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I've been playing scales 15 minutes a day and totally digging what I'm coming up with. I like being good at alternate sticking which I means I do that the most. So I've been forcing myself to come up with double stickings for scales. I can feel it in my muscles when I do these scales and some of them are tricky.

Instead of doing everything around major modes I've been messing around with different modes mainly for the sounds.

Here are two scales and there sticking.

For the one in Ab start (of course) with L and then start with R. Actually this is G Locrian, right?

Ok, all this talk about sticking, I thought I'd post something I think and get everyone's response.

I think to really play lines and play them spontaneously you need to totally have your alternate sticking down. That's the most important sticking there is. For me all this double stroke stuff is cool, but the ultimate fluid line comes out of mastering alternate sticking.

Just my opinion and the way I teach. Give me your takes on this.

I think if you master alternate sticking and alternate sticking on C maj, that then you can start switching things up.

I did this quickly for a student and figured I'd post it here in case any of you guys want to try it.

It's in the key of Eb. It's Fmin7 Bb7 Ebmaj7 C7 progression.

Look at each voicing and name the chord.

Remember these are vibes voicings. For many of them there will be no roots so keep the progression going in your mind.

Get it?

I see some enharmonic mistakes. Like Fb which is E of course.

Anyway check it out. If you fill it out and post it, I'll look it over.

I decided that I would try posting some very very short etudes.

It's the conquering of material and ideas and technical things that make us play better and better. It's certainly not a half assed attempt at something that makes us better. I think half ass attempts at things help us be better half assed players. Great attempts at things no matter how big or how small make us great(er) players.

So this should be our goal right? To master something. I tell my students, if you come in with only 4 bars completed, they have to be played really really well!

Here's the first etude of mine for Giant Steps. Lots of open, sus sounding 4th voicings. These work great for this tune. Enjoy!