I am really struggling to find a place were I can have little privacy and get some serious practice in. I'm always having to worry about bothering apartment neighbors, sounding terrible around others, and stuff like that, and as frigid temperatures are quickly approaching here in Wisconsin, I don't really want to have to hide out in my car in order to play. Am I overlooking any good places any of you have discovered are good for rockin' out in solitude?
Surely you have a bedroom where you could close the windows, shut the door and hang a heavy blanket on it? Failing that, maybe there is a scout hall or something like that where, for a small fee they could give you some space.
possibly a school at night, sunday school after hours? i lived in western NY state when i started playing and found a lot of woods trails and fire roads but usually in spring summer and fall. whatever else you do, keep playing. ---------- http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
I have been experimenting with those black foam tubes they insulate pipes with. I cut off a piece less wide than the harp, open it up at the crack and slide it on to the harp, and cup my hands around it. Much quieter, but seems to raise the humidity in the harp which messes with my attempts at overblowing. ---------- Great experiences with: 1623 Harmonicas
I have been shedding in our apartment building's trolley room for over a year. It's next to the garbage room in the basement and have probably 4 feet of concrete up to the first apartment floor. I had 0 complaints. Sure sometimes I get "caught" but most folks just tell me it sounds good. I have now stashed a mic stand in a corner... (see latest YT-video :D) ---------- Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
Renting a rehearsal space is great. Mine is 200 bucks a month 24 hour access. Can play as loud as I want any time day or night. Also being in a public place where tons of bands and individuals rehearse is great for collaborations.
I have my own room big enough for a 5 piece band with electricity and bathrooms. I can leave gear there. I just insure it for 10 bucks a month.
I had an interesting experience while practicing in the basement of a New York Hotel. It was the bottom floor near the gym and there were no rooms on the floor. No one was around. After a while an employee came by. I talked with him a bit and asked if it was ok to continue to play. He said sure, no problem. A while later another employee came by in a panic. His mannerism reminded me of Ricky Gervais's Dr. McPhee character in "Night at the Museum". He could not get a complete sentence out and was gestureing like he was playing a harp with one hand while shaking his finger no with the other. I stopped playing and did the rest of my practicing on the street while staying at that hotel (it was early spring). I could not help thinking of Dr. McPhee every time I saw that employee around the hotel the rest of the week.
Last Edited by on Dec 09, 2012 11:58 PM
Have you tried playing with lower-pitched harps, like a G, Low F, and on down ?
Try playing softer... by breathing and working on your tone.
Also playing into a glass or cup helps work like a mute, and also adds resonance and wah-wahs... I like using a cut-off aluminum beer bottle (thicker gauge aluminum than beer cans and harder to crush), about 3 inches in length... and about 2.5 inches in diameter--about the size of some bullet mics.
It is a real problem that is sometimes difficult to address. Among other instruments it is usually the harp player who is struggling to be heard ie not loud enough. Other instruments must have real problems with practice eg brass & percussion. We are very fortunate in choosing an instrument that really is not loud & is portable so practice opportunities are really endless.
Certainly lower keys are not as loud & I have a favourite for practice an Ab Suzuki Folkmaster. It has no volume but is a sweet little harp. ---------- HARPOLDIE’S YOUTUBE
i find that if i go out into the garage i can play without anyone in the house hearing. i bring my vox mini3, plug an ipod nano into the input, and can practice amplified as well. if it's late, i plug in headphones as well. sounds great, doesn't bother nobody.
Thanks again for all the input guys. Really helpful/encouraging.
I've been splitting my time between the car (which is pretty good, but I hate feeling trapped in that seat), and playing indoors into a towel (which actually works WAY better then I would have thought and is less awkward then I would have guessed). Other then that, I'm hoping to add a G harp to my collection soon, so I hope that really quiets things down too.
