Re: [Harp-L] Pattern players

[icemanle@xxxxxxx]

A pattern is a sequence of notes. If you learn and play the pattern, after the first note, the rest become a forgone conclusion, one note always predictably leading to the next. So, when you start it, you already know in advance where it leads and where it ends. Patterns are a useful tool in learning the logic behind the language of music - how notes relate to chords and chord movements. A big chordal movement (in jazz, especially) is the ii-V-I. There are a mountain of books written full of patterns to play over these changes. In blues, I've seen a few books that outline patterns to play over the turnaround (V-IV-I chords). This is a great solution to "uh, what notes do I play at this point in the song". Many will memorize a bunch of patterns and pull them out when they apply to the harmonic movement beneath. 
 
Pattern players are easy to recognize. You will hear familiar repetitive ideas that pop up frequently throughout the night in lots of different songs. You can also hear the same ideas repeated night after night during the same songs if you listen to this performer frequently. However, a lot of pattern players have worked these sequences so many times that they can increase the speed and play them lightening fast, making it a bit harder to recognize them until you develop your listening speed to their level. Fast patterns sound impressive and a lot of musicians like that "fastest gun in the west" approach to their artistry. 
 
Use patterns to understand the language and steer you towards making good choices. Once you gain confidence, you can start creating your own patterns based on your own musical sensibilities. However, don't stop there. Remember, once you start a pattern, you usually go on "automatic pilot" until the end. The next step is to start a pattern or idea and not follow it through as memorized, but let the direction and conclusion of the idea be dictated by the moment - a surprise to your audience and to you, also. Muscle memory and repetition are how you train for these moments, but not how you achieve them.
 
I speak of Miles Davis - there are a lot of recorded examples of his group playing a 2, 3, 4, or 5 night gig - same musicians, same songs. However, each version of the same song sounds different in that the musicians are not repeating themselves or predictable patterns, but are always striving to find something new and in the moment for these performances. On the other hand, I've seen Rod Piazza play two nights in a row, and for all intensive purposes, it was an identical sounding show (for the most part), right down to the moans and 'yeah baby' that he uttered between phrases.
 
Rod had a very creative guitar player in his band years ago - Alex Shultz. Alex left the band because he didn't want to play everything the same way night after night - he chose a more creatively satisfying direction for himself. Rod, however, saw the wisdom and power of developing a professional show that could be recreated every night - not unlike the Disney philosophy in entertainment. It made good business sense, so Rod hired a guitar player that agreed with this philosophy. 
 
One way is not necessarily BETTER than the other. I just prefer the in-the-moment expression to the cut and paste style of music.
 
As to my teaching, it is best experienced live. I am developing an exciting series of workshops to offer alternatives to the MasterClass/BluesWeek/JamCamp experience. 
 
The Iceman
 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: mmolino54@xxxxxxxxxxx


Iceman, 
I know you are not the one who iniated the "pattern player" post, but like another poster, I too am curious: what does this phrase mean? If you repeat a riff, you have created a pattern, right? My music and harmonica knowledge is limited, though I know the most boring music is that which repeats without ever changing the pattern, and some of the most interesting are those which use patterns, but break them subtely or rearrange them in interesting ways. 
 
Also, I've only been on the list for 6 months or so, but I've heard you mention a few times what sound like some very interesting approaches to teaching--do you ever share specifics or are these trade secrets so to speak? 
 
-Marc Molino 
 
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