Re: [Harp-L] Fills, not stepping on others



What Chris Michalek says is correct. Also, keep in mind what is the purpose of doing fills.... i.e. to complement, represent, and reinforce, in sound alone, what the vocalist has sung in words - you're there to make the performance rounded and complete. Stay consistent over the course of the song... your fills can vary somewhat from verse to verse but don't confuse the audience with over-elaboration. And a blues is often a little 'story'... the sentiment changes over the course of it.... the guy who 'woke up one morning and found his baby gone', might be going after the man who done him wrong with his big 44 by the end... (from misery to defiance). So watch how the vocalist is telling it and stay in tune with that and play to suit the mood.

Best way to learn, in my opinion, is to listen to your heroes and play along with CDs of them until it's second nature. Others may disagree.

Regards, A.


----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Murray" <dlmurray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2005 4:53 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Fills, not stepping on others



Most instructional material for the harp seems to be very solo or melody oriented, but so much of what I hear in music that doesn't have a lead harmonica player is riffs and fills. I would like to be able to play those supporting fills and riffs so I can jump in with mixed instruments. Not just blues, but country, bluegrass, rock, etc. The book "Mel Bay presents Blues Harp for Diatonic and Chromatic Harmonica" covers it, but the tape give incomplete coverage of the licks and tunes. I've got to hear it, and I'd like some coverage of the "theory" of what, why, when. What is the best way to learn this style of playing; general purpose riffs and fills for various genres, and how to decide which one is appropriate at a given time?

Peace and music,
Dave

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