Hey so usually when someone solos, i usually do a rhythmatic chug, the one you make by saying "-chok"
While they arent bothered by it and actually think its helpful, i kinda think its un necessary since Ive never heard Chicago Blues Harmonica players chug on other peoples solo and i feel like its better to just not play at all.
true,i guess im always constantly afraid i might fuck up which makes me fuck up, since he keeps telling me i need to give space, whivh i clearly dont do if i chug
do i just stand there if he solos? or do i just like, kindanplay along with the melody in the background
Last Edited by ejakon on Jul 22, 2017 8:06 AM
Before you decide to do that, you should take some time to listen to what's going on first. The type of chugging I see too many players tend to do could wind up screwing up the entire groove BADLY. There are times you just have to shut the harp up entirely, or if you're gonna do rhythm chording, think more like a guitar player (yes that means you can't just listen only to harp players) because sometimes you just hit a chord on the upbeats, or like a march (Jimmy Reed thing), or something else or there may be times you have to play more along the lines of a horn back up line.
What this says to me is too often like a lot of jammers with little real BAND experience (experience in a jam is NEVER going to be the same as gigging in a working band) means you can't just listen to solos and practice solos only but pay CLOSE ATTENTION to absolutely EVERYTHING that's going on around you like the guitar rhythm lines/patterns, keyboard rhythm patterns, the drumming, the bass lines, the horn lines, etc., and being a good musician regardless of what instrument you play is a helluva lot more than just the ability to play solos and being a good listener is an important part of it and listening to music like a good musician means listening to EVERY MINUTE DETAIL of what's going on and that's more than just the solos. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
thats kinda why i go to these open jams, so i could get first hand experience as to what to do in a band, helps that a Harmonica player frequently goes there and he shows me the ropes of how bands work, doesnt help that i dont know how to start a blues band in a rock and roll/jazz city.
I only chug when its a throwdown blues song, slower shuffles, i just play and bend one note and play along with whatever bar hes on. usually i play really quietly so you can barely hear me play
Last Edited by ejakon on Jul 22, 2017 8:31 AM
In my opinion things like this (in this example concerning music) are difficult to answer without a sample. So the answer to the question falls into the "it depends" category. Someone can listen to a band/song and think the harp playing was tasteful and layed back or in other cases think the harp player stepped on others' playing.
So what you are describing, might be fine. Or, it might not. Without hearing it it's impossible to say. Maybe you were quiet and unassuming or maybe you played too loud and off timed. Who knows? Only the listeners. So it can be done if done right. I just think the question can't truly be answered without actually hearing it. But as always less is usually more. ---------- Tommy
Last Edited by Tommy the Hat on Jul 22, 2017 7:13 PM
I've always said that harp is a great instrument to play because the band sounds so good when you stop. If you want good tips on compin' watch the sax & horn players.
Idk just a personal thing for me, i justvknoe the listeners loved it and the jazz/blues pianist guy says i improved a lot from last jam after he told.me about space. im just a little insecure about how i play i guess
Here again, I think "it depends." In the video above we hear a good example of playing along. But I think there is a difference here. I also believe this difference is what throws some people off concerning the harmonica.
I think a lot of people think of the harp as a solo type of instrument and forget about it just being "an instrument" like any other. Check out any other band with or without harmonica. Does everyone else stop playing when the guitar player starts a solo? The rhythm guitar player keeps playing along. So might the keyboard player or anyone else. It's just that they are "backing" the soloist. Isn't the harmonica just another instrument like those? Of course one can continue to play along but in time with and at the level of the rest of the band and NOT step on anyone or be overbearing ; or drawing attention to your instrument and away from the soloist.
The video above is a good example of the harp just being part of "the band." But in a way (imo) it's a little different because its such a steady rhythm and remains so throughout. He doesn't change for the guitar solo but neither does anyone else. The video does give a good example of the harmonica being an instrument like any other. Like another guitar player or keyboards...whatever.
Any instrument in a band has to learn how to play well with others! Like children.
'do i just stand there if he solos?' nah, you move with the music, look cool, be interested and amazed at the soloist and check out and make eyes at the women in the audience
worst mistake I see from harp players is the need to play constantly ---------- Lucky Lester
Last Edited by didjcripey on Jul 22, 2017 3:31 PM
If you're going to do this sort of thing, you had better be playing what fits. How do you know what fits? You listen to lots of other players in accompanying roles. Then you figure out what works for different grooves. If you don't know, don't play anything. Just remember when playing Blues, people will sing the same set of lyrics over different grooves, so memorizing different tunes isn't going to help you much.
Start with non-harp players who recorded for Chess in the 50's. damn near everyone else had a harp player on their records. Look for a book called Chicago Breakdown. Buy it, read it and there will be lots of players listed in there.
Throw a CHINK on 2 and 4 beat or on the 4th up beat throw a CHINK... that little lick changes things up...A lot of guitars do it...
Last Edited by nowmon on Jul 23, 2017 8:47 AM
The problem with chugging or vamping during someone else's solo is that the soloist may want to go somewhere else, but your vamp is holding him back. Solution: Vamp for the first 12 measures then gracefully drop out. This allows the soloist a launching point from which he can take off in a different direction.
The best soloists can take the music to a different place and then come back to where they started from. Don't get so wrapped up with playing background that you hold them back. Or simply shut up and let them play. Never hurts to leave space.
True story: Once upon a time I got hired to play on a jazz gig in a hard core jazz room. I was unqualified to do this type of gig, but I knew a handful of jazz heads and I can phrase more or less like a horn and have pretty decent soloing skills. I knew the bandleader well and we had played together before in other contexts and had good chemistry. But, among other things, I was more than a little concerned about how the jazz snobs would react to a diatonic harmonica. Things went reasonably well. I got good crowd response to my solos but I was real careful and I laid out a lot. At the end of the night we got a big tip to play an additional set and the manager said it was ok.
As I was breaking down some of the jazz snob regulars came over and bought me a drink. One of them said "You sounded good. Don't take this the wrong way, but what we really enjoyed was what you didn't play." Another guy said what I played added a lot but I didn't play so much that I got in the way of anything. I consider that to be the best compliment I've every received. Moral of the story: Less can be more.
Last Edited by hvyj on Jul 24, 2017 5:47 PM
