Yeah! I’m thinking about the value in playing these songs in the note-for-note way. Obviously there’s the simple joy of playing them, and sometimes there is an opportunity to present them , but I’m thinking of the longer term benefits For 1 thing of course one learns some licks and develops awareness of how things go together. Timing will be enhanced I think. Maybe the main thing though, is something you demonstrate very nicely here ROGonzaB, which is about how to get ‘that tone’. There are more than a couple of places in the video where you play the tone very nicely indeed. Little Walter is one player who is great to study from this angle I think. I’m sure you will know what I’m saying; it’s after you get the notes in the right places but it still doesn’t sound ‘right’, and you start to work on how to make the sound more like the record. That’s when the thing kicks in. It’s more than bending to pitch. Anyway, I hear you getting things happening in your playing now. It’s exciting! I’ve heard examples of your work for a few years and it’s really noticeable now that you are seriously lifting your game. Great!
"it’s after you get the notes in the right places but it still doesn’t sound ‘right’, and you start to work on how to make the sound more like the record."
YES!!
You know the problem whit tabs (for harmonica at least) is that when you hear the opening line of Sad hours it sounds cool, but when you try to play this -3 -4 -5 tab it sounds lifeless. Of course, the first thing that you need is know what notes to play, but, as you say, the fun is when we try to make those notes sound good. That is the true learning experience.
This has been a exiting year for me and my relationship whit the harp.
It started as a failure.
Last year I was trying yo record a CD. A handfull of songs whit friends (both great players and musicians). We rehersal a few times, but when the recording day came they where not happy whit my level of playing.
We recorded this song that day:
They told me that I needed lessons if I wanted to make a record.
That was a sad day. I was very exited to record something. It was important for me on a espiritual level and it was a very hard failure.
I am now taking lessons whit Nico Smoljan, a great old school blues player from Argeninta. Nico is great, he knows lots of tunes and has a great set of ears.
There is nothing better than taking lessons whit someone that has the same tastes that you.
---------- Sorry for any misspell, english is not my first language.
