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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
how long from beginning to play until first gig?
how long from beginning to play until first gig?
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AlexMC
6 posts
Apr 06, 2017
4:25 AM
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For those members who have played with others in a jam or gig situation... how long was it from when you picked up the harp until you first played on a stage or in a group?
I just had my first jam with a guitarist I know very well... it was fun but I have a LONG way to go before I would feel comfortable playing in front of an audience!
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jbone
2278 posts
Apr 06, 2017
7:31 AM
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If you feel you have a long way to go , then you probably do. For me it was years between, but I was not a good student in the early days. I also had very few resources available to me. Later on my own stubbornness and miserliness kept me from reaching out and getting lessons.
Eventually I began to learn a bit more and faster. Once I started hanging out at open mics/jams, sitting at campfires where music was played, and going to live club shows I made better progress.
I will say this: before I was truly ready, I ended up on stage. Invited up at a jam or two. I had to learn quickly once the ice was broken. Something else happened when I became a regular on the "scene" where I lived. Other harp players took an interest in me and offered help. At the time I could sort of hold my own in 2nd position and I made up for a lot with enthusiasm, but it was obvious that my trick bag was not near filled out.
With time, an open mind, and a student mentality, I began making real progress. I "discovered" 3rd position, and revisited 1st position, which expanded my understanding of 2nd as well. Even did a bit in 5th!
The key thing for me was keeping a harp in my mouth a lot, along with seeking the knowledge that would move me forward.
So really it's very subjective. Some guys/gals are ready in a few months once they find the lessons they need and do the work. There are so many resources these days.
I'm an extrovert, which made it easy to get in front of people. But I began with living room jams as well, with friends. I spent a lot of time alone in the woods and fields wearing out reeds too.
Take your time. Watch videos. Go to shows and jams. Soak in the knowledge and get the feel. Your limitations are self-imposed.
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Rontana
395 posts
Apr 06, 2017
8:02 AM
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I think the first question you have to ask yourself involves your own goals. Do you truly want to gig in public, or is it merely something you think you’re supposed to do? Music is intensely personal, and many (likely most) people want to play with others. They enjoy performing, appreciate the camaraderie and increased skill set that comes with collaboration.
Others (self included) simply enjoy playing for their own pleasure, and lack any semblance of the performance gene. I play because it makes me happy, and particularly focus on blues because it gives me something, on an emotional level, that I don’t find elsewhere (sort of a medicine for the soul).
Look at it this way; many people have pianos in their homes. They practice daily and can become quite accomplished. But, they’re not out playing at the jams or with a band. That's not what drives them.
I suppose, to almost but not really answer your question, the time it takes is dependent on your talent, experience, and desires.
Just another perspective . . . food for thought
Last Edited by Rontana on Apr 06, 2017 8:03 AM
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Martin
1145 posts
Apr 06, 2017
8:07 AM
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The fact that you´re asking is a good sign -- there are enough crappy harmonica players out there who think they are great and are ready to show the world --, but of course there are no objective criterias. You should ask people as you go along, and ask those who are not just being polite.
The standards for harmonica performances are low, and they have been set by harmonica players (take a sweep over Youtube), but
*being able to articulate notes cleanly,
*being sure what works with what chords (and not just happily schreech along) and
*knowing a bunch of tunes is a way to start before you go down to the jam.
The time factor is intimately correlated to the amount of practice you put in.
I played at home as well as rehearse with a band for a few years before I set foot on stage.
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dougharps
1393 posts
Apr 06, 2017
9:17 AM
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I think it varies depending on your dedication to practicing, what instruction you seek out, your knowledge of music and EAR for music when you start, and your experience in playing informally with others in friendly home settings (jamming with friends). Harmonica technique playing alone does not prepare you to perform in public. There are other areas, playing as part of an ensemble to support the song, and stagecraft, including managing microphones, that are very important.
Record yourself playing with backing tracks, then with friends, and listen to yourself critically. Play with friends, attend jams, and see what you and others think about your readiness.
It could be 10 years, it could be 5 years, it could be one year, it could be never, depending on many factors including those noted at the top.
For me it was playing about 6 years on diatonic (after 10 years of chromatic alone) before a some people I jammed with at a home party invited me to join their band. When I listen to recordings made back in 1976 I hear an intermediate player who needed work on bending in the first octave, since much of my playing at that time avoided those bends.
However, all I had for instruction back then was the Tony Glover book and having listened to blues rock guitar players on recordings. I had not listened to classic blues harmonica. One of the band members did me a favor and taught me the circle of fifths. He also gave me a cassette of blues harp masters he recorded from his vinyl album collection and my journey began. After the band split up in a couple years (after some graduated from college and moved to other areas) I didn't play out other than at parties until the late '90s.
Today, with what is available for instruction in books and online, and the available teachers and workshops, I think people can move forward much faster if they work at it. Listen to Jared Goldweber and Connor Frontera play and you will hear what I mean. With good instruction and hard work you can improve quickly.
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Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Apr 06, 2017 9:21 AM
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GamblersHand
642 posts
Apr 06, 2017
1:56 PM
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I first picked up harmonica at around 16. I was a slow learner, and played my first proper jam at 20 (was quite mediocre) and joined my first band - prematurely in retrospect - at around 23.
I tried to sing a little then, but it would be another 8 years or so when I'd be comfortable calling myself "a singer".
It took perhaps 3 solid years in the band (60-80 gigs/year) before I was a reasonably competent player, but at best "weekend warrior" level.
As Martin, Doug and others have said, there's no rush with this
Last Edited by GamblersHand on Apr 06, 2017 1:57 PM
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nacoran
9418 posts
Apr 06, 2017
3:57 PM
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It depends where you want to go. Open mics have all sorts of talent levels, and it's not just the harmonica players. You'll see comics with bad timing and rappers who can't rap and guitar players who are singing in a different key than they are playing in.
Before I took up harp a group of friends and I used to go to one particular local open mic regularly just to watch. If you were respectful (not talking loudly when other people were playing/not showing up just to play and dashing out) and didn't badmouth other people it didn't matter if you were bad, as long as if you were bad you seemed to be getting better from week to week, and most of the better performers (I'd say 90%+, were really happy to give you pointers).
But different open mics may have different cultures. Go check a particular one out the week before you plan to play their the first time and you'll get a pretty good idea of the local culture. Some are more about people getting up and having fun performing and some are more about the performances being top notch- both kinds will improve your playing but the 'having fun' types are more open to beginners.
Also, always thank the host and audience. If you are worried you are going to show the harp in a bad light* tell people you are just learning.
*I think we all, as harp players, hear mistakes in harp playing but tend to overlook bad guitar and bad singing more (singing maybe a bit less). There is a difference between being conscious of your abilities and being self-conscious. Don't be afraid to make a fool out of yourself. I say this because fear is the mind killer on stage. Go up to have fun and you will probably have fun. That doesn't mean you don't work on getting better every week, just that you don't let it stop you from having fun. The first time I played harmonica on stage? Because we were regulars the hosts knew and trusted us, so when they had to be out of town for the week we got to substitute host. That involved doing the patter to keep things moving between sets. I jumped up between a couple songs and told everyone I was going to play a new song I was writing while the next performers came up to the stage. I whipped out my harmonica, looked all serious, went into a wicked bent wail that lasted a whole bar and told them that was all I had now but I'd be back later when I'd worked the rest out. Got a laugh and I introduced the next act. Confidence without arrogance... that will take you a long way on stage, but just being nice to everyone and trying to read the room... that's a skill that takes time to work on too. :)
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Nate
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Goldbrick
1788 posts
Apr 06, 2017
4:25 PM
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I would say it depends on your musical background-for myself-I jumped in pretty quick because i was already in a band and played drums, guitar, mandolin and uke -so musical language and band etiquette were there already.
I learned the 1 4 5 chords and just basically played a bass line as we had no regular bass player
Follow the chords and dont step on the singer and you will be fine. dont overplay and feel that harp needs to be on everysong-- I know my band value went up when I worked on singing harmony- so try that too
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Tank
5 posts
May 09, 2017
4:34 PM
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Goldbrick: FULLY agree with you there!
If you already play an instrument, learning another one is much easier than for someone who is just starting their journey into music.
I've been a Brass player for 40 years, a Pennywhistle player for over 30, a hand percussion player for about 25, a Vocalist for as long as I can remember, and a Uke player for just 5 years. I did my first Brass gig, playing Christmas Carols, just about 6 WEEKS after first picking the horn up, having NEVER played an instrument before..but had been thirsty for it for over 8 years by then.
Now, May 2017, I'm just setting out on learning Harmonica.
The moral is: If you want it, go out and get it, THEN DON'T LET IT GO!!!
Last Edited by Tank on May 09, 2017 4:36 PM
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SteveTech
51 posts
May 10, 2017
7:20 AM
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I had been an active musician and private music teacher (Brass, Guitar, Bass) for about 20 years before I picked up harp, so I got up on stage pretty quickly. It was a couple months.
As a music teacher, let me encourage you to get on stage as soon as possible.
Playing with other musicians will sharpen you, push you forward, and build your confidence.
The pressure and thrill of a stage will keep you practicing.
My best advice: Jump in. Do it. Join a band with people who know full well that you are a newer player. If any member is a teacher, they might not be able to help themselves but to give you advice.
Follow Goldbrick's advice to follow chords, don't step on the singer, and don't overplay.
Again, just do it.
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-Steve
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