Sound GREAT on a blues using only these 4 shapes!
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- Опубліковано 4 лют 2023
- I find myself time and time again looking for ways to get my students playing. I believe that learning improvisation needs to be musical and fun from the very beginning. You DON'T need to start with all of the scales and modes.. in fact I think it's better if you don't. It's so easy to have TOO MUCH information at your disposal, especially if you are searching the internet for jazz improv lessons. The information is very good - but too much of it is useless.
In this lesson, I demonstrate something that I've done countless times with students - many of whom are classically trained musicians learning to improvise for the first time. Using "shapes" is a great way to just get playing - they are essentially just small note clusters that fit well with any given chord. There are infinite ways you could organize this for yourself, but I think just this one example will open your mind to new ways you can practice improvisation without getting bogged down the "too much information" rabbit hole.
As I always say - "less thinking - more playing!".
If you learn and memorize these shapes visually on the instrument (doesn't even have to be a vibraphone!), you will be able to play freely and then just use your own musical sense of rhythm and phrasing to construct a great solo.
I've demonstrated this on a minor blues in C - similar to Mr. PC, Stolen Moments, or Equinox (although that's originally in C#, many people play it in C.) I explain how I decided to use each of the shapes, and then I demonstrate exactly how I would practice improvising with it.
I hope you find this video helpful! Please subscribe, like, comment, etcetera if you do.
Thanks for watching,
-Tim
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That’s some sweet playing there.
It's the shapes that are important, regardless the intellectual description. If you know the Ebmaj7#11 shape, this is easy to transpose to different keys. The shape frees you from thinking. so, the interval C to Eb is a minor 3rd. For F Blues, F goes to Ab, Using Abmaj7#11 shape for soloing over the F-7 , works on F7 too.
Agreed!
Not only are you an excellent player but a supreme master teacher. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Muchas gracias desde Puerto Rico.
Beautiful thanks!
Always nice to have a roadmap into some instant returns. Thanks man! Kind regards, Daniel
IP,
Cool
Joe T
Tim, you da man! A great musician and educator. A rare bird to have both of these skills.
So happy when we get a video like this Tim. Been working on this kind of idea on guitar for What is this thing called love, though the voicings need to be a little different on guitar.
great video. I never hear people talk about visual shapes on piano, guitar, bass, and vibes enough
That’s because it is the secret. Shhhh!
This is a really great video for all instruments to help visualize chord shapes and how you can use them in a live solo!
Thanks Tim!
In jazz there is a popular habit of saying for example : "I'm playing an Eb maj7#11 over Cm." For me this is rather confusing, I prefer to always think of the actual chord of the music. With this I not only keep track in my head of the real harmonic situation, but I can decide within a split of a second to include other chord notes, extensions of alterations etc, which means: more freedom and flexiblity of thinking.
I agree! It took years before that idea clicked with me.
It would be great if you could do a follow up using "Line Up"/"All of Me" by Lennie Tristano. Lennie takes this idea to a whole 'nother level. I can barely get through the first complete chorus without my head spinning, Lol.
I dont own a vibrophone but i have plenty of gutars and these harmony videos are compleltely rewiring my brain
These spicy voicings are just so friggin spicy!
Oh man, love this channel ❤️🧐🎉🎊👍🤘💥😯
Thanks for putting this out Tim! Also, love the new album (For Good People).
You’re welcome and thanks!
sweet
Would this apply to the Dominant 12 Bars Blues? And how would that be different?
Sure- just use major thirds on the C and F chords instead.
These are the PC chords right?
Mr. PC? Yeah.
Sweet! I was able to see it. This is also helpful to learn more about how to voice on vibraphone yeah?