bluesnut
48 posts
Dec 21, 2008
10:59 AM
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A guitar guy asked me to accent the beat to help while we are playing. I have not found alot literature on this. Where do you all put the accent on the beat for blues and or jazz? Within a single bar,1&3? 2&4? All 4? somwhere inbetween? Opinions or rules are most welcome.
Last Edited by on Dec 21, 2008 11:00 AM
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Aussiesucker
118 posts
Dec 21, 2008
2:08 PM
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Hi bluesnut I think Adam touches on this subject "importance of keeping the beat" in at least one video, I think it is No24 Front Porch Blues. Adam says that keeping the beat should be done with the foot to free up your harp playing however he also did say it was important to be able to keep an 'in & out' beat with the harp. Anyway you should look at the video for exactly what he says.
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harmonicanick
89 posts
Dec 21, 2008
2:34 PM
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If you look back you will find that Adam stresses the importance of rythym or beat of playing the harp, and is the underwitten text of the instument.
I was a drummer and still am, and play harp percussively ie. on the beat, off the beat whatever..but the soul of the beat, the beating of the bass drum is paramount inside your mind when you are playing with other musicians.
All the notes you play must be aligned with that beat,
it could be pedestrian it could be jazz , it could be soul, it could be folk or country but as a harp player you will be giving added value to the session..so keep that beat in your soul and let it flow.......merry chistmas
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Blackbird
20 posts
Dec 21, 2008
7:06 PM
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Part of accenting the beat relies upon the time signature it's played in. Granted, musical styles like funk put emphasis on the one beat, but as an example, in 6/8 time, the beat is on 1 and 4. in 4/4 time, it's either 1 and 3 or 2 and 4 depending upon which part you want to accent. Next time you're jamming with your guitar player, and you're playing 4/4, ask him which beat he wants accented - matching 1&3 or 2&4 - to add to, or offset the beat.
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bluesnut
51 posts
Dec 21, 2008
8:40 PM
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Aloha All, Thanks for the tips. Harmonicanick, your post leads to other questions. Dose the bass drum sound on the 1&3,2&4 or all in a normal blues pattern. I am also looking for when to start counting 1234, 2234, 3245.... To be spacific, what signals do we look for. It can be difficult figure out to when to start due to the various lead ins. One more. I have noticed that just before the chord changes the drummer ads some extra fill just before the first beat of the next bar. Is this to let everyone in the band know that the chord change is next? I have gone through all of Adams videos and I beleve getting these questions answered is critical to getting the song to sound right and to keep the beat. Black Bird the examples were extremly helpful.
Thank you
Last Edited by on Dec 21, 2008 8:54 PM
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harmonicanick
90 posts
Dec 22, 2008
1:07 AM
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Don't get all hung up counting, relax and flow....lighten up, you have a life long friend in your hand, it won't let you down.
Listen to stuff and play along with it till it comes naturally. Enjoy making noise. Everyone makes mistakes, who cares.
The drummer's not adding some extra fills to let the band know there is a chord change, he's just adding some fill to enjoy himself.Thanks for your very generous praise about considerate drummers signaling the band though.
Go to open mic's and play with different muso's, pick up signals from them. As long as you have the right key harp for the tune go for it.
Merry Christmas
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gene
93 posts
Dec 22, 2008
5:55 AM
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In one of his videos (maybe somebody elses (?)), he says that the drummer usually will do a fill to signal chord changes.
The 1 and 3 are usually accented. Your guitar player wants you to play so that you bring those beats out. That doesn't mean that you have to accent ALL the 1s & 3s, though.
How to find the 1st beat of the measure? You'll learn to feel it. It'll be one of those accented beats.
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