Re: [Harp-L] How to tell a guitar player how to swing?

[Michelle LeFree <mlefree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'm seeking a way to tactfully tell or demonstrate to a guitar player 
friend how to get some swing into his playing. I used to gig with him 
for a while but when the opportunity came, I kinda begged out because of 
this problem.

The cat is a real nice guy, and a very good fingerpicker, but he simply 
does not understand what swing is. It's an otherwise good situation for 
me, especially since here in the Colorado outback, the pickin's are 
mighty slim (no pun intended) for an acoustic guitar player who likes to 
play with an acoustic harmonica player. He's not a improvisational type 
either; he needs to practice a tune and get it down before he'll play it 
"out" (I can live with that -- it's a story for another day).

He plays ~everything~ on the downbeat and after a while it holds me back 
and gets boring for me and I suspect our audiences too. We've agreed to 
start playing together again but I'm afraid we'll fall back into the 
same rut. So can y'all help me with approaches on how to first broach 
the subject and then to educate him in the ways of swing? I've tactfully 
tried to teach him by my own examples and by introducing him to songs 
that make ~me~ wanna get up and boogie, but to little avail. Maybe I'm 
not articulating what swing is well enough or citing examples that he 
can understand.

If I could get him swinging in his playing it would definitely take our 
little duo to the next level, make me much more happy playing with him 
and probably help us get more and better gigs.

I just know you Harp-L folks have some ideas to help me out here.    :-)

Many thanks,

Michelle