I always like that progression and I'm not a theory guy, but I have my version on why it works and what it's about. I was actually going to make podcast about it, but I thought instead I'd open it up for discussion first.

What do you think about that progression? Why is it you can slip in a C#dim in between a repeating dominant chord??

I'll leave it at that.

Everybody by now must know about Pandora. What a great web-app.

I've been using it lately to get myself in a vibe. I've felt a little stale about my voicings and things, so I created a Hindemith radio channel and have been listening to that, focusing on it and also as I do other things.

Here's a long podcast on the tune Solar and ways to develop the harmony and to create lines over the altered dominant chords.

You know to do lessons like this and then try to play decently is really tough. So make sure you know the tune solar before you listen to this. I don't fully name all the chords, just because I'm trying to stay in the 'zone' and that's making it a little difficult for me to use labels and chord symbols. You'll see what I mean. But if you know the tune and go slow through this lesson, I think you'll get what it is I'm trying to get across.

So the M-48 has a big flaw. Those rails you take off bend down. then the notes don't dampen evenly or even well.

So Nico is making me a new keybed for the M-48. Then I'll have a great instrument. The keybed will fit on top of my M-48 legs. Is that cool?? Only Nico could do this!

Then my next step is to save more money and get him to make me a set of bars that will replace my Musser bars!

I also have an old M-55 and the legs are bent. So he's making me replacement legs for the M-55 which will make it sturdy again.

I call up Mike each week. We have great conversations about music and life and mallets. Usually in each conversation Mike tells me a joke. I begged him to let me start the MIKE BALTER JOKE OF THE WEEK. After a few months of asking him he agreed.

Mike is a great guy who really cares about the world of percussion passionately. He's a great friend of mine and someone whom I really respect!

Tarik was talking about playing 'un' diatonic lines and how it's difficult to hear and do.

I'm going to make audio or video to go along with this but I thought I'd post this first.

Here's an etude, listen to it. It's based on Solar. Fill in the chords and study each voicing. At the very least play the chordal part down and work on your comping. Then the next section is a solo where I alter the lines on the dominant chords. Remember a simple rule: If the dominant chord is going where it's supposed to go, alter it. If not then don't.

G7 | C maj = naturally goes to C (yes) alter it.

Is there any interest from the pan players about coming up for the workshop. If so I'd come up and be part of the workshop.

Leave Any comments here.

"The Veteran"

Hey guys,

I'm a real believer of setting goals. They at least tell you if you're on track or off track. I think it's ok to be either of them, but the thing that's important is that you know whether you're on track or off track.