# Saxophone Tricks of the Trade — Jazz & Blues Techniques

> Jazz and blues saxophone techniques, improvisation, and advanced playing methods. (iPhone/iPad app by MDECKS MUSIC, LLC.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/saxophone-tricks-of-the-trade/id923399239 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [MDECKS MUSIC, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/566767005)
- Category: Music, Education
- Price: $9.99
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings · 3 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.1 · 14 MB
- Languages: American English, European Spanish
- Released: 2014-10-09
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/saxophone-tricks-of-the-trade/id923399239/reviews.md

## What is Saxophone Tricks of the Trade?

Essential Jazz & Blues Saxophone tricks of the trade. Play 4 against 5, Motivic Development, Pentatonics over Altered chords, and much more.

Award winner saxophonist Mario Cerra (Boston, USA) will explain and demonstrate 20 musical elements that you can easily incorporate to your playing. 

The application contains video tutorials and demonstrations, PDF files with transcriptions and practice charts, audio tracks for practice and much more.
From saxophone technique to improvisation, multiphonics, effects and articulation, this app will keep you busy for a long time. Options include all PDF files and audio tracks needed for soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, as well as videos and demonstrations in English and Spanish.

Learn how to growl, bend notes, rhythmic displacements, sophisticated ways to use pentatonic and blues scales and much, much more.

Here’s a complete list of topics in this app:

1-	Lester: Using overtones to create a variety of tonal colors
2-	Mix Them Up: Using overtones to create a variety of colors
3-	Side D: Three different fingerings for the middle D
4-	Dexter: Effect for Bb-G trill
5-	John’s way: Example of multiphonics
6-	The Wolf: How to make your horn growl
7-	Slide: Glissando, or bending notes
8-	Ghosts: Ghosting and accenting notes for great articulation
9-	The “Cannon” Effect: Great combination of trills
10-	S-S-P: Skip-Step concept on pentatonic scale
11-	S-S-B: Skip-Step concept on blues scale
12-	Jazz it up: How to produce an essential accent in jazz
13-	Tension: Using a pentatonic scale on altered dominant chords
14-	Release: Using a pentatonic scale on Maj 7th chords
15-	Blues and Motives: Creating strong motives within the blues scale
16-	Four and One: Playing four consecutive 8th notes and one 8th rest
17-	Three on Four: Rhythmic displacement: 3/4 over 4/4 
18-	Five on Four: Rhythmic displacement: 5/4 over 4/4
19-	Flashy: Bend and trill
20-	Pure Expression: How to practice vibrato

## Key features

- Jazz & Blues Saxophone Techniques
- Video Tutorials & Demonstrations
- PDF Transcriptions & Practice Charts
- Audio Tracks for Practice
- Multiphonics & Effects
- Articulation & Improvisation

## Recent user reviews (3 of 3)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/saxophone-tricks-of-the-trade/id923399239/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Amazing!

*2014-10-30*

This is one of my favorite apps on the AppStore. It is very informal and helps me become an amazing musician! It gives you a hands on approach to awesome techniques to learn on the saxophone. I would definitely recommend this app to any saxophonist who wants to step up their game and improve their skills. This app is sensational and there for I am giving it 5 stars!

### 5/5 — Extremely helpful

*2014-10-29*

This app includes great and clear demonstrations of the skills along with examples of how it is used in playing. It also has sheet music for the different skills and backing tracks that can be in the key of either Eb or Bb. This app will greatly benefit anybody who is looking to acquire more skills to make their playing better.

### 5/5 — Excellent

*2014-10-22*

This is so cool!! I am having so much fun with this app!
There are a ton of creative ideas that can evolve from these lessons.
Video tutorials are very clear and straight to the point. I could quickly incorporate several of these ideas in my performances in just a few days.
I particularly like being able to print the music examples and practice charts, and play them along with the background tracks provided.
I would strongly recommend this app to any saxophonist who wants to improve their game!

## Frequently asked questions about Saxophone Tricks of the Trade

### What saxophone types are supported by Saxophone Tricks of the Trade?

Saxophone Tricks of the Trade provides resources for soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones. This ensures comprehensive learning for a wide range of players.

### Does Saxophone Tricks of the Trade offer lessons in multiple languages?

Yes, the application features videos and demonstrations available in both English and Spanish. This caters to a broader international audience of saxophone students.

### How much does Saxophone Tricks of the Trade cost?

Saxophone Tricks of the Trade is a paid application, priced at $9.99. This one-time purchase grants access to all its features and content.

### What kind of advanced techniques can I learn with Saxophone Tricks of the Trade?

You can learn techniques such as playing 4 against 5, motivic development, pentatonics over altered chords, growling, bending notes, and rhythmic displacements. The app covers 20 musical elements for advanced playing.

### Is Saxophone Tricks of the Trade available on all devices?

Saxophone Tricks of the Trade is supported on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. It is designed for Apple's mobile ecosystem.

### How often is Saxophone Tricks of the Trade updated?

The latest version of Saxophone Tricks of the Trade is 10.15.2020, which was last updated on October 16, 2020. Users can expect content from this release.

### What is the age rating for Saxophone Tricks of the Trade?

Saxophone Tricks of the Trade has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for a wide range of users, including younger learners.

### Does Saxophone Tricks of the Trade have ads?

No, Saxophone Tricks of the Trade does not contain advertisements. As a paid application, it offers an uninterrupted learning experience.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 10.15.2020 — 2020-10-16

New, easy-to-use UI. Load a lesson with the score and backing track and play.

### 1.5 — 2016-11-23

Now compatible with iPad Pro

### 1.4 — 2015-05-27

Updated interface with easy rate and share buttons.

### 1.2 — 2014-10-24

Fixed iOS 7 issue: there was an issue for users still running ios7 (the app was crashing) but it has been resolved

### 1.1 — 2014-10-08

No release notes.

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## More apps by MDECKS MUSIC, LLC

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All apps by MDECKS MUSIC, LLC: https://appshunter.io/developer/566767005

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*