01. Introduction to Minor 7th Chords
3:32
02. Dorian Scale Workout
1:40
03. Minor 7th Chord Lick
2:22
04. Minor Pentatonic Patterns
3:51
05. Minor Pentatonic Workout
1:52
06. Pentatonic vs Blues Scale
1:59
07. So Far so Good - Introduction
1:09
08. So Far so Good - Head
1:37
09. Minor Chord Extensions
2:45
10. Rhythmic Ideas
2:13
11. So Far so Good - Performance with Solo
3:50
01. Introduction to Modes
6:09
02. Diatonic Modes Exercise
4:04
03. Modes with a Static Root
1:58
04. Modes with Static Root Exercise
1:06
05. Modes with Static Root Recap
0:34
06. Phrase Exercise for Modes
1:07
07. Phrase Exercise for Modes (Demonstration)
1:29
08. Song Examples
1:56
09. First Impresssions - Chords and Harmony
4:06
10. First Impresssions - Performance
4:06
11. First Impresssions - Introduction and Analysis
3:30
Lesson transcript
Ideas for "Down to It" Solo
First Chorus
- Sticking closely to the melody.
- Focusing on the minor third to root idea:
- Captures both the blues aesthetic and a minor pentatonic sound.
- A strong pocket of notes.
- Notes fit well over the B flat 7 chord.
Note: It's beneficial to play ideas over different chords and hear how they sound in context. This approach means you don't have to recalibrate your melodic line and note choices when transitioning to a new chord.
Second Chorus
- Adding more embellishments.
- Incorporating articulation notes we've looked at previously:
- Helps phrases sound more colorful.
- Includes some Parker-style trills.
Third and Fourth Choruses
- Building energy throughout the solo:
- Similar to styles in Pearly White.
- Introducing double time phrasing:
- Effective on straight rock-style tunes.
- Showcases technique well.
Important Note: Because this tune has a rock feel and a straight groove, all your good work on Swing Quavers should be set aside for now.
- Avoid playing swing quavers over a straight tune to prevent rhythmic clash.
- Instead, focus on the appropriate quavers for this tune.
Solo Space
Once you've played the solo, there's ample space to try out your own ideas:
- Keep the edge but practice your own solo.
- Explore the backing track to apply:
- Pentatonic ideas
- Mixolydian scales
- Dorian scales
Feel free to hang on to some melodic ideas inspired by listening to great musicians.
Final Thought: The solo space truly is yours to express yourself on your instrument!
51 lessons
2h 9m of structured video lessons
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Meet your guru
Meet your guru
Since graduating from the Leeds College of Music (BA Hons) and the Guildhall School of Music (Post Graduate Diploma in Performance), Ollie has built a busy and varied career in music. As a saxophonist he has performed in live and studio settings with artists as diverse as Amy Winehouse, Tim Minchin, Bonobo, Frank Turner, the London Jazz Orchestra, the Hackney Colliery Band, the Ambient Jazz Ensemble and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra. He is also the co-leader of the jazz quartet 'Time Is Of The Essence', and composes and arranges material for this and other ensembles.
Ollie is active in music education, currently as course leader for the jazz department at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (junior school), where he runs jazz ensembles, big band and theory classes. He has written a series of 'Exploring Jazz' books for Schott Music that are published worldwide and feature on exam syllabuses in the UK. Ollie has also run workshops for Oxford University, Pro Corda Strings and BABSWE, as well as the Guildhall School of Music summer schools.
In his Exploring Jazz Saxophone courses, Ollie takes you from getting started right through to soloing confidently over songs and chord sequences, building the improvising skills that put a real jazz player's vocabulary at your fingertips.
