[Harp-L] steamroller

[Michael Rubin]

It took me around 4 years before I started buckling down and learning solos
note for note.  It was very important for me to be original.  Although
originality is still very valuable to me, my ability to emulate the famous
players, not just in blues, has brought me lots of work and joy.  And
unlike Tin Lizzie, once I got down to the actual work that I was avoiding,
it turned out I loved the work!

I do plenty of other things for practice, including putting the harp in my
mouth and making sounds.  But transcribing has a learning speed about it
that is amazing.
Michael Rubin
michaelrubinharmonica.com

On Fri, Feb 3, 2017 at 6:18 AM, Tin Lizzie <TrackHarpL at xxxxx> wrote:

> Hi, Doug!
>
> You make a very good point.  And yet...
>
> Copying solos note-for-note was always my least favorite thing to do, but
> the older I get, the more appreciation I have for repertoire; for the ideas
> and nuances that make one song different from another, and one player
> different from another (and from me!), beyond mere lyrics, key, tempo,
> groove, etc.  Your words are enticing, because copying solos is such hard
> work, but for me, few things are better for expanding my musical vocabulary
> and getting me out of my own rut than getting deep inside someone else’s
> music.
>
> If a person is solely dependent on others’ creativity, then I think you’re
> absolutely right.  But I think there’s nothing wrong with poaching on
> others’ creativity if it informs and expands one’s own.
>
> Best,
> Tin Lizzie
>
>
> On Feb 3, 2017, at 6:56 AM, Doug Schroer wrote:
>
> > Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2017 11:09:36 -0600
> > From: Doug Schroer <dougharps at xxxxx>
> > To: Harp-l for posting <harp-l at xxxxx>
> > Subject: [Harp-L] steamroller
> > Message-ID:
> >       <CAHD1uN9CnCB3yfC6Y4MpO1SonVZcs1snyRQAjtLPbOua498KTg at xxxxx
> gmail.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> >
> > If you have even modest playing skills, why look for someone else's
> > version?
> >
> > <snip>
> >
> > Try it a few times, then record, redo, record, redo, etc.
> >
> > IMHO practicing playing solos over a song's chord changes will make you a
> > better player.  Always copying will slow your progress in improvisation.
> >
> > Always looking at the creations of other players or using tabbed solos
> will
> > make you musically dependent on other players' creativity.
> >
> >
> >
> > Doug S.
>
>