GermanHarpist
1931 posts
Dec 31, 2010
6:18 PM
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I just had a little realisation... People often say that it's good to make pauses in your music. Which is definitely true.
However, why do we tend to play so much? The thing is, that every note that we play helps us to direct a melody/groove. The same is true for pauses,.. however you don't direct the groove directly, but passively.
When you make a pause you should think, "the notes I played previously leading me to this note would allow a nice aesthetic touch with a pause". When you are not happy with the previous notes, you try to save the groove by playing more.
Thus, the urge to play a lot may come from the feeling that the melody could be saved/improved...
If you don't allow yourself to make pauses you let the melody lead you.
Take charge.
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hvyj
965 posts
Dec 31, 2010
9:17 PM
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Pauses are even more important when playing with other musicians. It's important to leave space and let the music breath. What you DON'T play is just as important (or more important) than what you do play. Never be afraid to lay out and let the music happen around you.
A bandleader I work with regularly who has a Masters degree in music put it to me like this: Harmonica can be a pain in the ass to listen to if you keep playing all the time. Leave space and pick your spots. That way what would otherwise be a pain in the ass takes the intensity of the music up a level when you do play. Good advice I think.
Just because you can play on a particular passage doesn't necessarily mean you should. The old "less is more" thing really does make sense.
In general, i think most harp players tend to overplay.
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boris_plotnikov
393 posts
Dec 31, 2010
11:25 PM
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I tend to overplay when I hardly hear myself. It seems it looks like way, not to get lost. I gets angry, when I listen my recording of such gigs. This is the reason, why I usually take two amps with me, to avoid such situation.
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earlounge
253 posts
Jan 01, 2011
11:16 AM
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I had a guitar teacher tell me to listen to horn players phrasing to get a natural sense of pauses because they have to breath.
Harp players breath in and out so it is more likely to have the same problem as a guitar player over playing, because we don't have to stop for air.
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bonedog569
187 posts
Jan 01, 2011
12:31 PM
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We are sort of talking about two things here - though they both have to do with not makeing any sounds with your instrument.
1) laying out - What hvji said - I second. You can't go wrong leaving them wanting more. You can easily go wrong in the other direction.
2) rests , phrasing, rhythmic sensibility
Rhythm is more than half of what it's all about. If your playing is not working with, accenting or helping drive the rhythmic movement of the song - you are not fully playing. Call it 'pauses' or rests or 'phrasing'. You are still 'playing' - you can even be soloing - just more effectively. All instrumnents are percussive - as well as melodic. There is no beat without spaces in the music.
When you become sensitive to leaving space in the music - you can actually contribute in more subtle ways even when not soloing. - though 'laying out' is always the 'safest bet' - especially when 'sittin in'
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Last Edited by on Jan 01, 2011 12:33 PM
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LittleJoeSamson
457 posts
Jan 01, 2011
12:54 PM
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Yes. The horn player comparison. It's all about dynamics. Listen to the great "pocket" players. Mickey Raphael is very good here.
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Aussiesucker
710 posts
Jan 01, 2011
1:28 PM
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Little Joe> could not agree more as Mickey Raphael is IMO the absolute master in the 'less is more'. Mickey is my No 1 favourite player. I don't listen to a lot of Harmonica Music as I often feel it's overdone & very repetitive.
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joeleebush
166 posts
Jan 01, 2011
2:16 PM
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A lot of overplaying results from doing so many, many, hours of playing alone for money on the streets or working as a duo with just a guitar player and nobody else. (one of by biggest playing errors when I was in my early teens and hustling, was overplaying)
The A&R men used to yell from the booth..."will you just get a groove going and stop running all over that thing..PUH-LEEEEZE"
The effort is being put forth to fill up as much space as possible because of the lack of other instruments.
It can be a murderous habit to control or eliminate too. Takes concentrated EFFORT to not overplay.
I guess that's one reason I don't care too much for Jason Ricci's work..he's a brilliant talent, but if he'd cut the number of notes in half, then the music would be so much better.
Listen to early Little Walter before Jimmy Rogers and Muddy tamed him..he was like a wildman on that thing.
Then AFTER he learned what its all about..he became fantastic. Listen to "Back Track" for one of the most heart rattling "stops" ever in a harp solo. (you'll know which one it is when you hear it).
There he is, dancing along all over that mouthpiece and suddenly he drills everyone with that "da-da-dahhhh"...then a killer pause and a few bars of spaced single notes, and then a return to the blazing licks.
Now THAT is real harp playing.
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nacoran
3523 posts
Jan 01, 2011
3:00 PM
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I've kept silent on this issue for long enough.
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harmonicanick
1037 posts
Jan 01, 2011
3:28 PM
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This is the less is more thread, and I do agree completely with the posts, very well put.
I heard an interview with Lee Oskar some time ago, and he explained that his harmonica playing is about 'pockets'
That is pockets of silence and pockets of musical notes. Well, that sounds a bit obvious but when you think about it, it makes sense.
The listener assimilates the musical phrase and then the 'pocket' of no notes which accentuates the phrase played.
For this reason if you are jamming or whatever, and you have solo chop or phrase, play it, and then repeat it exactly the same. The listener will have heard it once and is then reminded of it and most like that.
I guess its part of the curve, hearing Popper and Ricci and then going back to players who get so much soul from one note, and finding out where you want to be in your journey
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walterharp
512 posts
Jan 01, 2011
3:37 PM
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i think pauses in solos tend to go best emulating vocals, as much as horns. the great singers do not sing all the time either, and that is where the most expressive and talented music ends up in most all styles of music
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harmonicanick
1038 posts
Jan 01, 2011
3:42 PM
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@ walterharp
You are right and I wish I could sing!
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nacoran
3527 posts
Jan 01, 2011
4:00 PM
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&1D129;
edit: Doh, anyone know how to work this unicode stuff?
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Last Edited by on Jan 01, 2011 4:03 PM
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7LimitJI
261 posts
Jan 02, 2011
1:54 AM
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Why don't you leave some holes when you play, then maybe some music will fall out !!
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Greyowlphotoart
321 posts
Jan 02, 2011
2:03 AM
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I think..............pauses...................are ok..........if they're..............not......over............done
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Last Edited by on Jan 02, 2011 2:28 AM
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hvyj
975 posts
Jan 02, 2011
5:27 AM
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On a diatonic harmonica one cannot play a complete 12 tone chromatic scale without bends and OBs which require sophisticated technique. Some musicians consider SILENCE to be the 13th note.
It's always easy to get that 13th note on a harmonica. No sophisticated technique is necessary. You just need the wisdom to know when to shut up and stop playing and the will to do it--which is perhaps easier said than done.
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groyster1
670 posts
Jan 02, 2011
5:37 AM
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I dont think harp should be played over the singers vocals only fills in between and if a guitarist steps out for a solo you should respect that also-but when the singer says "blow your horn" then its your turn to shine
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