I wanted to share some thoughts about my balafon lessons and how they might connect to your primary instrument: vibes, marimba, piano, etc.

Hi vibes friends,
In this lesson I'm going to show you an easy and effective method to harmonize the melody of "Georgia on my Mind".
Make sure to download the pdf before watching the video.

Your homework is to use the same method to harmonize the B section of the standard (there's is a free staff for you to complete in the worksheet)

“Shuffle Vibe Blues” – a fun little song that I composed to play with a left-hand shuffle feel. It’s an AAB form with the A section being a 12 bar blues. It's a bit reminiscent of something the late great Dr. John (Mac Rebennack) would play. I enjoy his music and was listening to some of his songs recently. Gary Burton had told me about Dr. John when I was studying with Gary in the 70s.

Finally was able to play it by ear in 12 keys, thru circle of 4ths. Great exercise!
Next I want to do it in Harmonic Minor. I am teaching myself to hear chord qualities, like the ii7(b5) and minor(Maj7).

Can You Do This?

Balafon to Vibraphone: a unique path to new ideas

I wanted to share some thoughts about my balafon lessons and how they might connect to your primary instrument: vibes, marimba, piano, etc.

I've been recently working on a solo version of Bobby Hutcherson't "Little B's Poem". It's a 16 bar tune with no bridge. The form is simple but getting the feeling of the tune plus feeling good about the time and the groove have taken me quite a long time. Although I've been "dabbling" in the tune for years I feel I'm finally kind of getting it down. It's a killer. Questions like, "What should I play in the left hand?" "Should I play every change?" "Sould I comp during the solo or just play lines?" Lots of things to consider.

Playing a solo vibraphone version of a new composition titled "Minor Haven". The lead sheet can be downloaded via the link in the video description.