Solo performance tips

Paul Spafford · From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Hey y'all. If any of you have time, I was wondering if you could give this a listen. It's a YouTube video from my latest online acoustic blues show, and is the first time I played some slide (usually I just play tenor banjo and mandolin, which I understand is strange as it is). I've spent the past couple years doing solo performances, and I really enjoy what I'm doing on the other instruments.

I've never played much slide (despite being obsessed with it for about 30 years), but I put some serious effort into it for the couple weeks before this show, so that I could play this one song (this URL starts the video at 27:26, where the song starts; the song is about three minutes long).

My camera wasn't angled properly to see the instrument, unfortunately, but I was playing my Gretsch Boxcar Square Neck resonator on my lap. I have it tuned to an open E, and am playing my own interpretation of Tampa Red's "It Hurts Me Too" in the key of B.

I'm reasonably pleased with how this turned out, and it's pretty consistent with how songs sound on my other instruments. My concern is that when I start adding more songs, all my resonator songs will sound exactly the same. I know that this is kind of an odd way to play the instrument, but I was hoping someone would have advice on how I can vary my sound on other songs.

The video:
https://youtu.be/nAVS0k-Y-DM?t=1646

I really appreciate any feedback you can provide.

Thanks,
Paul

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

You managed a pretty authentic old timey Delta sound. Itâ€™s not an odd way to play at all.

If you play in other keys, vary the grooves and tempos, and maybe use a Beard capÃ³ so you can utilize open strings in different keys, you wonâ€™t sound any more repetitious than anyone else who attempts to remain true to a certain style of music.

John Mulligan · From: Ontario, Canada

As you progress you will build up a library of licks that will add variety to your playing. Start watching the other acoustic slide players and learn what you can from them. I like Harry Manx. Also, you can always learn a lot from Tampa Red and Elmore James and early Muddy Waters. I assume you know all this. Since you're just starting out on this instrument you know you have a journey ahead of you.

My only advice is to pay attention to the groove; you can slide into chord changes in an interesting way.

David Knutson · From: Cowichan Valley, Canada

Hey Paul, I like that. And as Fred said, it does have a cool, authentic sound. A couple of suggestions - since you asked:

I can't quite see your right hand, but it looks like you are using a flat-pick, which can make it a bit more difficult to keep bass notes in your groove. I've seen many players using flat-pick and fingers (if they don't like a thumb-pick) to do that.

Also, don't forget your lower fret positions. You play that tune in "B", so you're using 12th and 14th frets for your "E" and "F#" chords. You also have those chords at open and 2nd fret positions to change it up whenever you like.

I'm going to check out the rest of your video. Thanks for posting.
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David K

Paul Spafford · From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Thanks for the help and encouragement, guys. Iâ€™ll work on improving and varying the groove, for sure.

Youâ€™re right that Iâ€™m using a flatpick. Iâ€™m not a fan of the sound (on my playing anyhow) or feel of thumb and finger picks, but Iâ€™ll see if there is anything I can do with those extra fingers. Being so new, I seem to be using them for a lot of muting at this point.

Iâ€™ve gotta admit, open and second fret didnâ€™t even occur to me as options for the 4 and 5 chord positions.That definitely could have thrown some more options into the mix!

While I listen to a lot of slide players, I havenâ€™t spent a lot of time trying to translate what theyâ€™re doing into my playing. Since Iâ€™m playing on my lap, and canâ€™t finger any frets, Iâ€™ve just worked under the assumption that I canâ€™t reproduce it faithfully. I guess it can only help to grab as much as I can though, eh?

Thanks so much!
Paul

David Knutson · From: Cowichan Valley, Canada

Paul, you might want to check out some of fellow forumite Steve Cunningham's videos. He uses flat-pick and bare fingers and does some crazy good stuff. Here's an open E lesson of his :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYPhXKmz6rc
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David K

Paul Spafford · From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Thatâ€™s very cool, David. Thanks! Iâ€™ll dig in to Steveâ€™s stuff.

Paul Spafford · From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

At 8pm eastern time on Thu, Nov 19 I'm doing another free acoustic blues show. Join me live on YouTube for 40 minutes of songs about love, death, and misery on mandolin, lap slide guitar, and banjos. Please share this with anyone who may be interested.

I'm not sure if I've learned or changed much since the video posted in the beginning of this thread, but I'm doing a couple new songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37EXfaNDl6Q

Brad Richard · From: Chisago City, Minnesota

Hi Paul,
When I first started on dobro, I really wanted to learn some fills for backing up in jams. I ended up buying "Backups and Fills" by Dan Huckabee. It comes in 4 cd's and it's country, but a lot of it translates easily to blues. It was fantastic for me and it got me very confident very fast. Oh, I believe it's in open G so you'd need to re-tune or use some software to alter the key.

Paul Spafford · From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Brad Richard · From: Chisago City, Minnesota

Try "musicians workshop"

Ted Duross · From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Hi Paul,

Dan Huckabee's "Licks and Fills" appears to be available from Elderly.com... 'Streaming or Download only" though.

https://www.elderly.com/collections/all/products/download-backup-fills-for-dobro

Paul Spafford · From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Thanks so much, Ted. Just bought it.

Ted Duross · From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Hey Paul,

Here's another recommendation. I just spotted this. It's a 'today only' sale through TrueFire. These are dobro blues solos taught by Jimmy Heffernan. Regular price $29.99. Sale price today(Saturday) is $5... Given your repertoire I think this might be a good fit.

https://truefire.com/essentials-guitar-lessons/blues-dobro-solos/c817

Joe Breeden · From: Virginia, USA

Paul, check out Abbie Gardner on youtube. I think she has what you are looking for. Joe

Jack Hanson · From: San Luis Valley, USA

Here is a great little book dealing with live performance from a different perspective that has been invaluable to me and others as well.

Paul Spafford · From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Wow! Those are fantastic resources, y'all - and the price is right. Thanks so much. I've already started into some of them, but plan on partaking of all!

In case anyone is interested, here are a couple songs I did on my resonator in Thursday's show. Like I said, I hadn't had the chance to apply all I had learned yet - and, frankly, haven't learned much - but I hope to in future.

Rock Me (by Muddy Waters):
https://youtu.be/37EXfaNDl6Q?t=374

Evil (by Muddy Waters):
https://youtu.be/37EXfaNDl6Q?t=2472

Paul Spafford · From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

On New Year's Day, I'll be doing another YouTube Live show, singing and playing some acoustic blues on banjos, resonator and mandolin. This will be the eleventh show in a series that I've done since isolation.

The show starts at 8pm eastern time. You don't need a mask to watch it from the comfort of your living room.

Here's the link to the event:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdtYGpwWZVg

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