Hi,
I have two two questions:
1.) If I am playing 12 bar blues backtracking music do I need to be playing my solo as a 12 bar blues song? Common sense tells me I probably should.
2.) My problem is, as I mentioned in a previous post, I’m struggling with tapping to the beat and staying in sync with the backing track. This is compounded for me by the fact that often 12 bar blues music is not just chords but rather individual notes including arpeggios and sometimes notes deviating from the C, G, and D chord landmarks. Do you have any advice to help me recognize where I am if I lose my place and the background music is 12 bar blues and is not using recognizable chord structures but rather licks and individual notes (which completely confuse me as to where I am in the tracking music).
Thank you very much,
Wayne
It sounds to me as if you are trying to play while another instrument (guitar, saxophone, or whatever) is doing a solo. I advise you to only use backing tracks that do not have any other instruments playing solos – just the basic chord progression is being played.
Additionally, start learning with slow tempo backing tracks that are following a simple 12 bar blues chord progression. First listen only (do not play your harmonica) until you can follow and hear the chord changes. Count and tap your foot to the basic beat of the piece. When you are confident that you hear the chord changes, then you can try playing very simple things on your harmonica, such as using initially just one note (for example, the two draw) playing in one time for each beat, or one time for every 2nd beat.
Once you have a feel for the structure of the music, then you can try gradually add one additional note – such as 3 draw. Continue in this approach and do not just start playing lots of different notes. Eventually you will be able to hear where the music is in the chord progression simply by listening to the chord(s) being played. In other words, you will have developed a “feeling” for the blues structure.
Awesome!! Thank you so much. I will follow your instructions
Again thank you,
Wayne