It's an impressive thing to be able to do but to me it starts to sound like the "Dooo" you used to get years ago when the TV channels used to go off the air here in the UK. However, that being said, the audience seemed to lap it up and at the end of the day that's the most important thing ---------- Oisin
There is a way to do it without circular breathing. It's a diaphragm trick. It may not go as long but it does the trick. I totally disagree with Rick Davis. Do a long note starting on a bend on 4 or 6 draw and pull it up slowly using thick vibrato and hold it for 30 seconds. The audience goes crazy and continues to go crazy now matter how many times you do it in a set. Just my opinion.
I dissagree with the parlor trick comment. Guitarists do this long note all the time in their solo's. I think that its a great statement in the context of having a blues conversation to the audience and I love the way it keeps on giving to the song as the note goes on.
If I could I would do this, no questions. I have seen it done loads of times and it always moves me.
---------- Oxharp
Last Edited by Oxharp on Apr 27, 2013 9:32 AM
so are tongue slaps, trills, hand whahs, vibrato.. tricks to make the music sound better, ciricular breathing is a harder trick (and maybe more boring since it lasts so long). The crowd liked it here. music is in the ear of the listener
I saw SRV when he was near rock bottom and he babbled incoherently into the mic and held many long notes through the show, got pretty boring.
When I would perform Cherry Pink Apple Blossom White, I would hold that 9 blow for a long long time, and my guitar player would be looking at me with a bored look on his face, he'd check his watch, then finally he would shove me. I'd continue the song with a look of relief, like I had been stuck and needed the nudge to get out of it.
The trick is knowing exactly when to resolve the long note. If they are held too long they get really boring, really quickly. Also like many other techniques they are best kept to a minimum. I'd say one in a night is more than enough. The best single example I've ever heard of a long note is on the "I Want You To Know" CD by Paul Rishell and Annie Raines. It's on the opening track "Step It Up & Go". Annie has it at the perfect length. It just grabs you and you're thinking, "Wow how much breath has that woman got!". Then she resolves it just before the point of boredom setting in for the listener.
First off, if I was in a band where juggling was within the aesthetic of the band, hell yes I would juggle. There is a great explanation by Mike Myers about his sense of what is funny and he says he would do a fart joke and a highbrow joke in the same minute if they would get laughs.
Secondly, tricks, even visual tricks, are music in my opinion.
Third, I don't think you know what I am talking about. I also do not like holding a circular breath note for a minute. But to rock out with a hard rocking band throwing a wave of 6 draw with a heavy vibrato over 30 seconds while the guitarist shreds is definitely music to me and it works every time. IMO.
I saw Rahssan Roland Kirk a few times and he did alot of circular breathing but he did much more than hold a note.He would draw out overtones, bleat octaves and use viberatos and than come in with mind boggling blues runs...too ! too ! toot .
I think Victor gets the note right on this track. Its not too long and is definately in context. Starts at 7.00 and almost lasts for 12 bars ish but the whole vid is worth a listen.
I agree Russ. Victor gets it right for my taste. Any longer and it would get really boring to my ear. Also notice though that Victor plays with that single note, by varying his placement on the mic and covering the harp with his fingers a little. Those are the kind of tricks that a good player knows when to use to the most effect.
from Philosophy- "When I would perform Cherry Pink Apple Blossom White, I would hold that 9 blow for a long long time, and my guitar player would be looking at me with a bored look on his face, he'd check his watch, then finally he would shove me. I'd continue the song with a look of relief, like I had been stuck and needed the nudge to get out of it."
heh, heh, :-) i used to do that song. i'd check my watch, the band would clown, and it always went over. i could hold it for over a minute w/out circular breathing. don't know how to circular breathe but not interested enough to find out. ---------- MP affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name [MP] for info- repair videos on YouTube. you can reach me via Facebook. Mark Prados
Long notes & circular breathing are just tools in the musical toolkit. They can be useful or misused depending on placement, timing choice of note etc.
Variety tickles the listeners' ears and a sustained note can be very effective when the audience has been subjected to a barrage of runs as is often the case...
