This is a relatively new page and at the moment I only have one vamp to share. I may be preaching to the choir, but since up until recently I wasn’t sure about this whole vamp thing, I’ll explain some basics. First of all, you don’t need to play anything in particular over vamps except what sounds good. Your imagination is the limit. All you do is play the vamp on your computer and play over it with your instrument. You don’t have to play any particular tune, just play whatever the vamp inspires. The point is to become comfortable in any given key at any tempo and in any mood. Each vamp you play over invokes a certain mood in a certain key. Record your own vamps and progressions and solo over them. The more variety you have in your practice, the more ability you’ll have to be versatile when it comes to improvising with the band.
This is a vamp that alternates between what I believe is Ebmaj7 and G#maj7. Perfect for vamping in the key of F on the saxophone. It’s at about 100bpm if I recall correctly. An example of the improvising will be available at youtube.
Perfect for jamming on a saxophone in a relatively easy key. On a C instrument (such as guitar) the mode would be Eb mixolydian (Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C-Db-Eb, or WWWHWWHW, or 1-2-3-4-5-6-b7-1, basically an Ionian scale with a flatted 7th). On the saxophone it would be a C scale with a Bb.
But don’t let the above explanation deter you. It’s really quite simple as far as MUSIC goes, it’s just complicated as far as explanation goes! If you feel like playing notes that are not in the mode feel free to. The mode is just a general guide.
