training

The common way to count a song in is to just count 1 2 3 4 and away you go. If the bandstand is loud and you need to get the attention of the band, use a pre-count. The pre-count is 1 (skip a beat) 2 (skip a beat) and then proceed with your standard four count. The end result is 1 . 2 . 1 2 3 4.

The pre-count is also useful/needed when the tempo is very fast and 1 2 3 4 is too quick for all of the musicians to get ready to play (the drummer to sit up on their throne... bass and guitar players to turn their volumes up... harp player to get their harp to their lips, etc.). continue reading...

Now provided in this lesson is a PDF list of famous songs that contain the grooves we cover in this lesson. For those that have not studied this lesson, join me and a group of the most experienced harmonica-backing blues musicians on the planet for a lesson on Grooves. Our band for this lesson is Rusty Zinn (guitar), RW Grigsby (bass) and Marty Dodson (drums). continue reading...

Playing in time is challenging, and when you think your timing is good, then try playing with a metronome. The skill you're developing is a listening skill. You listen to the metronome (which is a stand-in for another musician) and adjust your playing to stay in time with it. Just like when riding a bike with a friend and trying to hold a conversation, you're consistently adjusting your speed so that you're within comfortable speaking/hearing range. As soon as you lose concentration, you're soon too far behind/ahead to continue the conversation. continue reading...

Be aware that when a passage contains a repetitive lick, e.i., a string of notes that are rhythmically the same (such as a triplet passage for more than two beats), most players will have the tendency to rush. Knowing that this is common, when you approach such a passage make sure to feel the pulse of the music and hold yourself back from rushing.

Fellow student Mike Z (thanks Mike!) is also a guitarist and said that this video is really informative on how to back harp players in the traditional 1950's style. If you play in a band or with a guitarist buddy that's not hip to this way of playing, it would be wise to purchase this DVD for them as a gift.

Little Walter - 50's Guitar Styles, Instructional Guitar DVD continue reading...

Before machines and software existed to slow music down we had no choice but to learn/transcribe music at its full tempo. You could change the speed on your record player or use your thumb to slow down the record’s rotation, but the result was a change of key (and not dead-on… it wasn’t like you could grab another key of harp and you were good to go). When Marantz came out with their tape recorder with half speed playback we teachers picked it up (it was expensive… around $600 if I remember correctly). continue reading...

Space... it's the most simple and effective way to stay in time. Leave more space in your playing. This is accomplished in two ways...

1) Space in the form of rest between phrases, where you're not playing.

2) Space in the form of long holds, where you play a note for a bar or longer.

Both types of space give you the opportunity to listen to where you are in the form and make micro-adjustments between phrases.

I usually see a blank face when a student is asked by the the band before playing their song, "Is there a quick change?"

If you don't know, then say no... most blues harp songs don't use one... it's a safe guess. continue reading...

Show up on time. Show up prepared. Be easy to work with.

This sounds too simple, but these are the main reasons why musicians are hired and fired.

Replace the word "Jazz" with "Blues" and this is pretty accurate to what the new blues musician experiences. I've provided the text and my notes for your review to go along with your watching of the video.

"Journey Into Jazz" by Gunther Schuller
Narrated by Leonard Bernstein (1962)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x15bpi_leonard-bernstein-journey-into-j... continue reading...