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🚨 Harmony Without Chords – Pt. 3: Chromatic Approaches with Dominant Alterations

In Part 3, we continue working with chromatic approaches to the 3rds and 7ths of dominant chords, but with an important addition: altered tones introduced in the second bar of each dominant. These alterations create stronger harmonic tension and help pull the line more clearly toward the next chord change.

 Interesting Open Voicings Pt. 1 by Behn Gillece

🚨 Soloing Through the Changes Pt. 5 – Scale-Based Soloing: Bebop Dominant & Diminished Scales

In Part 5, we shift our focus from arpeggios to scale-based soloing, using the bebop dominant scale as a framework for outlining harmony with a smoother, more linear flow. This scale includes a chromatic passing tone (usually the natural 7th in a dominant scale), allowing you to maintain a strong rhythmic flow while still landing chord tones on downbeats.

I'm working on Monk's Pannonica, which was written for Pannonica de Koenigswarter. Monk spent the last 10 years in the upstairs of her Apartment in New York. 

This is a great tune. I've been working on it for a little bit now. Ballads are great because you can use the pedal more and your sound can be 'wetter'.

Here are two versions of the tune. Of course a Monk version and then a Chick Corea version. He does it a little quicker.

Also is attached is an etude and an mp3 of the etude. I did the etude on my malletkat. I think I have a good vibe sound!

I love listening to guitar players play solo. I can usually imagine playing like that on the vibes. Their approach really lends itself to the vibraphone. 

Watch and study this video and try playing like this on the vibes. There's a line then a chord. If the line is quarter notes, you can play chords through it, but if you're going to play a busy line then no chord, it's too difficult. Get it??? 

Just some stuff to think about with double sticking as well as a way to practice double sticking. 

i do feel that we want to do as much alternate sticking as we can. I know some disagree including David Friedman. So take it for what it's worth to you. But I give you some ways to work on double sticking.

Check out the attached PDF!

Great lesson to break into playing tunes solo. 

Here are links to all the other vids: 

Misty Intro

Lesson 1

Lesson 2

🚨 Play a Great Blues in 3 Months – Week 5

So far in this series, we’ve focused on building a strong comping foundation:

• Guide tones in the left hand
• Smooth voicing movement
• Consistent time and rhythm

This week, we shift the focus toward line development.

👉 Using 3rds and 7ths, we begin outlining the blues with single-note lines, helping you connect harmony in a clear and musical way.