Lesson 45 of 51Alto SaxophoneBeginner

Modes with Static Root Recap

0:34

Ollie Weston recaps the static-root modes, hearing how the sound flattens as you move from major through Mixolydian and Dorian down to Locrian on the saxophone.

Part of the courseExploring Jazz Saxophone: Part 1 - Getting Started51 lessons (2h 9m)

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What's in the course

51 lessons (2h 9m) · 1 free
    • 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

      You are here

      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

Exploring Musical Modes

"So that's a really useful exercise to hear the sort of flattening process that you can go through with the modes."

From Major to Locrian

  • Start with Major.
  • Transition through the Mixolydian mode, which features a seventh sound.
  • Move onto Dorian, known for its bright-sounding minor quality.
  • Finally, reach Locrian, where everything is flat:
    • Flat second
    • Flat fifth

Practice Tips

  • Use a metronome to aid your practice.
  • Trace those scales as an exercise to enhance your speed of thought.
  • Focus on transferring the modes onto your instrument.

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Ollie Weston

Ollie Weston

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.

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