|
Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
A New Recording of My Imperfect Development
A New Recording of My Imperfect Development
Page:
1
harp-er
505 posts
Feb 03, 2014
4:52 PM
|
Here's a link - copy and paste -to soundclick and the latest little exercise I bothered to record, which I'm calling February 3rd Shuffle.
Just sharing something showing what's developing with my playing. Any comments are of course welcome. Thanks for listening, if you have 5 minutes or less to spend.
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12672220
By the way, I'm playing a C Golden Melody with one of Andrew's dark combs on it, which I find makes the harp play better for me.
Last Edited by harp-er on Feb 03, 2014 4:54 PM
|
ridge
485 posts
Feb 04, 2014
7:02 AM
|
Okay, I'll bite, harp-er.
The good / The interesting
-Heard 2 draw half step bend
-Heard 6 overblow
-Heard 7 overdraw
-Some clean blow bends
-Some semblances of licks
The not so good
-Shaky structure
-Intonation
-Filler / fluff notes
I'll preface the rest of my statement by saying that I'm not trying to be mean or hurtful, but that I am trying to give an honest assessment of what I heard. That's what you're looking for after all, right?
Off the bat, I was impressed technique-wise you were pulling some things off that I didn't expect to hear. Notably, the 2 half-step bend and 6 overblow. I also heard 7 overdraw. Unfortunately, I had to sit through a few minutes of meandering playing to hear these things.
What I meant by shaky structure is that, while I know you're going for a 1-4-5 kind of feel, it sounds like you're getting lost after departing off the 1. That's okay and perfectly normal. I'd suggest having something in the back of your mind that you can land on or return to. This will give your playing some audible structure and help you navigate as you're playing.
As for filler / fluff, this goes with the lack of structure. When you get lost you just throw a bunch of notes out there and hope they stick. Don't do this! Practice simple ideas and learn what works as you move around so that when you get lost you don't default to random mode.
All said, it sounds like you're not afraid to try things and that's important. Put a little more focus in and I think you will notice big improvements. I'm including a video of mine from a few years ago... maybe it helps you:
----------
Ridge's YouTube
Last Edited by ridge on Feb 04, 2014 7:03 AM
|
Gkastraveckas
20 posts
Feb 04, 2014
7:22 AM
|
I like the foot tapping, makes everything sound real and down to earth, if that makes sense.
Nicely done
|
harp-er
506 posts
Feb 04, 2014
12:10 PM
|
Thanks to both for taking the time to listen and comment. I'll certainly consider the feedback.
|
harp-er
508 posts
Feb 05, 2014
6:28 AM
|
Well, after considering ridge's feedback, and listening again to the recording, I have to say that I think the point has been missed. There wasn't any attempt made to adhere to a straight ahead blues structure, but rather to explore a freer improvisational approach of on-the-spot composition that perhaps calls more upon a jazz sensibility. In that context, I'd have to humbly disagree with the characterization of notes as fluff/fill, or others as having only a semblance of licks. Since I wasn't trying to play licks, this is one of the points that I think was missed. By the way, I appreciate the clarity of intention in the feedback, and I'm thereby able to avoid feeling hurt by it. I just don't agree with it.
My own criticism of the piece would be along the lines of some sloppy tempo at some points, some less than crisp notes here and there, and maybe taking some uncomfortable liberties with exploration.
I wonder if a couple more listens might reveal a more unfamiliar structure, and some sequences of notes that actually have their own internal consistency and make sense musically? Maybe not.
Thanks again for taking the time to listen and comment. It helps me take a closer look at what I'm doing, and at what I'm not.
Last Edited by harp-er on Feb 05, 2014 6:36 AM
|
KingoBad
1423 posts
Feb 05, 2014
8:20 AM
|
I think naming it a shuffle is a little misleading... If you are making free jazz, then it might help if you name it such, so we don't expect structure.
I think the "fluff" note commentary I is perfectly valid. You move through a great deal of unsupported notes. I think speed does you a disservice here. However, that is my preference, not yours, so take it as simply that.
I also mean this to be constructive. Lord knows I have unnecessarily taken offense more times than I care to remember.
Thanks for sharing.
----------
Danny
|
JInx
727 posts
Feb 05, 2014
8:34 AM
|
Not sure what your aesthetic is, but sounds a little too squeaky squawky for me.
----------
Sun, sun, sun
Burn, burn, burn
Soon, soon, soon
Moon, moon, moon
|
harp-er
509 posts
Feb 05, 2014
9:13 AM
|
Thank you again for the feedback. It is welcomed.
I don't think I mean "free jazz", but a kind of expanded blues based improvisation, which of course jazz, other than free jazz, is. I'll never be a true jazz harp player, so I try to use the blues foundation as creatively as I can manage it, allowing myself the freedom to extend and expand it beyond what we might think of as straight ahead blues. That's the compromise I give myself.
I think I can also appreciate the "too squeaky sqawky" sentiment also. And you might be right; it may be a matter of differing aesthetics, or it may be my faulty technique, or it may be a combination. I can say that I've never spent the time or had the interest in the "tone tone tone" school of blues learning. I've always been more interested in what I can create on the instrument that appeals to me, whether or not, I guess, it appeals to anyone else. Some like it, some don't.
I allow myself this luxury as an amateur, since I really don't have to please anyone else but me, and maybe a couple people I might jam with. I don't mean to sound arrogant, just trying to be honest with myself. As a harp player I think I have the better deal than all the pros who have to please an audience.
|
laurent2015
581 posts
Feb 05, 2014
9:21 AM
|
I don't feel any atmosphere inside your playing, except maybe at very short times.
It's like you tell a long story, but the different parts of that story are mixed...
Now maybe we have to take distance from the riffs or licks we generally hear, but even in that case, it's difficult to try to understand your playing.
|
CWinter
95 posts
Feb 05, 2014
10:02 AM
|
I mean no offense with my comments. Here is what stands out to me:
I don't know what you're trying to say or illustrate. It sounds like meandering to me. While it may make sense and have direction, or not, to you, it's tough on the listener. A listener often, not always, needs a framework or a perspective with which to "take in" a piece of music.
All of those "runs", "licks", bends, "melodies", etc., don't carry any weight without a context.
That's what my ears tell me. I'm sorry if any of that is harsh or offensive. Your playing seems ok, it's the thought behind it that I just don't hear...And for me, the thought or motivation behind something is everything.
|
harp-er
510 posts
Feb 05, 2014
11:20 AM
|
Thank you again for your thought provoking comments. I'd like to take some time to consider them. No offense taken, by the way. I appreciate the depth of response.
|
BronzeWailer
1199 posts
Feb 05, 2014
1:25 PM
|
I don't usually make critical comments as I am still just part way on the learning curve myself, but here goes. I agree with the general tone of the previous comments. As a listener, I find there is no center. You make some interesting individual sounds, but there is no theme to my ears. Kudzurunner talks about the importance of "repetition with variation." You have the latter, but not enough of the former to get a grip on. So in a sense it is hard to distinguish from noodling. If you want to connect with the audience, if you want to tell a story, you might need more repetition.
My two cents.
BronzeWailer's YouTube
|
tookatooka
3614 posts
Feb 05, 2014
2:12 PM
|
I'm not really qualified to comment but if I was I'd repeat what CWinter and ridge said.
|
harp-er
511 posts
Feb 05, 2014
2:45 PM
|
Thank you all for your time and interest and comments. I'm discovering that it's quite helpful to me in crystallizing my understanding of my purposes and interests in playing.
I think you are all quite correct in your perceptions and in your experience of this piece. That is, what I'm doing is less than accessible to the listener; is difficult to relate with/connect to; feels without "atmosphere" (wonderful characterization); is not readily understandable.
What this helps me to understand, and to acknowledge more explicitly, is that I am in fact, not especially interested in connecting with an audience. I do not say this disparigingly. What interests me about playing the harp is the musical territory I can explore with it that is meaningful to me; the technique I can learn and practice that will allow me to expand this exploration; and finally what challenges I can present to myself, and then develop along these lines.
I conclude then that the blues for me is simply a point of musical departure that comes closest to the music that I find the most meaningful in terms of my actual abilities and levels of commitment. It's not, as it is for many of you perhaps, a musical/life/spiritual path in itself. The harp, in this context, is just a melodic instrument that I can learn enough about to be able to move toward accomplishing/approaching my goal.
I hereby disavow any presumtions of or claims to blues discipleship. I guess I'm an opportunist, using the form for my own, very personal, and apparently exclusive creative purposes.
I truly do appreciate your feedback. Thank you for helping me to articulate more clearly what it is I'm doing.
|
tookatooka
3615 posts
Feb 05, 2014
4:54 PM
|
"not especially interested in connecting with an audience". Well your missing out on the best bit then. Apart from the enjoyment of the musical challenge, entertaining and making your fellow man tap his feet, dance and sing is the social input you need to give your playing feeling. Without that it's nothing.
|
TheoBurke
578 posts
Feb 05, 2014
5:34 PM
|
What I like is that you're moving your way around freely, at will, which is good, going from bottom, middle and upper notes with some ease. I like it to that you are keeping time, keeping your riffs within the cadences; this will serve you well. It is a bit wobbyly , though, and the notes can be sharper, more emphatically played, but that comes from playing , playing and playing even more. What's encouraging is that you play like you have a good idea of how you want to sound and notions of your own of how you'd like to put a solo together. This is good. What can I say except keep on going, you're on the path.
----------
Ted Burke
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheoBurke?feature=mhee
http://ted-burke.com
tburke4@san.rr.coM
|
harp-er
512 posts
Feb 05, 2014
5:51 PM
|
Thank you Ted. I think you may be one of the few who have some idea of what I'm up to. I truly appreciate your taking the trouble to listen and to say so.
And again, thank you to all for taking the trouble to listen and to comment.
|
laurent2015
582 posts
Feb 05, 2014
6:16 PM
|
Ted
I agree with what you state. But this is a story between Harp-er and his harp. Everybody hears that he can master -more or less- the instrument.The issue is: Harp-er feels it's a completed work, while we hear a work in building. So the question is: isn't that work too early "offered" to our ears?
|
TheoBurke
580 posts
Feb 05, 2014
8:14 PM
|
Hi laurent. I am sorry, but your comment makes no sense in light of harp-er's naming this thread "A New Recording of My Imperfect Development". This does not make think that he regards this as "finished" work, but he regards learning blues as a process, not a destination. I am glad he has the courage to offer this up and to ask for feedback. That, I believe, was one of Adam's intention for this forum.
----------
Ted Burke
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheoBurke?feature=mhee
http://ted-burke.com
tburke4@san.rr.coM
|
laurent2015
584 posts
Feb 06, 2014
7:03 AM
|
As for the courage, I also agree!
|
timeistight
1485 posts
Feb 06, 2014
9:13 AM
|
"Every single thing you play, you should be able to play a second time EXACTLY the way it was the first. If you can't, then it is just random finger movements that happened to work out. If you can't repeat it, it didn't come from your heart and it is not music." attributed to Joe Pass
|
harp-er
514 posts
Feb 06, 2014
12:42 PM
|
"There’s a way of playing safe, there’s a way of using tricks and there’s the way I like to play, which is dangerously, where you’re going to take a chance on making mistakes in order to create something you haven’t created before." Dave Brubeck
"He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would fully suffice."
— Albert Einstein
Everybody's got an opinion.
|
tookatooka
3618 posts
Feb 06, 2014
12:54 PM
|
Well, Einstein must be referring to unthinking soldiers who just do what they're told. But Brubeck was a master. We could spend all day making mistakes and if we did just happen to create something new and exciting, A. We probably wouldn't recognise it and, B. Certainly wouldn't be able to repeat it. :)
|
Post a Message
|
