tolga7t
293 posts
Jul 17, 2016
5:14 PM
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Hi everyone,
My friend (guitar player) is getting married and asked me to join him to play a song during the wedding. This whole thing is wrecking my nerves, and I would really appreciate if you showed me what you would do to play along with this song.
The song is "All About You" by Doc Watson & David Grisman. Here is a YouTube link: https://youtu.be/NuR9U7yz8_s
Here is my friend playing it, just guitar, how would you add harp to this? :
https://youtu.be/T6O7mxvH6M4
Anything would be tremendous help, thanks so much in advance!
Tolga
Last Edited by tolga7t on Jul 24, 2016 7:48 AM
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Gnarly
1890 posts
Jul 17, 2016
6:21 PM
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Well, it's in D . . .
And he's playing and singing melody, so harp needs to play rhythm.
Chords are D and A for the chorus (the A sections), and the bridge goes to G, and also includes a E7 and A7.
What he needs is another guitarist!
No space for a soloist--
If I had to do it, I would chug chords on a D harp (first position) until I got to the last four bars of the bridge, and switch to an A, just for that section (draw, then blow)--again, provide rhythm, and don't worry about single notes.
I think a low D harp would be a better choice than the regular tuned one.
How's that sound?
Last Edited by Gnarly on Jul 17, 2016 6:23 PM
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andysheep8
54 posts
Jul 18, 2016
4:27 AM
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Two major considerations.
What does your friend want?
What are you capable of?
Without knowing this we have to make a lot of assumptions.
My approach would be to find what's expected of me, and keep it simple.
As Gnarly says the song is in D.
You can chug on the low end of a G harp, also the simple second position blues scale fits a lot of the song.
You can also play the high end of a D harp
or even switch between these 3 options.
Where you can't find something that fits stay quiet.
Although there is not a solo option on the recording, your friend could make space for that if you wanted.
As it's some kind of celebration, it's more about the spirit of the occasion than musical perfection.
A little harp goes a long way on these occasions.
Look like you are enjoying yourself, relax, and the crowd will be behind you.
Let us know how it goes!
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Diggsblues
2045 posts
Jul 18, 2016
6:04 AM
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Try fills in those empty vocals spaces. Experiment with the major pentatonic scale in cross harp.
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RG500
16 posts
Jul 18, 2016
7:08 AM
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I would play it in C 3rd position.
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Gnarly
1893 posts
Jul 18, 2016
7:26 AM
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Since the A section is D and A, playing first position makes sense--those are the two chords on a D.
I don't hear much space in this arrangement, not the kind that would benefit from fills.
Like I said before, the guy needs another guitar player.
I would like to share one of my favorite Barney Kessel jokes. Barney had a gig with a pickup bass player, and after the first number, during which the bassist tried to impress Barney with how well he could play, playing up the neck and performing fills which Barney was soloing, Barney observed, "It looks like we could both use a bass player!"
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harmonicanick
2498 posts
Jul 18, 2016
7:51 AM
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Everyone is right, but I would say to you tolga7t play in the right key (thats the most important thing) and have have a rehearsal or two with the guitarist,
and do not worry no one will notice as long as you are in the key of A in cross harp or 1st position,
Enjoy yourself!!!!!
Last Edited by harmonicanick on Jul 18, 2016 7:52 AM
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scojo
557 posts
Jul 18, 2016
9:33 AM
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I'd do some chugging in cross harp (G) and, if there ends up being space for a solo (which is easily done if y'all choose to do so), I'd experiment with G (2nd), D (1st), and A (12th) if you know how to play that position.
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tolga7t
294 posts
Jul 24, 2016
11:37 AM
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Thanks for all the help guys, I've been taking all your advice, jammed with my friend twice, and feeling much more comfortable now that I have something to work with.
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