[Harp-L] re: The principles of backing

[martin oldsberg <martinoldsberg@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks to all who responded to my query on the "principles of backing". (The "principles"? There aren´t any).
  Gary wrote approvingly of chords and thought that I use them (I believe I wrote that I use octaves and some "chorus" but maybe I missspelt), which in fact I don´t do a whole lot. A bit vary of them harmonica chords, outside of 1-2-3 draw, can´t say why, really.
  But if I did use them, there´s certainly a case to be made for Oskar´s MM, or country tuning or whatever it´s called, that Gary recommended. I own a few harps of that kind -- but find I almost never use them, which is a bit puzzling (I think that I tend to get locked in 2 pos with those harps, a bit limiting. But then again, they are great for minor playing in 5th.)
  
Chords work sometimes -- a distinct advantage is if you play I - IV - V stuff, as Richard H said -- but they are no silver bullet. A few months ago I was watching a documentary on "Wicked game", the Chris Isaak tune (and the last decent song to grace the pop charts, some 20 years ago), and picked up a harp as I sat there. The song has the interesting harmonica advantage that every chord in it is on a standard Richter (Bm - A - E) but ... no siree! 
  A few riffs could be fitted in, very discreetly, but certainly no chords, no matter how inconspicous. I tried and I tried but this atmospheric and moody tune was immediately transformed to something that had run astray from a Bavarian Oktoberfest. (But prove me wrong!)
 
Patrick Killeen made a case for repetitive riffing and illustrated with a perfect example. Thanks for that! 
  I always enjoy it myself when I can find something "obligato"-like to play, but some kinds of material are tough to approach that way.
  For a case of the complete opposite, check this one out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OW-lostWb4
 
 This is Charlie Winston´s band, harmonica player is called Ben Edwards and he´s just great. But if you don´t watch out around the 1 min mark you´re gonna miss him: his interludes in the songs are often very brief. He plays mostly chromatic, as I understand it, but with a very diatonic sound. 
  The amount of harmonica in this tune leaves you hanging, waiting for more, a solo or whatever, but it doesn´t come, which in itself creates a certain aesthetic pleasure ... Da poetry of unfullfilled expectation.
  I´ve heard them live and although he is present on more or less every song he´s on a very short leash, they are not a "harmonica band".
 
I´d really appreciate more input on this topic.
 
 
Cheers,
Martin