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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
BGT: Playing the head
BGT: Playing the head
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Mirco
176 posts
Jun 10, 2014
10:22 AM
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At a jam last night, I was asked to play the head for a song. The leader called out, "Key of E, Jimmy Reed shuffle" and then told me to take the head.
I played 12 bars of an instrumental I know, something that goes well with a shuffle groove. Sounded good to me.
Is there something specific that I should do when someone asks me to play the head? What if the singer called a specific song, like "Mojo", but I didn't know the head? Would it be acceptable to just play something other than the usual "Mojo" head?
Last night, I got the chance to play the head and then a 24 bar solo later on. I think a way I could improve is by matching the head and solo more, and give the song some thematic unity.
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SmokeJS
257 posts
Jun 10, 2014
1:02 PM
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I learned 5 very simple 12 bar choruses for just such an occasion. All are from a beginning Barrett book or the Dummies book. Very melodic and obvious when I come back to them to end the song or hand off the solo to the next instrument. Not sure Mojo has a specific head but something like Chicken Shack certainly does. My guess is you were asked to do the head so you could give the song its direction and be the bandleader though I'd expect generally you might also call the key and song type as well.
Last Edited by SmokeJS on Jun 10, 2014 1:05 PM
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Tuckster
1414 posts
Jun 10, 2014
1:59 PM
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It sounds like you're headed in the right direction.:) IMHO When they want you to lead off the song,it implies you have free rein to play whatever you want as long as it fits the groove of the song. To me,a head means a specific set of notes,for example the head for "Messin' With the Kid" i.e.the main,generally recurring theme of the song.
I feel that everyone needs to learn the heads of as many popular blues songs as you can.They always come in handy.
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