How to Swing on Sax | 4 tips for better style!

Summary

In this saxophone masterclass by Dr. Wally Wallace, he introduces four key articulation and inflection concepts to enhance jazz swing. He emphasizes the importance of moving away from triplet rhythms to a smoother style, using straight eighth notes with inflection and accent placement. He also discusses the significance of ending notes crisply with the tongue, avoiding rushed quarter notes by using a 'dat and dat' pattern, and mastering the post-Bebop rhythmic figure of two consecutive eighth notes. Wallace stresses the necessity of listening to jazz records for capturing the nuances of swing, which cannot be fully conveyed through written or spoken instructions alone.

Takeaways

• 🎷 Learn to articulate and infuse swing into your saxophone playing by mastering specific articulation and inflection techniques.
• 👋 Avoid the common mistake of treating swing eighth notes as triplets, which can make your playing sound stilted and exaggerated.
• 🎶 Straighten out the eighth notes and use articulation and inflection to create a smoother, more authentic swing style.
• 👅 Practice straight eighth notes and then start to tongue the offbeats or use specific articulation patterns to enhance swing.
• 📚 Engage with the saxophone community by sharing and discussing which albums in your collection have the best swing.
• 🎵 Emphasize the end of notes in jazz by using a crisp, clear release with the tongue, maintaining air pressure for rhythmic integrity.
• 🌟 Practice quarter note articulation by stopping notes with the tongue while keeping air pressure constant, like using a valve.
• 🚀 To avoid rushing when playing multiple quarter notes, use a 'dat and dat' syllable pattern with a 'um' spacer in between for clarity.
• 🎵 Listen to the separation of quarter notes in jazz etudes to understand how they maintain rhythm without rushing.
• 🎼 Master the rhythmic figure of two consecutive eighth notes, often used in post-Bebop jazz, with a 'doodat' articulation pattern.
• 👂 The English language cannot fully express the nuances of jazz articulation, so immersing yourself in listening to jazz recordings is essential for improvement.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video from the Saxophone Academy?

The main topic of the video is about mastering four articulation and inflection concepts to improve saxophone swing style.

Who is the presenter of the saxophone master class in the video?

The presenter is Dr. Wally Wallace.

What does Dr. Wally Wallace suggest to get rid of the triplet pattern in swing music?

Dr. Wally Wallace suggests smoothing out the swing eighth notes and using articulation and inflection to create a more authentic swing style.

What is the purpose of using a 'doodat' articulation pattern in saxophone playing?

The 'doodat' articulation pattern is used to create a rhythmic figure that is common in post-Bebop jazz, giving a distinct inflection to the music.

Why does Dr. Wally Wallace recommend practicing with straight eighth notes?

Practicing with straight eighth notes helps to establish a solid rhythmic foundation before adding the necessary swing inflection and articulation.

What is the significance of the 'end of the note' in jazz articulation according to the video?

The end of the note is critically important in jazz articulation as it helps to create a cleaner release and rhythmic integrity by stopping the note with the tongue.

What is the recommended practice method for achieving a crisp and clear note release in jazz?

The recommended practice method is to use a quarter note followed by a quarter rest, maintaining air pressure while stopping the note with the tongue.

How can a 'spacer' syllable like 'um' help in playing a series of quarter notes?

The 'um' syllable acts as a spacer to prevent notes from bleeding into each other, ensuring clarity and separation between each quarter note.

What does Dr. Wally Wallace suggest as an essential part of mastering jazz articulation?

Dr. Wally Wallace suggests that there is no substitute for listening to jazz recordings as it is an essential part of understanding and mastering jazz articulation.

What is the next topic Dr. Wally Wallace plans to cover in his future video?

In his next video, Dr. Wally Wallace plans to discuss transcending long tones and improving saxophone tone quality with some fun free exercises.