Working on the bebop dominant scale is important. This is a mixolydian scale with a half step between the root and the 7th. So in the key of C the scale descending would be.

C B Bb A G F E D C

Print out the pdf, The first chord is a D7, you write in the chords and look at each bar and the notes. Play this exercise, in fact memorize it.

Can you make up your own bebop dominant scale licks?

I have two tracks here, one with the melody from the pdf and one where you can make up your own stuff and cycle it through the cycle of 5ths.

“Moon River” by Henry Mancini. Had a little time before a meeting today. An excerpt of some practicing in one of the Berklee percussion department practice rooms.

Stella By Starlight by Victor Young
Solo Vibe

Amos,
Try and memorize the chords on the sheet music. Think about the fact that where those notes are and however they are mixed up, as long as the bass player plays the bass note, it is that chord.

Do you get it?

I do think vibesworkshop has turned into a gold mine of information. I can say that, because I don't get all the credit. If I would have made this a site where just I was the teacher, it would have never grown into what it is.

Off the subject, now my goal is to keep it going. And that's very difficult for many reasons. But I'm trying.

Uh oh!!!!!!

Morgan Wallbridge is an amazing up and coming vibe player. She transcribed our performances of Joy Spring.

I would like to see some of you play the transcriptions. Who's up for it.

Back at Berklee today for registration. Happy to get back to the college after a nice break during my sabbatical. Got in early since traffic into town was a breeze and had a little time to shed on a Marimba One. This is an “on the fly” run through of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s classic “Chega de Saudade”.