Theory
The stage of Week 2. This week you finish the flat Dm9 → G13 vamp by tinting it with the tension and sus resolution you drilled all week. Same two bars, yet today you confirm with your hands how one tension changes the color completely. Bar 1 is Dm9 (the soft color of the 9th); bar 2 is G13sus4 → G13 (the sus tension melting into the 3rd).
The key is the move in bar 2. On the first two beats, sound G13sus4 (4th = C) for a slightly floating tension; on the last two beats, settle a half-step onto G13 (3rd = B). That moment where one finger on the 3rd string slides from fret 5 to fret 4 is the heart of this vamp. The 9th, 13th, and sus resolution you learned this week are all held in these two bars.
Today it's about color and resolution, not speed. Roll it gently at BPM 75, but let the sus tension sound fully before melting into the 3rd. When the tension vamp rolls in a round, unbroken loop, Week 2 is complete. First, let's lay the bar-1 Dm9 grip on the hand.
▶ Bar 1 is Dm9. 5th string 5th fret root; the 9th (E) on the 2nd string makes the soft color.
See it
Bar 2 starts on G13sus4. The 3rd string 5th fret (4th = C) makes the tension, then soon melts to the 4th fret (3rd = B). This one grip holds all of this week's tension and resolution.
▶ Bar 2 starts on G13sus4. From the 3rd string 5th fret (4th), it soon settles onto fret 4 (3rd).
Now here's the finished tension vamp with the two bars joined into one. This week's result is all held below. Bar 1's 9th color and bar 2's sus resolution link into one flow.
▶ BPM 75. In bar 2, hit G13sus4 (3rd string 5th fret = 4th, C) first, and when it settles a half-step onto the 3rd (3rd string 4th fret = B), the melting resolution unique to neosoul comes out.
Today's practice
0–10 min · Warm-up BPM 65. Warm your hand by grabbing Dm9 and G13sus4 → G13 in turn. Call back the half-step move of one finger on the 3rd string.
10–20 min · Brain training (telling the tension colors apart) With the left hand only, silently draw the vamp. Check with your eyes the spots of bar 1's 9th and bar 2's sus4 → 3rd.
20–40 min · Real tension vamp (BPM 75) Repeat the four bars below without a break. Watch just one thing: whether the sus tension and the 3rd's resolution ring clearly every loop.
▶ BPM 75. Loop the tension vamp twice. Don't miss the sus4 → 3rd resolution every second bar.
40–50 min · Recording / self-feedback (recommended) Record 30 seconds and listen back. Compare last week's flat vamp with today's tension vamp — how much the color has changed.
Done when: You can loop the tension vamp (Dm9 → G13sus4 → G13) at BPM 75 without a break and make the sus4 → 3rd resolution ring clearly. (Week 2 complete!)
Here are just the mistakes that show up most as you roll the tension vamp.
▶ The 2nd string 5th fret is color (9/13); the 3rd string fret 5→4 is the sus4→3rd resolution.
- The resolution sounds flat. Sound the sus4 fully on the first two beats before dropping to the 3rd for it to sound sweet.
- Bars 1 and 2 don't split in color. Remember the spots of the 9th (Dm9) and the 13th/sus (G13) separately.
- It gets messy when the speed rises. Drop the BPM to 65 and win back cleanliness first.
- The vamp keeps breaking. Keeping the pinky anchor (2nd string) between chords connects it naturally.