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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > 1st time playing with LIVE people! Yikes
1st time playing with LIVE people! Yikes
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LumberjackShark
2 posts
Dec 14, 2012
2:40 PM
I'm heading to the family Holiday gathering this weekend and thinking about pulling out my harps and sitting in with my cousins as they play. These guys have played for years on their guitars.... They're not great, but good. I've sat and enjoyed it, but now have a year of practice under me with my harps. I've never played along with anyone, only to the jam tracks and songs.... I'm a bit nervous and not sure how to approach it. To be honest, I'm not sure if I even know how to play along with them to Souther Rock, Country and 70's rock. It has sounded OK to me by myself, but I don't know.....

Any guidance out there?
lumpy wafflesquirt
663 posts
Dec 14, 2012
2:58 PM
hey, they are family, whats the worst that can happen?
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bluzharper
22 posts
Dec 14, 2012
2:49 PM
LIVE people Yikes...

Trust me, it beats playing with the dead.
Seriously.... it's only music. It's to be enjoyed and shared. It's not a competition. They should be glad
to have a harp player.

Last Edited by on Dec 14, 2012 6:44 PM
shadoe42
229 posts
Dec 14, 2012
2:51 PM
Sit back and have fun. Find a backing rhythm and just roll along with the tune. if it is not working lay out. Don't forget that single notes can make rhythm too :) But mostly just have fun. Its family :) If they say take a solo then just let her rip come what may. What is the worst that can happen? You hit a wrong note? most won't even know.. just relax and have a great time :)


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ReedSqueal
341 posts
Dec 14, 2012
3:03 PM
Make sure everyone is good and fortified before you start. Then, it's all gravy!

Seriously, relax and go with it, even if you make a few warts here and there. I am going through that transition now myself, from at the computer and jam tracks, to a live party (called up to play at my own birthday party!!) and now doing blues jams. I get more relaxed each time.

Except for the birthday party - that was a very first time LIVE. I don't even remember what I did. But gee lucky for me at least 5 people recorded it.... and ... posted to youtube. Now I can watch any time and count all of the mistakes.

The BEST part about all of that? None, and I mean no one (except the guys in the band) knew that I made any mistakes, and they didn't care. They've all been there.
Everyone dug it and were all blown away that I played harp.

Adding this: I happened to be practicing heavily 2 Muddy songs at the time (Hoochie Coochie Man and I Wants To Be Loved) and surprise, that is what the band had me sit in with was those 2 songs. So it helps if you know how a song goes start to finish, knowing the lyrics really helps too, so you know where to come in at even if you've momentarily lost count.

[Edited for spellinngg errorz]
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Go ahead and play the blues if it'll make you happy.
-Dan Castellaneta

Last Edited by on Dec 14, 2012 3:13 PM
Frank
1578 posts
Dec 14, 2012
5:40 PM
Don't worry, if any family members do make fun of you, it will be behind your back, so you'll be none the wiser - yes I'm a party pooper :(
TetonJohn
25 posts
Dec 14, 2012
6:28 PM
Don't take it (or yourself) too seriously -- it's about FUN.
This very likely does not need to be said, but just in case: be sure you know what key they are playing in -- you will impress them if you can read the chords from their playing, (or can figure it out REAL quick) but don't hesitate to ask if need be.
Enjoy.
Frank
1580 posts
Dec 14, 2012
6:31 PM
It's more important that they love you as a person anyway, If that's the case - the rest will take care of it self :)
jbone
1129 posts
Dec 14, 2012
7:42 PM
Family can't turn you away! seriously shark, i have no doubt you will have a great time with your cousins. i have had plenty of occasion to wish anyone in my family played guitar or piano or something. count your good fortune, take a chance, and have a great holiday!

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Afro Blue
28 posts
Dec 14, 2012
9:05 PM
Do a lot of listening.
Be patient.
Stick with areas you're familiar.

Don't worry about missing notes.
Don't worry about keeping up with fast pace rhythms.
Don't worry about impressing, simply have fun.

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Hunger is the best spice.
FMWoodeye
500 posts
Dec 14, 2012
9:25 PM
Lay in the bushes and wait for the right time to hit that 4-hole draw. Be sure to squint your eyes when you do it. You're sure to get laid....just make sure it's not your sister.
Jehosaphat
372 posts
Dec 14, 2012
9:36 PM
You're lucky,all my family used to want to do at gatherings was
Drink
eye each others wifes up
Drink
Burn the BBQ steaks
eye their own wife up!
Drink
Arm wrestle
Eye the dog up
Drink
Bring up the subject of the Chainsaw/drill...that was borrowed and not yet returned.
Drink
Fight
Eye up the only stranger there..hopefully at least a female.
Play some cards ,50c limit until uncle George called them all pussies and raised with his car keys..
Drink
The only music all night was Status Quo ,well until about 1am when they got maudlin and it was some 'smoochie' stuff so they could dance with their wives in the hope that when they got home they'd be in with a chance.
Then stagger off to their cars(if they still owned them) and weave their way home.
(two cans in their pocket for the drive)
Those were the daze..
@Lumberjackshark..count your blessings and relax..it'll be a walkover for you.

Last Edited by on Dec 14, 2012 10:16 PM
Frank
1585 posts
Dec 15, 2012
6:33 AM
I come from an Italian family and we had a dear, dear old school Italian friend named Cosmo who got invited to all the family gatherings and parties we had because he was a very close friend of our beloved (“Papap” Grand Father). Cosmo was a beautiful, loving spirit, kind, giving, happy and LOVED to bring his …ACCORDIAN… to the gatherings and festivities. He would always give us a concert and with a huge smile he would sing out loud Italian songs while accompanying himself on the accordion. Well, I was young and quite amused by Cosmos entertainment, but I’ll never forget scoping out the room and seeing some adults looking at each other and pointing guns at their heads made out of their hand gesture and jokingly shooting themselves dead as Cosmo belted out his tunes loud and proud…I loved Cosmo he was one in a million!!!


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