Learn Your Scales and Arpeggios, Saxophone Book 3 Paul Copas Lesson 10 The Eb/D# sequence You should already be familiar with the scale and arpeggio of Eb major. Scale of Eb major for two octaves Arpeggio of Eb major for two octaves Following the usual procedure, this can be converted to a minor arpeggio by lowering the 3 rd by a semitone: G would become Gb: Arpeggio of Eb minor for two octaves However, you will learn the minor starting on the same pitch as Eb major as D# minor, the relative minor of F# major. You could just as well think of it as Eb minor to avoid going through the enharmonic change, but, as you have just learnt F# major, it seems more logical to stay with the same key signature. It is not really all that important what you call it as you will not really know it properly until you stop thinking what the notes are called. At the end of the day, a scale is not a key signature and a series of dots on a staff: it is a series of finger movements associated with a melody. The easiest way to play this arpeggio is to use the RM fingering for A#. The finger can be held down throughout this arpeggio as it will not affect the quality and tuning of the top D#. 1
Arpeggio of D# minor for two octaves Learn Your Scales and Arpeggios, Saxophone Book 3 Paul Copas The leading note in the scale of D# harmonic minor is C X which is the enharmonic equivalent of D. As in the scale of F# major, F# is preceded by E# and should therefore be played with the alternative fingerings: Exercise 22 2
Scale of D# harmonic minor for two octaves Learn Your Scales and Arpeggios, Saxophone Book 3 Paul Copas The ascending scale of D# melodic minor is almost identical to the scale of Eb major apart from the flattened mediant (F# instead of G ). The descending scale is effectively F# major. Whist this book will persist in providing written material as D# minor, some might make a case for thinking of the ascending scale as Eb minor and the descending scale as D# minor, written thus: Others might feel that way madness lies Exercise 23 3
Scale of D# melodic minor for two octaves Learn Your Scales and Arpeggios, Saxophone Book 3 Paul Copas The Eb/D# sequence 4
Learn Your Scales and Arpeggios, Saxophone Book 3 Paul Copas Practice Plan 10 Day 1 Done Day 2 Done Day 3 Done Eb major scale once Eb major scale once Eb major scale once Eb major arpeggio once Eb major arpeggio once Eb major arpeggio once D# minor arpeggio twice D# minor arpeggio twice D# minor arpeggio twice Exercise 22 Exercise 22 Exercise 22 D# harmonic minor scale twice D# harmonic minor scale twice D# harmonic minor scale twice Exercise 23 Exercise 23 Exercise 23 D# melodic minor scale twice D# melodic minor scale twice D# melodic minor scale twice A major scale once E major scale once A major scale once A major arpeggio once E major arpeggio once A major arpeggio once A minor scale once E minor scale once A minor scale once A minor arpeggio once E minor arpeggio once A minor arpeggio once Ab/G# sequence D major scale once Ab/G# sequence G sequence D major arpeggio once G sequence F# major scale once D minor scale once F# major scale once F# major arpeggio once D minor arpeggio once F# major arpeggio once F# minor scale once Db/C# sequence F# minor scale once F# minor arpeggio once C major scale once F# minor arpeggio once F sequence C major arpeggio once F sequence Dom 7th in Bb once C minor scale once Dom 7th in Bb once Dom 7th in A once C minor arpeggio once Dom 7th in A once Dom 7th in G once B sequence Dom 7th in G once Dom 7th in F once Bb sequence Dom 7th in F once Dom 7th in E once Bb chromatic once Dom 7th in E once Dim 7th starting on D once C chromatic scale once Dim 7th starting on D once Dim 7th starting on B once D chromatic scale once Dim 7th starting on B once Dim 7th starting on Bb once Eb chromatic once Dim 7th starting on Bb once E chromatic once 5
Learn Your Scales and Arpeggios, Saxophone Book 3 Paul Copas Day 4 Done Day 5 Done Day 6 Done Eb major scale once Eb major scale once Eb major scale once Eb major arpeggio once Eb major arpeggio once Eb major arpeggio once D# minor arpeggio twice D# minor arpeggio 3 times D# minor arpeggio 3 times Exercise 22 D# harmonic minor scale 3 times D# harmonic minor scale 3 times D# harmonic minor scale twice D# melodic minor scale 3 times D# melodic minor scale 3 times Exercise 23 A major scale once E major scale once D# melodic minor scale twice A major arpeggio once E major arpeggio once E major scale once A minor scale once E minor scale once E major arpeggio once A minor arpeggio once E minor arpeggio once E minor scale once Ab/G# sequence D major scale once E minor arpeggio once G sequence D major arpeggio once D major scale once F# major scale once D minor scale once D major arpeggio once F# major arpeggio once D minor arpeggio once D minor scale once F# minor scale once Db/C# sequence D minor arpeggio once F# minor arpeggio once C major scale once Db/C# sequence F sequence C major arpeggio once C major scale once Dom 7th in Bb once C minor scale once C major arpeggio once Dom 7th in A once C minor arpeggio once C minor scale once Dom 7th in G once B sequence C minor arpeggio once Dom 7th in F once Bb sequence B sequence Dom 7th in E once Bb chromatic once Bb sequence Dim 7th starting on D once C chromatic scale once Bb chromatic once Dim 7th starting on B once D chromatic scale once C chromatic scale once Dim 7th starting on Bb once Eb chromatic once D chromatic scale once E chromatic once Eb chromatic once E chromatic once 6