Re: [Harp-L] Rhythm and Tone

[Mike Fugazzi <mfugazzi67@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hazrat Inayat Khan would go so far as to say that
EVERYTHING is rhythm and tone.  Even the computer
you're sitting at.  Your friend from the other list is
very wise.

On a harp related note, according to Sufi beliefs a
harmonica would be a wonderful insturment to play. 
This is so due to the fact that it is played with
one's own breath.  That makes it a little extra
sacred.

Hazrat and other Sufis would probably prefer wood
combs over plastic since they are from nature.  ;)

Mike



> --- In harp-l-archives@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Wolf
> Kristiansen
> <wolfkristiansen@...> wrote:
> 
> Earlier today, I was browsing the junior harp-l
> group
> on Google Groups, alt.music.harmonica.  Having
> lurked
> in both groups for a while, I've concluded that the
> level of harmonica knowledge in harp-l is greater
> than
> in alt.music.harmonica.  It wasn't a difficult
> deduction.  Today, I read something in
> alt.music.harmonica, though; simply said with an
> undeniable ring of truth.  It's been said before,
> many
> times and in many ways.
> 
> Here it is again, from a gentleman named Robert
> Reynolds who was replying to another poster's
> question
> about bending notes.  He has no idea I'm quoting him
> in this group, but I thought I should spread his
> wisdom.
> 
> Warning, this is from a blues lover and blues
> player's
> perspective; I suspect the non-blues players (whom I
> respect and laud) would have a slightly different
> emphasis about the essential elements of playing
> harmonica:
> 
> "I want to throw in my two cents worth on your
> question about bending, but I also want to make it
> part of a general philosophy of playing and sounding
> good. I believe that the two most important elements
> of sounding like a good musician are rhythm and good
> tone.  More specifically, rhythm is first, then good
> tone.  I figured this out by listening to great
> musicians who can stir the soul by playing only a
> few
> notes, or by playing the same note several times.
> Even if you play the wrong note, it still sounds
> good
> if the rhythm is on target.  If you screw up the
> rhythm you sound like an idiot. Your rhythm sounds
> pretty good, but just remember that rule because
> some
> day you'll be jamming with other musicians and your
> mind will go blank.   At that point you'll have to
> remember that instead of playing a super cool lick
> you
> should try to stay in time.
> 
> The other main thing is good tone, and as far as I
> can
> tell the number one element of good tone is vibrato,
> which makes the note sound as if it's alive. 
> Playing
> a note shouldn't just sound like a note.  It should
> sound like a voice.  The blues solo you picked out
> is
> a great way to develop your playing, but developing
> a
> good voice to your playing is just as important."
> 
> So there it is, I know these things have been talked
> about before, but I thought Mr. Reynolds had a fresh
> and effective way of describing them. I agree with
> him
> on both points, of course.
> 
> 
> 
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> 
> 
> 


Mike Fugazzi
http://www.myspace.com/mikefugazzi
http://www.niterail.com

"Music should be healing; music should uplift the soul; music should inspire. There is no better way of getting closer to God, of rising higher towards the spirit, of attaining spiritual perfection than music, if only it is rightly understood."
-Hazrat Inayat Khan


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