Posted Thu, 09/11/2014 - 06:59 by David Barrett Admin
A student asked this question this morning: "Can most bluesy licks be used over any of the three chords but are there some licks that are just more suitable for the IV chord?"
The answer I feel is worth sharing...
"Yes, you are correct, most bluesy licks can be used over any of the three chords, and there are some licks that are more suitable for the IV7 Chord, and especially the V7 Chord. continue reading...
Posted Mon, 09/08/2014 - 07:30 by David Barrett Admin
One of the most common questions posed by students is, "How do you know what to play next?" The answer is that we usually don't... it's very rare that we know what we're going to play next... it's what hole we start the new chorus on that determines which lick from our vocabulary is played.
Posted Fri, 09/05/2014 - 07:39 by David Barrett Admin
Another comment I give daily in my teaching is to play softer, especially when playing amplified. Play at 40% of your capable volume as your normal volume. This gives you great dynamic range for expression later in the song. Little Walter did this and it worked for him. Have a great weekend everyone!
Posted Thu, 09/04/2014 - 09:23 by David Barrett Admin
My most common comment to students when improvising (I state this every day in my lessons) is to leave more space. Main licks and fills can quickly run together into a frantic mess when space is not utilized... like a run-on sentence. You often hear music coaches of non-wind instruments say to pause, as if to take a breath. This provides space between your phrases and enough time for the listener to digest what you just stated. This also tends to fix rhythmic issues. continue reading...
Posted Wed, 08/13/2014 - 10:20 by David Barrett Admin
Here's the 12 Bar Blues Form... one bar for each chord symbol (roman numerals):
I I I I
IV IV I I
V IV I V
The only place where four bars of the same chord happens is in the first four bars (first line). So, if you don't hear any movement to another chord from the band for more than two bars, you know you're somewhere in the first part of the form.
In the second line, the IV Chord lasts for two bars and then the I Chord for two bars. If you hear two bars and then a chord change, then you're somewhere between bars 5 and 9. continue reading...
Posted Fri, 06/27/2014 - 07:16 by David Barrett Admin
Join me for Intermediate Student Ryan Walker's latest lesson where we cover Accompaniment Playing Study 5 (bluesy 7th Chords), Improvising Study 4 (V-IV-I Transition Licks), Solo Harmonica Study 3 (Bass Lines with Pulls) and Music Theory Study 3 (Playing in Minor).
Posted Wed, 04/30/2014 - 07:53 by David Barrett Admin
"Sad Hours" by Little Walter starts with the guitar playing a bass line hook to set the mood with the band. Walter then enters with a pickup and holds a ghostly 5 draw. Walter plays thematically and never overplays... a great example of building a mood and staying with it. continue reading...
Posted Mon, 04/21/2014 - 07:26 by David Barrett Admin
Use more repetition. Students have a tendency to play lick-after-lick, not presenting a central idea for each chorus. This gut reaction is from the feeling that a solo should be exciting and full of fireworks. This may create an exciting solo for one or two choruses, but by the third chorus, or third song in that set, it gets old. Repetition is the only tool we have to tell the listener that something is important. By not using repetition, you're telling the listener that nothing you're playing is worth remembering. continue reading...
Posted Thu, 03/13/2014 - 08:51 by David Barrett Admin
"The Bounce" has a great head with the octave substitution technique we spoke of before on the IV Chord. This song can be found on the release The Best Of Rod Piazza 1968-2003 [Disc 1], though the Alphabet Blues release is in better tune (The Best Of Rod Piazza is a little bit flat). He's playing an A Harmonica in this instrumental.