Woody
9 posts
Jan 07, 2010
4:33 PM
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I just have to tell you all this.....
tonight...I did my first jam on harmonica, with some success !! !!
I grabbed my little red case of harps, mini amp and delay pedal and headed to my local pub, The Grosvenor, here in West London...and simply told the MC (Ranjit, nice lady) 'I am keen to jam over any blues tunes your participating performers might be playing'.
Sure enough, half an hour later I was introduced to Ralph who said...'Yeah, I don't mind doing one with you'.
After one he said...'lets do another...' and I didn't hesitate.
Admittedly, as a guitar player of many many years I am fortunate to have been able to fathom the musicality of the harmonica relatively easily, but as for harp technique, tone, fast licks and tricks, accurate bending and a clean TWO DRAW (Gulp...)....I am still very much an amateur.
I had a great night and hope to be 9 times better this time next year. I always play everyday and.... as Adam has advised me....'Learn something NEW everyday'....I do.
I love everything about MBH, thanks for indulging me.
Woody
(Technical....I used a Shure BG1.1 mic and Hohner Blues Harps through a 5watt battery powered Marshall amp clipped onto my hip. PA mic at hip height).
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gosiawoodman - YouTube
Last Edited by on Jan 07, 2010 4:54 PM
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GermanHarpist
888 posts
Jan 07, 2010
6:20 PM
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Congrats :)
" and hope to be 9 times better this time next year. " and you will be...
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germanharpist on YT. =;-) - Resonance is KEY!
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jonsparrow
1623 posts
Jan 07, 2010
10:53 PM
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congrats. i just had my first jam at a house today. well first blues jam. it was so much fun.
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wheezer
133 posts
Jan 08, 2010
3:08 AM
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Woody
Are you the cab driver guitarist I knew a few years ago?
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eharp
409 posts
Jan 08, 2010
9:48 AM
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congrats, woody and jon.
there really is nothing better than seeing hard work payoff.
jon- are you gonna give us any more details?
woody- what songs did you do?
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jonsparrow
1625 posts
Jan 08, 2010
10:09 AM
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well it was just me a drummer an a guitarist. we were just jaming, it wasnt in a 12 bar format or anything, i didnt even have my set up with me an i only had 1 harp so we only played in 1 key. but every thing fit well together an sounded good. i think next time ill record a video.
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Randy G. Blues
122 posts
Jan 08, 2010
10:18 AM
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Playing open jams can be a real mixed bag of successes and failures. At times you end up with musicians who could work as studio pros who will challenge you to the extremes of your talent. Other times you can get paired with a guitarist which will make you wonder if they started playing this month or last.
I dropped off at the local jam last night as well. A female vocalist friend (ex-pro who backed Nancy Sinatra on her original "Boots" tour) wanted to get out and try to sing a few as we are working on putting together a group. I usually play the first set, otherwise I get home quite late. The first set musicians are not the best I have played with and the second set are quite a clique.
Last night started out REALLY rough- I almost left. None of them are front men (and really, neither am I). A stage full of followers without a real leader is just a mess, or at least has the potential to be so. I was trying to get them organized. We started out trying to do "One After 909," and NONE OF THEM knew it (or had heard it)! Ughhh... Tried about three other songs, but much the same. I gave them the key and sang another ("Midnight Blues" by the Allmon Brothers) but that didn't work either.
I finally got to the point of frustration and said, "It's a harmonica tune, 12 bar blues, key of E, follow me!" and I started "Juke." I went through the first three or four phrases as LW played it then went off on my own improv on the main theme and we rocked the place.
From there is went pretty well. I tried picking a few tunes that I knew they could handle. I sang "The Red Rooster," and that went well, and they even hit the pause before the last line. Tried "Blue Jean Blues" in B min., and that went OK, but the guitarist kept going major in parts and couldn't get the progression, so I had to adapt my singing to match it (tough to do- made my brain hurt!). I don't play guitar and do not know enough about theory and structure to help him play his instrument (have enough trouble playing mine!).
My vocalist friend did a scat number. We just told the guitarist to play something in E that she could scat to, and that was a very cool jam. She still has a great voice (and she's easy on the eyes as well!).
But that all sort of indicates how jams go. At times you will come home high as can be after an amazing night, and other times it can be so frustrating that you'll wonder how much used harmonicas are going for on eBay, and if you can learn to knit or start an herb garden.
Welcome to the world of music. If you ever get to the point of feeling frustrated about playing at jams, try putting a group together. We just lost our group when our guitarist quit (second time its happened to groups I was in), so am in the process of trying a third assemblage of players. Would you believe, we have already worked out two Annie Lennox tunes.. Me!? Playing Annie Lennox!? Who would have dreamed? ;-) Actually, the tunes are cool- "Ghosts in My Machine" and "Missionary Man." .. I told our singer that I don't mind playing "Missionary man" but that I am more of a doggie style kind of guy. ;-)
Last Edited by on Jan 08, 2010 10:22 AM
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Buzadero
245 posts
Jan 08, 2010
10:22 AM
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Don't ask, don't tell.......
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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Woody
12 posts
Jan 08, 2010
3:59 PM
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Wheezer.....nope, never been a cab driver (Ha haa),,
EHarp..we did Spoonful by Willie Dixon (but I only know the Cream version to be honest)...Then Ralph just played some other tune....and I just went with it.
I have a reheatsal room Jam planned with my coversband singer playing drums and our bass player on his 5 string and then just ME on Harp and vocals.
I have deliberately decided not to do any guitar...if at all possible.
My choice of tunes for this little jam is:
No Particular Place To Go - Chuck Berry
....without all the stops...
Come On (Let The Good Times Roll) - Hendrix
(But with the drum feel from Amy Winehouse NO NO NO...and without all the stops)
She Don't Love Me She Loves My Automobile - ZZTop
...and a couple of my own blues tracks.
I really want no guitar, to make space for me to wail harpingly...and on a five string bass...he has plenty of room to play with fills and licks etc etc...
Should be fun...
Great forum this one....thanks to all you folks
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gosiawoodman - YouTube
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eharp
415 posts
Jan 08, 2010
4:29 PM
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i always loved "one after 909".
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tookatooka
971 posts
Jan 09, 2010
6:27 AM
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Congratulations Woody. I have to ask, did you wear the blonde wig, the Father Christmas hat or the top hat?
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