For Promotional Use Only

Eric Alexander

Fourteen Major Key

Explorations
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ERIC ALEXANDER

FOURTEEN MAJOR KEY EXPLORATIONS

The author represents and warrants that he both owns and has the legal right to publish all material

in this book.

Fourteen Major Key Explorations

All Rights Reserved.

Copyright 2014 Eric Alexander

Produced by Bill Rinehart and Jazz Web Development, http://www.jazzwebdev.com

1.0 060214

This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including

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in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

http://www.ericalexanderjazz.com

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Preface

Developing players often have the misconception that they can simply learn scales (major, minor, dominant, etc.) and apply them to
chord changes to construct effective solos. The reality is that without using common, recognizable language, at least to some degree,
improvisers have little or no chance of connecting with their audienceor with their fellow musicians, for that matter.

What I have done with these fourteen exercises is combine common practice, modern jazz language ideas to create multiple measure
phrases that can be used to develop harmonic awareness and technique in all twelve major key centers.

Implicit in many of these exercises are harmonic movements such as V-I or ii-V-I or embellishing a diminished chord to I. It is
important that players realize that they can utilize these types of resolutions over stagnant harmony. Furthermore, it's likely that
players will recognize a multitude of options, in terms of chord progressions and standard tunes, for which these exercises would work
exactly as written.

Bb by Default!

Im a tenor player and you probably are too. So all the notation in this ebook is in Bb by default. I havent forgotten about you alto,
bari and soprano players- or any instrumentalist, for that matter- because the licks are transposed into Eb and C as well. Players of C
instruments look at page 92 and Eb players go to page 103.

If youd like to explore this material further with me, I'm available for one-on-one online lessons via Skype and can be contacted
directly for live performances, clinics and workshops.

Eric
ericalexanderjazz@gmail.com

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How to Use This eBook

I have recorded each of the 14 licks in this ebook for you to listen to. Included in your download is a folder named audio-examplesand-playalongs. Open this folder to find mp3 files of each lick as well as my solo over Rhythm Changes and a playalong for you to
use as an accompaniment as you play the notated solo.

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Thank You for Reading This

Promotional Copy

This is an excerpt from my latest ebook, Fourteen Major Key Explorations, which has been available since late Spring. After
compiling the exercises, which I've developed over the years as teaching tools to improve student's technique and understanding of
harmony through phrases associated with modern jazz language, I discovered that all of them could be applied to "rhythm changes"
with excellent results. I ended up recording a solo with a background track in which I utilize each exercise, intermingled with other
improvisation, to create an effective solo. I am particularly pleased with the results, and I wanted to share this excerpt so that
saxophonists can get a small taste of what I have done with my ebooks, which are available at ericalexanderjazz.com.

Please send me your feedback. Id love to hear your thoughts.

Eric

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#1 The Loop

High-Velocity Technique Builder

This exercise utilizes ii-V-I movements as well as embellished diminished sound. Work on this lick until you can play it three times in
one breath at quarter note=253.

!
Listen to audio example 1.mp3 to hear me play the loop at quarter note=253.

!
!

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The Loop Transposed

The Loop in C, F and Bb

!
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The Loop in Eb, Ab, Db

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The Loop in Gb, B and E

!
!
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The Loop in A, D and G

!
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Chorus 1

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Measures 1-4: I play the first 4 bars of #1.

Measures 9-12: I play the second 4 bars of #l with slight rhythmic variation.
Measures 25-28: I play #2.

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Study Jazz Improv Online with Eric

Online Lessons Available at EricAlexanderJazz.com

If you would like to explore the material in this book or any aspect of jazz improvisation with me personally, I oer one-on-one lessons
online via Skype at my website: EricAlexanderJazz.com.
I am happy to work with beginners through advanced professional players. Here are some common areas that I work on with my
students: technique (fingering, embrochure, sound production, altissimo, vibrato, intonation, mouthpiece & reed choice), all aspects
of improvisation, chordscale theory, composition, repertoire development, rhythmic concepts.
Please email with any questions you may have. Id love to hear from you.

Eric
ericalexanderjazz@gmail.com

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