[Harp-L] Butter on Your Own Sound

[gorky <gorky@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi all;
Bill,I think you are right.
However, it can be useful to try and play note for note like other 
harmonica players but just in certain way:
It may help you to understand a kind of feeling, an approach of rythm. 
I understood i was wrong
when i tried to play  a "note for note solo" just because i had it in 
my mind  and wanted  to play that whatever the rythm or the song was.
But when i began to forget that, to play without thinking about playing 
"note for note solo" it happened that it came naturaly to me( sometimes 
many mounth after) but this time, it sounded good.
It means influences and copying are good when you let them grow slowly 
in you. But don't make a rule.Let hey come to you.
I' ve heard many players at festivals: They were very good players but 
looking back, i can't remember one with a special
identity: All of them were looking for absolute Little Walter phrasing 
and sound.Here is the question: Who could play exactly like Little 
Walter except Little Walter himself? And i' m note sure Walter thought 
about copying someone' s phrasing or sounds when he recorded"Juke".I 
Think he just played it.
John Lee Hooker learned guitar with someone ( I don' t remember his 
name but he was never recorded). and maybe he would have liked to play 
exactly like him(I said MAYBE cause i was not there).But maybe the 
imperfections and defaults in copying have made John' s style.AND IT'S 
GREAT!!!!
I always have that in my mind now when i' m playing.
Gorky.