The Note F# - Introduction and Exercises

G Major Scale Lesson

The next scale we learn is the scale of G major, which involves the F sharp. We learned about this earlier in the low octave register of the saxophone. In this case, we use the upper F sharp as well, which is fingered exactly the same, but with the octave key.

Tuning Note

There's the low one, nice easy note to play. That note is the tuning note, commonly used when you tune with a piano. It sounds A at concert pitch.

As you know, the saxophone is a transposing instrument:

• When you read a C and play what you read, it doesn't sound like a C.
• It's actually an E flat in this case.

This is why it's called an E flat alto saxophone. When you finger a C, and play a C, in order for the pianist to play the same note, they have to play an E flat.

Transposing Instruments

It's called a transposing instrument. A lot of instruments are transposing, such as:

• Trumpets
• Saxophones
• Clarinets
• Brass band instruments (cornets, flugelhorns, and more)

The alto saxophone is pitched in the key of E flat. So when you play a C, it sounds in the real world like an E flat.

On the tenor and soprano saxophones, which are pitched in B flat, when they read a C, it actually sounds B flat. That's why they're called:

• B flat tenor
• B flat soprano
• E flat alto
• E flat baritone saxophone

They are all transposing instruments.

G Major Scale Preparation

Now, back to the G major scale. We have the usual preparation here, where we do four notes. As you can see, I'm playing these slightly faster because as you progress, your technique will get faster, and you'll be able to play the exercises faster, too.

When we put that together, we get:

"Scales are fun when they're played well; they're not when they're not."

G Major Arpeggio Preparation

• Arpeggio Preparation involves again, two fingers, etc.
• You can play them more than four times if you want, but it's all good practice.

Then we put that lot together, and we have a perfectly formed arpeggio.

Dotted Crotchet

The next issue we deal with in this lesson section is the dotted crotchet.

We talked about dots earlier with regard to minims. A dot after a crotchet adds half its value, so it adds half a beat.

When practicing these rhythms, it's good to set your old metronome. Let's just do that now. I've got the metronome right here, just propped up there, giving us a nice even pulse.

So, the rhythm of exercise five goes like this:

When I play that exercise on a single note, the next exercise involves a bit of movement. You have to move your tongue and your fingers at the same time. Always be precise.