h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm an alto sax player for my high school jazz band, and I have to play solo's. So I was wondering if anyone on H2G2 knew how to improvise Alto Sax solo's? And if you have no clue what I am talking about, do you have any tips for getting up infront of alot of people and playing?
thanks!
cheers
ford

I play bari in my high school jazz band and watch the other guys...basically, if you know the chords in the solo (which should be written) write on your music the names of the notes in the chord; then play those notes at random...or make up some kind of melody...

Okay I have no idea since I've never had to do a solo. You just have to play stuff; people won't really care if it sounds right or not.

Jazz band: play anything. In my experience, the audience doesn't give a tinker's cuss. The musicians certainly don't.

Get the 'riff' - the repeated theme of the piece being played in which your solo is placed. Play with it and have fun.

Faster, slower, higher and lower. Miss out notes, play it front to back and inside out.

Keep at it till it sounds right. Practice it - solos aren't usually put together on the spot unless you are in the zone (to use an awful expression)and that is rarer than hens teeth.

I'm assuming of course that what holds for piano and guitar holds for any instrument. I don't know if any of the above sounds blatantly obvious or is of any use whatsoever. Just my

Zantic

Firstly, make sure you know the scales for the key you are required to play in. I mean, really know them. Different articulations, rhythms. And then diminished scales, dominants, and whole tones. A lot of jazz is scales.

Make sure you can play by ear. By this I mean that if you know a tune, you should be able to play it on your instrument without having to refer to music. Can you play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in any key, on request? You've got to know where the notes on your instrument are, so if you come up with a tune in your head, you know exactly where to put your fingers to make that tune happen. It's not something that's generally taught, it's a practice thing.

Another tip: you don't always have to play fast. It's easy to want to play a lot of notes. And if you think you've gone wrong... so what? It's gone, it's past. Just remember that that little attempt didn't work, so you can try something else next time.

Hope this helps.

Vip x

YES! It does help a lot! thanks! now... 2 more questions...
1)does anyone know how to growl?
2)does anyone know where i can get the alto sax version of "Because I Love You" by Richard Elleot?
thanks!
cheers
ford

You "growl" by singing into the saxophone as you play. If you can sing hte same note as you are playing you will get beats between the two notes - the two sound waves interfere.