Greg
Guest
Oct 29, 2008
9:56 PM
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Hi there,
I'm up to "whistlin' the blues" on Adam's lessons and I had a thought well struggling to keep time and hit the notes. Which should be my priority well learning a particular lesson? For the previous lessons I made sure to hit the correct notes and then worried about getting the timing down after I knew the tune but now I'm thinking I should be doing the opposite, keeping time regardless of mistakes. What are your thoughts on his?
Learning an instrument is a totaly new experience for me, any help would be appreciated.
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gene
42 posts
Oct 29, 2008
10:13 PM
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I'm not much further ahead than you, and I've struggled with the same dilemma. I think I've worked it out. I concentrate more on the notes and the phrasing first (but I don't TOTALLY neglect the timing). When I can play the song easily, without a lot of concentration, THEN I start concentrating harder on the beat.
My clue that this works is:
I was playing and trying to keep time to a song whose phrases start on an up beat. It didn't feel right. My playing wasn't coming up on beat. Then it hit me: "WELL, DUH! IT AIN'T SUPPOSED TO!!!" I did it again and paid very close attention to what I was doing, an lo and behold:
I was doing it right!--Mostly by feel and partly by counting.
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belfast_harper
25 posts
Oct 30, 2008
5:10 AM
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I think it is better to get in the habit of the keeping the timing straight away, the notes will fall into afterwards place with enough practice.
If I can't get the timing for a song I spend most of my day at work drumming it and counting it out, when I get home it usually comes to me straight away.
Last Edited by on Oct 30, 2008 7:37 AM
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Baker
11 posts
Oct 30, 2008
7:00 AM
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I seem to remember my music teachers saying that you should always try and keep playing the tune in time, even if you make mistakes. If you stop every time you mess up you get into that habit. If you keep practicing the tune as a whole the notes will come.
That was a long time ago now though :)
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SUNDOG
44 posts
Oct 30, 2008
11:56 AM
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I think Adam said somewhere in his lessons....
Keep the beat, Folks will notice an error there more quickly than a wrong note here and there...... and I add more disturbed by it.
R,
Neal aka: SUNDOG
Last Edited by on Oct 30, 2008 11:57 AM
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b1ueskyz
17 posts
Oct 30, 2008
11:31 PM
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For what it's worth, the one thing I remember from the few guitar lessons I took decades ago was this.
Keep the timing, keep strumming, don't wait for your fingers, eventually they'll catch up. And it worked for me. I think the concept is fully transferable to harp playing.
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oldwailer
296 posts
Oct 31, 2008
5:06 PM
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Many years ago I took a couple of piano lessons from a guy named Mike Garson--supposed to be some kind of hot-shot from the David Bowie band--anyway--he did a demo for me that has stayed with me--even though I don't play piano anymore.
First, he starts playing some tune--and then screws up the rhythm--but keeps the notes right--it wasn't music--it sucked.
Then he starts playing with the rhythm spot on--but the notes really messed up. It was music--it didn't suck--not great--but recognizable as music.
The moral to the story is obvious--music without rhythm sucks--music with rhythm works. . .
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Philosofy
74 posts
Nov 01, 2008
7:03 AM
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Well, better musicians than I have already commented, but I would say it depends on what you are doing. If I am trying to learn a song note for note, I try to get the notes right, then do timing. But if I am playing live or just jamming on a song, its all timing.
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Miles Dewar
40 posts
Nov 01, 2008
11:27 AM
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i always just learn the notes, if i want to learn a certain part of a song or a bit, then when i have them memorized i listen to the song ove r and over, you will getthe basic feel of what it should sound like with time, then pick apart the timing and the beats where it is in the song, where you could use it...... its worked out pretty good for me,
But...........you must get used to keeping time, when you do it enough it becomes somewhat natural, im sure for more experienced harpers it is second nature.
whenever you hear a blues song just tap your feet to the beat, i always listen to the drums for this. and then the easiest thing you can do is play single notes, hit on the beat, just mess around with it. Time and practice will naturally will correct it.
---Be Positive---
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Greg
Guest
Nov 01, 2008
11:59 AM
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My main goal in learning the harp is to play with a band, in which case timing would definately be the primary concern. I'm going to go ahead with this and see how it works out.
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gene
43 posts
Nov 01, 2008
1:24 PM
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(The following words from a novice who would welcome correction):
You have to learn the notes and you have to play them in the right time. Both are essential, neither can be neglected. If you can't get them both at the same time, what does it matter which you do first? I think what matters about it is choosing the way that works best for you.
I guess you could play one note over and over to the beat, and then start practicing the notes. Or you could work on getting the notes right, and then start playing them in the right time. Either way, when you start to get more comfortable with the first one you chose (notes or timing), then you need to work them together. It seems that it might be a bad idea to wait too long before you start to work them together, as you don't want to cement any wrong habits in.
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MrVerylongusername
20 posts
Nov 01, 2008
2:46 PM
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IMHO I think you are sweating the small stuff. Timing comes with confidence and experience: If at the moment, you are still at the level of playing where you have to think about where the notes are, then worrying about timing is only going to frustrate things more for you.
Get the layout of the harp, then, when you can confidently hit the notes (assuming you have a natural ability to count a beat) you'll find it much easier to keep time. It'll probably come without too much real trying.
Even if you can't naturally keep a beat, you can train it in - it'll take longer, but it can be done.
Walk before you try the Olympic 200m hurdles.
No one learns to juggle by starting with 5 balls.
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oldwailer
299 posts
Nov 01, 2008
6:26 PM
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Good point, MVLUN! I do obsess a bit--I wonder if I play the harp because I obsess or if I obsess because I play the harp?
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kudzurunner
154 posts
Nov 01, 2008
8:15 PM
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One possible solution that nobody has suggested--I don't believe--is to slow down the song to the point where you can keep time AND get all the notes. Then, as your technique improves, you can slowly speed it up.
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