Re: [Harp-L] harp roles in jam situations

[<jruss433@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Nick -

Some twenty years ago, in a jam, I found myself playing along side a rhythm 
guitar player that broke his a string during the lead guitar solo and 
promptly stopped playing.  As he repaired off the stage to repair off the 
stage, I quickly learned that the harmonica can be, in fact, a rhythm 
instrument.  It got me into that band as a regular.

The guidelines provided by music theory are essential to music, and 
etiquette is necessary as you determine what the parameters of a particular 
playing enviroment are - but rules, as well-intended as they might be to 
keep order, can be dangerous.  As I play more jazz these days, I believe the 
harmonica to be a very handy and versatile  instrument that may achieve 
recognition some day beyond the recognition it gets outside of our little 
community, a nice community by the way.

However, if we all reconcile ourselves to rules, we will be trapped in our 
little community forever.  Not only that, but if you look around at the 
members of this community who have recieved the most recognition, they are 
all people who have edged past the rules.

Mark Russillo
a.k.a. The Rhode Island Kid

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nick Kirkes" <nick.kirkes@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2006 11:23 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] harp roles in jam situations


> Harp-L,
>
>
>
> I have a theory/etiquette question I'm hoping will spark some discussion.
> Perhaps this has been discussed before, but I'm a beginner so I'll hope
> you'll all forgive redundancy.  I joined up with the Colorado Blues 
> Society
> and their online forums and found a post discussing jam etiquette.  I read
> through the posts and understand most of it and found it enlightening. 
> The
> last thing I want to do is piss people off while I'm learning (or at any
> point for that matter).  However, there was one comment made by the author
> of the post that I'm having trouble absorbing.  I'm hoping you all can 
> help
> me understand what he means.
>
>
>
> > From http://www.coblues.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=165:
>
> "1) harmonica is not a rhythm instrument (at least at a jam)"
>
>
>
> I discussed this with some friends last night, but we all came to 
> different
> conclusions.  In my reading and practice, one of the first things I do to
> learn a song is follow the bass line to get a feel for the song, but to 
> me,
> that means I'm acting as part of the rhythm.  The author obviously 
> realizes
> that he made a comment that not everyone would agree with, per his "Flame
> Away" comment, and I'm not saying he's right or wrong.  I'm just curious
> what other harp players might think he meant by it.  I just want a better
> understanding of where the harp fits in and what is good practice when
> sitting in with new people in a jam type situation.
>
>
>
> Looking forward to your responses.
>
>
>
> Nick
>
>
>
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