Rocky Mountain Way
I am hosting the musical entertainment at an outdoor event towards the end of July. For the final number several of the musicians are going to get together to play "Rocky Mountain Way" by Joe Walsh and Barnstorm. I plan to sit in and play harmonica. As far as comping during the song, I'm good. However some us plan to take solos towards the end. Iv'e started to think about solo lick ideas, but thought I'd see if anybody has experience with this song or had any cool soloing ideas for this.
Thanks
BC
https://www.bing.com/search?q=rocky+mountain+way&qs=LS&pq=rocky+mountain...
or
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt75y38J00s
Pretty much got key of E. I plan to play an A harp in 2nd position. I've got my accompianment part figured out. Just trying to work out a solo.
Thanks
BC
Well, this is wide open.
First thing I notice about the latter part, during the slide guitar solo, is the insistence on each beat. And an implied I-IV-I-IV during the main vamp, which you could express with just Draw-blow-draw-blow chords, starting with a draw chord on the first beat and changing breath direction on each beat.
Start with that as a sort of launching pad, then start focusing on the draw notes, maybe launching into a long held bent 3 or bending slowly into 4 or even 5.
From there, maybe some fluid all-draw riffs, then maybe some circular blow-draw riffs like Sonny Boy's help-me riff D3 B4 D4, with the first D4 landing on the strong first beat, and the three-note riff landing on the three divisions of the beat. You can take that same riff pattern and move it up, starting on D4 or even D5 instead of D3. At certain point, interrupt the pattern and wail on a draw note
For that matter, you could steal another Help-me riff: D4 B4 || D3 B3 D3 | B4 D4 B4 | D3 B3 D3 etc.
What I hear, extending that idea, is assertiveness in stepping up and down the scale in triplets, and wailing on draw notes.
Try playing along with the track and exploring these ideas.
Does that help?
Winslow
Thanks, ultimately it will be up to me to develop the solo, but this will really help me get going on ideas. Basically these solos are there for free reign to tear it up on stage to provide a strong and memorable closing. I will play around with these ideas over the weekend.
We will have somebody videotaping the show. So if this turns out good I will post a link to it here.
Thanks again.
BC
After a little frustration and persistence some licks started clicking by Sunday afternoon. After listening to the solos again I wanted to confirm some items.
Solos are two or three choruses of 12 bar, 4/4 time, shuffle rhythm (drum is usually beating 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and)?
Was trying to figure chorus form. Sounded like AAA, but need to listen to it again.
Thanks
BC
Just posted a link to the performance video into the share area.
BC
Hearing the song without having to go look for it would be helpful.