Ian
77 posts
Sep 12, 2015
2:42 PM
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Woo hooo... First post.
I thought it would be interesting to find out, as a year one harpist, what kind of practice routine you are all in?
II practice once a day, for about 5 mins up to 1 hr (depending on how busy I am) .
In that practice I'll run though a couple of scales a few times. Then work on a riff or lick until it's dialled in (this will more often than not run over multiple practice sessions) . I'll finish up with a spot of improv.
So... What do you do?
Last Edited by Ian on Sep 12, 2015 2:56 PM
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Rontana
174 posts
Sep 12, 2015
3:24 PM
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I'm at about 10 months or so, and though what I specifically work on changes over time, there are a few constants.
Since last November I've tried to get in at least an hour a day. Some days it might be two hours, some days a little less than an hour.
I generally play (daily) 8 or 9 tunes in second position (and a couple in first). Some of these I've figured out on my own (CCR tunes seem to fit well in 2nd position) but many are from Jon Gindick's "Bluesify Your Melody" book.
About 3 times a week I do Adam's 2, 3, and 4-hole bend exercises. I also do a few of his transcriptions I've downloaded (curently "Chicken Shack" and "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy"). A couple times a week I do the "beginning blues riffs" package I found on Ronnie Shellist's site. All of these are more than worth the small amount they cost.
Pretty much daily I do the major first position scale, the second position blues scale, and the third position scale (forward and backward about five times each)
When the mood strikes, usually every couple days, I play with jam tracks. Many of these are (again) from Adam. However I also spend a lot of time playing to tracks posted at a site called Harmonicaboogie.com (players give feedback on each other; it's a friendly place).
I find mixing it up keeps things fun.
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Mirco
307 posts
Sep 12, 2015
3:42 PM
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I've been playing about two years. I'm not sure if I should be posting in this forum, but I'll pass along my method.
If you had an hour to practice:
10 minutes- Warmup. This is maybe a focus on some specific technique (like ocataves), or running through some scales (major scale, blues, or pentatonic), or polishing off some part for performance.
30 minutes- Song practice. You should be always working on some new material.
20 minutes- Improvising. Play along to a jam track. Jimi Lee's jam tracks are the best. Use licks you've picked up from your songs or use scales that you know.
If you have more or less time, adjust the times but try to maintain this overall proportion of playing time.
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Marc Graci
YouTube Channel
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Rgsccr
366 posts
Sep 12, 2015
3:55 PM
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I've been playing for a long time, but have really only gotten better in the past four to five years. I practice every day between 1 -2 hours. I (almost) always warm up with some scales, both lip pursing and tongue blocked (to try to improve on tongue blocking), then some warbles, punches etc. Then I do something that has helped me more than anything - I go through holes 2-4 blowing briefly then drawing and holding the note for at least seven seconds or more. I hit the non-bent note and then go back and hit the bends. Every few days I do this with a tuner and a note chart to see if I am hitting the right bent notes, and how steady I am at holding them. My ability to hit the note I want and hold it (fairly) steady has really improved though I still have a ways to go. At the same time my tone has improved markedly. The other thing that has helped a lot with tone is to play cupping a mic frequently when practicing even if I don't connect to an amp. My cupping has gotten quite a bit better and much more natural from this. After this I run through all or part some songs from Little Walter, both Sonny Boys, Paul deLay and others. Finally I work for a while on songs from our band's gig list or new songs we may want to add. I do spend some time improvising and playing with jam tracks, and, not often enough, some time with lessons and tips from generous guys like Adam, Ronnie Shellist, Jason and others. I do some or all of this in the morning and something similar before I go to bed. I realize that not everyone has the time or inclination to do all of this, or may have different and perhaps better ideas of how to practice, but I do really advocate the little exercise of holding the draw notes.
Last Edited by Rgsccr on Sep 12, 2015 3:59 PM
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Ian
80 posts
Sep 12, 2015
3:58 PM
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@rontana... Wow that's a pretty dedicated system you got going there. I bet you are making great progress. I've been a bit lazy recently as my work is seasonal so have been run off my feet through the last 2 months. Should have more time after September though. I don't think I've practiced for more than 20 minutes at a time for a couple of weeks now.
Im going to treat myself to a couple of Adams tutorial packages for my birthday in October so looking forward to that.
Have you tried Steve Cohens 100 authentic blues licks book? I reckon you would do well with it. I've been using it for a while now.
@mirco... Thats pretty much what I try to do. I think it's a good combination of practice elements. Thanks for your contribution. two years going strong? How do you find your playing now (compared to this time last year say)
@rgsccr... I got to working in the accuracy of my bends more this week's actually (after watching something from Jason ricci) . You are right it's very useful.
Last Edited by Ian on Sep 12, 2015 4:02 PM
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Rontana
175 posts
Sep 12, 2015
4:18 PM
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@Ian
Funny you mention that book; I was just looking at it on Amazon the other day. Haven't bought it yet, but was thinking about it. For me, the best book I have is that "Bluesify your Melody" by Gindick. It's all songs that we know (probably 40 or 50 of them . . . like "House of the Rising Sun, Amazing Grace, Summertime, etc) transcribed into 2nd position. Comes with a CD
The best stuff I've downloaded was Adam's offerings. They've been a massive help.
A lot of times I don't practice all in one shot either. Maybe 15 minutes here, 15 minutes there, etc etc. I just carry around a C Special 20 most of the time. I'm just in this for the fun of it - no desire to be a performer (and anyway, I'm just starting this at 55; most bands go on stage about the time I'm going to bed).
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Marr's Guitars
Cigar Box Guitars and Other Unusual Unstruments
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Ian
82 posts
Sep 12, 2015
4:26 PM
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@rontana..
Ill check out that book, sounds good.
You should Push the button on the 100 licks book, loads to get your teeth in to (it has a cd too).
I've stashed a harp in my truck so I can play In traffic.
Any opportunity,!
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cliffy
148 posts
Sep 12, 2015
4:42 PM
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Ian, just make sure you are picking up a harmonica and playing a little every chance you get. I never had a specific practice regimen, but I was always trying to find two minutes here and two minutes there to play a little. If you are a beginner, every minute playing will help you progress even if you're not specifically working on a particular thing like scales, etc.
And have fun!
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Cotton
53 posts
Sep 12, 2015
4:47 PM
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I really like the 100 licks book. I Keep a CD copy in the car. I find that it help me to listen to the music (changes) better if I try and figure out the licks without the book. Practice at red lights.
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Glass Harp Full
50 posts
Sep 12, 2015
5:50 PM
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I try to practice for 15-30 mins. per day but don't always get to it depending on work, family etc. I usually work with a You Tube video that covers the technique or song I want to work on. I find it helpful to play along and pause and rewind when I need to.
I've found videos from Adam, Lee Sankey, Jon Gindick and Jason Ricci very useful.
I also like to start and finish with something I'm reasonably comfortable with like a basic train rhythm.
Lately I started keeping a harp in my office in case I get a spare 5 mins. during the day at work.
Last Edited by Glass Harp Full on Sep 12, 2015 5:54 PM
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ME.HarpDoc
6 posts
Sep 12, 2015
6:34 PM
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I practice 15-30 per day, average. What I practice shifts as I identify need but typically I'll practice scales, rhythm, progressions with backing tracks as well as improvising( which I find the most fun and therefore how I finish). I've been playing a little over 18 months since I retired (I'm 67) and this is the first musical instrument I've played
I've been attending a local blues jam on Sunday's for the last month or so and, due to patrons' encouragement for a newbie, I'm going to actually play at tomorrow's jam. I hope they're kind!
I probably spend more time on this forum and looking at equipment each day than I do practicing. I think I'd improve a lot quicker if I reversed that trend. I hope this beginners forum serves its purpose well.
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DaveR
4 posts
Sep 12, 2015
6:35 PM
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I don't have a set regiment. I practice and woodshed while commuting to work. Also at home here and there when the wife is out, and its just the dogs here to annoy.
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Mirco
308 posts
Sep 12, 2015
7:28 PM
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@Ian: My playing has improved dramatically. Developing musicality is about perseverance. Right now, I'm trying to sound more musical... I know so many techniques, I know so many licks, I know so many songs. However, if I put on a random jam track and improvise or I try to write something original, it's not always music. It often doesn't fit. I think this will come with time.
The breakdown of practice time that I suggested, by the way, is David Barrett's.
Stick with it. As Gindick says "Five minutes to play, five years to master." Be patient. Try to enjoy every moment.
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Marc Graci
YouTube Channel
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Ian
84 posts
Sep 13, 2015
9:27 AM
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Mirco....
Id say my biggest challenges at the moment are also developing musicality but also I seem to have a terrible memory for licks.
My brother in law is a fantastic musician (trinity trained) so I try to play with him whenever I can, that helps.
Like you said. It all comes with time. Got to build that muscle memory!
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Glass Harp Full
51 posts
Sep 14, 2015
3:18 AM
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Ian,
I also have a terrible memory for licks. I can play OK with tabs in front of me but can't seem to commit anything to memory.
I know I need to decrease my dependence on tabs, which would probably help but I don't have that good an ear yet.
Does anyone have any tips for committing things to memory?
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Rontana
178 posts
Sep 14, 2015
5:31 AM
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@ian @glass harp full
I have a terrible memory for such things as well, but I found something that helped.
I briefly mentioned this in an earlier post, but Ronnie Shellist (harmonica123.com) sells a package for $12 called "Beginning Blues Licks." These 17 licks are very simple and only a couple involve bending. However, they are also foundational, sort of the root of many longer licks you hear on albums. Some of them are as short as 3 notes.
Play them enough, and because of their brevity, they'll likely stick in your brain as they did in mine. As time goes by you can build upon them in a nearly infinite number of ways by playing backward, forward, adding bends, etc.
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Marr's Guitars
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Ian
85 posts
Sep 14, 2015
8:49 AM
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Thanks for the tip rontana, ill check it out.
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