How would you explain the structure of "My Babe' to a host band at the blues jam? I've been working on the harp/vocals and would like to give it a go, but I don't think it's a standard 12-bar blues. I know I'd have to tell them "watch me for the stops in the turnaround"....right?
This is the version I'm after. Might drop down to E or D. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cokwVsX4saI
Last Edited by Arrick on Feb 27, 2018 9:59 AM
This will be over the heads of most of the players at this jam. I have a feeling if I try this one, I'll have one guy playing Elvis, someone else playing Lightnin' Hopkins and me playing Little Walter's version. Doesn't that sound awful?
I'm starting up a new jam in my hometown where I'll be in the host band and can practice with my group. This notation will be very helpful!!! Thanks, Jim!
The Nashville notation is commendably simple, but I know a couple of guys who, whereas not in the clinical sense being retards, have a terribly hard time grasping it.
You can change the figures for: tonic, dominant and subdominant (as per the case above), or mention chords: "If this was in C it should be ..."
@Martin I would appreciate it if you didn't use that term in this forum. I'm sure you didn't mean anything by it, but sometimes the post's author has children who are intellectually disabled. ;-)
Last Edited by Arrick on Feb 27, 2018 11:55 AM
With songs like My Babe, Fever, Stormy Monday (which are not straight 1-4-5 Chuck Berry progressions), if you find out someone on stage knows "My Babe" besides you, give it a try.
My formula at a jam of unknown talent levels is to stick to straight 12-bar songs and pick each song based on it being suitable for performance as a medium shuffle, a Green Onions bass line, AND a rumba or slow blues (all). So if the bass player doesn't know what Green Onions is; and the drummer can't play a shuffle; you can still do the song (as a rumba or slow blues) - and the audience will think that was your plan all along. It saves on grief.
Running your own band and jam sounds like a good alternative, aside from the increase in time & stress. ---------- BnT
I wouldn't. If you are at a blues jam and you have to explain something, it's going to get screwed up. The goal should be to have a good time and not leave disappointed or frustrated.
Thanks for all the advice! I think I'll save this one for the new band/jam where I have control. The other jam is fun and really popular, but very loud, super guitar heavy and leans towards rock or country too much. This new group is all over 40 yrs. old, stand-up bass, laid back drums and totally into featuring my harp. I'm starting it because I was getting disappointed and frustrated trying to force my harp into Jimi Hendrix, SRV and classic rock tunes. We use the term "Blues" pretty loosely here in Indiana.....
Interesting that "This Train" was mentioned. My son (who plays guitar) and I are booked to play at a ministry center in a couple weeks. We will be performing that song. It's fairly straightforward and not hard to learn.
BC
https://www.bluesharmonica.com/teacher-accreditation?page=1
Last Edited by BC on Feb 28, 2018 4:57 AM
I have had the same issue, but don't really get it. If the jam is called a "blues" jam, wouldn't you expect to be ab;e to play at least 8, 12, 16 bar blues? I've tried to describe My Babe and as soon as the host hears "16 bars", it's a no go. it's not tht hard really
@Jason Campbell -- I understand that frustration but you have to remember that in 80% of the open jams, the overwhelming majority of the jammers think blues is 12 bars and the idea of playing 8 or 16 bar blues just doesn't register because most of them really have close to ZERO knowledge about the genre, period. Asking for blues tunes, as an example, Sitting On Top Of The World, which is 10 bars, that's a bigger recipe for disaster and even worse than that, Muddy Waters' Just To Be With You is 14 bars long.
As far as describing it, here's where some theory knowledge comes in and you gotta tell them,m as an example, it's this many bars on the I chord, this many on the V chord, this many on the IV chord, and you will also have to give VISUAL cues and maybe in addition VOCAL ques as well, basically seize control of the band even if you have step on people's egos to get the message across.
Many of the jammers, ability wise, is going to be extremely limited, like it or not, and more than a few of them are simply not ready to be on a bandstand at that stage of the game, and these are the realities, like it or not.
If you were to request this at a pro jam/snob jam, where you're gonna find a far better level of musicianship overall and much more knowledgeable musicians as a general rule, then that's when it's more likely to work out. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
If you give a brief explanation of the form and then PLAY the guitar riff yourself on the harp (following the form) to open the tune they might have a fighting chance. Setting the groove on the harp for the band as an intro for them follow goes a long way.
---------- 4' 4+ 3' 2~~~ -Mike Ziemba Harmonica is Life!
I dunno know if setting the grove on the harp will work IMO to play My babe right you need a rock solid bass player LW made it what it is but its the bottom end and vocals that carry that tune. I brought My Babe into my band and they listened to the LW version a few times and then nailed it I was the weak link for sure. I've never done a blues jam where I didn't know at least a few of the guys in the band but if you can get them to listen to the tune or at least a few bars they should be able to pull it off. But if the band has never heard the song good luck with that. Lou
If a tune isn't a 12've bar you can't start off by playing a lead in.
In my experience everyone else will start off into a straight 1 1v V 12 bar by following your lead. There's usually no room for subtlety in the average jam...but hey that's why it's called a jam and not a rehearsal
The reality is that you can't push a song that the bass and guitar player don't know or it'll be a train wreck. If you're leading on harp, ask the bass and guitar if they know it, if not, move on to something else.
I play bass and harmonica so I know how it is on both ends of the equation. A vocalist called Summertime a couple weeks ago at a jam when I was on bass. I don't know the chord progression, neither did the guitar player ... and she couldn't tell us. But of course she insisted on playing the song anyway. The guitar player gets mad and refuses to play. I know the song is in Am and has an Em. So I walk on the Am until I hear the melody change, then go to Em. On bass, the best you can do in these situations is play soft, stay on the root as much as possible, listen and figure out what you can, and try not to clash. Basically the audience got vocals and drums, with some soft accompaniment on bass in the background.
The point to this story?
(1) DON'T DO IT. If the band doesn't know the song and you can't make them understand it in 5 seconds, move on.
(2) If you're playing harp and singing, you should be able to explain any song you call at a jam. In my opinion, that's your responsibility as a musician. You should be able to tell the band what you want. If you have certain songs you like, that are non-standard, and you don't know how to explain them, look up the chord progression. Or ask a guitar or bass player to explain it to you. It'll make it easier for the band, and make you look more professional and sound better.
(And one more thing) I was playing bass at a jam at a blues festival once and was talking harp with Ronnie Shellist afterward. He told me he learned to play the bass lines on harmonica for all the songs he does so that he could play them for the band so that they would know what he wants. That's a pro. ---------- Jim McBride Bottle 'O Blues microphones www.bottleoblues.com
