RE: [Harp-L] Building solos

["David R. Fertig" <dfertig@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hey,  when getting ready to play I sometimes listen to harp players who 
happen also to be good - harp players (what's a musician?  Someone who 
plays music competently?  So is a good harp player a good musician?)

To me, vocal, horn and organ seem more in the sort of range and feel I like 
for my harp playing.   But, vive la difference!

As for thinking about solos, hmm, every time I think about stuff I drop 
something.  So I gave up thinking long ago.    I just hear what others are 
doing and try to work with it.

Do some of you have solos all worked out that you wait to plug in 
somewhere?    What does that feel like?  Again, thinking is not my 
customary mode.  I don't know what I'm gonna play til the first downbeat, 
and even then I ain't sure, aside from the licks necessary for the 
particular song, if I know them.

I hope someday to be good enough to take one tiny riff and work it all 
different ways in a song, saving my other 3 riffs for other songs, so they 
don't all sound alike  - which is what happens when I play all four of my 
riffs in every song.     But if I'm lost in the music, all bets are off,
what happens, happens.

Luckily I ain't trying to feed myself by munchin' a tin sandwich!

-Dave Fertig



At 11:28 AM 3/17/2005, Chris Michalek wrote:

> >Never start a solo on the root of the
> >> chord.
> >>
> >So don't start a solo on a 12bar in G on G?  Why?
> >
> >
>
> Because it's not hip.  If the song is in G try starting your solo on
> a Bb or F.  You could even start it on D or E.  Stay away from G
> unless you're ending a solo and even then you want to avoid it.  Some
> players never use the root.  That's the bass player's job!
>
> The same thing applies when you move to the IV and V chords.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >> Stop copying other people.  Build your own facility
> >> and listen to the
> >> music in your head.  PLay that.
> >
> >I think I kind of do this naturally.  That's the best
> >part about playing music.  I spend a lot more time
> >thinking about phrasing then I do the actual licks
> >used.  I'd much rather play the blues scale up and
> >down 50 times then try to learn somebody else's solo
> >note for note.
> >
>
> You have to stop thinking and just play. Play whatever comes to your
> mind and if you've practiced enough to know where every tone is on
> your harp your music will come through at the speed of thought.
> Chris Michalek
>
> www.michalekstrone.com
> CD Available
> http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/michalekstrone
>
>
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