Re: Lead Guitar Players (Again).

[Mike Curtis <wd6ehr@xxxxxxxxxx>]

> 
> At 10:49 AM 1/24/95 -0500, Norbert Brunhuber wrote:
> 
> >  Every time I try to have an open mind, but these [exp del] guitar players
> >are always the same.
> 
> Sounds like the generalization generals got you, too. Some of us still try
> to play both :-)  And not always at the same time :):)  Sounds like a
> maturity (ego) or lack of vision thing to me. BTW, if a harp player's doing
> his/her job, you don't really need anything else either, but it can help.
> Knowing when to fill and give space has always been the key. Good luck
> kicking the guy out or finding a new band. Do you sing...?

I do some tunes with just harp, bass, and drums.  And not the rhythmic 
chording type stuff, either.  One of my favorite tunes is Miles Davis "So 
Blue", where I play bass on my guitar, single note lead on harp, and turn 
on the drum machine.  I get a lot of requests (and TIPS) for that tune.  
and yes, the tip bucket determines to a great extent my opinion of how 
good a tune is :-)

I do others with just harp, bass pedals, and drum machine.

And of course, I've worked with bands where I'd put down guitar and play 
handheld harp while the bass player and drummer covered me.

If you're the band leader, you don't have to worry about what sidemen are 
saying.  Just let them know that they can be replaced - and YOU have the 
jobs.  Every once in a while, bring in a "ringer" to sit in - even if you 
have to pay him a little something - and ask him to mention IN FRONT OF 
the rest of the band that he wouldn't mind working with YOU (the harp 
player specifically) if the opportunity comes up.  A little insecurity 
goes a long way to quash grandiose talk ;-)

Also, make recordings of the bands tunes, and if you write, transcribe 
these, at least to chord charts, and preferably to lead sheets.  Should 
the bass player and guitarist decide to fly the coop, you can easily 
replace them on short notice.

And ALWAYS let other musicians sit in with your band.  Get cards from the
good ones, and throw out cards proffered (proper spelling!) upon you by
bad ones :-) I always like to make notes as to style, quality, attitude,
look (I tend to dress a little better than many - dress slacks, dress
shirt, black leather dress shoes, etc. - and many places I work don't want
the "grunge" look, although many could care less what we wear as long as
it's something :-), and anything else you feel is personally important. 
"Chemistry" is also important.  Did something start to "click" when they
sat in, or was it pretty mechanical?  Sometimes a lesser musician with 
the right "chemistry" for your group is better than a fantastic but 
uninspiring one.

 --  mike curtis
wd6ehr@xxxxxxxxxx