Lesson

Keeping lines sounding really clean and clear is tough with vibes. It's easy to let notes ring together and just as easy to let notes ring together that shouldn't be. We have 3 tools to control ringing - the pedal, mallet/hand dampening, and using dead strokes.

I use dead strokes all the time to keep my lines sounding as clean as possible. This video clip demonstrates one example of where using dead strokes can make your playing sound just a bit better. The better you become at listening for notes ringing that should'nt be the better your playing will sound.

Here's some ideas for converting 4/4 standards into 3/4 standards.

Some ideas for when doublings are actually a good thing!

A simple trick on separating the hands while comping to add variety.

Here's a logical practice approach to comping.

Some tips on melodic voicing.

Here's some minor idea adjustments for our TOTM, If I Were A Bell.

I made this for a student and thought I'd share it. We did it on the fly.

Practice page one in all the keys. Also page two.

Use the closed and open positions and then go through all the open and closed voicings. Remember the rules are the same as you move to the SAME notes to other voicings. If a note moved in one voicing it WILL move to the same place in all the other voicings.

Page three just analyze.

Remember: you don't need the roots. It's not Emin7 It's Cmaj. UNLESS you see an F# then it will sound more like Emin 9 than Cmaj7.