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beginner forum: for novice and developing blues harp players >
Lots of notes vs few notes
Lots of notes vs few notes
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MindTheGap
1139 posts
Feb 09, 2016
11:42 PM
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Listening to the two versions of Thrill is Gone in the thread Choosing harps for minor songs I was struck again - to put it simply - by how much I like hearing harp accompaniment with fewer notes.
The harp in the 'Bonny B. Plays Harmonica...' version is fantastic, and full of technique and variation, and I'm wowed by it. The harp in the Paul Butterfield version is much more repetitive and sparse.
But, with my non-harp-player-wannabee hat on, reacting purely as a consumer, I could listen to the PB version many times, but not so much the 2nd one.
We were talking about where we want to get to a place where we like our own music. And I take heart from this gut reaction, as it means that I don't have to aim for that level of technical speed/variation to make likeable music. I like simplicity - not just coz I can't play complicated, I actually like it better.
Now thinking as a proto-harp-player, I WAS listening to Bobby B., listening to the detail, thinking, 'ooh I wish I could do that. ooh I can do that one a bit, ooh I recognise that move, ooh let me try that one'. Different thing though.
It's a good reminder to myself that, if/when I do learn something fancy, to use it sparingly.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Feb 10, 2016 12:10 AM
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MindTheGap
1140 posts
Feb 10, 2016
12:16 AM
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...and listening to the SBII 'Cat Hop' in
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/5491513.htm
The actual note choices, on the harp, are pretty simple. Sometimes just one note for long periods. All the energy is in the rhythm and textures and the magic of the SBII note shaping. By contrast the sax is playing a lot more notes and chromatic phrases.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Feb 10, 2016 12:19 AM
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Killa_Hertz
501 posts
Feb 10, 2016
3:53 AM
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Yes the SBW iI thing definatly ties in here. Jason ricci said it like this in an interview i heard yesterday. Paraphrasing ofcourse. ..... SBW II played simple, but he could get away with it because his timbre was phenomenal. Its actually harder to play slow like him, he said. Jason also said when he was learning people told him to learn to play like SBW II and you ll be able to play everything else.
I think all that fast stuff has its place. And it's definatly how i aspire to play, but nobody wants to hear a bunch of fast messy notes.
Also i take your point. ... slow blues is my favorite for this very reason. You can play long soulful notes. And they better be on point or you ain't sounding too good. So don't think it's a simple feat MTG. Just cus you can't play lightning fast doesnt mean the music is in Any way inferior. Actually quite the contrary, it seems.
Goto boise idaho blues club and check out the kain ricci interview I'm talking about. It's old. From when he was a kind. And long. Like an hour long. Lol. But worth listening to.
Edit here's the site
http://boiseblues.org/community-jason-ricci-1995/
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"Trust Those Who Seek The Truth. Doubt Those Who Say They Have Found It."
Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on Feb 10, 2016 4:00 AM
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MindTheGap
1141 posts
Feb 10, 2016
4:18 AM
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Thanks for the link, I'll have a listen.
No, I don't think it's a simple feat. Not at all. I think they are both difficult, I'm identifying what I prefer to hear. I'd actually like to be able to do both, but in the spirit of setting goals, and taking Rontana's good prescription of first and foremost pleasing ourselves, I'd like to play few notes with lots of colour (as Fil said) rather than a sea of fast notes.
I know other people do value speed though, and maybe have John Popper's or Sugar Blue's styles as their target. A while ago HarpNinja started some instruction on rock-oriented harp style, which includes lots of top end fast stuff. Actually he does that very nicely IMO, with plenty of light and shade.
I do think though, as a beginner, I've experienced a pressure to put in more notes as a natural part of progressing to greater skill and complexity. I'm just noting that time and again, I keep coming across songs I really like (rather than appreciate for technical skill) where the harp doesn't actually play many notes.
The logical extreme is songs with one-note solos. They exist and I love 'em. I started compiling a list at one point. How many ways can you play one note? Lots, apparently :)
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Feb 10, 2016 4:23 AM
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Killa_Hertz
502 posts
Feb 10, 2016
5:27 AM
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It just sounded like you felt you were settling by playing less notes. Because you can't play super fast. I was just trying to reassure you that is not the case. I want saying that you thought it was easy.
I'm not a fan of john popperz stuff. I mean i like it ok. But i don't aspire to play that way, let me say it like that. Blues traveler is cool, but i find his playing kinda one trick pony. I know everyone has their style, but i prefer to be diverse. If i get bored with one sound surely anyone listening will.
I know exactly what you mean. I used to try to make as complicated a jam as i could. But more and more im finding, as i break down songs, that simple goes a long way. Kim wilson said something like if you drive your ferrari 100 mph everwhere nobody will care. But put around steadily, and jam on the gas at the right time. This creates the biggest impact. Adam refered to this comment in a video.
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"Trust Those Who Seek The Truth. Doubt Those Who Say They Have Found It."
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MindTheGap
1144 posts
Feb 10, 2016
6:29 AM
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Yes that's a good point. I'd better learn a bit of flash too!
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Feb 10, 2016 6:30 AM
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