[Honker]

I have been playing for two years now and my reading is coming along ok. I have been using playalong books and have recently got a couple where they leave a gap for you to play what you want. There are chords written there to help. So far so good. I understand that I am going to have to learn the notes for each chord to start improvising.

My question is; as these books are written for sax, the chords presumably are already transposed to Bb or Eb, but if I pick up a piece of sheet music, how easy is it to transpose the chords written there? Or should I just ignore the written stuff and try to play by ear? I have to say, that is difficult. I have tried. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, I can just about manage. My teacher says I am playing sharp or flat and I have to take his word for it, although I do know when I have played a wrong note, usually.

It's not easy, this saxophone stuff, is it?

 

[harmonizerNJ]

If I already know the song (chord progression), I usually am not reading the chords as I solo. But when improvising over a chord progression, where I need to be reading the chords as I improvise, I cannot transpose the chords down a minor third (for alto) and improvise over them at the same time. It only takes a minute to write down the transposed chords before playing, though.

 

[Honker]

Thanks, but I guess that is where I have a lot of learning to do. I wouldn't know how to transpose a chord. I will ask my teacher to teach me! Great idea!

 

[Dave Dolson]

Honker: I've seen chord charts and lead sheets with chords over the measures, done several ways . . . meaning that sometimes the melody is for a Bb or Eb instrument and the chords are concert; OR the melody and chords are concert; OR where the melody AND chords are for a Bb or Eb instrument.

I prefer concert all the way because I'm an ear player and can usually find my way through a tune without looking at paper. However, if I'm stumped, then do I refer to the sheet.

From my perspective, it would be easy enough to figure out how the writer did it. I'd compare the melody line to the corresponding chord - if it fits, then the chords are in the same key as the lead-line.

To take advantage of those chords, one must know the arpeggios to play (or a harmony note to the melody). At the last resort, if never hurts to play the melody. DAVE

 

[asaxman]

Transposing chords or lines isn't as hard as it looks. With a little practice I could sight-read standards, and jazz tunes with no problems. On Eb horns add 3 sharps,(or subtract flats). F becomes D, -1 flat, +2 sharps, Eb becomes C, -3 flats, etc. You read the melody down a third, (really a minor 3rd, but the key signature takes care of that.) On Bb horns add 2 sharps, (or subtract 2 flats). F = G, Bb=C, and read up a step! It LOOKS hard, but in a few weeks you'll have it down!

 

[asaxman]

Transposing chords or lines isn't as hard as it looks. With a little practice I could sight-read standards, and jazz tunes with no problems. On Eb horns add 3 sharps,(or subtract flats). F becomes D, -1 flat, +2 sharps, Eb becomes C, -3 flats, etc. You read the melody down a third, (really a minor 3rd, but the key signature takes care of that.) On Bb horns add 2 sharps, (or subtract 2 flats). F = G, Bb=C, and read up a step! I LOOKS hard, but in a few weeks you'll have it down!