Lesson

Here we will discuss basic chord voicings.

This section will cover grooves. Ethnic and other grooves. When it comes to ethnic grooves like Latin and Brazilian ones, I don't consider myself an expert. This is mainly for the reason that I didn't grow in Brazil or Cuba. Those musicians are the real experts!

However I have played with many great musicians who were truly experts in these styles. They gave me tips and advice and ways to learn and adapt the music to the vibraphone. This is what I can pass along to you.

This is a difficult chord study etude. It's straight eighth notes and based on 'Blues for Alice' changes. Definitely not a performance piece but it will get you moving around the instrument and working on chord melody ideas.

When I write etudes I really try to work on aspects of live playing. Most of my etudes will be centered around tunes and focus on accompanying yourself playing a melody and soloing. Some of the etudes attempt to show how little you really have to play to accompany yourself and make the harmony work. There's a real misconception in my opinion about how much you have to play to accompany yourself in a solo setting. I don't think the vibes should be played like a piano. They're not a piano, they're a vibraphone. I try to reflect that as much as I can in these duets.

Here's a great warm up exercise and a great exercise for your hands and your mind.

You play all the modes of a Major Scale all in a row, that is continuously.

Here's a mide file of what it sounds like:

You should get the idea. The scales are in 7/4, up 2 octaves and back then immediately start the next one. If you need some help below is a link to a pdf that shows you via notation.

Everything about Scales and Modes

Play along with the duets. Play vibes or even marimba and add your part and then upload it for others to check out!

I created these so you can get some ideas on how to comp for other instruments. Also this will help you're solo playing.

A couple things to consider:
1. If you can accompany me in this setting then when you play with a bass things will be even simpler. In this setting your voicings have to be very clear, you have to do all the work.

2. If you are in settings when you have to accompany another soloist with the support of a bass working like this will help you.

Here is a chord tone solo I wrote out based on the same chords as Blue Bossa. You should play this solo, memorize it and then try and play it in different keys! You can see the solo below as well as download the pdf which is larger.

Since this is a chord tone solo, I only use the chord tones in the solo. I just go up to the 7th.

Click here to download the pdf