I think we've all fallen in love with Joe's tune, 'Sword of Whispers'. I hope you guys all have Joe's CD 'Sticks and Strings'. It's a beautiful CD. Guitar and Vibes were made for each other, and if you didn't know that, this CD will show you. The playing is phenomenal.

I asked Joe if I could write up an arrangement on his tune 'Sword of Whispers' and post it here for subscribers. Joe graciously agreed. So here it is.

I'm also working up a solo version. This tune is so fun to play!

Whoa!

I couldn't wait for Tony's etude so I started working with the Sword of Whispers lead sheet on Joe's site. This is a demo recording to put down some ideas. I was mainly trying to get the notes and some harmonies. I need major work on my rhythm. I tried playing along with http://www.metronomeonline.com/ but it only can help so much.

Anyway, you know where the Stop button is.

Barry

I am curious how many players put bass in the right channel vs. the left channel. How many don't care either way. Having played keyboard forever, I feel bass should go on the left, but I hear many (most) other vibes panned the other way.

I've heard that a reason to pan bass to the right would be for an audience perspective but, especially for lessons, it would make sense to me to pan for the player's perspective, i.e., bass on left.

Barry

i hope mr.locke don´t mind that i did my version of his beautiful song.i am not too pleased with the solo part but in one take i couldn´t do any better than this...anyway here it is...

The best cart out there, I think.

Some time ago, Tony started a "gig story" series. This one here is by Paul Emil Breitenfeld, AKA Paul Desmond. It's to be found, among other things in relation to Desmond, on http://www.puredesmond.ca/. It's a most humorous gig story written by the guy who thought he sounded "like a dry Martini". We can all do with a bit of humor these days, can't we ?
I've attached it as a PDF file.

Ok, all this talk about sticking, I thought I'd post something I think and get everyone's response.

I think to really play lines and play them spontaneously you need to totally have your alternate sticking down. That's the most important sticking there is. For me all this double stroke stuff is cool, but the ultimate fluid line comes out of mastering alternate sticking.

Just my opinion and the way I teach. Give me your takes on this.

I think if you master alternate sticking and alternate sticking on C maj, that then you can start switching things up.

finally had some time to set up the mikes ....

enjoy