Every now and again, I get the opportunity to play with a band. I've only been playing for just under a year, so I have a lot to learn about band dynamics. Fortunately, the guys are very helpful and understanding of my lack of experience, and often offer advice to improve.
One of my first nights, the lead guitarist told me not to play at all when someone else is soloing. His reasoning was that the nature of the harp is such that it tends to rise over other instruments if it isn't played correctly, and can interfere with another player's solo. For now, he advised, just don't play until it's my turn. Eventually, he encouraged, I'll have the experience and skill to play under someone to enhance their solo, but not yet.
My question, for all of you experienced musicians, is exactly what does it take to play "under" another musician's solo?
That's a wise guitarist,listen to what he says. I'm certainly not the most experience but here's my 2 cents:When someone's soloing, the whole song is underneath the soloist. You most definitely want to be at a lower volume,turn down the VC or play softer. You want to be heard but not so prominently as the soloist. You don't have to play very much. I tend to accent the rhythm and/or the changes. I feel like I'm a place marker for the body of the song while the solo's happening.
That's a complicated question. The first, quickest thing, is volume. Playing chords instead of individual notes can help. There are more complicated things too. I vaguely remember something from music theory about voices not crossing, but you have to avoid parralel movement on certain intervals too. If he is playing a fixed solo you can get a recording and practice and try to figure something out. If he's improvising it's harder. If you are playing amplified you can step away from the microphone and see if you can at least get some practice in.
edit: and don't play more notes than him! Hold some notes under what he does.
To me, my playing here is a perfect example of playing with other people. In my mind I was thinking string string section. If you don't know what to play then don't play anything. Silence is better than playing shit.
Thanks for the advice guys! I think a lot of the solos are improvised, but I'm starting to get used to their songs and chord progressions, so I'm starting to be able to anticipate the changes and all.
I started trying to play under by just doing a lead in here and there... just like three notes from I to the IV or something like that.
@Buddha Yeah, I like that, where that which you play doesn't draw attention to yourself, but directs more attention to the singer, or musician currently soloing. I think I have an idea of where to go from here. Thanks, a lot!
Good advice above. Listen to other players in your band or other bands, like what does the horn, sax, rhythm guitar,keyboard do during others solos.
A lot of times when I play under someone else's solo, I am thinking like a saxophone or an organ.
You could reinforce the rhythm with a repeating riff through the changes or an occasional understated phrase at lower volume.
Another is using chords reflecting the changes kind of like a sustained organ chord.
I guess the best thing is to really start tuning in to music you listen to, and what more skilled musicians do. Listen, listen, listen. If what you have to play doesn't forward the music, don't play.
Nothing wrong with standing up there swaying and grooving to the music, harp and mic away from your mouth, leaving plenty of space. As a stage presence and a musician, that totally forwards the blues. ---------- Shane
All good advice. My suggestion would be to break the music down to it's most elemental components. You hit on it when you said the notes from the 1, 4, 5,. I teach my students to connect first with the drums to get the beat.. but then play off of the bass line. If you are playing along with the most basic elements of the bass line then you are in sync with everyone in the band. Avoid the higher pitched notes as they will stick out and compete with vocals and solos. Hang on the lower end until you have a good rhythm line established and then build off of it adding either syncopation, keyboard chords, horns lines, etc. Play opposite the vocalist and answer him/her. If there is no room to do so then you were not meant to play in that space.
Breathing room is important... harp and vocals add a lot of tension to a song... it is good to know when to let the song breathe.
Listen to what the guitarist told you. If you are playing Blues, don't play when the singer is singing. That's not cool. Keep your eyes open. Watch the singer or the band leader. Eventually you will pick up cues from them.
If you are unsure what to play, find a copy of the tune and study it. If it doesn't have harp on it, find a tune with a similar groove and learn it.
Learn a sense of dynamics. Learn how to play softer. Learn how to play the melody or a rhythm.
If you want to learn how to do this, you are going to have to study the players that do this well. Players like Little Walter, Carey Bell and Billy Branch excel at this. So does Big Walter and Mark Hummel.
Last Edited by on Aug 01, 2010 4:45 PM
