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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
stuck at absolute beginner's level
stuck at absolute beginner's level
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OEuropean
16 posts
Dec 06, 2008
3:40 AM
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I feel stuck at the absolute beginner's level and frustrated that I can't make the transition to the slightly advanced beginner's level.
I have been studying and practicing the harp hard for a few months now, but I'm not making any progress anymore.
The path I've taken so far:
- I bought Adam's lessons for absolute beginners. Great stuff. I thought I was on my way. So I ordered the next lessons (not for absolute beginners anymore), but they turned out to be too difficult.
- I bought a basic David Barrett harp course, but it focused too much on tongue blocking.
- I took a private lesson from a real good blues harmonica player.
- I've been looking for a decent music theory book, but haven't found any so far.
- I listen all the time to blues/jazz harp music (from Rice Miller and Big Walter to Jason Ricci and Carlos del Junco).
- While listening to blues, I try and most of the time succeed in recognizing the 12-bar blues progression scheme.
- And most importantly, I practice about one hour a day.
My extremely modest achievements (given my effort!) so far:
- I'm able to decently play a series of simple songs (Oh Suzanna, Oh When the Saints in 1st and 2nd position, Beethoven's Ode to Joy, ...).
- I can draw bend the 4th, 3rd and 2nd hole and blow bend the 8th hole (on an A harp).
- I'm succeeding in warbling on the 4/5 holes.
But in order to jump from the absolute beginner's to the beginner's level, I feel I should be able to continue with the lessons and courses I bought and to start improvising with simple backing tracks. In reality I can't and feel completely stuck and wanting to give up.
I am sure that many good players have had the same experience. Can some of you give me some advice? Is it better to stop playing for a few months? Should I try out other lessons, teachers, ...? Other suggestions?
Thank you very much in advance!
Last Edited by on Dec 06, 2008 3:44 AM
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tookatooka
38 posts
Dec 06, 2008
4:22 AM
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No! Don't stop. You'll regret it. Have you tried Jon Gindicks book "Rock and Blues Harmonica. It comes with a 74 minute CD Jamming Buddy. It will lift you out of playing the easy songs and get you into the blues groove. It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but it will get you going in the right direction. You'll need a C harp to play along though. Try Amazon for the book, it's OK, full of diagrams, riffs and suggestions although it does have a side story that you could do without if you just want to get down to the meat of the subject.
Next, if you have a broadband connection, there are tons of lessons on Youtube. Search for Blues Harp Lessons. Some are good some are not, but there is a whole wealth of experience to be tapped into. In particluar Adams lessons, Chris Michalek, Jason Ricci and Jon Gindick.
Try LastFM website (www.last.fm) for loads of free Blues Listening.
Get lots of free Harptabs from ( http://www.harptabs.com/ ) and broaden your musical repertoir. There are lots of good tabs there (plus some rubbish). They may not be pure blues stuff but if any one tune you learn revitalises your interst it's worth the effort.
Learn Summertime and Scarborough Fair in third possition starting on draw6 and draw4 respectively and that will certainly build your confidence where you can start introducing some improvisation.
Expect to plateau every now and again but don't let it get the best of you. Every now and then you'll learn just one extra little tip that will inspire you to carry on.
For goodness sake don't stop playing. It's only a little bit of tin and brass. Be the boss and get control over it.
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andy r-g
Guest
Dec 06, 2008
9:47 AM
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First: don't panic. Frustration is the feeling you get just before you make a breakthrough. Your obvious passion and commitment will see you through. It is unlikely you will jump from one level to another over night, it is more of a gradual thing. Are you remembering to have fun? I rarely post but i know exactly where you are coming from and can tell you most of us have been in the same place. Don't try TOO hard. Get out of the woodshed sometimes and play with others. You will learn more in ten minutes at a jam session than you can from a whole series of books. Let us know when you see we are right. Blow the back off it!
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eharp
160 posts
Dec 06, 2008
12:20 PM
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http://www.harmonicaclub.com/
it has a chatroom where, if you have speakers and mic, you can get some real good help from various folks there.
(dont be shy if you go.)
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Miles Dewar
109 posts
Dec 06, 2008
5:02 PM
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I learned most of my theory by writing down keywords from Adam's videos that sounded alien to me.(flat 5th, IV chord, 1st-3rd-5th) I then looked them up on yahoo. Just take TONS of notes and you brain will make the connections for you. remember to study, then REST. Your Subconcious needs time to sort through the info. Believe me i know, when i started i took like 3 notebooks full of note in like 2 months. and after all that still had no idea what to think. After a while though i started to have aha moments where some of it made sense. This is why you need the rest time........ study... play.... rest...
Believe it or not the REST is one of the more important things.
And get a buddy who is a musician. Learning music is not an easy thing. But if you have a good friend who knows music, he can teach you the theory. But don't expect to learn theory fast. this is like learning french in a month, it just won't happen.
here is a reference for harmonica. it also helps with theory.
go to http://www.angelfire.com/tx/myquill/
and if you need something to hold you over. I just started playing "Blues" by playing 1 or 2 notes over each chord, messing around with "Melodic Rythm". This will get your craving under control.
play the 2draw over the I-chord, the 4blow over the IV-chord, and the 1draw over the V-chord
Just use these notes starting hitting one note for each beat and you'll eventually get the basic idea. If you learn new note patterns, you can play differently. (triplets, dotted 8th notes, 16th notes)
Hope it helps.
oh yeah, look for peter gelling's book "teach yourself blues harmonica" i downloaded it for free. and it comes with music files to help you.
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---Be Positive---
Last Edited by on Dec 06, 2008 5:05 PM
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Luiz
11 posts
Dec 07, 2008
4:04 AM
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According to Adam's definitions I think I am somewhere between Advanced beginner and Intermediate, but I'd say that if the lessons are too hard, don't give up and keep working on them until they become easy, that's how you will move forward.
Also get a friend to play with and, as important as playing, to talk about music.
It took me months until I met a good harp player, and after only one afternoon playing together and talking about the harp with him I could clearly see that I had improved my playing a lot.
And, as said before, have fun! :)
Last Edited by on Dec 07, 2008 4:04 AM
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OEuropean
17 posts
Dec 10, 2008
1:09 AM
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tookatooka, andy, eharp, Miles and Luiz,
Thanks for your kind words of encouragement and your many suggestions. Very much appreciated!
Yes, indeed, I have been trying too hard. I forgot to rest and above all to have fun.
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tookatooka
44 posts
Dec 10, 2008
3:02 AM
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Hi again OEuropean.
I've only been playing (learning) for the last eighteen months or so. It was the blues that really got me interested. Originally, I wanted to play like Adam but being realistic about things, I know I probably never will(he's a master). But having looked at a lot of the YouTube contributions, I've come to realise that really what I want is to play like Christelle.
Don't get me wrong, I love the blues but just don't have the coordination (yet) to be able to do all those fantastic rhythm shuffles that Adam does. On the other hand Christelle plays slower more romantic tunes that are equally as appealing to my ears, and with work on my behalf, probably a bit more attainable.
Have a listen to Christelles Blues in G on YouTube. It's plenty bluesy but not frantic. That's what I like.
I still intend to follow Adams excellent tutorials but with the knowledge that if I don't manage to master all the techniques, there is still a middle ground that is well worth exploring. It's like the old saying aim for the stars but if you only end up hitting the moon, then that's pretty good too.
Before anyone thinks I'm belittling Chistelles playing, that is not my intention at all. She has a wonderful technique and her vibrato is outstanding. It's just that the tunes she plays are more acceptable to someone like me who just plays for pleasure and doesn't intend playing with a band or getting up on open mics.
Anyway, maybe perhaps once I've satisfied myself with that style of playing, I'll be able to move on to the more complex techniques which I may find a little easier by then.
Last Edited by on Dec 10, 2008 3:04 AM
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cloud1i
Guest
Dec 10, 2008
5:26 AM
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OEuropean,
When I started, I got 90% of all the instructional material there is in the market. I dont think I went through a single one! After talking to a friend I learnt all the draw bends and at the same time learn Sugar Blue's Little Red Rooster transcribedby David Barret. I really like the song and it give me the motivation to learn. I used to praticed 8-10 hrs a day.
I didnt find out about the blues scales till much later. I have no musical background at all and all the theory stuff sounds like a different language to me. But if you pick a song you like you can monitor your own prograss. For me its more, I learn something new because of a particular song. Like the 10hole bend in Whammer Jammer.
Now I can overblow because some of the songs I leant requires it. But I'm still lost when you ask me to count out the 12 bars in every songs. The main thing is you have to enjoy the pratice part. If you enjoy that the rest will come naturally.
I started learning in April. If you want any of those instructional material, just gimme your email.
Best regards,
cloud1i
There is only do or dont do, trying is a waste of time.
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eharp
168 posts
Dec 10, 2008
6:54 AM
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cloud1i- is there a download or link?
Sugar Blue's Little Red Rooster transcribedby David Barret
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cloud1i
Guest
Dec 10, 2008
7:21 AM
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eharp,
I dont know about any download link. The one I have is the book, transcrition of Sugar Blue's In Your Eyes album.
cloud1i
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