Advanced Steps Vol.1 for Jazz Tenor Saxophone Improvisation

This book contains 10 advanced etudes I wrote based on the chord progression from John Coltrane’s “Giant Steps”. His composition uses the cycle of major 3rd key relationships, a harmonic device that he returned to frequently. I’m assuming that the player already has some familiarity with this progression and how it is constructed. There are some excellent explanations of this harmonic device on the internet.

I wrote these etudes as way to improvise on this song. I like to practice them in 4 measure segments. For each etude I have also written an exercise that is based on the cycle used in the first 4 measures where the key centers descend by major thirds. These exercises are written in all 12 keys.

These etudes and exercises are meant to provide a challenging technical workout as well as a process to learn to improvise on “Giant Steps” and to learn the descending cycle of major 3rds in all keys.