intermediate

I've always admired of how well piano players can play changes with walking bass lines. It's not so easy to accomplish on vibes. The way I attempt this requires some mallet dampening to keep everything sounding full and clean.

To get started you might try writing out a walking line to practice with, but ultimately you want to be able to create your voicings and "walking bass" spontaneously.

Check out the lines!

i watched tony's video on left handed technique and started playing in C dorian like the video with those ideas

This is a good example of a basic solo arrangement for vibes. Mallet dampening should be used on the first 16 bars of the melody to keep the notes from running together. You won’t be able to use the pedal because it will be down to allow the chord voicings to ring.

Print the head arrangement HERE

This lesson will be more valuable after you learn the tune! - Tony Miceli

Another great lesson from Gary Burton! This is Part 1, so more is on the way!

Gary sent me this lesson to post on the site. It's a great lesson on solo playing. (I think part 2 is on the way)
I think it's really incredible that he is taking the time to do this for us! - Tony Miceli

This is a basic arrangement for vibes or marimba of the popular jazz standard "Afternoon in Paris". It demonstrates a couple different ways to accompany a melody - using a counter line or a block chord. It also employs a simple pedal point for the left hand during the bridge.

A PDF of the arrangement can be downloaded HERE. So print down a copy and try it out!

Ted...