Quick Slaps
I am working on Gary's Blues and for whatever reason I have trouble with quick slaps on adjacent notes. On many measures such as measure 8 the quick 4 draw slap followed by 4+ slap is difficult for me to do those notes slapped and quickly. Unfortunately I have been glossing over the slap part and just playing the notes. Today I decided to stop the backing track and practice -4 4+ slapped and man do I have to go slow and careful. So slow that in order to play the song it would have to be at a very very slow tempo. The other problem spot with the same problem is 5th chorus 6th measure. I can barely play the triplet notes in time let alone slap the first note of each triplet. Should I keep practicing baby slow (which is aggravating to me) to get the proper slaps in as written or is it ok to just skip the slaps that are hard for me to do quickly? I think I know the answer, but still . . .
Thanks Dave, I'm trying to run on this song at full tempo and I should be walking only at this point! BTW, it's my favorite song so far - thanks for writing it.
Yeah, we're developing technique here... that's the main focus... faster tempos and a gazillion other songs that use slaps are in your future. Glad you're enjoying the song!
Afternoon lhobdey. Yeah, you know the answer... slow, slow, and more slow practice. I recommend you practice the material in the future with all of the technique, that way you're not having to go back and relearn the song with the technique. Slaps are the default way a blues harmonica player presents a single note, so it's important, and worthy of the slow practice. You'll get it... there's no hurry... this is for your personal development.
Some tips for you...
1) Use a light touch with your tongue on the face of the harmonica (excessive pushing will slow you WAY down)
2) You don't have to use as much preceding chord on the faster notes, so feel free to slap those a bit faster
Keep at it, you'll get it!