intermediate

Here's a video where I talk about just that, playing too many notes. It's a problem every vibe player has. It's a tough one to solve since we don't have to breath to play!

Listen carefully, I mess the time up in this video in one spot. It's not too obvious. Can you hear it?

Here are comping examples based over the tune 'Quet Nights'. There are 3 examples. Each one varies a little bit. The last 2 especially work well with no accompaniment. For example if you comping in duo with only a flute.

Check out the rhythms and the consistency of the rhythms. They repeat over and over to create a groove.

Check out these little snippets of comping based on a Brazilian feel. I basically took the guitar and bass parts and put them together. I added seconds to the bass line to add a percussive sound to the rhythm. The guitar more so than the piano plays a very rhythmic part in this music. Also that fact that I grew up playing guitar, I was drawn to this instrument. Listen to real Brazilian music and check out the guitar. You'll hear these rhythms. Try and recreate them with the feel that you hear.

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.

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.