WailScholar
1 post
Aug 01, 2014
7:54 AM
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So, years ago I developed a pretty badass collection of licks. But now when I play, it seems like it all sounds the same, and I'm bored with it. At heart I'm a lick player, I'd like to move beyond this and move up a level. Yet I'm always confronted with the fact that my lick library colors everything I play.
For those of you who have been able to move past this, how did you do it?
Of course listening is a big part of it...but tell me what you experience has been.
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The Iceman
1882 posts
Aug 01, 2014
8:13 AM
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Common problem for "lick based" players.
Two suggestions (a la Miles Davis)
1. Don't finish your phrases
2. Don't start your phrase at the beginning
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The Iceman
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JonV
20 posts
Aug 01, 2014
8:27 AM
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Knowing which intervals work / sound good over each chord, and knowing where those intervals exist on the harp can really help.
As an example, on a 'standard' major blues, these intervals could be broken down into:
* chord notes (1, major 3rd, fifth, minor seventh)
* blues notes (Minor / blue 3rd, flat 5th)
* passing notes (2nd, 4th, 6th)
* and danger notes (flat 2nd, major 7th, minor 6th)
Then, you'd need to know where those intervals lie on the harp for each of the chords of the song you're playing in the position you're playing in.
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Frank
4980 posts
Aug 01, 2014
8:53 AM
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I agree with Jon... set down with your "badass" licks and figure out why they are so "badass" - do that, and now YOU will be the "BADASS"... not the licks :)
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JInx
830 posts
Aug 01, 2014
10:01 AM
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Listen to the great singers, and try to define each of their idiosyncratic vocal traits. Compare them. Then instead of thinking "i'm gonna throw this sonny boy lick in here" think I'm gonna inflect some Bessie Smith or Son House on this groove.
EX: I have found that Bessie gets a lot of millage out of walking up from the 4th to the b5 then to the 5th over the 4 chord. Then resolve to the root of the 1 chord.
It's like coppin a lick, but when you associate it with a singer you get the whole personality to vibe off. I'm not into channeling spirits but it can sort of happen.
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LittleBubba
303 posts
Aug 01, 2014
2:29 PM
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You've hit on a problem that we all have at times. But, remember that some of those licks are probably great, and though you may be tired of them, most of the listeners haven't tired of 'em. You have to be willing to play "the same old stuff" to appeal to crowds.
Having said that, there are alot of elements in music that can be improved upon: phrasing, tone, rhythm, accents, volume, etc. Part of your issue might involve the need to re-focus, and refine, some of those riffs. There's also the fact that you can break the callouses by working on your comping behind the band; that's always been the funnest and most challenging part for me. Popping licks and doing 12-16 bar break leads can sometimes make me feel like a puppet on a string ( but that's what the peasants pay us for sometimes ).
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sonny3
202 posts
Aug 01, 2014
3:39 PM
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practicing scales can help.play licks backwards and forwards and leave certain notes out.
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jnorem
481 posts
Aug 01, 2014
3:56 PM
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For me, licks are components used in making whole phrases. So my suggestion is to start thinking in terms of, say, an eight-bar phrase, during which you might utilize a couple of your licks, but with an emphasis on playing a coherent musical phrase, like constructing a well-written sentence if that makes any sense.
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Call me J
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jbone
1715 posts
Aug 01, 2014
7:12 PM
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Something which changed my whole attitude and style was, i delved deeply into 1st and 3rd position playing and did my best for a time to not even play in 2nd except when it was just necessary.
This served two purposes: It forced me to rethink most of my harp parts, and ultimately when I began working with 2nd position again, things were kind of brand new.
Something else that helped is, I got a couple of chromatics, a bari C and a G, and use them whenever I can, and I also have made very good use of a low F and low D diatonic. I am considering a low Eb now.
None of this happened overnight but the results, when they did start coming, were well worth the work.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa7La7yYYeE
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colman
316 posts
Aug 02, 2014
5:52 AM
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Licks are like words, if you just repeat the stuff you heard another use than it`s boring.Those same words changed up and put to new use,you have your own thing.so we have poets and hacks...
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