Re: [Harp-L] Any pro's got insight on Little Walters harmonies?

[Richard Hammersley <rhhammersley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it, that's what moves  
me so. You can try hard, don't mean a thing..."

As Winslow Yerxa says, Little Walter is not harmonically complex. It  
is the sophistication of the timing that matters. This applies to most  
of the great blues players of that generation, whatever they play.

Western musical notation is deficient in notating timing, compared to  
melody and harmony. So timing is hard to teach out of books.  Often,  
more musically literate blues players tend to focus on what they know  
- melody and harmony - and so neglect rhythm.

One can play the 'wrong' notes harmonically speaking, if you integrate  
them correctly into the rhythmic sense of the piece. Look at  
compositions by Monk or MIngus for instance. Little Walter was not  
that sophisticated, but he understood rhythm very well.

Another comment is not to trust the transcriptions of older blues into  
musical notation. Often these transcriptions even out rhythms (and  
notes) to fit the stave. When you listen, it does not necessarily work  
properly.

On 29 Jun 2009, at 21:49, Nicholas Lovett wrote:

> I've heard he harmonizes like Lester Young.  He uses a lot of jazz  
> chords in his compositions.  I've been studying his phrasing, and  
> wondered if anyone has any insight on how/if his phrasing is  
> different because of the different chords he employs.  Ex. In the  
> key of g with a c harp(Off The Wall, Ah Baby), he does a lot with  
> trills/slides/warbles on the 4/5/6 holes.  Any thoughts to share?
>
> Nicholas Lovett
>
>
>
>
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Richard Hammersley
Grantshouse, Scottish Borders
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