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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Am - Rising Sun workout at slower tempo
Am - Rising Sun workout at slower tempo
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harp-er
212 posts
Oct 18, 2012
11:47 AM
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Here's the Soundclick link:
http://sclk.co/s74637
Taking jbone's suggestion of working on a slower tune, this one was right there. Still needing polishing of course, but I'm ok with letting that develop in its own time, as I enjoy the process of "perfecting" my playing.
Hope you find something to enjoy too.
Again, please overlook the recording quality.
Last Edited by on Oct 18, 2012 11:57 AM
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orphan
178 posts
Oct 19, 2012
7:15 AM
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harp-er, you are making headway! I am working to get my 3rd pos. too. I like the way you moved down to the lower octave. I heard some good stuff there. In the middle & upper octave you played some notes that didn't seem to fit but got back into the groove easily enough. Please understand I am not saying that the notes were wrong. There is a lot of freedom in improv. I play The Thrill Is Gone in 3rd. When I practice it, I hit notes that interupt the phrase I am trying to finish. That is the way some of your phrasing hit me. You are right about the House of the Rising Sun being good to explore 3rd pos. That is a good strong backing track too. Thanks for posting your progress. I wish I could be more helpful but I'm still exploring 3rd. When I drop down into the lower octave I fall apart, so you are way ahead of me!
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harp-er
213 posts
Oct 19, 2012
3:46 PM
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Thanks for the comments, orphan.
I'm really enjoying the improv possibilitis of 3rd position. Somehow, I don't know why, when I started clicking with 3rd, it opened up for me in a way that 2nd position didn't quite. Funny, I think for me the richer possibilities have been in the upper register. I find I'm gettig more familiar with it thru 3rd position than thru 2nd.
It's the 2 and 3 draw bends in the lower register that are the challenge, I think. We're all learning as we go. Thanks again.
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Pistolcat
318 posts
Oct 20, 2012
1:20 PM
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Nice progress! Some phrases really hits it! A few suggestions: some parts are pitchy, I think you hit draw seven at the wrong time. It's kind of hard to fit in a minor tune as it is the major sixth. I did the same thing when I tried out third pos at first (playing summertime, another nice bluesy song perfect for third, IMHO). Also be careful of your attack as your draws sometimes bends a bit wild and just are off.
You are really dexterous in your playing and that's cool! For a song like this I think it's really fat to change up the tempo and go to triplets and eights and whatnot but you need to really cement that 3/4 tempo with heavy accentuation on the one, right? ONE-Two--three, ONE-two-three. There IS (two-three) a HOUSE (two-three) in NEW... And so on. Maybe just go with the groove for a chorus or two before cracking up the tempo... But that's just an opinion.
Nice going all around. Keep at it, it's really encouraging to see all progress.
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Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
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harp-er
216 posts
Oct 20, 2012
10:44 PM
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Hey Pistolcat, thanks for the feedback. Yes, the whole thing needs work of course. I'm just enjoying the openings that I'm experiencing for now. Even to the point of not being overly concerned about the strictest of grooves. If I were ever to play with a band that would be important, but since I don't, and am not likely to (?), I allow myself the freedom to be a bit sloppy. Also, I'm not really worried about being able to keep careful time, since I've been a drummer for over 50 years, including jazz, African, Afro Cuban, etc., rock being the least interesting to me (not professionally, although I have played with some groups) and skilled timing isn't something I need to learn. That's one reason I'm allowing myself a looser approach with harp at the moment. I have nothing to prove, if you know what I mean, even to myself.
For me it's all fun. I never expect to be a pro harp player, and to be anything else leaves a lot of room for error, er, I mean, experimentation.
I think of it as akin to when my daughter was in grade school and she had a teacher who encouraged the kids who were learning to write and spell, to write words just the way they sounded to them, without concern for the correct spelling. This allowed them to express themselves immediately, to write whole paragraphs and stories, and the learning of proper spelling came in its own good time. I'm allowing myself to "write" whole sonic "paragraphs", knowing that over time, if I care enough about it, the proper "spelling" will develop with practice and desire. For now, for me, the self expression is more important than the spelling.
Many thanks.
Last Edited by on Oct 21, 2012 10:10 AM
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BronzeWailer
807 posts
Oct 21, 2012
2:40 PM
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I like what you'e doing harp-er. The spelling analogy is excellent. Sometimes I am afraid to play the 'wrong' note but your approach is very useful, IMHO. I'll remember it next time I am trying something new...
Cheers.
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harp-er
219 posts
Oct 21, 2012
3:48 PM
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BronzeWailer, that's so great to hear. I love it when we allow ourselves to make "mistakes" in the service of learning and experimentation. So much creativity is thwarted by thinking we need to be perfect, or something like that.
Miles Davis said something like "If you hit a wrong note, it's the next note that you play that determines if its's good or bad." And "Don't be afraid of errors. There are no errors".
That works for me, and I think both quotes contain immense wisdom regarding creativity and exploration and developing any skill. So glad you happened by and found this approach useful. Many thanks for saying so.
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BronzeWailer
808 posts
Oct 21, 2012
4:54 PM
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Cheers, harp-er. Liberating words....
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Aussiesucker
1207 posts
Oct 21, 2012
5:20 PM
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I think we all at times are afraid to venture out of our comfort zone and hit notes that are not scripted. I too like the analogy of the youngster spelling. Mistakes are all part of the learning process. And, whilst we notice the faults & the skills of other harp players, the public generally would not be as aware.
harp-er, your understanding of timing erases lots of mistakes. I used to falter, baulk, lose timing & lose place in playing until I had it 'drummed' into me 'keep playing -don't ever lose time- play anything'. It avoids a total train wreck for those accompanying & quite often the results of the unplanned solo are great. You are, to my way of thinking, on the right track.
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HARPOLDIE’S YOUTUBE
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harp-er
220 posts
Oct 21, 2012
7:35 PM
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Thanks Aussiesucker. I'm really thrilled to know that some folks are finding this way of approaching playing and learning to be useful. I really do find it more exciting - and if there isn't some excitement in the learning, what's the point? - than limiting myself to whatever is supposed to be the "right" way to do it. I really believe that at least one secret to creativity is being willing to reach for what you're not sure of. For me, with harp, I'm finding that letting myself stretch out is bringing me into un-imagined and wonderful new territories, like 3rd position minor music.
Today I discovered that 3rd position works great with a lot of African/Afrobeat music - I've been listening to, and playing along with, my newly created Pandora Fela Kuti station. What fun! Lots of use of the Eb and Db harps with this music.
I know, this isn't blues, modern or otherwise, but it sure is related to the roots of blues, and really receptive to practicing improvisation, which is my first musical love anyway.
Please allow me to offer my humble encouragement for reaching beyond your comfort zone. I find that the results are sometimes nearly magical.
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