RE: [Harp-L] practicing

["Bradford Trainham" <bradford.trainham@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

A lot of the Delta/Country Blues has uneven meter peppered through it. 
John Lee Hooker used to always do his changes when he wanted.. And
sometimes, it was as we'd expect within the 12-bar frame and sometimes, it
was beyond anyone else's ability to expect/anticipate. 
I've even heard a few Howlin' Wolf tunes where he'd get a groove going
similar to Smoke Stack Lightnin' and then change the chords "as the spirit
led him". 
Brad Trainham
 

-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of hashbb@xxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, September 01, 2008 6:28 PM
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] practicing

Even easier when playing solo. Actually, uneven meter is exactly what it is,
changing when he feels the change is required. You have to have mightly big
ears to hear when someone plays with uneven bars.
HB

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Hammersley <rhhammersley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: hashbb@xxxxxxx
Cc: jim.alciere@xxxxxxxxx; harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Mon, 1 Sep 2008 3:09 pm
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] practicing

Don't know where I got this story:
Two guys are watching Lightning Hopkins play live. One whispers to other "he
keeps missing the chord changes" (of the 12-bar or whatever). LH leans over:
"Lightning changes chord when he want to change chord". Yes exactly although
easier when habitually backed only by a drummer.
On 1 Sep 2008, at 20:58, hashbb@xxxxxxx wrote:

>
>
> 'Lightning Hopkins had what? two
> riffs? they were wicked cool riffs though.'
>
> Come on now, you don't really seriously believe that. :-) I get your 
> point, but your comparison is way off base.
> Lightnin' had tons of tricks up his sleeve. Some of the bass notes he 
> would use over his chords borders on jazz, and that was all country 
> feel. That would be like saying Sonny Boy or Big Walter had only two 
> riffs, if you played those you could fake the rest, quite an over 
> simplification. When it comes to blues, constant change within the 
> structure is what makes the language and music come to life.
> HB
>
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Richard Hammersley
Grantshouse, Scottish Borders
http://www.last.fm/music/Richard+Hammersley
http://www.myspace.com/rhammersley
http://www.myspace.com/magpiesittingdown






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