Re: [Harp-L] Re: [HarpTalk] Playing at Jam Sessions

["David Brown" <nonidesign@xxxxxxxxx>]

Wish I'd read David Payne's response before I wrote my own, cause he nailed
it.

On 9/18/08, David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
>
> I've heard that. Usually, it's unspoken. It's because of people's
> experiences and a general lack subtle rhythm of the average harmonica player
> they've run into in the past. Anytime they've gone to a five chord, they
> wail their hearts out even when they shouldn't. So, when they see a
> harmonica player, they thing this guy is gonna play his guts out, he's not
> going to be restrained.
> When I play rhythm, I become just one of several instruments contributing
> to the overall sound. So, I listen to what the guitar player is doing on
> rhythm and reinforce that. In ¾ time, I'll usually play two beats on, one
> beat off... in 4/4 time, I'll usually play a two-measure rhythm, six beats
> on two beats off, in a syncopated pattern. One reason a lot of harmonica
> players don't play a lot of chord rhythms is because of the strain on lungs
> keeping a chord up every beat, or they get choked up on spit if they don't
> have time to swallow it. Taking a two-beat vacation every other measure
> makes all the difference in the world, you have time to wet your lips,
> swallow, and take a normal breath. I could play forever like that.
> There was a video of this kid I saw a while back on Youtube or something. I
> don't remember who he was, but he was 14 and supposedly some prodigy. I
> think he was.
> He was playing blues and the guitar was doing the fills. He played a very
> subtle rhythmic line and never tried to mimic the guitar during the fills.
> There are times when it is OK to do that (disclaimer), and other times when
> you have to let someone else be the star. Now when the kid's solo came
> around, he let it rip.
> That's the way it ought to be, in many cases, like a tiger in an iron cage,
> he remains vicious, but restrained. When solo time comes around, the door
> opens and the tiger leaps out, kills some stuff, then goes back in his cage.
>
> I did write an article on ehow about playing rhythm, it's written for
> bluegrass, but it will apply to anything.
>
>
> http://www.ehow.com/how_2223999_bluegrass-harmonica-fit-bluegrass-musicians.html
>
> Dave
> ____________________________
> Dave Payne Sr.
> Elk River Harmonicas
> www.elkriverharmonicas.com
>
>
> -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: MARVIN Fleischman <m0flei01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > When playing at certain types of jam sessions, why is it that guitars,
> etc., are
> > welcome to play while someone is singing, but not the harmonica, even if
> it is
> > being played softly? Regarding playing the harmonica during a blues jam
> and an
> > Americana jam, I have been told to play less and make it count. When it
> is an
> > unfamiliar song to me, I like to play very quietly to get the melody in
> my head.
> >
> > Marvin Fleischman
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
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