intermediate

🚨 Playing in 3/4 – Pt. 4: Expanding the Line

In Part 4, we continue developing melodic phrasing in 3/4 by working with longer lines and wider interval movement. These examples stretch across barlines, helping you feel how phrases can flow beyond the measure while keeping a consistent pulse. The challenge here is to maintain clarity, evenness, and direction through the longer gestures.

In this lesson you’ll:

🚨 Playing in 3/4 – Pt. 3: Melodic Shapes and Flow

In Part 3, we move from comping to linear phrasing, focusing on short melodic shapes that naturally fit the 3/4 feel. These lines are designed to help you internalize how melody flows within triple meter—each phrase should feel like a complete, three-beat gesture rather than a sequence of notes.

🚨 Playing in 3/4 – Pt. 2: Syncopated Comping and Forward Motion

Part 2 builds on the foundation from Part 1 by introducing syncopated rhythms and offbeat chord placements. These variations are designed to create a natural sense of forward motion while keeping the 3/4 pulse grounded. The goal is to develop balance—maintaining a steady groove while adding rhythmic interest and contrast.

In this lesson you’ll:

🚨 Feeling in 3 – Pt. 1: Comping in 3/4 🚨

We’re kicking off this new series by exploring comping rhythms in 3/4, one of the most versatile and expressive time feels in jazz. This lesson focuses on short ii–V progressions that develop your sense of pulse, articulation, and balance between hands.

In 3/4, it’s easy to think in strict “1–2–3,” but the best players treat each measure as a flowing three-beat phrase. By practicing these patterns slowly and evenly, you’ll build a natural, swinging pulse that feels relaxed and centered.

There is no such thing as a great musician without GREAT time.

I talk a bit about studying chords and voicings. We all have to do it, how are you going to do it? 

So here is the second of three chord melodies. 

I have the pdf and I have the MalletKat version. You can hear basically what's happening with the sheet music. 

I think you can get a lot out of this. You have to know the chords and inversions really well. I think when I just play the lines it makes sense and you here the harmony. That's the goal right. I will post my own version of stella asap. 

Here is a lesson with an etude. I use the tune Green Dolphin Street and I play a chordal solo. There's very little that monophonic here. I tried to hit always with 2,3 or 4 mallets. 

I played a few choruses of Green Dolphin Street and transcibed it. 

I also talk about little bit about this series. I will continue it by doing a video for each of the technical ways I am doing this. 

Check out the transcription below.

Friedman 9