I´m at a mental standstill, really annoying. I need to throw in an instrumental at an upcoming gig. Preferably a recognisable tune, and not to complicated: there is *no time for rehearsal*. I had thought about "Over the rainbow" but then maybe, that one would have required some time to work on.
Pop tune, jazz tune, whatever! Not just a 12 bar blues.
It's hard to say without know your skills or of your partner. Brandon Bailey recorded some instrumentals with just harmonica and beatbox. Madcat has some material with "Madcat and Ruth". I think it's easier you take some material that's familiar with you (even if you never played it) and then try out.
Thanks guys, here I was kinda thinking of wandering off the blues path -- thereby making my request a bit OT and I apologize for that -- and hitting upon some song that people know and that lends itself to an unrehearsed performance, while still being a bit surprising. (My guitar partner is skilled; I´ve myself been playing for quite a while and I think I can get around most of the stuff that is thrown before me.)
I´m thinking something along what Kim W did w/ the T-birds, "Cherry pink and apple blossom white" -- but not that one! And not "Tequila". Not swinging but more ... beautiful.
Haha, no easy request this, I know.
Last Edited by Martin on Nov 22, 2019 10:10 AM
You posted, "... a recognizable tune, and not too complicated: there is *no time for rehearsal*" and also, "Pop tune, jazz tune, whatever! Not just a 12 bar blues."
The first tune that came to mind that met your criteria was, "You Are My Sunshine".
2nd position:
Of course, it is easier in 1st position...
and then Alex Paclin offers some different song ideas you might consider:
I do this one sometimes at jams. It's a great tune, everyone recognizes it, nobody expects it (I like the surprise factor). It's pretty easy if you're good in 1st position, and a good way to get good if you aren't. I jazz it up a little at the end.
Fleetwood Mac's Albatross is a good one. I have played it live before. Straightforward guitar and harp in A. I have it on YouTube with tab and Hakan does a nice version venturing into the upper octave.
@Jbone: It can be an emulation of many things. At this point, since we're not a blues duo, I wanted something a little bit outside of that territory. Perhaps bluesy but not blues.
I really don't see the struggle here Martin. Just play any popular song (doesn't matter if it's an instrumental originally or not) that you know and can play well. If you can play something approximating the vocal line of a well known song and do it reasonably well. Then people will likely enjoy it. Doesn't matter if it's blues, pop, folk, country, or any other genre for that matter. Any song will do. Look on YouTube for ideas of songs to do and how to approach them on harp. Just search for Christelle Berthon, Kirk Johnson, Charlie McCoy, Rob Paparozzi, JJ Milteau, etc and you'll be spoilt for choice.
@Kingley: As I said, I was at something of a standstill. No struggle, but it was no time for rehearsal, so it had to be something that would work right off the bat. As it now happened (gig was yesterday), a lady stepped forward and asked for "Oh darling", the Beatles tune from Abbey Road, since I had played that one at a gig many years ago and it had made an impression. It worked fine, simple chords and the tune sits perfectly in 1 position; also 50 yrs since Abbey Road & all that.
@Littoral: Yeah, that´s a good one! Quite possible for our next gig.
Thank you all for ideas!
Last Edited by Martin on Nov 25, 2019 6:41 AM
Here's a link to West Weston doing a blues vocal (She's a Killer), then taking it into an instrumental of Duke Ellington's, "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" - https://youtu.be/QCehVvjTdu0
