Most Popular Lessons

The A Train study is an in depth look at a tune. Tunes unlock secrets to harmony and improvising. In a way, a tune is a well thought out solo! A prepared one! And in a way a solo is a quickly conceived melody over a tune. That's not quite true but you get the idea.

The A train study is a way to really work through this tune and learn the nuances, see what you can take over to your improvisation and work on your chords, chord melodies and solo playing.

Check out the part on windshield wipers and the part about the orchestra.

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.

Warren is a pretty heavy cat in my book!

Bluesette is a great tune to study because of all the ii Vs. This is one of those tunes that is you really work hard on it, you're practicing many other tunes since they'll have similar changes.

Musicians usually play it in either Bb or G, so at the very least you should work on it in at least those keys. Here are a some different things to help you study Bluesette.

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This is a clip from PASIC 07 that I saw a long while back but just ran across again. It is an interesting concept presented in an entertaining way.

James

Is it or isn't this my grip! Who knows! Someone else named and I've written the most extensively about it. Call it what you want, but I think it's a great grip to play vibes with. Sort of has the best of both worlds.

My favorite vibe player Victor Feldman uses it. That alone is enough reassurance that this is a very effective vibraphone grip. Check out the vids!