Generally a whole bunch of people I like but haven't really studied enough to say I've borrowed from them. That list of players I dig is pretty long: lazy lester, big Walter, little Walter, both sonny boys, jr wells,Kim Wilson, mark hummel, david Barrett, Gary smith, Kerry McCain, Gary primich, Ian collard, dr Ross, it just goes on Specifically, guys who are in my playing a bit: John lee Williamson, rice miller, big Walter, some little Walter (not enough), david Barrett, Ian collard, Matt Taylor (Aussie player, was in Chain in the 70s) billy boy arnold, jr wells, Paul butterfield (a little) I dunno what I think of butter at the moment, Charlie McCoy, Portnoy I've learnt songs up to now, but I am changing the way I practice. I think the future is more about learning licks, working with jam tracks to dig how to fit them, and embed them in memory, really start lifting stuff I like and making it mine, and thinking about how to string a instrumental together. I was singing in a band, in that vocal/harp bandleader way, which was all about learning the song, vocal and harp and that was pretty easy but now it's folded I want to work on being a better improviser, really build my vocab , and also my comping so I am better placed to sit in as a sideman when opportunity arises. About to start some coaching with jimi lee next week, so looking forward to that. I dunno if he is really up my alley taste-wise, but he's a pretty knowledgable guy. You? I know you've been working out on little Walter. Who else? ----------
Frank-do you play in a band? As one of the few forum members from my neck of the woods,I'm hoping we'll run into each other sometime. I don't recall ever seeing you at any blues function,but my memory ain't the best.
Bee and Tuck, thank you for stopping by - I'm out in the garden uncovering my fig trees and taking advantage of this summer weather. When I get to work later- My "real job" a Social Worker,I'll be able to respond on my break talk to youn's later!
Very elegant thing there at 0.39 sec. Is that a zig-zag pattern going downwards (9-10B,9-8,8-7B,8-7D,7B-6D,7D-6B etc), or do you "cheat"? (sounds kinda stupid to ask since I don´t hear the difference but I was palying along with you I got a little lost there.) Good stuff, /Martin
@Bee...Looks like your in good hands "inspiration wise" those guys you mention have a lot to offer,,,I agree that (improvisation) is at the HEART of playing the blues and is very satisfying to partake in! If I'm not covering a tune, then you can rest assured I'm improvising. Instead of learning licks, I'll learn a whole song. When I'm improvising, I'm not thinking of learned licks, I'm thinking in the moment - this sounds good let's see where it takes me when the next bar rolls by and continue that way till the song ends. And "comping" is king when not soloing, so I agree too that having that skill is not only paramount but a heck of a lot of fun to do! All the West Coast harpers I listen to and all the Chicago Guys too. David Barrett has been my Teacher since day 1... I'm sure Jimi Lee will steer you in the right direction, he's a triple threat...
@Tuck...No Band for me, I'll be 51 this year and for some reason I associate playing in a band as work, so I keep it real simple and just entertain the bugs down at the "Centipede Saloon" located in my basement, and anyone who cares to watch the videos I post. Playing for me at the time being is strictly for stress relief and as an enjoyable hobby. My adventures out to see blues gigs have been sporadic as of late, I'm due to catch a show, what part of Pittsburgh are you in? You can use my e-mail if you want to keep your personal stuff more private.
@Martin...I'm not sure what you mean by "cheat" until you explain it, I couldn't tell you if I do or not...As far as the lick, That was played totally at the spur of the moment, I remember deciding to slam that 9 blow and the rest of the phrasing just followed. So I don't know the pattern, I'd have to figure it out just like you. I can tell you that the song was TB totally, so that run being TB wasn't very crisp and the slurring of it may make it a little hard to hear all the notes correctly or duplicate exactly. Thank you for listening to it, and I'm sorry I can't be more helpful...
@Stan...Know that's the motivation I need - Thank you :)
@Frank: "Cheat" would be playing a scale or run in a less precise sort of way, skipping a note here and there because they sit a bit awkwardly on the fretboard, keyboard, note layout or what have you. You can illustrate it very generally by the way a jazz guitarist plays his runs compared to a heavy metal picker. (But I won´t invest a whole lot of prestige in the concept.) Not important, as long as it´s sounding good it´s good. Maybe you function a bit like me: sometimes I surprise myself playing something interesting when I practice, "Now that was good!" and think I ought to backtrack and burn it into the neurons for memory´s sake, but can´t repeat what I just played. Thanks anyway, I´ll work that riff out and -- with your permission of course! -- may use it myself. Cheers, Martin
Martin, no I did'nt try the cheat method - I was clueless except I knew I was headin down to the low end. That riff did surprise me though, it's only been 3 or 4 years since I've taken up fulltime TB and bustin out runs on the high end like I did back when LBing isn't the same. And Yes, use that riff, in fact I'll make this easy...Any piece of music I play you have my blessing to use and share as you please :)
Hi Miko...Thank you brother - Here is something I mentioned in another thread that's a cool thing to do with Jimi Lees Bt's, especially with one you really like... is to make the BT in 12 different keys on Audacity and burn them to a CD, then you can play the same tune on different harps, different positions and different Chromatics. Hope to hear your take on the track!
Last Edited by on Mar 23, 2012 5:23 PM
Thanks Frank, you´re a generous man. It seems as if you have played quite a few years before shifting to TB. Makes me a bit envious -- my tongue is a very reluctant instrument, but I´ve been informed (from one source) that TB:ing also goes easier on the harps. I wreak havoc on my harmonicas, and need to find some kind of solution. Did you notice this effects as well? cheers, Martin
Your very welcome Martin...And no need to be envious, just don't be in a rush if you decide to pursue the change. Nothing comes easily for me and learning to use that embouchure has been a slow process, and progressing is just a matter of continually using it till it becomes natural. I still have a long way to go to master all it has to offer. As far as it being less damaging to reeds, I don't know...My experience is- by not pushing the harmonica or forcing it to respond has helped considerably with them lasting a lot longer.
@Frank - well I will first follow the steps you describe: study a song in depth, see how it fits on the groove, understand the dynamics that make one tick. I'll actually do that on your video too, I like the phrasing: I am struggling with this. Looking forward to diligent studies!
Some things are worth the struggle, and when the reward is the gift of getting closer to music, then any blood, sweat and tears will be fondly remembered! It sounds like your enthusiasm is ripe to carry you on to brighter tomorrows, I'm confident you will find what your looking for miko!
Frank- ya, being in a band IS hard work,but it teaches me things my lazy butt wouldn't learn otherwise. I'm terribly undisciplined to practice unless I'm forced to learn a song. I live about 35 miles east of Pittsburgh. It's not the suburbs-more like the boonies. I'm an active member,i.e. volunteer, in the Blues Society of W. Pa.(BSWPA). April 14 is our local IBC competition. If you want to see some of the area's best blues talent all in one place,you should attend. It's at the Greentree Clarion. I'll be there,but I'm mostly in the room behind the stage. I'll be helping the bands stage their equipment and getting them to sign media release forms. I'll pop out front occasionally,to catch a band I really want to see. Would be a great time to meet you!
If you want to contact me,just click my user name to see my e-mail & FB accounts.
Last Edited by on Mar 24, 2012 12:00 PM
Oh, no doubt, I'm a much poorer man and musician for never enduring the riggers of bandmenship...The last time I played a little out was an invite by a fellow harper to sit in with Jimmy Adlers kickass band, that was a goodtime. And the last show I saw was Dennis G. and Steve G. at the Thunderbird. I've never been to the Pitts IBC, I almost went a few years back but it was in some shady part of a neighborhood and I didn't feel comfortable bringing my wife there, we actually found the place and turned around and went home. I used to always go down to the one in Marriata Ohio, I played in one of the competitions there with a band called "The Dirty White Boys". You do sound like a hard worker and involved pretty good with the blues. I always try to do the Pitts Blues Festival too. Anyway 'I'll be in touch Tuck. I'm sure you know Sam, he's blowin harp and frontin a band, also Johnny H. since he retired he's out there doing the band thing...Then there is Willie Try, "Mr. Bluesman" Himself!!! The bar "Excuses" on the SouthSide use to have some great blues jams, you ever go there?
Last Edited by on Mar 24, 2012 12:59 PM
I was at that show at the Thunderbird! I'm sure we've crossed paths somewhere. If you mean Sam Blancato,I sure do. He's a great player. Wil E.Tri is great,a commensurate entertainer. He's not the easiest guy to get along with at times,but, damn, can he play harp. I also know Jimmy Adler,although I've never had the pleasure of sitting in with him. You should try hard to make our IBC's. It definitely is a venue where you can take your wife.
@Bee.... I have 2 mics connected to a Lexicon Alpha desktop recording studio, that I recently bought at Guitar Center for $60.00 - it's bottom shelf, only has one XLR connector, it's nice and hot, the other mic connects to a line in with a 1/4 inch plug and it has a weak signal. I mic the 4/10 Amp with the XLR and mic the boombox playing the Bt with the other mic...I'm using Video Pad Video Editor to capture what's going on. I'll then separate the audio from the video and send that to Audacity to make the recording into a better stereo sound. From there I'll send it to Nero wave editor to an use a tool they call "stereo Broadening" that puts the song into the headphones in a way that makes it easier to hear. I then re-enter the audio back to Video Pad and I can add some effects directly from Video Pad if I needed too, I didn't need any for the "Off The Cuff" song...I then can upload the Video directly from Video Pad to YouTube, that's it. The Amp is a Holland 4/10 with built in re-verb the mic is a green bullet and the harp was an "A" Crossover harp.
@Tuck...I probably talked to you at some point in time at the Bird... Yeah, that's the Sam - He played with Jimmy for a while. Thanks Tuck, I will try to make it out to the IBC!
The phrase 'now that's what I'm talking about' always seemed funny to me. You can throw it out there without actually having been talking about anything before, and people know what you mean. It means, 'hell yeah, that's what I'm talking about.'
