Hi, I have been playing for about 2 years and have gotten pretty good at this, I can make all of the bends required for playing blues. I consider myself a good intermediate player, however, of all the stuff I play when I'm improving none of it sounds all that bluesy. It doesn't sound bad, it just doesn't sound like alot of the stuff thats out there. Can someone please post some good all blues licks that I can work into my solos, or is this something that I shouldn't worry to much about. There seems to be some sort of secret to the blues no matter what you play, guitar, piano, harp. HELP And thank you very much for listening or reading.
Hey stewbone59 you have arrived at more or less the same point as me. I assume you play alone (I do) and there doesn't appear to be much out there for lone players. I'm sure there will be lots of suggestions but for a kick off take a look at Adam's Front Porch Blues on YouTube. This is the sort of thing that I'd like to do but I'm finding it rather a challenge at my current level. It's something I aspire to though. Hopefully someone will point to something a little easier.
I now what you mean. We're all at that point at some time.
Watch Adams videos, especially the earlier ones; I believe they are exactly what you're looking for. They helped me overcome what you're talking about no end. ---------- 'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
Damn, we are all at the same point. I've been doing Adam's lessons (both YouTube and trade bit), and they HAVE helped. Also, I would add that it's important to look around at other players as well, lest you run the risk of sounding ONLY like Adam (I felt that this was happening to me). So I started cruising YouTube and such and when ever I heard some thing some one was playing, sat down with it and tabbed it out. I've been keeping a "journal" of tabs where I write everything. I find that the act of tabbing forces you to think more about timing and groove and note choices, etc, and has started to help my improvisation. Just in the last several weeks, I've found that I'm starting to come up with my own licks and riffs, and that they not only sound bluesy, they are starting to sound like ME...
Ps. Solo harp is crazy hard to play and make sound good.
When I first started playing I really didn't listen to any recorded harp players. My only influences were guys playing live in the clubs in Houston.After watching,learning, practicing and finally playing out I really got hooked. Then I moved to Tennessee and did alot of front porch playing,festival work and just jamming in clubs. My next move was to Illinois and of course ended up hearing and be influenced with some Chicago style but, still didn't care to copy anyone elses playing style. All of this is rolled up into my style. I learned what I could from all my experiences and just kind of created my own style.
I play what I play, I enjoy myself and people enjoy my playing. So I'm told. I will never stop learning or practicing or playing but, I am what I am and that is what I have to offer. I feel I have payed plenty of dues but, still owe plenty more. Even having played for 29 years.
I guess my point is don't worry about sounding bluesy or like some recording. Just play from your heart there are plenty of cookie cutter "Chicago sounding" harp players out there that don't really understand what the music is all about.
I think roundRiver is right. "It is most likely a timing and phrasing issue." What I have found with blues is that it's not enough just to get your bends in and know your blues scale.
Maybe listening to players like Muddy Waters and Lightning Hopkins will help. How they're are using their guitars - chords, bends, single notes. Also listen to how they use their voices. This helped me a lot.
I think it is really also important to get the 12 bar progression locked in, so it's playing in your head while you are playing. This will help understand how tension is created in relation to the I, IV & V chords.
Adam talks about repetition and repetition with variation being one of the most powerful tools you have as a blues player. Also, figure out how and where to use that "blue third" which Adam talks about.
Last Edited by on Aug 25, 2009 6:05 AM
I have been listening carefully to what good blues guitarists do as well. The actual choice of target notes and the placement of the blues scale within the progression makes a big difference on how it sounds. It's pretty easy to just slap the blues scale into a progression on guitar or harp and have it "go" with the progression. But it doesn't sound "as bluesy" as what you hear next by BB king.
A lot of what i'm hearing wouldn't be considered the most correct way to do it in, for example, folk music (just one example). It may be mostly the same notes, but it's where you put them that creates the bluesy sound and some tension in spots.
Also, there are single notes that can be carried through several measures to create tension, suspension and resolution without ever playing a second note. I have been doing a lot of single note playing lately to find these notes and where to insert them for maximum effect, and air conservation.. lol.
I think listening is the key. I was not a blues guy by any stretch of the imagination before this February. I am a rank amateur and have tons to learn but listening is helping me to add bluesy sounding harp to the band that chose me for an altogether different role. This Friday, we gig with harp solos in over 50% of our songs and harp rhythm and/or fill on most of the rest. I am even carrying an entire song as the only lead instrument and the lead guitar player is playing rhythm! I think my band is doing this because they hear what I have been listening to and applying. I believer there is no substitute for listening critically to yourself and others. Really break it down, then wood shed it.
"Steal" or "Comp" licks from the songs that you think sound "Bluesy".
If you think Billy Branch sounds Bluesy, listen to "Taking out the time". It's a really easy song played on a "G" harp. The only hard part is the timing and Breath. If you like adam's music, steal some of his riffs and licks. .
---- Nat Riddles.......
.
One of The Bluesiest men I've heard. Steal his riffs. Adam has a "Satan and Nat on the street" recording. There are Tons of parts in there that are extremely bluesy and easy to get. Buy that, you will get a whole bunch of licks from it. I promise you. $1 (I believe)
Here's an even better idea.... Buy ALL of the music adam has on the street. . The songs are all around 10 min. If there's the same groove for 10- 15 min. and the harp player is playing most of the time.....
there ARE going to be licks and Whole Progressions that you WILL be able to get......STEAL Those and change them a little then play the same progression again, only different.
