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Hey, thanks for poppin' in...!


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My name is Bobby Stern.

I'm a long time professional saxophonist, Jazz player, educator, Bari Woodwinds and Brancher-France Saxophones endorser.

To date, I've authored close to forty books - tailored to the improvising musician of all levels - including  "The Melodic Minor Handbook: A Jazz Player's Perspective" published by Jamey Aebersold Jazz, as well as a growing number of self-published eBooks, all available right here.


Have a look at my current library!

Over the years, as I've been studying, teaching, as well as performing globally in a wide range of musical contexts, I've come to realize that the more knowledge and insight one accumulates, the more apparent it becomes that it's an ever expanding universe; meaning that there's always so much more to discover and learn; and that we are all students, regardless of our present levels of ability and awareness. It never stops, and to me, this is very exciting!

Since its launch in 2012, bobbysternjazz.com has developed, for the most part, a natural focus on the theoretical and practical aspects of Jazz Improvisation, as this has always been a passion of mine. As I've continued to grow and discover new concepts for myself, I've been able to share these ideas in the form of  blog posts, most often accompanied by free pdf downloads, as well as in book form.

As there is already a profusion of basic "Improv 101" type information available online, it's my desire that this website continue to provide an informative and entertaining resource to all who wish to advance their musical concepts - as I do - to the perpetual next stage of development.

Bobby Stern

So come on in and join me:
                                          
  • check for the latest blog posts, books as well as lots of free downloads: B Natural. See Index of All Blog Posts
  • check out some of my music & vids on RadioB.Tube (NEW! Updated!)
  • Skype Lessons are available.
Contact me at: bobby(at)bobbysternjazz(dot)com
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Follow Me on Twitter @bobbystern

Long on Shortbooks™


What would you play when you see the chord symbols A7#9, F7+5, Csusb9 or DbMaj7+5? What would you "blow" over a D Locrian #2?

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 The Melodic Minor Handbook provides musicians, of all levels, with these answers in presenting a concise, practical, easy to absorb method of exposure, study and practice in the components of Melodic Minor Harmony, and its use within the Jazz vocabulary.

Although the sound of Melodic Minor Harmony has been a staple of Jazz music over the last half century, familiarity among many aspiring musicians with its derivative modes and chord types still seems to remain a mystery; and even though touched upon to a greater or lesser degree by various books and methods, a comprehensive study stressing Melodic Minor Harmony as a unique harmonic universe of its own has been absent. Until now!! 176 spiral bound pages.


"Hats off to Mr. Stern for this extremely well conceived and catalogued book, which I highly recommend to anyone involved in expanding their jazz improv skills. Guess work is eliminated as scales, modes & exercises are cross referenced & presented in all keys. The material presented here will definitely broaden the jazz vocabulary & inspire the imagination of anyone, student or pro, who gives it half a chance."
Dr. Edward Morris - Cleveland, Ohio


"This book takes no prisoners and explains everything you need to know about the scales and modes of Melodic Minor in all keys and includes some great ii-V exercises. I found that as I went though the book, there was always a line that opened my ears and kept me in the shed that extra hour to take it though the keys. This not only helped me to develop my dexterity and harmony, but most of all - my sound - as these exercises really work your chops from the top to the bottom of the horn."
David Angol, Saxophone Professional / Jazz Musician - London, England

Here's a short video of a demo transcription of myself on tenor saxophone using material from the "Melodic Minor Handbook", as in a "real world" playing situation, over minor ii-V7s
around the cycle of 5ths.

Download Transcription PDF

* * * A few great products which I use on a daily basis, * * *
highly recommend, and proudly endorse.

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Here's a short video I put together of myself and my
BRANCHER-FRANCE TSL Tenor
Read the post with more audio examples!

I can't say enough about the folks at BARI and their
reeds & mouthpieces.

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I've been playing Bari reeds exclusively since 1987!

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*  This Month's Featured Post  *
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NEW Shortbook™
"The SUPER 4"
A 4-Note Swiss Army Knife for Improvisers


Ready to take your
Improvisation Skills
to the Next Level?!

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Goin' Up!!

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Unlocking the colors of the
Diminished Scale.

Optimized for tablet viewing.
* * *   350 page interactive PDF eBook   * * *

Look Inside!
www.bookbuzzr.com
More...

* * *   BEST VALUE!!   * * *
"SUPER! Slick Licks That Stick!"

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Vols 1 & 2 of "Slick Licks That Stick!"
in one 556 page PDF eBook, loaded with non-cliche exercises, sequences & etudes

Optimized for viewing on your tablet..
For Improvisers of All Levels!
Available for Immediate Download!

Take a Peek!
www.bookbuzzr.com

Attention Bassists & Trombonists
BASS CLEF VERSION AVAILABLE!
More. . .

Purchasing a book
(or three)
will not only help you
improve your improvisational skills,
it also helps keep this website up & humming!

Now that's good
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all the way around!
Thank you!


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 B Natural - Most Recent Posts

07/27/2022 - NEW Shortbook™ - "The SUPER 4" - A 4-Note Swiss Army Knife for Improvisers
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06/25/2022 - "Nutville" - Joe Henerson's Tenor  Solo Transcribed
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05/26/2022 -
Vamp Like a Champ! - ii-V-iii-VI Arpeggiated Sequence

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04/23/2022 - Check Your Connections! - A Multi-Pentatonic Sequence in Minor 3rds
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03/26/2022 - The Daily BoopaDoop - "LuLu's Back in Town"
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02/24/2022 -
Getting an Angle - "The Eternal Triangle" Bridge
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01/19/2022 - Some Fresh Air for Your Practice Routine!
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12/17/2021 -  Stuff This One in Your Stocking!
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11/25/2021 -
Joe Henderson's Tenor Solo Transcription - "You Know I Care"

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10/21/2021 - Hey! You've Got an ACE up Your Sleeve!
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09/24/2021 - Playin' the Numbers - A Pentatonic Shape in 12/8
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08/19/2021 - "Come Rain or Come Shine" - An All-Weather Etude
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07/20/2021 - A Jug Full of Ammons - Gene Ammons' Tenor Solo Transcription on "Exactlly Like You"
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06/18/2021 - The Andalusian Cadence, Triad Pairs & "Song for my Father"
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05/19/2021 -
'Tranein' with Triads - "Coltrane Changes"
Alternating Major & Minor Triads

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04/21/2021 -
Kalimbaphone? - Try These Pentatonic Scale Spreads!
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03/26/2021 -
'Ning's the Thing! Monk's "Rhythm-a-Ning" - Self Transcription
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02/25/2021 - Monk's Time Again - "Bye-Ya" - A Self-Transcription
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01/26/2021 -
Monk's "Bemsha Swing" - A Self-Transcription
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12/18/2020 -
Step Up Your Game! - The Major 3rds Cycles - Descending & Ascending
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11/25/2020 - The Last 8 - "Night and Day" - JoHen Style
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10/29/2020 - Components: Triad Pairs, Melodic Minor ii-V7--I with a iii-VI Turnaround
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09/25/2020 - Go Ye 4th: Fourtitude + Lines in 4ths

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08/28/2020 - An Etude for a Brighter Day - John Coltrane's "Mr. Day"
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07/31/2020 - Trichord 027 - A Fresh, New Old Piece of Musical Language
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06/27/2020 - The Lines Are Open! - An open 027 Trichordline
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05/31/2020 - Changin' Trane's / Retrosteps - The Ultimate Book on Coltrane Changes
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04/28/2020 - Oh 2 Slick Blues - A 12-Bar Blues for the Socially Distanced
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03/28/2020 - Oh-2-Slick! More Fun & Games With the 026 Trichord
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02/27/2020 - Oh-Two-Six - An Improviser's Guide to the 026 Trichord
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01/29/2020 - Jazzitudes 3 - Ten More Solo-Styled Jazz Etudes With Attitude!
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12/28/2019 - Super Augmented II - Further Explorations
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11/29/2019 - 013 Trichord...Super Auugmented!
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10/29/2019 - Beboppin' the 6th / Diminished Scale - An Essential Element
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09/24/2019 - Vertical Structures - Scale the Heights!
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08/28/2019 - Bluesitudes! One Dozen 12-Bar Blues Etudes With Attitude!
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07/26/2019 - We Got Rhythm Changes!
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06/25/2019 - The Harmonic Minor Primer
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05/29/2019 - Your Daily Bread - 100% Whole Tone
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04/23/2019 - Hexatonic Triad Pairs II - Mixed Pairs
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03/21/2019 - Hexatonic Triad Pairs: Vol 1 - Major Scale Pairs

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02/12/2019 - Pentalogy - A Multi Pentatonic Scale Practical Practice Guide

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01/23/2019 - Triadicisms II - Minor, Augmented & Diminished Triad Workout
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See Index of All Posts

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