Re: [Harp-L] building a solo

[Pierre <plavio@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

TDBecker  said:
> I play along with many blues
> cds.  I've even been to a few open mic nights.  My question for the gang 
> is
> about the mechanics of building a solo.

> There must be
> some science to putting the notes together so they match the song.

IMO Its easier to do this without music, just play something a lick for 
example and then play around that something, then play around that 
something. The hard part is diversity and making it interesting. A guy like 
Coltrane can play the same 4 notes without repeating himself for 20 minute 
(of course he's not alway interesting).

For blues, the interesting part is making it sound cool (bluesy), the 
diversity part is mainly imagination assuming you are improvising.

For the cool part, you need a bag of tricks, slurs, chucks, trills, bends, 
wails, cuts, wah, etc. The other things is playing with attitude, and 
playing with power. If you can play 4-6 notes stuff that sounds really cool 
then your there. If you can't, do exercises to improve tone for example: get 
great at getting all 3 bends on the 3 hole with fat tone, on key and stable. 
To develop power use your diaphram (do the major scales up and down over the 
low and middle octave at really high speed (4 seconds for 32 notes)). If 
your a puckerer, learn to bend using only your throat and diaphram. Leave 
you chin and tongue where it is.

The diversity is helped by the size of the bag of tricks. But also by 
variations in rhythm, variations in note emphasis, variations of intensity, 
variations of notes, variations of everything.

I've been playing for about 5 years and I'm finally starting to sound cool 
and interesting for a good long while. I know because I'm getting fewer "ah 
go somewhere else dad" insults from the kids. Now my biggest problem is 
getting the mistakes out.

Pierre.






























----- Original Message ----- 
From: <tdbecker@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2005 8:10 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] building a solo


> I have been playing harmonica for about 5 years now.  I've had lessons, 
> bought
> and worked through the Portnoy Master Class set.  I play along with many 
> blues
> cds.  I've even been to a few open mic nights.  My question for the gang 
> is
> about the mechanics of building a solo.
>
> This next step has been a mystery to me for a long time now.  There must 
> be
> some science to putting the notes together so they match the song. How do 
> you
> prepare for your time in the spotlight?  I think this is the next plateau 
> I
> must conquer to move on in skill levels.
>
> Thanks
>
> TDBecker
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l