Re: [Harp-L] re: When Did Fast Become Good?

[<bfrain@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

while i can certainly appreciate super fast players, listening fatigue tends to kick in, whether harp or sax or guitar...my favorite sax solo is 'in my own dream' by butterfield band. slow and full of feeling that gets deep into your listening soul...if i developed super harp speed, which i won't since i'd rather go fishing than play, i would use it sparingly...when popper slows down on a tune, i can really feel what he's playing, and prefer that to just chugging notes all over the place...clapton with cream played some of the greatest solos of all time...perfect notes played perfectly...now he tries to play fast and there's just no feeling.  just my opinion...
---- JON KIP <jonkip@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: 
> 
> On May 13, 2013, at 6:19 AM, harp-l-request@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> 
> > re: When Did Fast Become Good? 
> 
> good playing fast and clean, with good notes has always been good playing.
> 
> Playing slowly, picking great notes is  also good playing....as long as you're not on one of those "Charge by the Note" gigs.
> 
> One interesting point: for me, anyway..... Playing a tune cleanly "as fast as you can" is pretty easy.... because your playing pushes up against your own speed and skill limit, so, since you're already playing as fast as you can cleanly play, tempo is not an issue... you just can't go any faster...
> 
> Playing quickly just a bit slower than my speed/skill limit is really more difficult.... since, at that tempo,  rushing is possible, it takes actual skill to keep the tempo steady, for me, anyway... kind of a shame...I once did Scrapple from The Apple, just for fun, and set the tempo at a reasonable clip, and kept rushing... so I upped the tempo, to "As fast As Possible" and was surprised that it became a lot easier.... and I am probably alone, in finding  that interesting.
> 
> However, if all else fails, learn to turn red on demand. It's the ultimate crowd pleaser, I've noticed...
> 
> I think bass players and drummers learn that early on...but  I recognize that there's a chance that  I'm probably just not hip enough to enjoy bass or drum solos...I do know some of those guys, though, and am counting on them not reading this post.
> 
> jk
> 
> 
> jon kip
> chromatic harmonica owner
> http://jonkip.com
>