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

[Michael Peloquin <peloquinharp@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Mike Fugazzi nailed it for me. Great job Mike.


Michael Peloquin
510-703-6341
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> Date: Tue, 14 May 2013 08:41:38 -0700
> From: mikefugazzi@xxxxxxxxx
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] When Did Fast Become Good?
> CC: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> 
> If you are someone who plays fast, trying keeping up with some skilled and 
> respectable guitar players. I am a huge Derek Trucks fans and a lot of 
> what we consider, "fast", is casual on guitar. Derek Trucks is NOT known 
> for being a fast or notey player, but if you try to even keep up with some 
> of his blues playing, there are a lot of runs that would be hard to keep 
> timing with on harmonica.
> 
> Three other thoughts:
> 
> 1. People don't articulate what they mean well all the time. I *think* 
> what is being suggested here is that people dislike players who play fast 
> for long stretches without dynamics...meaning there is the issue of too 
> many notes. In fact, that might be the core issue and not the actual speed 
> as the harmonica is NOT speedy relative to other instruments.
> 
> 2. Context is also very important. First of all, we have all heard 
> endless and endless traditional blues harmonica playing. Any variance of 
> that is something that is going to grab our attention whether it be good or 
> bad. Same with the masses. I bet we have all at some point introduced 
> ourselves as playing harmonica to others with a caveat..."I play harmonica, 
> but not like what you're thinking", is what I say about 99% of the time. 
> People either associate harp with blues playing of Bob Dylan playing. 
> ANYTHING other than that will sound impressive. Other examples are 
> walking around on a wireless, playing a train, playing with no hands, etc.
> 
> When watching a live band, they should be creating moments for people. 
> Playing fast on a tune or something can be that moment. When 80%+ of what 
> American audiences have heard of harmonica essentially takes place over the 
> same two chords and 5 holes of the harmonica, people get numb to it.
> 
> 3. Not everyone plays blues. Of course, most Western harp players assume 
> that, but I am willing to bet from day one, even in the States, the bulk of 
> harmonica being played is NOT blues. Play Oh Susanna on the harp. Played 
> at the right tempo, that is not a slow or moderate song. 
> 
> I am not telling people what to like and not like. I am only suggesting 
> that making a blanket statement about playing fast is just that. Some 
> people may dislike it because of the patterns or note choices, whatever. 
> But fast is just as musical as anything else.
> 
> Starting out I wanted to play like John Popper. Then I heard Jason Ricci 
> and wanted to play like that. Then I heard Chris Michalek and wanted to 
> play like that. I spent several years making myself NOT play fast (by fast 
> I mean fast...I am not discussing my use of space or how long I jam, etc.). 
> During that stage, I didn't play super fast, but I still used tons of 
> embellishments. Truth is, I play rock music 3/4 of the time and it makes 
> me happy to play really fast and notey sometimes (I tend to leave space and 
> not jam for too long nowadays). I stopped fighting it and in the last year 
> my playing has gotten a ton better. I am a happy person that likes playing 
> the high end of the harp fast sometimes. It sounds joyous and makes me 
> feel good. I just play what makes me happy, lol. Truth be told, I find 
> myself jamming to other instruments, though, and realizing the harp is just 
> not a "fast" instrument and what we consider "notey" and "fast" is less 
> fast and notey than horns, keys, and guitar.
> 
> Finally, I have never enjoyed head cutting. Trading licks is great, but 
> I've seen clips of high profile players just going after each other. While 
> I can respect that and understand that I am probably in the minority - the 
> musicians and audience love it - it just doesn't move me. The reason for 
> this is that it often results in players NOT playing things very musically. 
> That doesn't mean it is bad, I just don't go looking to hear that stuff. 
> Tying it all together, http://youtu.be/56SHlnUrhuM?t=3m34s. You can go 
> back and listen to Warren and Taj takes solos, but Derek's solo has 
> dynamics, is sorta notey, very melodic, and fits the groove. Playing that 
> on harp would have you compared to guys like Popper and Ricci for the sheer 
> notes and speed. 
> 
> Mike