Re: [Harp-L] Re: in memory of elizabeth reed

[Bradford Trainham <btrainham@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

As a guitarist-come-lately-to-harp, what helps me with not getting in
the way of the song/jam/inarticulable dynamic... is to think of lead
and rhythm harp and to further decide which one it is I'm
doing/going-to-do. 
I've begun to listen for my twisted notion of what I think of as
"rhythm harp" in other people's music and I'm about to decide that
there is, as with the guitar, just as subtle of an "art" with finding
that one softly-blown/drawn, sustained note/chord/"diad"?? in the name
of playing rhythm harp as there is trying to craft a captivating solo
in the guise of "lead harp".
It's funny, because when the question about Liz Reed came up, as I
tried to imagine what I'd do if playing that one, I was thinking those
long, definitely-in-the-background sustained notes, probably rough
parallels to the guitarist's blurring his attack with either his
volume knob or a pedal and I never got to the place in my mind where
I'd be doing a solo.
On the other hand, if I were called upon to play some passage out in
front in that song, because of a lack of chops, I'd probably want to
steal some of the organ's thunder and never really lapse into a
genuine lead harp solo. 
It's all just my imagination; (Never played that one either!!) I never
said it made sense,
Brad Trainham
 
 On Wed, 13 Jun 2007 12:13:54 -0700 (PDT), you wrote:

>Indeed, bowing out is better than hurting the song. Perhaps the biggest mistake I hear harp players make (esp myself!) is in NOT bowing out, or laying off, or holding back.  
>
>Too often people try to cram harp in where it just doesn't fit, or where they're not prepared to make it work. 
> 
>The Love is Strange clip of Delbert McClinton with Paul Thorn is a prime example.  McClinton,  a doubtlessly fine player (I don't know his stuff too well) finds himself noodling and tweeting at times when it seems he'd do better to wait for vocal lines to close or other instruments to finish their fills, he seems both all over the place and nowhere.  They're having tons o' fun, but not very together musically.  Of course fun is more important, but . . .
>
>I Wish I could always follow the rule: "Only add noise when it will advance the music."  But I get excited and can't stop.  Perhaps, "snatch it back and hold it," has another significance.  Hmmm . . .
>
>-Dave Fertig
>
>
>From:"Garry Hodgson" <garry@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [Harp-L] Re: in memory of elizabeth reed CC:
> Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2007 07:46:50 -0400 (EDT) To:Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx                
>many thanks to all who responded to my question.  i'm continually
>impressed with the depth of knowledge among the members of this list,
>and their willingness to share.  it sounds like i made the right call in
>bowing out that night.  i guess i have some homework to do.
>
>----
>Garry Hodgson, Senior Software Geek, AT&T CSO
>
>nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something.
>do something.
>
>
>
>
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