Most Popular Lessons

🚨 Soloing Through the Changes Pt. 4 – 7th Chord Outlinings with 9ths & Alterations

In Part 4, we take the 7th chord outlines from the previous lesson and extend them into 9ths, while also adding alterations and inversions on dominant chords. The result is a more melodic, colorful, and expressive soloing vocabulary—still grounded in chord structure, but reaching toward the sound of bebop and beyond.

🚨 Play a Great Blues in 3 Months – Week 7

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been working with phrases drawn from Milt Jackson’s vocabulary, building full choruses from short melodic ideas.

This week, we continue that approach—but with a specific focus:

👉 Using augmented triads over dominant chords

You’ll notice that certain moments in the chorus highlight the sound of the augmented triad (1–3–#5), giving the lines a bit more tension and forward motion.

I think of modal playing as when you hang on one chord for a long time! 

Thanks Glenn For Sending it! 

this is an amazing video for a lot of us. Do this stuff! 

Part 2 coming later this week!

Check out the attached PDF!

Hey guys,

I’m Rupert Lo, and I’m really happy to be part of the faculty here. I’m a vibraphonist, percussionist, and composer based in New York City. I’ll be sharing some of the things I’ve learned along the way—practice concepts, creative approaches, and hopefully some inspiration for your own playing. I also keep a few private lesson spots open each month for students of all ages and levels. My email is below, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to connect!

This is some old great stuff! 

🚨 Soloing Through the Changes Pt. 7 – Soloing with the Diminished Scale

In Part 7, we explore the half-whole diminished scale as a tool for soloing over dominant chords in the blues. This symmetrical scale creates tension and color that can really open up your sound—especially when used sparingly and with intention.

Assignments Due

• Open Closed with minor 2 5 1 iib5 V7b13b9 I-maj7
• Play the melody to Donna Lee, rootless voicings for one chorus, chord tone solo for one chorus, melody one chorus
• Post all of Friedman #10
• Joe Locke - Sticks and Strings
  • When did Joe Locke die?
  • Who is on this cd?
  • Do you like this cd?
  • Can you think of how this CD is a little different from the rest?

Where to go from here

• Talk about transcribing

Assignment

• Trans