Re: [Harp-L] Percussion for Acoustic Blues Duo

[Matt Deters <10holedog@xxxxxxx>]

As long as you're having fun, it certainly doesn't look dorky to me!
Imagination and innovation!
-Matt

--- On Fri, 7/24/09, 46long Blake <46long@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:


From: 46long Blake <46long@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Percussion for Acoustic Blues Duo
To: "Michelle LeFree" <mlefree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Friday, July 24, 2009, 7:05 PM


OK. It takes WAY more guts and humility than I have, but my guitarist (I'm
in an acoustic duo) duct tapes a maraca (sp?) to one foot, and a small stick
tambourine to his other foot, and also sometimes has an old cigar box that
he stomps on with a flat surface mic inside. We call it "happy feet," and a
picture can be found here:
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=44147098&albumId=150584

It sounds (and kinda looks) dorky, and awkward, and it is, and yet it has
made a huge amount of difference in our live groove and, as a result, a huge
difference in the number of women who get up and dance......which makes
people stay longer and drink more beer....which makes the club owner
happy....which gets us hired again....and so forth.

I also will play tambourine on a song or two, but have any of you tried
soloing with one hand while keeping time with a tambourine in the other?!?!?

- Blake

On Fri, Jul 24, 2009 at 7:00 PM, Michelle LeFree <
mlefree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
> Rick Davis <bluesharpamps@xxxxxxxxx> asks:
>>
>> What is your favorite percussion instrument for an acoustic blues duo...
>> for
>> the harp player when he's not playing harp.  Or, playing harp on a rack?
>>
>>
> How about rhythm bones, spoons, or even hambone?
>
> Gimme that old time rhythm!    8^)
>
> I also like Bodhran even outside traditional Celtic music. Stricken with
> glancing blows from the tipper a good Bodhran player can almost whisper a
> beat.
>
> If those won't work for ya, how about a stomp board or something like
> Madcat's high-hat stand with a chunk of wood instead of cymbals?
>
> A good tambourine player can cover the gamut of musical genres with class.
>  There's a million little gourds, clackers, shakers and other hand
> percussion instruments.
>
> My experience is that a player who can provide a tasteful beat in an
> acoustic setting can be a valuable asset.
>
> Michelle
>
>
>
>
>
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