Miles Dewar
22 posts
Oct 07, 2008
12:26 PM
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This is a question for us more towards the Beginner level of Harmonica. I would like some experienced players to answer this one.
"What would you say contributed the most to your sucess in playing the harmonica?"
Whether it be playing along with jam tracks, or information found in a harp book........ what was the thing that you can say boosted your performance "in your mind" the most?
---Be Positive---
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superchucker77
83 posts
Oct 07, 2008
12:35 PM
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Well. What really kickstarted my progress was reading Jon Gindicks book Rock and Blues Harmonica.
After that, I think that it was listining to myself on tape and thinking " Hey, I sound pretty good".
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Zhin
14 posts
Oct 07, 2008
1:30 PM
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I don't consider myself experienced but I'd like to share what has worked really well for me. I've only been playing for a year and right now it's 4am and I'm feeling a little loopy so please bear with me.
You know how some blues guitarists play too many notes and then you have someone like B.B. King who chooses the notes he plays very wisely?
All the advice and lessons from the Gussow man that are free and available are like that. Don't ever overlook or subconsciously dismiss what he has to offer even if it is for free. The most seemingly simple advice he gives out for free are things that can really change you into a better harp player especially if you are a beginner/novice.
Quite often we dismiss extremely useful advice because we aren't actually listening carefully if that makes any sense.
I speak completely out of my own opinion and will when I say this... buying Adam's purchasable lessons can totally change you for sure. A ticket to go see the movies costs around 10$. With that kind of money you can already buy 2 awesome lessons from his store.
As for what I personally do that has proved to help me improve and keep the learning curve consistent (in no particular order):
1) Get to know how you sound. Start recording yourself with ANY means that you have. What you hear when you are actually playing actually doesn't sound like what you really sound like to other people. And please, don't kill yourself if you don't like what you hear. Instead make it a point to be more aware of how you sound and shoot for what you want to sound like. This applies to both practicing solo at home and even at jam environments.
2) Practice at least daily. At least 15 minutes or more. If you really don't have time on a particular day at least make it 5 minutes. In extension to this advice it's always handy to buy a harp that is specifically meant for practicing that you can carry (with a case that has vents) in your pocket wherever you go. And ALWAYS make sure you got water to drink when you are practicing!!!
3) Be fearless on the harp (I am not talking about volume). Being shy and sheepish will inevitably turn you into a lousy player with a wimpy tone because fear tightens the chest muscles... Even if all the notes don't quite sound right together, NEVER BE AFRAID. Play it like you mean it even if you don't quite speak the language fluently yet. Don't EVER let the fear of what others think of you impede your practicing. Who gives a shit what your wife/husband/mom/dad/brother/best friend MAY think or say? You certainly shouldn't especially when you're not looking for an opinion and still learning. It's called PRACTICE for a reason.
4) Move your body when you play. I've developed a completely intuitive natural sense of ALMOST impeccable timing by just making sure I am always moving in rhythm to what I'm playing (those 4 beats). I hardly ever need to think about my timing when I'm jamming or playing at a gig now. Takes time to learn how to do this but once you get it, it's like riding a bicycle. ;)
5) Play along anything that tickles your fancy. Jam tracks aren't the only things you can use for practice playing. There are countless amounts of blues albums that have no harp. I hope that's an epiphany for some. I felt real smart when I realized that one day and felt like a kid on x-mas morning when I took a good look at my blues collection... teehee
6) BELIEVE in yourself. BE your own biggest fan and critic.
7) Use your ears. Start being more aware of sounds and even noise. Don't make excuses for yourself even if you think your pitch/tone hearing is crap or you think you may be partially deaf. I used to be a graphic designer who was accused of being tone deaf which abused the volumes of his headphones with heavy metal music. The same people that accused me for being tone deaf (including my mom) are totally shocked with what I can do on harp now and how sensitive my hearing has become... even after all the abuse they went through. I used to be a raver-bass-junkie that stuck his head right into bass amps. I can hear tiny drops of water dripping all the way from the other end of my apartment between 2 closed doors at night for example. No joke. Lost hearing may not be recoverable but you can certainly train how much info you want to process from the sounds you hear around you. In layman terms, even if you are slightly deaf you can still focus.
8) Different harp models and brands are like different cuisines from different cultures. You gotta try em all. Yum Yum ;)
Last Edited by on Oct 07, 2008 9:37 PM
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Chris Michalek
Guest
Oct 07, 2008
1:47 PM
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"What would you say contributed the most to your success in playing the harmonica?"
1. I stopped listening to other harmonica players
2. worked with a keyboard to understand note relationships and chords
3. played out live at every opportunity
4. learned basic music theory
5. memorizing every note on every harmonica
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bluzlvr
65 posts
Oct 07, 2008
2:17 PM
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Back when I started I didn't have a clue. Of course, there was no internet. I didn't know ANY other harp players. I was trying to play blues in first position. I knew absolutely nothing about second position. (Of course NOW I can play blues in first position.) Then I found Tony Glover's "Blues Harp" book and I took a hugh step forward.
Now, thanks to Adam and others on the internet, I'm taking lots of little steps forward. I never would have even thought of attempting Whammer Jammer until Adam's lessons were posted, now I can pretty much play it from start to finish.
Now if I ONLY could learn to overblow......
Last Edited by on Oct 07, 2008 2:19 PM
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Miles Dewar
23 posts
Oct 07, 2008
2:47 PM
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Thank you all for the advice. I'll have to pick up gindicks book.
Zhin, lol- (15 min) im not that unmotivated. lol, id have to say i practice "Reasonably More" lol, than 15 min, but thank you for the many tips. right now, im recording with my phone, and i take my Blues Harp everywhere. even if i run to the gas station, or go skate. This is an "All" day thing for me. Seriously, thats how i skate and its how i practice. with a couple modifications i stopped the horrible "Herpes looking scabs" on my lips.
I have to say again, Thanks!
and thanks for the keyboard idea (Chris Michalek) my sister has a keyboard that she never uses, ill have to make a trip and steal it from her.
keep 'em coming, Some very useful information already.
---Be Positive---
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oldwailer
227 posts
Oct 07, 2008
3:58 PM
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I'm not experienced enough to add anything to this thread--but damn! There is some great advice here, isn't there?
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Zhin
19 posts
Oct 07, 2008
9:36 PM
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"Herpes looking scabs"
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH!!!
Lord only knows how many people I've creeped out with my "harp blisters".
And about the 15 minutes thing, I was generalizing. When I first started on Adam's lessons I played 6 hours a day (I'm THAT addicted to harp). As the months went by the amount of time I put into practicing fluctuated. On some days it was only literally 5 minutes just because I didn't "feel like it". And then on other days I'd practice from anything between an hour to 6 hours. Just don't forget to take breaks!!! And for the love of yourself, HAVE A LARGE BOTTLE OF WATER WITH YOU WHEN YOU ARE PRACTICING!!! I think I'm gonna add that to my post....
It can get pretty inconsistent so that's why what I know that has remained consistent is that you gotta at least put them harps in your mouth and play once a day.
Last Edited by on Oct 07, 2008 9:41 PM
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Zhin
20 posts
Oct 07, 2008
9:40 PM
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Aww come on oldwailer, there's always something to share. :)
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Ant138
40 posts
Oct 08, 2008
12:17 AM
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Just enjoy it and persevere.
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Gray
30 posts
Oct 08, 2008
12:20 AM
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Jammin with anyone you can.Even if its not blues.Finding those useable notes and chords during sessions of all kinds.
The boost comes with the claps,smiles,whistles and good times during those sessions.(the circle of life)
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Zhin
21 posts
Oct 08, 2008
12:51 AM
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Good one Gray! I can't believe I didn't mention anything about jams!
I second that. Throwing yourself out there at a jam can rapidly improve your playing and help you get used to playing music around people. Since it was only a year ago I still remember how extremely nervous I used to be when I played in front of anyone. Getting acquainted with jam environments helped cure me from that very quickly.
Just make sure you already have a decent idea about the 12 bar chord progression and what the root notes are for chord I, IV, and V first! As long as you got those down you don't even need fancy licks and riffs to play with people. :)
If you know some nice people, you don't need to worry about what I said above and they'll probably help and teach you along the way. Most musicians I've encountered in jam circles are very forgiving and helpful people!
And Ant138 couldn't be more right. At all times, make sure you're having fun or enjoy the process. That's the fastest way to improve for sure. All my suggestions above are meant to be approached with that mindset for sure. I get bored easily if I'm not having fun!
Last Edited by on Oct 08, 2008 1:05 AM
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Oisin
19 posts
Oct 08, 2008
3:01 AM
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I messed about with Harp for 10 years and thought I was pretty sh#t hot. However my wife persuaded me to get lessons and THAT is what changed it all for me! To hear someone play properly for the first time blew me away.
Now there was a downside too as the guy who taught me (Adam Norton from Bad Town Blues) had to make me realise I was not a good player but that can be a liberating thing. In my humble opinion there is nothing like some one to one tuition with a good teacher.You can't get feedback from a book or video!
Oisin
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Zhin
23 posts
Oct 08, 2008
3:15 AM
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You CAN get feedback if you post a video on Youtube. :)
But it's not always the best kind of feedback... or can it?? Hmm.
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Oisin
20 posts
Oct 08, 2008
3:46 AM
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You're right in that you can get feedback from Youtube but just look at this post and how many different opinions there are on this subject; imagine the different replies you get if you played something and asked for feedback.
I agree that books and videos are a great tool but you cannot beat a good patient teacher showing you how to play.
I could ring my guy up and ask him questions and stop beating my head off a wall when I got stuck.
Do you think Adam would be the player he is without the tuition of Nat Riddles?
I wasted years trying to teach myself and I wish I'd gone to a teacher in the first place.
Don't get me wrong...It was John Gindicks book "Harmonica for the musically hopeless" that first showed me how to bend, but it was my teacher that taught me that I didn't need to suck like a donkey to do it!
Oisin
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Zhin
24 posts
Oct 08, 2008
7:12 AM
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What you may fail to realize is that some of us are not as privileged as those who live in countries where blues harp teachers can be reached.
Warning: Long sob story ahead about my search for teachers...
I live in Malaysia and have yet to meet anyone who can teach let alone sustain a half-decent 3-draw-bend... I really tried for months looking for anyone who can teach blues harp... Maybe they are in hiding but I've looked everywhere and decided to take it upon myself to be almost completely self-dependent in teaching myself.
The internet, Youtube, and especially Adam Gussow through this virtual world has truly been my only means to learn and improve. And it really has.
I envy you guys for being so lucky. That it is THAT easy to find someone who can at least sit you down and point out how to do things. I would gladly pay a very dear sum of $$$ if I ever found a personal teacher here. That's how much I want a teacher in person.
The irony of it all is that although I have only been playing for a year and consider myself Intermediate or maybe Intermediate-Advanced... I've ended up teaching other people instead during my search... It really seems like I'm the only blues harp player in my town that has at least gotten his basics completely covered. Everyone I have encountered seem to play hack folkie harp and think that the 4-5 draw trill is the ONLY "bluesy" sound you can make from the harp *rolls eyes*.
If anyone knows of any proficient BLUES HARP player that can school my ass in person in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia... Please, I IMPLORE you to let me know who they are and how to contact them. Like I said, I'm willing to pay for it as if it was my college education. No joke.
The only thing I found was a harmonica society which shall remain nameless that hardly features diatonics, assume bending is the hardest thing in the world, and think that a happy-hardcore techno club remix of "Cotten Eye Joe" played along with sub-average diatonic harmonica is considered the Blues... They also seem to be more caught up on stage antics like COORDINATED POP DANCING between 3 or even a dozen chromatic players while playing the opening theme song of the Japanese cartoon "Doraemon". I swear to you all I'm not dramatizing this or making this up. I really did encounter that stuff.
And when I did try to approach them they turned me away with a snide attitude because they really have a superiority complex with their chromatic harmonicas. It's partially understandable though, they are more focused in classical songs, ethnic music, and bubble-gum pop. Non of them seem to know how to play improvised at all either and are more hung up about replicating boring songs note by note. The Blues is considered crude and primitive by their standards. It was very unpleasant to say the least for a young wide eyed hopeful green horn like me.
I think some of you are beginning to understand why I am so damn thankful to Adam.
Things have indeed changed for the better though. I have been invited as a guest lecturer to lecture briefly on the history of the blues and teach chromatic players how to play blues harp at a local music school that is not affiliated to that stuck-up harmonica society I mentioned about above. My friend who teaches at the music school revealed to me that when he asked the schools chromatic players/majors why they don't play diatonics and they said they are terrified of it because of the note bending. I will definately be having a lot of fun and hopefully get them into diatonics as well. *evil grins* I have nothing against the chromatic harmonica though just for the record.
I have even tried to contact local so-called blues harp players from the local blues scene after asking around but they seem to avoid divulging or teaching anything to anyone. I would even go as far as saying that they are a disgrace to the blues creed for being like that. It's behavior like that which is killing the future of the blues...
And after really checking out some of their playing, I'm glad I decided to take my own route without their help... Lets just say I am totally not impressed with what I've heard in my local scene YET. Frankly it's been nothing but a sick joke every time I dig deeper. It's become normal for me to find god-awful whiny-wimpy toned players who have no concept on the blue notes (or bends for that matter) that actually get PAID to play on stage and record albums with local guitar masters that actually do kick ass. These people think that Steven Tyler and Bruce Willis are harp-gods by the way... *shudders* I really hope someday I find some genuine blues harp players. It's really lonely out here. I keep hearing stories from people that there are some who really are good and authentic but so far each time I try to track them down I find myself in a dead end.
I really am not being a snob or elitist. I truly really wish that I could find a blues harp player locally that can put me at my place and help me improve faster... It feels so weird to be considered a "pro" by most of my musician peers who insist on it when I know I'm faaaaaar from that... When they tell me that I feel like a sham because I know I don't deserve to be called such things yet... and these are guys who can shred SRV's Scuttle Buttin' like as if they're taking a stroll down a park!
I DO know of a really really good player from Singapore which is a neighboring country where I'm from but he's too far away and has not expressed any interest in teaching either when I e-mailed him. Very nice guy and excellent harp player though.
And so, that's why I recommended youtube...
It's very frustrating and depressing the say the least. I'm very sure I'll be composing some very emotionally driven songs and lyrics in the future though. :)
Last Edited by on Oct 09, 2008 1:41 AM
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Oisin
21 posts
Oct 08, 2008
7:38 AM
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Zhin....you've got the Blues man! Harness that sadness and put it in a song.
I do sympathise with you though and I agree that I am privilaged to have access to Blues harp teachers. I speak from my own experience and a teacher was my breakthrough in blues harp but if I didn't have a teacher then Adam and you tube would be the next best thing.
It sounds lonely when the next good harp Player lives in another country! However I think I can read between the lines in your posts and see that that has made you stronger and all the more determined to succeed in mastering this beautiful instrument. I will look upon your posts with a new found respect man.
Oisin
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Ant138
41 posts
Oct 08, 2008
9:14 AM
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Im the same up here in North wales U.K
My playing has improved loads in the last year due to watching Adams videos religiously and persevering with things like tongue blocking etc (still chasing that overblow). I have also started jamming with a friend from work who plays guitar and i have done two open mic nights with him (scary stuff but well worth doing.I have put one of them on you tube but no comments as yet.)
I know i would still benefit from a few personal one to one lessons from someone who can really wail but there are just no teachers around. I guess im lucky to have youtube really.
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Zhin
25 posts
Oct 08, 2008
10:00 AM
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Damn right I got the blues. EVERYDAY.
Oisin, thank you for understanding. And yes, I really am putting most of my frustrations and channeling a lot of energy into my training.
All I can really say is... thank God for Adam... ;)
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Oxharp
24 posts
Oct 08, 2008
12:13 PM
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Hey ant138 tried looking for your vid but cant find it whats the link?
Russ
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MrVerylongusername
4 posts
Oct 08, 2008
3:53 PM
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Playing styles that pushed me beyond the I IV V and 2nd position with a kickass band who can bring out the best in me.
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Miles Dewar
26 posts
Oct 08, 2008
5:18 PM
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Still some good stuff going around here. Thanks for the posts. I am sure that this will help some of us beginners think about more directions that we can go. Thanks again for all the diverse posts.
Also for that wonderful story Zhin. I am always interested in hearing the stories of fellow harpers.
---Be Positive---
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LittleJoeSamson
68 posts
Oct 08, 2008
10:06 PM
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Jammin' was the biggest help to me. The other players will let you know when you do good, or not!
Listening to other harp players...not to copy them, but to see how they wait for their spots.
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Ant138
42 posts
Oct 09, 2008
12:15 AM
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Hey Oxharp the link is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1oJ16e4q2c
Its my first one a few months ago, it takes me a few minutes to stop playing the same riff cos i was bricking it, i think i get into a little more after that. Glad i did it though,i was stoked after.
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Zhin
30 posts
Oct 09, 2008
1:57 AM
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Thank you for sharing that Ant. :)
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