can a guy get a little advice?

[sax rookie]

First a brief history...
I played alto in high school and was "moderately" good. I am 41 and haven't really played for over 20 years. From the lessons learned in high school, I have retained and remembered exactly "jack squat". I am currently managing and booking a local band of friends and the guys keep hounding me to dust off my alto and give it a go with them. I happen to stumble across a Yamaha student line alto YAS23 with a cheapo mouthpiece, and for the interim this is my only horn. So now I have a variety of questions and I hope a few of you could help me.

Where can I find online or elsewhere a guide that will transpose guitar chords into alto keys?
This is so when they shout out "Gminor7" I don't stare at them like a deer standing in front of a speeding truck.

Any suggestions on a resource for scales to practice?

Any tips to help me get up to speed faster? (besides "practice")

Has anyone taken the time to write out the sax parts for popular tunes?

Anything else you think I should know?

I do truely appreciate any tips and advice that you could toss my way

Thanks in advance

[Dave Dolson]

Sax Rookie: Welcome back. After years of playing Bb soprano, I took on the alto and it changed my whole way of thinking. I only improvise, but know a ton of old (I mean 1920's) jazz tunes and I have a good ear.

Still, the alto makes me think. So when someone shouts G7, I know that I must play an E7 arpeggio - the alto being one and one-half steps below concert pitch. Over time, I've gone through my whole tune list playing those tunes I normally do on soprano and clarinet, on alto. But on a gig with a new band, it is a real test to play smart and blend well in unfamiliar keys.

Probably, the best I can do is advise you to go through all the scales and arpeggios, then apply what you learn and hear to the mystery chord that someone whispers in your ear in the middle of a tune. I don't think are any quick-fixes. DAVE

[colibri]

I would suggest you to learn sight-transposing. I usually get a concert pitch chart in rehearsals and gigs. Then you have to move everything down a minor third (it's easier) so when you see a G, you'll play an E on alto. It'll take a while to get used to but in the long run it'll save you a lot of written transposing work. Good luck. 8)

[kcp]

Hi and welcome back.
For some tips about transposing to your instrument, check out Paul C's Beginner Corner article about Key Signatures and Scales (http://www.saxontheweb.net/Coats/Beginner_Corner1.html)

Good luck :D