Are you a good beginner or intermediate saxophone player struggling to push through the sound barrier and play fluently over the chord changes? If so, the tracks I have written could help you a lot.
All the tracks were originally written using Cubase and created as a practice aid for my own use. There are a number of styles which include Pop, Bossa Nova, Afrobeat and Swing. In all cases they add enjoyment and variety to a practice session and will make it much more pleasant for any listeners nearby.
Start off with the Major and Minor tracks, these are suitable for beginners and intermediate players alike and remain in a single key using only two chords. You can practice your scales, chords and patterns using these tracks. You can also break out and improvise. The tracks are great motivators for this. If you want even more motivation and you have friendly neighbours, buy a small PA with a reverb effect and practice your improvisation using it.
Track Set S1. Major Keys.
Track Set S2. Minor Keys.
Moving on with the Saxophone really starts when you know your scales and chords in all twelve keys and you start to move patterns round the cycle of fourths, through the modes or in a chromatic progression. These are for intermediate players. You might need to start learning these patterns with a metronome but the speeds begin slowly and some sections have been broken out into individual tracks where it might help.
Track Set 2. II-V-I's
Track Set C1. Basic Cycle, 2 bars and 1 bar. For your own pattern ideas.
Track Set C2. Cycle Pattern 1. Using a Major 7th to Dominant 7th pattern. The bass carries the pattern so you can follow. Great ear training for the lowered 7th
Track Set C3. Cycle Pattern 2. Using a Major 7th to Dominant 7th pattern. Again the bass carries the pattern which is pattern 1 in reverse.
Track Set M1. Model Pattern 1. A modal pattern, 7 steps, Ionian to Locrian, two bars each step. Bass carries the pattern. Make sure you choose the right key for your instrument as this chromatic progression is one octave and is best starting on low Bb.
It takes quite a while to prepare these tracks for general use and I will probably be adding additional tracks at a later date. Subscribe for notifications.
In addition I invite suggestions for intermediate level patterns and if I like them enough to produce the backing tracks, I will give you a finished set free of charge.
Happy also to consider bespoke backings for practice or performance. I use Cubase 15 Pro and can provide .cbr files or .wav stems. Get in touch.