Mirco
310 posts
Sep 12, 2015
7:42 PM
|
Good use of repetition. I like how you develop ideas instead of just throwing everything out there in the first 12 bars.
You have some cool licks and ideas. I like how you don’t stick to one part of the harmonica, but you jump around and do some stuff on the high end. I also like how you leave space ; some of the licks are consciously spare. It takes confidence. Playing with space, and playing repetitively, helps the band play with you.
Try to mess around with textures more. You play a lot of licks consisting of single notes (and I did hear some shakes, too). Can you play octaves? How about flutters? Also, it’s sometimes useful to think in terms of sound, instead of in terms of licks. Maybe you can base a chorus around a wah-wah, or a lick with hand vibrato? Three minutes is a long time. You probably wouldn’t get that much time to solo, but try to think how you can add spice to it.
Good start, man!
----------
Marc Graci
YouTube Channel
|
DaveR
6 posts
Sep 12, 2015
8:34 PM
|
Hey, thanks for the nice feedback and advice. A lot to learn, yes. When I first started to progress, I used to overdo the shakes. So lately I've been trying to stay away from them and and its helped me pick up new things. Flutter and octaves are something I haven't really worked on, but I'd like to learn.
|
J_Bark
70 posts
Sep 13, 2015
6:42 AM
|
I've been playing a little longer than you, but I would say that you are ahead of me in skills. It's probably because I don't practice enough.
I agree that filling a 3 minute jam track is hard. I try to stick to 12 bar ideas when I am at a jam or playing with my garage band buddies. But I am not a fan of the endless soloing that happens at many blues shows, be they jams or top line bands.
I also agree that you have some nice ideas going on, in fact I am going to pick one up and learn it then make my own version! it's at 56 seconds and starts on the 6b (i think).
Good job,
Jerry
|
DaveR
7 posts
Sep 13, 2015
8:35 AM
|
Thank you Jerry. I agree that endless soloing can be a turnoff. I am learning harp to work in with a few songs that my band plays. This is my third home recording of harmonica, and I usually create a 2 to 3 minute backing track of guitar and fake drums, and then alternate soloing with progressions of just playing chords or melodic theme.
Not sure if anyone else is using backing tracks to practice over, but i can make a couple of the ones I've created available for download if anyone is interested.
|
MindTheGap
663 posts
Sep 13, 2015
9:02 AM
|
DaveR that's a good point about backing tracks. The '3 minute backing track' is the common currency of practice recording and can be used for all kinds of purposes. It doesn't mean that everyone is expecting to get up and play a 3 minute solo!
I guess we'll hear a lot of playing-to-3-minute-BTs if people get to post their stuff and it will be interesting to hear how they use them.
Like you said, one way I use them is to work out what I'm going to do for comping and what for solos for a particular song, and make sure there is a clear difference. Other times I'm practising something technical, new or old. And I'll record myself doing that for 3 minutes and listen back to hear what I was really doing :) Normally for my and my teacher's consumption only, but personally I'd be pleased to hear what other people are doing in that regard.
I engaged with the excellent harmonicaboogie.com for a while where there are BTs galore. People there are really making full songs often adding their harp, guitar, vocals etc.
Nice work BTW. What songs are you going to use harp on? Standards or your own compositions?
|
Mirco
312 posts
Sep 13, 2015
9:51 AM
|
@DaveR: Less is more. There are many harp players that overplay, or try to impress by throwing everything they know into a solo.
One of the fundamentals David Barrett has instilled in me is that we should always strive to play repetitively, play musically, and to play in service of the song. It's not about ego. Not every song needs a harmonica (or guitar) solo. One of my favorite activities is just playing accompaniment, or fills, or even "trading fours" with another musician.
----------
Marc Graci
YouTube Channel
|
DaveR
8 posts
Sep 13, 2015
9:57 AM
|
Thanks MindtheGap, I play in a classic rock cover band. So far, songs I've tried to play on include I'm Tore Down, Shakin Shakin Shakes, Roadhouse Blues, Spoonful and Messing With the Kid. We're not really a blues band so I don't expect to be blowing on the majority of songs that we do. I'll have to check out harmonicaboogie.com, thanks for the tip!
|
Rontana
177 posts
Sep 13, 2015
10:52 AM
|
Harmonicaboogie is a fantastic place. I just tripped across it this summer when they were starting their annual jam (which runs from July to Feb). You can record and post a song once every five days, and folks are pretty much constantly providing new backing tracks.
----------
Marr's Guitars
Cigar Box Guitars and Other Unusual Unstruments
|
