David Sanborn is an American saxophonist known for his smooth jazz and instrumental pop music. Over his career, he became one of the most successful saxophonists in contemporary music, with a distinctive style that blends jazz, pop, and R&B.

From jazz to rock, blues to funk, understanding the Dorian mode opens up a world of creative possibilities for improvisation.  In this lesson, you will learn the Dorian minor scale in all 12 keys.

Candy Dulfer is a Dutch saxophonist and singer who rose to fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In this lesson, I will be showing you a lick that was played by Candy Dulfer. The lick is in the key of F for Alto Sax and Bb for Tenor Sax.

In this step-by-step lesson, I'll guide you through the process of learning the timeless and soulful song, Cruisin' by Smokey Robinson on the saxophone.

Cruisin' is a classic R&B and soul masterpiece that has captivated audiences for decades with its smooth melodies and romantic vibes. Now, you have the opportunity to add your own touch to this iconic track by mastering it on the saxophone.

Learn this simple pentatonic scale workout to help develop your technique on the saxophone. Take your time and learn it in all 12 keys.

Ready to add some smooth jazz vibes to your repertoire? In this tutorial, I break down an easy yet soulful saxophone lick inspired by the legendary Grover Washington Jr. Whether you're a beginner or looking to spice up your playing, this lick is perfect for you!

Pick Up the Pieces is a song by the Average White Band, a funk and R&B band. It was released in 1974 as a single from their second album, "AWB." The song is well-known for its catchy saxophone riff and energetic funk groove. In this lesson, I will be teaching you how to play this chart topping classic. It is in the key of D minor for Alto Saxophone and G minor for Tenor Saxophone.

Sound like a pro with this easy and essential blues lick that every smooth jazz saxophonist should have in their arsenal! In this lesson, I break down a timeless blues lick that's not only beginner-friendly but also adds that authentic touch to your smooth jazz playing.

"Always There" is a jazz-funk instrumental by Ronnie Laws, originally released in 1976 on the album "Pressure Sensitive." The song became one of his most popular and successful tracks. Ronnie Laws is a saxophonist and flutist known for his contributions to the jazz and funk genres.

Learn this easy minor pentatonic lick that I heard from Saxophonist Ronnie Laws. It is in the key of D minor for Alto Saxophone and G minor for Tenor Saxophone.

The blues scale is one of the best tools that any beginning improviser can use to start improvising. Even advanced improvisers still use the blues scale when improvising. Check out this lesson to learn an easy lick that professional saxophonist Gerald Albright used when improvising.

Saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. is considered to be one of the founding fathers of smooth jazz. Check out this lick by Grover that can be played over a dominant 7th chord..

Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon" played a crucial role in expanding the boundaries of jazz and introducing elements of funk and rock into the genre. In this lesson, I will be teaching you how to play Chameleon.

Patterns serve as building blocks for musicians, providing them with a musical language, technical foundation, and creative framework to express themselves authentically. In this lesson, you will learn a diatonic pattern that you can use while improvising.

In this lesson, I will be showing you how to play "Unthinkable" by Alicia Keys. This song is in the key of B Major for Alto Saxophone and E Major for Tenor Saxophone.

Kenny G is one of the more well known and best selling saxophonists of all-time. In this lesson, I will be showing you how to play "Going Home" by Kenny G. Download the pdf to following along.

Gerald Albright is well known in the smooth jazz community and he is also known for having great command of the saxophone. Learn this lick that I heard in his song Just Between Us.

In this lesson, I will be teaching you how to play Lovely Day by Bill Withers. I will show you how saxophonist Vandell Andrew plays it.

In this week's lesson, you're going to learn how to play "For The Groove In You" by smooth jazz saxophonist Kim Waters. Download the pdf so that you can follow along with me.

In this lesson, I will be showing you four workouts that I use to help me with learning Dominant 7th chords.

Having a daily routine workout is essential to mastering certain concepts that will enhance your technique on the saxophone. In this lesson, I will be showing you four workouts that I use to help me with learning Major 7th chords.

In this week's lesson, you're going to learn how to play an easy version of the song Punch Drunk by the band Sade, on the saxophone. Download the pdf so that you can follow along with me.

In this week's lesson, you're going to learn how to play the Smooth Jazz Sax School YouTube Intro. Download the pdf so that you can follow along with me.

Check out this smooth jazz lick that I heard from saxophonist, Marcus Anderson. It is in the key of C minor for Alto Sax and F minor for Tenor and Soprano Sax.

The use of passing tones and approach notes can help your improvisational phrases to be more melodic. That is why in this lesson I will be showing you a warmup based on the pentatonic scale that uses passing tones/approach notes.

There are various forms of minors scales. In today's lesson, you will learn the melodic minor scale in all 12 keys.

In this week's lesson, you're going to learn how to play Perfect by Ed Sheeran on the saxophone. Download the pdf so that you can follow along with me.

Learn the major pentatonic scale in all 12 keys and incorporate it into your improvisation. Don't forget to practice this scale in the full range of the saxophone.

Check out this smooth jazz lick that I heard from trumpet player, Rick Braun. It is in the key of D major for Alto Sax and G major for Tenor and Soprano Sax. 

In this video, you will learn an easy blues lick which is popular among many smooth jazz artists. I will also teach you a way that you can incorporate it into your improvisation.

If you are into jazz, its no secret that the bebop era of musicians are masters of improvisation. This is why we should be studying how they approach improvisation. In this lesson I will be showing you guys a bebop pattern that I frequently use and how you can use it in your smooth jazz improvisation.

Throughout the years I've had many saxophonists ask me what techniques do I use to get a nice and smooth saxophone sound. In this lesson, I will be discussing two techniques that will help enhance your smooth jazz sax sound.

Some people don't see the importance of playing patterns, but patterns can help improve your control on the saxophone and they can help you to play more accurately. They also open up many possibilities when improvising. In this lesson, I will be showing you a pattern and how to use it when improvising.

In this video, I will be playing a transcription of I Wanna Know by Joe. It is a popular R&B song that was released in the late 90's. It is in the key of Eb Major for Alto Sax and Ab Major for Tenor Sax.

In this video, I will be playing a transcription of Just The Two of Us.

Jackiem Joyner is one of the smoothest saxophone players that I've had the pleasure of listening to. Learn this lick that he played in one of his live performances! It is in the key of D minor for Alto Saxophone and G minor for Tenor Saxophone.

Working on your technique should be one of the most important things that you do in your practice. Having good technique makes getting around the saxophone easier. Here's an exercise that I do that helps improve my technique.

Learn the harmonic minor scale in all 12 keys and incorporate it into your improvisation. Don't forget to practice this scale in the full range of the saxophone.

Learning all of your scales are more important than you think. Check out this video to understand why scales are important and how you should be practicing them.

In this lesson, I will be teaching you guys how to play a lick that I heard while listening to an Eric Darius virtual performance. It's in the key of D minor for Alto Saxophone and G minor for Tenor Saxophone.

Check out this lick that I learned from Dave Koz's tune, Can't Let Go. The lick is in the key of F# for Alto Saxophone and B for Tenor Saxophone.

In todays lesson, you will discover the fastest way to learn a lick or song in all 12 keys. Learn the blues lick and practice it in all 12 keys!

Here's how to play the sax lick in Grover Washington Jr's "Just The Two of Us." It is in the key of  D minor for Alto Sax and G minor for Tenor Sax.

Isn't She Lovely is one of my favorite songs by Stevie Wonder. Here's how I play it on the saxophone. It's in the key of C# for Alto Saxophone and F# for Tenor and Soprano Saxophones.

Here's the sheet music for Best Part by Daniel Caesar. It is in the key of B Major for Alto Saxophone and E Major for Tenor and Soprano Saxophones.

Learn this cool lick and use it in your next performance! It is in the key of F Major for Alto Saxophone and the key of Bb for Tenor Saxophone

7. Smooth Jazz Saxophone Lick #4

Learn how to play the Pentatonic Scale in All 12 Keys. If you are new to improvising, learn this scale to start improvising.

Here's a lick that I learned from listening to Everette Harp's song, When I Think of You.

The Major Scale is the foundation of all music theory. Learn how to play the Major Scale in all 12 keys.

Learn how to play the blues scale in all 12 keys. The blues scale is one of the most used scales when it comes to improvisation.

Learn this lick and incorporate it into your improvisation. This is one of my favorite Walter Beasley licks that I heard in his tune, Nice and Easy.

Learn this Gerald Albright lick that was transcribed from his tune named Slam Dunk.