[Harp-L] RE: Harp-L Digest, Vol 65, Issue 39

["geoff atkins" <geoffatkins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Message: 7
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 03:53:18 -0800 (PST)
From: Michael Meehan <mikemeehan2002@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Suggestions for playing the occasional "rock" tune?
To: Ryan Hartt <rhartt1234@xxxxxxxxxxx>, harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx

Hi all. My band plays pretty much all blues (new and old), but they occasionally
like to work on something that falls more into the "rock" category, like the
Stones "Honky Tonk Woman" or something like that. Now, I can pretty much hold my
own and add value to anything in the usual blues format, but when it breaks out
of the mold too much, I am not really good enough to just wing it, know what I
mean? So, I guess what I am asking is, does anyone have any
suggestions/direction on how to add value to a song like "Honky Tonk Woman"? Not
looking for ultra-specifics (allthough, that would be cool!), just a general
discussion of how one goes about it.
  Thanks for any input! Mike

>From Geoff Atkins
TO Mike Meehan
Sorry if I got the etiquette wrong, my first post.
Playing the occasional rock tune: I add what I call "Fills", in which I add a
small phrase when the singer takes a breath.
Particularly "HT women" is suited to this.
I've had visiting musicians strongly compliment on the beneficial effect to the
music, - and at the same time other band member vocals /guitarists  can get
irate about it. (I guess they are harmonically challenged)
Best to agree the matter at a practice night.
Gets us back to the controversial question of playing along with the body of the
music... Deep and troubled waters there!.
Oddly, no-one has complained when I sing the chorus counterpointed  through the
Green Bullet, otherwise I feel like a nerd standing through a whole rocking song
just so I can throw in the "feature" eight bars.
Geoff