addict
87 posts
Feb 16, 2010
11:34 AM
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I am sad that so little here is about blues... the forum is called a blues forum. I don't care what else people talk about, or even if they talk about it here. I just wish it was less time consuming to find real information about BLUES here.... there is some, and some of it is very good. But there sure is a lot of other stuff. And the topics and threads meander all over. You never know where the good stuff is...
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MJ
83 posts
Feb 16, 2010
11:45 AM
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I went out looking for a very sad place to play
Yeah, I went out looking for a very sad place to play.
Oh, I went out looking for a very sad place today
And all that I could find my friend, was this forum, I am sorry to say.
Last Edited by on Feb 16, 2010 11:46 AM
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Bluzdude46
481 posts
Feb 16, 2010
11:52 AM
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I think this falls under immediate gratification expectations. I'm old, I have patience, I can wait.....unless it's for my new harp, or a new mic or the tubes to set up an amp or my new 12 string or, or .............never mind
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The Original Downtown Philadelphia Fatman... Accept No substitutes!
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Tuckster
395 posts
Feb 16, 2010
11:53 AM
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Welcome to the world of harp players. Someone once said you have to be at least a little OCD to play harp. I find a bit of truth in that statement. We are an odd bunch that can argue over the silliest little things. There's plenty of good threads if you search the archives. Or feel free to start your own thread on whatever.
Last Edited by on Feb 16, 2010 11:54 AM
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XHarp
267 posts
Feb 16, 2010
11:54 AM
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Well it is called the Dirty South Blues HARP Forum on the Modern Blues Harmonica web site so I'd say its pretty much about blues harmonica.
Now, there are good things about Blues in general and if you try the forum archive and search fetures you can save a ton of time scanning around.
Of course, then you wouldn't get to meet the eclectic group we have here.
Stay with it addict and you'll get the hang of things.
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"Keep it in your mouth" - XHarp
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Oliver
150 posts
Feb 16, 2010
11:59 AM
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Way to add to the noise, addict. ;)
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phogi
253 posts
Feb 16, 2010
12:03 PM
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Addict,
Best way to solve a problem is to do it yourself. Complaining won't get it done. Start talking about the blues, others will follow if you lead.
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nacoran
1142 posts
Feb 16, 2010
12:14 PM
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Ok then, lets make this thread about blues. What part of blues do you want to talk about? Great blues songs, artists, having the blues?
edit- lol. When I started typing I would have been the first response.
Last Edited by on Feb 16, 2010 12:14 PM
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Helix
12 posts
Feb 16, 2010
12:21 PM
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Donaleen,
When you say you want to find "real information about blues" I wonder about the specifics because there are a lot sub topics involved.
I think what happens here on his forum a lot is blues subtopics being put under the microscope to ever increasing levels of magnification as each thread progresses.
If it's the nuts and bolts of the music itself that you are after then it would be easier to study the music theory behind blues on your own. You will only get bits and pieces on any forum but if you look into the theory you can learn what a blues scale is...how to use scale degrees to write one...how to deconstruct chords and get at the meat in terms of utilizing those notes to full advantage etc.
A lot of us spend too much time reading forums and not enough time doing it so don't forget to play and sing because that is the real deal.
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KingoBad
178 posts
Feb 16, 2010
12:54 PM
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Dude... I think you need a 12 step program...
Modern Blues Harmonica, by its nature, is going different places. There are people pushing the envelope and that means the very topics will pursue the interests and directions of that music.
Plus, we are not here to entertain YOU.
Join in. Start a new thread about your blues topic of interest, I'm sure everyone will weigh in. However, NO WHINING!
Last Edited by on Feb 16, 2010 12:54 PM
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Stickman
200 posts
Feb 16, 2010
12:54 PM
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so little here is about blues
Really?...... Really?...... Really? Discussions about Busking, Open Mic nights, Where the best Blues clubs in London are, Harmonica contests with lots of blues submissions, overblows and their place in modern blues, Check out this blues musician, or how about this one. What vintage amps to buy, which mic is the best for that grungy Chicago sound. Who owns the blues? Is hip hop the blues? Seen the juke joint blog? on and on andonandonandon.......
Maybe we cant see the forest through the trees. I agree with phogi and nacoran
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The Art Teacher Formally Known As scstrickland
Last Edited by on Feb 16, 2010 12:57 PM
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RyanMortos
646 posts
Feb 16, 2010
3:09 PM
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I think there's an odd issue of the forum not having posts broken up into catergories but folks like it that way.
I've been thinking this for a month or so now that we have discussed most everything about blues harmonica up to this date. Every now & then there's something to to point out & discuss but not daily.
I'm glad this forum is not closed to just blues & when it's not harmonica it's usually interestig or the topic makes it obvious that it's something I couldn't care about.
I don't think a thing should be changed about our discussions here.
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~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Stephen Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
Contact:
My youtube account
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nacoran
1145 posts
Feb 16, 2010
5:21 PM
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Ryan- Yeah, that's come up before. Aside from some software limitations I think having everything on one main page encourages people to explore different things.
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OzarkRich
108 posts
Feb 16, 2010
5:29 PM
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Here's how I go about it:
1. Think of the forum title as three different harp topics (Modern(harp) Blues(harp) Harmonica(in general).
2. Learn the interests of other forum members so you'll have an idea of thread topics based on who started it and where the thread is going by glancing at subsequent posters.
3. Check in several times a day to keep up with the forum so you're not overwhelmed with finding what you're interested in.
4. Sometimes the forum as a whole will lean one direction; dive in when it interests you and sit it out a few days when it doesn't. Or...
5. Start you're own thread on the topic. Of the threads I've started, only ONE got no response at all.
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Ozark Rich
YouTube: OzarkRich
Facebook: php?ref=profile&id=100000279894342
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Joe_L
31 posts
Feb 16, 2010
6:32 PM
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Good luck addict. You will find very few people interested in cats like Big Leon Brooks. There are a few of us, but they are few and far between.
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Gwood420
94 posts
Feb 16, 2010
8:21 PM
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so your saying.. you have the blues over the lack of the blues..
Last Edited by on Feb 16, 2010 8:21 PM
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Kingley
864 posts
Feb 17, 2010
3:09 AM
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I think it's the nature of the beast. People will always meander off topic and talk about other things. There is a lot of content on here about blues but you do sometimes have to search for it. But then the same can be said about record stores and blues music.
It also of course depends on what you mean by discussing blues. Do you mean the music in general? a particular artist?, the techniques?, the gear?, etc, etc. There have been many threads on all of those subjects on here.
If you have certain subjects in mind then you should just post about them and you'll almost certainly get responses.
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HarmonicaMick
91 posts
Feb 17, 2010
4:15 AM
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addict,
Apart from agreeing with most - if not all - of the above, I'd say this:
I think you have to bear in mind that to some peeps, this board is as much a chat room as it is a forum for exchanging or imparting knowledge.
Sometimes the board goes a bit too off-topic for my taste. But that's just fine; it has to cater to many different people. Horses for courses, as they say. :-)
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YouTube SlimHarpMick
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mankycodpiece
109 posts
Feb 17, 2010
4:59 AM
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this is the only board i've contributed to.if it was just about blues,i think it would be too narrow for me.
i came to the site because of the harp,no other reason than that.
i love music,blues is a part of that.i can't honestly say i get blown away by it.
the board is fine to me.i check in a few times a day,i don't read everything,just that which interests me,and comment when i have something to say.
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addict
93 posts
Feb 18, 2010
10:17 AM
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I've been ruminating on what all of you said here. I guess I want YOU to have more to say than I do.... impart pearls of wisdom. As to what topics? How you go about listening... how you go about working on things... how you cross the line between playing and working (something I struggle with).
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Chinn
28 posts
Feb 18, 2010
11:27 AM
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I think the mislabeling part is the 'Dirty South' part....
For what I can tell, kudzurunner, superchucker and myself are the only players in this forum truly from the 'Dirty South'.
Based on that all the rest of ya'll need to go away..... Oh wait, a forum with 3 people isn't as much fun as one with a bunch in it.
On a serious note, I think the forum is pretty accurately named - Are we really supposed to talk about the blues? Or are we supposed to be talking about a vehicle for the expression of the blues? I think the latter, and this forum definitely goes to the latter.......
Last Edited by on Feb 18, 2010 11:29 AM
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Kyzer Sosa
128 posts
Feb 18, 2010
11:37 AM
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Id wager there are plenty of members from the "dirty south" who just dont pop their heads out (wink wink)
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Kyzer's Travels
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toddlgreene
835 posts
Feb 18, 2010
11:45 AM
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I'm further south than most of y'all-and it doesn't get any 'dirtier' than New Orleans.
This forum is perfectly named. Sometimes it veers one way or another, but always stays mainly on course with all things related to blues harmonica. The forum isn't one-dimensional;nor is the blues or harmonica. and that's the way it should be.
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Todd L Greene. V.P.
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addict
94 posts
Feb 18, 2010
11:50 AM
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Okay, you've just about convinced me to just go away. Earlier in this thread people suggested I ask some real questions here, and I did. I said:
As to what topics? How you go about listening... how you go about working on things... how you cross the line between playing and working (something I struggle with).
And what did I get back? people talking about where they live, what dirty south means, whether the forum is misnamed.
Which is exactly my point...
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Kingley
870 posts
Feb 18, 2010
11:57 AM
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Addict I think you're making a hasty decision. You really should hang around.
What you need to do though is to ask the questions you want answered by starting a new thread for that particular subject. If you just ask them in another thread then it will almost certainly be buried by other things. Which is what has happened on this thread to those questions.
Last Edited by on Feb 18, 2010 11:58 AM
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addict
95 posts
Feb 18, 2010
12:01 PM
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Okay, here goes... but, it seems to me that almost ANY topic gets buried here. People don't stick to the topic.
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toddlgreene
837 posts
Feb 18, 2010
12:06 PM
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Okay Addict, you are right:the segues were distracting.
Here's my best answers:
'How you go about listening'-I'm into lots of different styles of music, even within the blues genre. One great tool I've found and utilize, especially at home, is Pandora. If I want rocked up harmonica, a la Ricci, I have a channel for that. I have another for Chicago-style playing, and yet another filled with mainly West Coast players. sometimes I may want to soak up what Butterfield or Hummel or Harman was doing-I rid myself of distractions, kill the lights, and crank it up-and do nothing but listen. I like to feel the emotion, not just the notes.
'how you go about working on things'-I don't like to copy solos note-for-note, although i can see where a beginner who isn't yet adept at improvisation might want to do so. I learn the changes and even play rhythm first, then develop how I will solo over a certain part, or if I will solo at all, depending on whether a tunes needs it.
'how you cross the line between playing and working'-I have a wife and 3 kids-I have to STEAL time to practice. It's a real struggle, being in two bands with household chores, honey-do's, etc., and finding time to practice.
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Todd L Greene. V.P.
Last Edited by on Feb 18, 2010 12:07 PM
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Helix
13 posts
Feb 18, 2010
12:13 PM
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Don't go away Donaleen,
I think what the thing is is that you can't just redirect this topic which is "is the name accurate".
Post one of those questions as a new topic?
But I will give them a crack right here:
"how do you go about listening"?
Okay...fairly vague but i will assume "to the blues".
If I am listening with a goal of playing the tune myself, then because of what I do personally I learn the melody and the vocal/lyrics and commit them strictly to memory.....nothing ever written on paper.I listen to the type of groove and try to leverage any knowledge I already have about playing harp to similar gooves to create the harp part for the new tune.
"How do you go about working on things"?
Again vague but in addition to what I wrote about the first question, I generally work without a net(read: no backing track) and try to use just my mind to generate the music I am playing to. If there was any harp on the tune I generally do not try to emulate it at all but just leverage my own playing into the creation of the new harp part. The harp part I develop becomes sort of a musical skeleton and the actual notes and phrasing that I will play when ever I play the tune will never be exactly the same.
"how do you cross the line between working and playing'?
Again not sure exactly what you mean.
I'll guess that you mean "play the harp with a goal as opposed to play the harp for pure entertainment/pleasure"
In order for me to do that I have to have a goal. The goal might be adding a new tune to a set list or working on an area of my playing i feel is lacking.
So the answer is "mindset'. If my mindset is to work up a tune I intend to introduce into the setlist then I work on it with the attitude of work instead of lighthearted playing. Once I have it dialed in I can then play it with a "playing" mindset.
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addict
97 posts
Feb 18, 2010
12:21 PM
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I think you are right. It needs a new topic and I did start a new topic. I titled it Becoming the best musician you can be. and I asked my three questions. I would appreciate it if those of you who posted here would add your answers there.
thanks
donaleen
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