Hi everyone! I posted my first video last week and got some great pointers. Greg told me to work on the three draw bend. So I have. It was really great to get some response and focused my playing a lot. So, thank you again!
I get that all you guys don't idle at this forum to tell beginners which way to put the harp in your mouth, and that too frequent postings diminish everyone's attention. But! I would like to hear your thoughts on slow blues. I find it really hard to play at all. Timekeeping is a mess, 'cause you have to double or quadruple up at some time or it gets dull. You can't warble the whole song, right? Which are your favourite slow blues songs? Got licks to steal?
Oh, Yeah. I also posted a video. Focusing a lot on the three draw because of aforementioned reasons.
YOU can't warble a whole song, but that sounds like a challenge!
I'm at the point where I'm starting to like some of the slow blues I play, but I haven't figured out quite why, so take what I say with a grain of salt. I've noticed in some slow blues there are actually bursts of fast play that resolve to a longer note... da da daaahahaaha. And it's not just about slow notes, it's about long pauses for dramatic effect. Sometimes when you (not you in general, the generic you) play a phrase a couple different ways one will sound better and you'll fall in love with doing it that way, but in the process you'll sell the song short. You'll get it to sound pretty good each time you repeat the phrase, but you don't have anywhere to go. The last time you do it isn't any better than the first. You want the last time you do it to be the best. (That seems to apply in fast blues too). People tend to resolve warbles by coming out of them and going back down to the low notes. Sometimes you need to go up instead, particularly later in the song. It gives it more energy.
I liked you playing, but when I tried to play it back to give it a closer listen it froze. I'll try to stop back later and see if it's working again and give you more focused feedback.
Dude, is that a piece of tape on your glasses? I was preoccupied with the tape the first time, so I listened again. I guess I've got an unwritten rule or proclivity....didn't realize it until just now...slow song, fast licks; fast song, slow licks. Your song was sort of medium speed. Slow blues gives me the opportunity...although I maintain timing overall...to play some faster passages and really "press" the timing, that is, playing 16th notes faster than the "beat" but reeling it in at the end of the measure or measures and resolving on time. Anyway, you don't HAVE to play four 16th notes per beat. You can accelerate or decelerate as long as you end on time. Does this make any sense, or should I invest in some more expensive vodka? I thought your timing was fine on this song. It's easy to be creative with a 12-bar or 24-bar solo. When you go 60 or 72 bars, it's hard...for me anyway... not to tend to be repetitive. I can see it coming and think, oh, God, here it comes again. If I don't concentrate on variation, I fall into the trap of the comfort zone.
ok Pistolcat, I noticed you didn't play 6 draw at all. what about sliding up to the 6draw over the V chord to make a brief yet powerful statement. 4draw sounds good over the 1chord, which you play well. So 3double bend and 6 draw sound good over the V chord.
Last Edited by on Nov 24, 2011 9:07 PM
Great feedback guys! I'm regretting that I bunched this topic with my video. I should have made one "new video" thread and one "slow blues" since I really like to hear what everyone thinks about slow blues without having my half-assed atempt in their ears. But that's my mistake. Thank you!
@nacoran - yeah I hear you. I'm real crappy at middle-high end playing. That'll be my next practice focus. You need to up your game throughout the song I agree but this thing ended with a fadeout so it kind-of got lost.
You should do like this
And I know that this has probably been shown here before.
@FMWoodeye - That is a piece of tape. I have been in a fight recently, but admit that it was my devilish good looks that really threw you of. I guess that the pressing of timing is a fine line to balance. If overdone it just sounds lousy but just right and it's bluesy as hell.
@clamsharpplayer - Yeah that would probably be a good idea. I have kind of tried some licks with 4 draw, 5 draw, 6 blow repeated over 7-8 measure going to 4,5, 6 draw on the 7 measure but haven't really made it work yet. Think it's mainly a timing issue.
@colman- Thanks that's always a good idea. I need to work on that. Do you have any good examples on songs?
@Tommy - Thanks!
I really like Red devils "Cross my heart" when Lester blows a sustained blow 9 (I think) through four measures and bends out of it on the IV. That's nice. Doable to, or? ---------- Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
