This is my attempt at chorus 2. I did my best and I regret nothing.
Actually, I think I need to be careful keeping the 34 double stop natural in the I chord. I tend to throw a slight bend in there, and that makes the IV chord have less impact.
This is my attempt at chorus 2. I did my best and I regret nothing.
Actually, I think I need to be careful keeping the 34 double stop natural in the I chord. I tend to throw a slight bend in there, and that makes the IV chord have less impact.
Here's my attempt at the first chorus. I don't play exactly the same notes as Rick does, but I'm going for the groove more than anything else. Have I got it? Do you feel the groove?
Here's my attempt at the first chorus. I don't play exactly the same notes as Rick does, but I'm going for the groove more than anything else. Have I got it? Do you feel the groove?
This has been a great series. So many cool licks coming from only the blues scale! I love the emphasis on different textures, with the vamping and the wah. I think it's not only about the pitches we choose, but about the textures and rhythm. Chorus 11 is very cool!
Thanks Marc! Notes are just notes...like words are just words. But how you use the notes (or words) is of the utmost importance when it comes to expressing and communicating!
You're doing great with the licks! The timing on the last two phrases is late. of course when you come in late with the nest to last phrase, it sets off the last phrase to be late as well. Listen to the chorus I play and count along...noticing the first note of those last two phrases is on beat "2". You can totally get this!!
I find it really helpful to go back and watch Dennis's intro, where he is accompanied by guitar. Hearing the chord changes helps me dial in where the down beat is and where I have to place certain notes.
I'm having some trouble with the timing of Chorus 3. I hear the problem in my recording, and I think you can probably see what I mean, so I'm happy about that. I feel like I'm rushing and I feel like my phrasing is off. I should be hitting the 3+ on the downbeat, right? (To be "straight" in my timing. I know that I should be laying back.) Thank you, Dennis!
1) I really like how you repeat the main lick in Chorus 3. It's cool how the change to the IV chord gives the line a different feel.
2) Your theme for this song is the 3rd position blues scale. You use the 3rd position blues scale throughout the 12 bars, even though the 3rd position blues scale (here, the B blues scale) is NOT the blues scale relative to the IV (when the band is in E) and the V (when they are in F#). When Jason Ricci talks about this, he says that there are enough notes in common between the blues scales on the I, IV, and V that it's not really worth the effort to play the blues scale in relation to the IV or V. Dave Barrett thinks that a musician should play the blues scale relative to the I chord, and throw in the root notes of the IV and the V when appropriate (to "tip your hat to the chord changes", he says). I'd love to read what you think about this.
Thank you for your feedback, Dennis! I think you are probably 100% right that I need to lay back more with the phrasing. What do you mean by by "lay back more"?
Thank you for your feedback, Dennis! I think you are probably 100% right that I need to lay back more with the phrasing. What do you mean by by "lay back more"?
1) You mention that, in the first two bars, you play a lick with two 1 draws in it. Sometimes when I listen to the video, I don't hear the second 1 draw. I hear you doing a "pull". Probably my ears are wrong. Are you substituting a pull for the 1 draw?
2) You hit a 1+ on the downbeat of the IV. The 1+ is the four of that chord and a pretty bluesy choice to put on a strong beat. It sounds cool, for sure, but can you explain why you put that there?
Thanks!
EDIT: Oh! I caught my timing mistake on the IV lick. The 1+ does not land on the downbeat. Still, isn't this an aggressive note choice to end the phrase, especially in first chorus of a song?
1) can you give me a spot (time mark) of performance video where this occurs so I know we're talking about the same spot? If it's what I think it is (the middle of the very first lick of the tune) then I am hitting the 1 draw twice. Not a "pull" (assuming you mean a pull of the tongue off the harp).
2) Why did I put that note there? Well, being that just about every note and pattern I play is improvised (yes, even in these study songs), I played it because it felt and sounded right for the mood I wanted at the time. It does cause some melodic tension because of the note that it is, but I believe in a good way :-)
--REPLY--
Thank you. Even while playing a blues scale, the 4th is in there. Ultimately it's the one note in that scale that really isn't great to start or end a phrase on (or to stress all that much) but it can be used to varying results depending on the approach and context. Specifially, I believe it also works in my case because that note is also the b7 of the root chord which is coming around the corner there and then leads your ear into wanting it to resolve up to that root note.
This is my attempt at chorus 2. I did my best and I regret nothing.
Actually, I think I need to be careful keeping the 34 double stop natural in the I chord. I tend to throw a slight bend in there, and that makes the IV chord have less impact.
What do you think?
This is my attempt at chorus 2. I did my best and I regret nothing.
Actually, I think I need to be careful keeping the 34 double stop natural in the I chord. I tend to throw a slight bend in there, and that makes the IV chord have less impact.
What do you think?
You’re right. I have to watch out for that myself - That little half step on the 3rd hole can make a big difference!
Here's my attempt at the first chorus. I don't play exactly the same notes as Rick does, but I'm going for the groove more than anything else. Have I got it? Do you feel the groove?
Here's my attempt at the first chorus. I don't play exactly the same notes as Rick does, but I'm going for the groove more than anything else. Have I got it? Do you feel the groove?
This song changed my life.
I hope it’s changed for the better. :-)
This has been a great series. So many cool licks coming from only the blues scale! I love the emphasis on different textures, with the vamping and the wah. I think it's not only about the pitches we choose, but about the textures and rhythm. Chorus 11 is very cool!
Thanks Marc! Notes are just notes...like words are just words. But how you use the notes (or words) is of the utmost importance when it comes to expressing and communicating!
Nice work with this!! Right on
Chorus 4's timing was a challenge for me. I don't think I played it as Dennis intended, but I think it might work...
The last lick, in particular, was probably late.
What do you think? Do I need to work on timing?
Chorus 4's timing was a challenge for me. I don't think I played it as Dennis intended, but I think it might work...
The last lick, in particular, was probably late.
What do you think? Do I need to work on timing?
You're doing great with the licks! The timing on the last two phrases is late. of course when you come in late with the nest to last phrase, it sets off the last phrase to be late as well. Listen to the chorus I play and count along...noticing the first note of those last two phrases is on beat "2". You can totally get this!!
That V-IV-I in Chorus 6 is very hip. That's one I'm going to steal, for sure.
I find it really helpful to go back and watch Dennis's intro, where he is accompanied by guitar. Hearing the chord changes helps me dial in where the down beat is and where I have to place certain notes.
I'm having some trouble with the timing of Chorus 3. I hear the problem in my recording, and I think you can probably see what I mean, so I'm happy about that. I feel like I'm rushing and I feel like my phrasing is off. I should be hitting the 3+ on the downbeat, right? (To be "straight" in my timing. I know that I should be laying back.) Thank you, Dennis!
Two things:
1) I really like how you repeat the main lick in Chorus 3. It's cool how the change to the IV chord gives the line a different feel.
2) Your theme for this song is the 3rd position blues scale. You use the 3rd position blues scale throughout the 12 bars, even though the 3rd position blues scale (here, the B blues scale) is NOT the blues scale relative to the IV (when the band is in E) and the V (when they are in F#). When Jason Ricci talks about this, he says that there are enough notes in common between the blues scales on the I, IV, and V that it's not really worth the effort to play the blues scale in relation to the IV or V. Dave Barrett thinks that a musician should play the blues scale relative to the I chord, and throw in the root notes of the IV and the V when appropriate (to "tip your hat to the chord changes", he says). I'd love to read what you think about this.
Sounds good, Klaus!
Thank you for your feedback, Dennis! I think you are probably 100% right that I need to lay back more with the phrasing. What do you mean by by "lay back more"?
Real nice! Good work on this so far. One thing you can do with this is just lay back a tad more with the phrasing, but sounds good so far Marc!
REPLY: Lay Back meaning time your phrases a little less on top of the beat, or a little bit more “relaxed”/behind the beat.
Thank you for your feedback, Dennis! I think you are probably 100% right that I need to lay back more with the phrasing. What do you mean by by "lay back more"?
Dennis,
1) You're right. It's about 7:55 in the video. I'm probably overanalyzing this. There's a lot of complexity and nuance to your playing style.
2) Right on. Thanks.
Hi, Dennis! I've got two questions for you:
1) You mention that, in the first two bars, you play a lick with two 1 draws in it. Sometimes when I listen to the video, I don't hear the second 1 draw. I hear you doing a "pull". Probably my ears are wrong. Are you substituting a pull for the 1 draw?
2) You hit a 1+ on the downbeat of the IV. The 1+ is the four of that chord and a pretty bluesy choice to put on a strong beat. It sounds cool, for sure, but can you explain why you put that there?
Thanks!
EDIT: Oh! I caught my timing mistake on the IV lick. The 1+ does not land on the downbeat. Still, isn't this an aggressive note choice to end the phrase, especially in first chorus of a song?
Hi Marc - good to see you here!!
1) can you give me a spot (time mark) of performance video where this occurs so I know we're talking about the same spot? If it's what I think it is (the middle of the very first lick of the tune) then I am hitting the 1 draw twice. Not a "pull" (assuming you mean a pull of the tongue off the harp).
2) Why did I put that note there? Well, being that just about every note and pattern I play is improvised (yes, even in these study songs), I played it because it felt and sounded right for the mood I wanted at the time. It does cause some melodic tension because of the note that it is, but I believe in a good way :-)
--REPLY--
Thank you. Even while playing a blues scale, the 4th is in there. Ultimately it's the one note in that scale that really isn't great to start or end a phrase on (or to stress all that much) but it can be used to varying results depending on the approach and context. Specifially, I believe it also works in my case because that note is also the b7 of the root chord which is coming around the corner there and then leads your ear into wanting it to resolve up to that root note.
Dennis,
1) You're right. It's about 7:55 in the video. I'm probably overanalyzing this. There's a lot of complexity and nuance to your playing style.
2) Right on. Thanks.