How to approach accompaniment for Freddie King's Big Legged Woman?
My bandmates (2 guitar players, a base player, a dummer) recently proposed adding 'Big Legged Woman' by Freddie King to our setlist. The original does not have a harmonica part and I'm at a loss on how to approach the accompaniment on this song. The groove seems rather different than the examples in the accompaniment playing and tongue blocking lessons that I went through on the site. Does anyone have suggestions on what would be a reasonable harp line to play under this song?
And a related question: does any of the lessons on the site contain an overview of the most common grooves used for blues and how to recognize them? I would find it very useful but have not come across this info yet.
Pretty standard 12-bar, with no V in the final measure (i.e., just sit on the I). For accompanying the vocalist, there's plenty of space for a few notes at the end of each vocal line that's over the I, but I'd be careful when the song goes to the IV or the V. E.g., if you're playing in 2nd position, going from the flatted 7th to the root, e.g., 2" to 2, just two notes, could work. The audience will think it's cool. And so will the vocalist. Anything more than that, I'd be careful; however, any seqence using the blues scale would be fine. Once again, just stay out of the vocalist's way. As for a solo, licks based on the guitar lines in "Born Under a Bad Sign" could work really well. (Of course! This may be Freddie King, but Albert King will work too!)
There's a recording of King doing it in C, but there's also a video of a live performance where he does it in D. Of course, the key your band will do it in will depend on where the vocalist is comfortable.
For tips, go to any Accompanyment Study in the LOA lessons. David does a good job of explaining and teaching fills and accompanyment. But again (sorry, for about the fourth time), the trick to good accompaniment is knowing when NOT to play.
Great song! Have fun with it.
There is a comprehensive section on Grooves in the lessons section at level 6;