Re: [Harp-L] RE Little Walter's harmony/Let's all talk Little Walter!

[IcemanLE@xxxxxxx]

We should remember that, in all cases, the music came first - then came the
 theory to try to describe what just happened. This is why there are no
fixed  rules in music - rules try to define what occurred organically.

Follow the sound - follow the melody in your head. If it is a good one, you
 will connect with your listeners.

Bukka probably didn't know sharp, natural and flatted 7ths - he most likely
 just SANG.


In a message dated 7/1/2009 9:07:20 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
rhhammersley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

It is a  bit over-rigid to believe that not flattening the 'blue' notes 
breaks any rules of the blues. Many players mess about with
flattening/ not flattening, or slide or gliss from one to the other.
For instance opening the "Country Blues Songbook" (transcriptions by
Stephan Grossman, Steve Calt and Hal Grossman) at random. Bukka  White
in 'My Mother Died' apparently sings the 7th note sharp,  natural and
flat in a single triplet. It is much more common to use  the flattened
note and natural note at different places in the  melody, or as
variations from verse to verse.

Some of the  charm of the blues is lost by over rigid adherence to the
"blues  scale". It is also worth remembering that the "natural third"
is  also the more harmonically complex 11th and Bop and post-bop Jazz
permits this as harmonically advanced alternative to the more  familiar 
flattened 7th and 9th... which is where my understanding  kind of
peters out.

Richard

On 1 Jul 2009, at 02:08,  Nicholas Lovett wrote:

>
> Thanks,
>
> The  insights were really helpful... the best piece of advice is how
>  Little Walter leaves the three hole natural instead of flatting it,  
> breaking some rules.  This creates the "frothy effect" heard on  many 
> of his records.  Like in "Rocker" he uses the three  blow instead of
> the two, then the three draw to set up his  swing like riff.  I think 
> he also uses the three draw  because it gives the riff a lighter
> tone.  After the three  natural he does a little slide often to the
> four draw?  Is  this correct?  Let's all pro it up an get together to 
> talk  some Little Walter, instead of Custom Harps and Jason Ricci!
> (Nothing  wrong with either of these btw)
>
>
>
>
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Richard  Hammersley
Grantshouse, Scottish  Borders
http://www.last.fm/music/Richard+Hammersley
http://www.myspace.com/rhammersley
http://www.myspace.com/magpiesittingdown




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