This is why I bought the MalletKat. To play stuff like this with my shirt off. Now wouldn't that be cool??
Some of you guys are NOT going to dig this. But some of you are going to flip. I flipped.
Simple ideas that will help keep the harmony moving.
This is just to give you an idea of a concept and way of playing.
It eventually will let you play lines with two mallets while using your outside left mallet to comp.
Check out the pdf below.
You should know the tune. Write in the names of all the chords. Play all the voicings in time. Once you have it down, add rhythms.
Here is take two of Autumn Leaves with some thoughts on improv. A simple technique is to play a motive and move it around the scale. The strength of the motive allows it to be played out of the scale of the underlying chord or used over a reharmonized chord. I'm doing this at the beginning of my solo. The motive is a simple three note scalar motive that I'm moving around. When it sounds out, I'm playing A, B, C# during the measure of the A-7b5. The dissonance creates the interest. If everything is always perfect and played in the scale with a minimum of tension, it can get pretty boring.
Here's a clip of Billy and I playing the classic Autumn Leaves. We did two takes. This was first tune of the day that we played. The topic of comping has been popular on the site with Behn doing some nice lessons. This clip shows some various comping possibilities.
Some of the techniques include double stops, single note walking type bass lines, pedal point (on the bridge), reharmonization, use of guide tone lines, stacking voicings, open versus closed voicings, chord arpeggiation, counterpoint with the soloist, etc.
I did this quickly for a student and figured I'd post it here in case any of you guys want to try it.
It's in the key of Eb. It's Fmin7 Bb7 Ebmaj7 C7 progression.
Look at each voicing and name the chord.
Remember these are vibes voicings. For many of them there will be no roots so keep the progression going in your mind.
Get it?
I see some enharmonic mistakes. Like Fb which is E of course.
Anyway check it out. If you fill it out and post it, I'll look it over.
http://www.vibesworkshop.com/video/open-and-closed-voicings-video/tonym…
Here's the link to your next assignment:
POST YOU AUDIO HERE. NOT ON THE OTHER PAGE.
I've also attached the pdf here as well. You can print that out to help you.
And also I've pulled in all the open and closed lessons on the site. So you have plenty of info.
(If a few of you guys want to go over this with me, I'll come out to the school one night)
(And if a few of you guys want a little general workshop and we can do it in the evening, I'll come out one night and we can hang)
Looking for some help on Angel Eyes, and ballads in general. I feel like there is just so much rhythmic possibility in ballads, help me figure out what I am missing!
Thanks!!
-Drew