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Beginner band · 17 steps

Alto saxophone

E♭ alto sax, reading G, C, D and A, from middle C to the A at the top of the staff.

Treble clef · G, C, D, A · C4 to A5 written · sounds a sixth below written (e♭)

First rhythms

  1. 1 Rhythm drill Quarter notes Quarter notes and quarter rests 4/4 · 4 bars · ♩ = 60 Try it → No notes yet: this rhythm gets 2 steps on its own first.
  2. 2 Rhythm drill Half notes Half notes and half rests 4/4 · 4 bars · ♩ = 60 Try it → No notes yet: this rhythm gets 2 steps on its own first.
  3. 3 Rhythm drill Whole notes Whole notes and whole rests 4/4 · 8 bars · ♩ = 60 Try it → Notes G, A, B: the first three notes, by step On rhythms from step 1 and before G · 4/4 · 8 bars Try it →
  4. 4 Rhythm drill Eighth notes Eighth notes in pairs 4/4 · 8 bars · ♩ = 60 Try it → Notes C and D: the first five notes On rhythms from step 2 and before G · 4/4 · 8 bars Try it →

New meters

  1. 5 Rhythm drill Three beats Dotted half notes, and 3/4 3/4 · 8 bars · ♩ = 65 Try it → Notes Skips: G, B, D On rhythms from step 3 and before G · 4/4 · 8 bars Try it →
  2. 6 Rhythm drill Two beats 2/4 2/4 · 8 bars · ♩ = 65 Try it → Notes A new key: concert E♭ (written C) On rhythms from step 4 and before C · 4/4 · 8 bars Try it →
  3. 7 Rhythm drill Ties Notes tied across the barline 4/4 · 8 bars · ♩ = 65 Try it → Notes A new note: E in G, A in C On rhythms from step 5 and before G, C · 3/4 · 8 bars Try it →

Dotted and off the beat

  1. 8 Rhythm drill Dotted quarters Dotted quarter and eighth 4/4 · 8 bars · ♩ = 65 Try it → Notes F♯ and high G: the whole G scale On rhythms from step 6 and before G · 2/4 · 8 bars Try it →
  2. 9 Rhythm drill Eighth rests Eighth rest and eighth 4/4 · 8 bars · ♩ = 70 Try it → Notes A third key: concert F (written D) On rhythms from step 7 and before D · 4/4 · 8 bars Try it →
  3. 10 Rhythm drill Syncopation Eighth, quarter, eighth 4/4 · 8 bars · ♩ = 70 Try it → Notes Below the tonic: low D, E, F♯ in G; G, A, B in C On rhythms from step 8 and before G, C · 4/4 · 8 bars Try it →

Sixteenths

  1. 11 Rhythm drill Four sixteenths Four sixteenths 4/4 · 8 bars · ♩ = 70 Try it → Notes Wider skips: fourths and fifths On rhythms from step 9 and before G, C, D · 4/4 · 8 bars Try it →
  2. 12 Rhythm drill Eighths and sixteenths Eighth and two sixteenths, two sixteenths and eighth 4/4 · 8 bars · ♩ = 70 Try it → Notes All three keys, the whole range On rhythms from step 10 and before G, C, D · 4/4 · 8 bars Try it →
  3. 13 Rhythm drill Dotted eighths Dotted eighth and sixteenth 4/4 · 8 bars · ♩ = 75 Try it → Notes Accidentals: F♮ and C♯, by step On rhythms from step 11 and before G · 4/4 · 8 bars Try it →

Six-eight

  1. 14 Rhythm drill 6/8 6/8: dotted quarters, three eighths, quarter and eighth 6/8 · 8 bars · ♩ = 75 Try it → Notes Higher: up to A and B above high G On rhythms from step 12 and before G · 4/4 · 8 bars Try it →
  2. 15 Rhythm drill 6/8 rests and long notes 6/8: dotted quarter rests and dotted halves 6/8 · 8 bars · ♩ = 75 Try it → Notes A fourth key: concert C (written A) On rhythms from step 13 and before A · 4/4 · 8 bars Try it →

Putting it together

  1. 16 Rhythm drill Review All the rhythms so far 4/4, 3/4, 2/4 · 8 bars · ♩ = 75 Try it → Notes 6/8 on the notes you know On rhythms from step 14 and before G, C, D · 6/8 · 8 bars Try it →
  2. 17 Rhythm drill Everything All the rhythms, every meter 4/4, 3/4, 2/4 · 8 bars · ♩ = 80 Try it → Notes Everything: four keys, every meter, accidentals On rhythms from step 15 and before G, C, D, A · 4/4, 3/4, 2/4 · 8 bars Try it →

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