Like lots of players, I've been having fun working with a loop pedal, and am now just brave enough to start using it on gigs. The 12 Bar Blues really suits looping, because it repeats in the same form. There are various ways to set up a full rhythm loop using just harp and voice. Here's one approach from a recent solo gig:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUmRa2P7umw
Annotations explain the process, gear, & things to watch for.
As an American, I've always envied the way my British and Irish brothers used the term "brilliant," as a casual term of high praise. It fits here: that demonstration is brilliant. Even a fool (about such things) like me can follow it, and it opens up a whole world of music-making that is foreign to me. But it seems like something that is surely one wave of the future, and for that reason I'm very grateful that you've taken the time to create the video and to post it here. You're right: it takes time to get all three loops wired in. I'm fascinated by the way in which the technology both is and isn't the point. It's a means to an end, but it's also inevitably the thing that draws attention to itself--at least at this moment in history, when it's still fairly new. I have to think that in 50 years it will seem terribly old fashioned, as old fashioned as a fiddle and a bow. But right now it's modern as heck, and it suggests all sorts of new possibilities.
Last Edited by on Apr 03, 2010 11:40 PM
I cant pin it down, but this damned valved harmonica, and my limited time with a looping pedal has got me hooked. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to use one at hill country, particularly during my time with superchucker. to me, its the ultimate one man band, the modern one man band. it's a perfect tool to express more musicality, and individuality in your playing. Saving the dough for one as i type this........ ---------- Kyzer's Travels
it wouldnt surprise me, Ive been using computer software and a mic to do the same sort of stuff for years. long before i ever played the harmonica, and the pedals arent perfect yet either, but
...done right, I dont think the masses would doubt, given the general perception of harmonica player's status as untalented or untrained musicians, that you were a master of making music. not just accompaniment to guitar and drum guys. this is all one man band context here...
modern? well, im only 34, and highly ignorant of the history of the harmonica, and that spills over into my knowledge of the music as well...there are others ive seen, a sax player particularly, that is just freakin awesome with the pedal. It's capabilities seem more unique than a harp and a foot drum, and this dude had more eyes on him than id ever seen.
I suppose it's all in how you use the tools available, and, of course, personal choice.
I just think it's one of those niches in harp playing that is underrated, unexplored, and generally not considered when trying to make a dollar, whether your sitting on an upside down bucket outside or inside comfortably in a recording studio... ---------- Kyzer's Travels
This is very cool. Brendan IS "Brilliant". To reiterate what others have said - he uses his gear as a means to an end - Making Music- not just to play with gear.
And (sorry I can't help myself)... Cool mic!!! ---------- /Greg
Brendan, that was very nice! It's great to see established players like yourself experimenting with loops too, and not just us "kids"! ;)
However, I would suggest that you look into a looper that can "multiply" tracks. This means that you can record, say, 2 bar mouth drum track, press the "multiply" button 6 times, and you have a loop length of 12 bars. Then you just overdub your bass line and any other part you want to repeat in the 12bars. This would save you time in the beginning when you are just doing the vocal percussion for 12 bars, and you are more likely to keep the beat consistent over 2 bars than the full 12. To experiment with this function before buying an expensive pedal with multiply function (I think the big Boss Loop station has this function), I recommend fooling around with a software looping system on your computer first. For windows, I would use Ambiloop, which is totally free. On Mac or Linux, I would use SooperLooper, which is also free. Both of these software loopers have advanced loop control including tools to multiply and divide loop times, and multiple, independently controllable loop slots. You can make a nice keymapping of your own design so that you can trigger loops, control loop time, bypass loops, etc., all with a touch of a button on your keyboard. Actually, with a MIDI controller hooked up to a laptop, these software loopers become fully functioned, professional, performance loopers.
Thanks Isaac :) I've downloaded Ambiloop and will check it out - it looks great. The way you describe would work well for the incremental approach I took. A similar approach is to have two loopers, set up the 2 bar beatbox drum feel on one of them, feed into the second and then add the 12 bar bass and chord parts. (Actually the Pandora has a one level looper in it so I could use that, but I find the triggering too tricky to do consistently enough for live work).
There are quicker ways than in the video above of getting a 3-part bass/drum/chords 12 bar blues loop down just using my basic Boss pedal; I'll post a couple of new vids soon to demonstrate. Brendan
That was really inspiring, as I have also been thinking about different ways to use rhythms & with duos and solo performances - haven't thought about the loops before..
I think that metronome would be a good device to get rid of the timing issues, it could be a small led metronome or in your performance even a bigger swing metronome would fit - it could even be the first stage of building the loop, especially if it would have a small "tic tac" sound.. :)
Btw, as Greg said, cool mic! I have a similar one in my gearbox..
Brendan, I'm glad you downloaded Ambiloop, you will enjoy fooling with it. It took me a little while to figure out all it's intricacies (ie. like how to set the loop length on the fly, rather than have a preset loop length every time, and how to set up the key mapping controls). Let me know if you need any specific tips, and I will gladly share what I know. As an example of the kind of looping you can do with ambiloop (including use of the "multiply" command) have a listen to this song I recorded a couple months ago:
I've got several other songs that use live looping (using a pedal) up on my YouTube site. I'd be very interested to hear what you have to say about my songs!
By the way, next time you come over to the States, make sure you play a gig out here in Phoenix! I'd love a chance to see you playing live!
