Bucket list'uh black magic
Well, folks -- happy to say I'll be crossing yet another item off my bucket-list next month!
I am performing (mainly as a vocalist) with a bonafide live band on stage. Whoo! Hoping to add some harp to a couple of the songs and have some questions/looking for advice:
1) Black Magic Woman is one of the songs. I would like to do a little solo, but I also want to avoid stepping on the lead guitarist's toes. Trying to find some inspiring licks from other songs. I tinkered around with stealing from Sultans of Swing, another song in Dm, but still kinda sounds too close to the Santana licks. Looking to steal from a song with a similar vibe (minor latin swing???).
2) General advice on performing on stage... Band etiquette, things you wish you knew earlier, things to avoid, etc?
3) General framework for doing that alternating lick thing with a guitarist. Like he does a lick, then I do a lick, back and forth. What's the actual term for this?
Matt:
1. Check out David's lessons and study songs that are 3rd position rhumbas. Could be some phrases that would work with Black Magic Woman. Also, go ahead and do the Santana guitar licks on harp. You won't be stepping on the lead guitarist. Harp is a really different instrument, and phrases played first on guitar, then harp, can really work with an audience.
2. One thing to avoid: When someone else is soloing, don't step in front of them! Stand to the side, and use your body movement and expression to encourage the audience to dig the soloist. And a little eye interaction with the soloist helps. I.e., act like you're really enjoying his or her playing. The best way to get bandmates to encourage and support you is to encourage and support THEM.
3. You're talking about trading measures. A sort of "call and response" thing. It's a regular jazz thing, but some blues performers don't really understand it. E.g., "trading fours," means one of the two soloists plays four bars, then the other comes in with four, usually overlapping with some pickup notes. On the bandstand, a solosit about to start may make eye contact with another band member, point four fingers back at herself and then four fingers at the other musician. And if the other musician nods like he understands that you'll play the first four bars, then he'll play four, etc., off you go "trading fours." But best to check with the other band members before the set starts to make sure they understand what you're trying to do. Otherwise "train wreck" time. (You can "trade twos," "trade eights," or whatever you want. Just make sure going into it that the other soloist is on board the same train you are.)
Back to the bandstand: Rather than things to avoid, a thing to always do is to keep in mind that playing a song is a team effort. Stay engaged with each and every other member of the band. Eye contact. Ear contact. Body language. A band where each member is off in his or her own world and ignoring the others not only looks boring, but usually sounds boring as well!
Break a leg!