Here is a very important scale for saxophone improvisation. Is it as hip as the Dorian scale or Harmonic Minor scales, some say no. I say its just another tool in the improvisational tool box.
Aeolian Scales, more commonly known as Natural Minor, are built on the 6th scale degree in a major scale. For example, if you are in the key of C major, count to up the scale to the sixth note you see. The root is always one; C(1), D(2), E(3), F(4), G(5), A(6)
There it is, A is the 6th scale degree in the key of C. Pick up you saxophone and playA, B, C, D, F, G, A. This is the A Aeolian or A Natural Minor scale. You can use the same formula to figure this out in any key. Clear as mud? It will be when you play the scales below. I am giving you the one octave version of these scales, but remember you need to play these in more than just one key and more than one octave. For a dollar a piece you can get other combinations of this scale. Happy practicing!
Here are the Aeolian (Natural Minor) one octave scale. This one is on me! Aeolian one octave
Two Octave Aeolian Scale (Natural Minor) For Saxophone, All Keys $1.00 [wp_cart:Two Octave Aeolian Scale for Saxophone:price:1.00:end]
Aeolian 7ths- This exercise is a bit advanced, but it shows the connectivity of chords and scales between the individual keys. I did this exercise with chord symbols so there is no doubt as to the effectiveness of memorization of these exercises
