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Here's a Quick Practice Tool - One and One

Real simple. Pick something. Play it and record it listen back and do it over and over for an hour or so.

Record then listen to it. Just keep the cycle going and don't interrupt the cycle.

Real simple real easy. Maybe a head to a tune? maybe a solo? Maybe a written out piece.

Play and record it. Sit and listen to it back immediately and then play and record it again and do this over and over.

Check Out Guitar Players

Check out the first part of this video. Matt is a local guitar player. What struck me is watching him play solo and realizing that would totally translate to the vibes. There's a major conceptual study there in playing the vibes solo.

I've learned so much from listening to guitar players play and especially play solo. They have the same problems we have. I just thought I'd show you guys this.

The Brain

Try this experiment. Next time you can't get something, or you're sort of getting it. Stop and come back to it in 10 or 15 minutes. In my practicing I usually get it right the first time. Maybe after that I'll start screwing it up, but I think my brain has had time to process the information and store it? Am I nuts? And then I come back and all is cool. After I do that a few times, I have the tune or lick or whatever down.

Something like that.

Rudresh Mahanthappa

I was listening to the tune Baladhi. When the guitar takes a solo Rudresh accompanies him. It was really cool. I learn alot from things like that. Because I think sometimes, ok that's my left hand and i can see how simply i can accompany myself.

I want everything as simple as i can get it. I don't always do that, but that's what's in my head.

If you haven't checked out Rudresh, you should take a moment. It's pretty crazy and very interesting music with an Indian influence. Deep sh*&.