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

[gary mulholland <g.e.mulholland@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Geoff I know what you mean about Standing around feeling stupid waiting
for your " Feature " I play harp in an Irish band and only "feature" on
about half of the set. I`ve got round this by learning to play the bodhran
and taking on the PA duties. Now I play the full set alternating between
bodhran and harmnica. Also with it being my job to set up the PA I get the
harp miced through the PA exactly how I want it. How many of you harp
players can claim that!!

Gary

On Tue, Jan 13, 2009 at 4:30 AM, geoff atkins <geoffatkins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:

> 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
>
>
>
>
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