

Play the note one-half step above your starting note.For middle C, this would be the C above the staff. Using your fingering chart, find the note one octave higher than your starting note. We’ll start on middle C for this example. You can start the chromatic scale on any or the same note, so choose the one that you’re most comfortable with. It is simply all 12 notes played in succession, with each note being a half step (or one fret) higher than the last. The chromatic scale is an important scale for any musician to know. In short, learning chromatic scale patterns will make you a better musician overall. As a bonus, working on these patterns will also help increase the speed and accuracy of your fingerings overall. These patterns will challenge you to use all of your fingers equally, which will, in turn, help improve your dexterity and coordination. Using the patterns to guide you, you’ll find the notes you need without getting lost in the particular key signature maze.
#ALTO SAX CHROMATIC SCALE HOW TO#
However, if you know how to use chromatic scale patterns, you’ll find that those difficult keys become much more manageable. Some keys are just plain challenging to play in, no matter how good your technique is. Once you understand how the patterns work, you’ll find it much easier to navigate through key signatures and figure out which notes are sharp or flat. However, learning chromatic scale patterns can help make things a bit easier. Understanding key signatures and accidentals can be a bit confusing if you’re starting out. Understand key signatures and accidentals. When used correctly, chromatic scale patterns can really add a lot of interest to your solos and melodies. One of the great things about chromatic scales is that they can add more richness and depth to your playing. Here are reasons why every saxophonist should learn chromatic scales. Though they may seem simple at first glance, these scales can be used to create complex and beautiful melodies.
#ALTO SAX CHROMATIC SCALE PRO#
But with some practice, you’ll play it like a pro in no time!Ĭhromatic scales are an essential part of any saxophonist’s toolkit. When played on the alto or tenor saxophone, the chromatic scale can be a bit tricky. Unlike a major or minor scale, in chromatic, a semitone or half-step separates each note. It consists of all twelve notes within an octave. In western music, a scale is simply a group of pitches arranged in ascending or descending order. Have you ever heard someone play a cool-sounding saxophone solo and wondered how they did it? Chances are, they were using the chromatic scale. Let’s look at how to play the chromatic scale on the alto sax and tips to improve your technique! In order to do an alto saxophone chromatic scale, you’ll need to know the workouts and which notes are in each key.


This means that it can play all of the notes in any key. Like any other saxophone, the alto saxophone has a chromatic scale. Chromatic Scales for Alto Saxophone: The What, Why, and HowĪre you looking to improve your saxophone playing? One of the great ways to do that is to focus on creating clean and accurate chromatic scales.
