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Harpy New Year!!!
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MindTheGap
2000 posts
Jan 01, 2017
4:20 AM
Hope you have a good 2017 everyone. In harp-only terms, what are you looking for this year?

I'd like to learn how to do that really deep, show-off, vibrato that you hear some people do. And I'd like to find a Realistic HighBall 2 mic, which they say is just like a Shure 533. I've been lookin for ages, there's loads of them around but all Lo-Z :(
Fil
243 posts
Jan 01, 2017
7:30 AM
Yep. My hope for everyone as well, especially for those whose problems go beyond the first world.
Vibrato is a good one. I'll add to that getting better at taking what I do and learn and get comfortable with in practice to those few performance opportunities I have. I don't exactly lock up, but the mind goes a bit blank. Gotta know how to play over more grooves.
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Phil Pennington

Last Edited by Fil on Jan 01, 2017 7:31 AM
Ian
410 posts
Jan 01, 2017
8:52 AM
Not sure what my goals are. I guess just to get better! Ha... Simple!

@mtg. Honkin tom has had a hiz high ball 2 for sale for a while now. It's a bit pricey at 60 quid, but I guess they have to make a mark up.

http://www.honkin-harmonica-shop.co.uk/realistic-highball-vintage-microphone/
Killa_Hertz
2063 posts
Jan 01, 2017
11:06 AM
Happy New Year Yall.

My aspirations for the new year are:

To learn 3rd and 1st position. I know 3rd a bit, but i don't have much material for it yet.

To learn more in the ways of theory. To truly be able to understand what you crazy people are talking about .. lol. No seriously, just to truly understand the music.

To finally take my playing out of the "woodshed" and out to jams and try to learn from other musicians.

To Learn to use the High end of the harp for something.

I also need to grow my material in the ways of new turnarounds, transition licks in the I-IV-V progression. I tend to repeat myself more than I would like.

I have started a new trial on bluesharmonica.com and I'm really liking it now.
Bike&Harp
89 posts
Jan 01, 2017
11:39 AM
To just keep on enjoying the harp. Learning to play all position on one C harp plus still being able to do all the other harps as well in the usual blues and rock type idioms. To improve my embossing and customising skills and to bring all my harps up to the next level.
bublnsqueak
73 posts
Jan 01, 2017
12:16 PM
MTG dual impedance one on fleabay: 351778347714

Could you tell my why a low impedance one with a converter won't do?

Oh and the NY resolution is to play out somewhere.

P
dchurch
95 posts
Jan 01, 2017
1:10 PM
Happy 2017 to all of the fantastic sharing and considerate people that make this forum.

I am looking forward to another year of avid playing and the pursuit of excellence or at least competence :) which is part of my overall goal of simply enjoying the instrument and being creative.

In 2017 I plan to continue my pursuit of playing in inspiring places like echoing canyons, mountain tops, and out in a row boat on a dead calm day…

I’m not into New Year resolutions but I’d like to get together with my two brothers this year and do some recording. I know our mom would absolutely love a gospel CD from the boys.

I'd also like to make it to more live blues harp performances in 2017.

Maybe I'll see you there.

Be well,
Dave

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It's about time I got around to this.
SuperBee
4391 posts
Jan 01, 2017
1:37 PM
Hi and happy new year all!
I began the new year on the harp with a 3 set gig at a local beachside hotel. Not sure if my photo of the backline will embed properly but here goes: it didn't work so here is a link instead

And now all the text will show up blue on the mobile app but that's life.

Last Edited by
SuperBee on Jan 01, 2017 1:39 PM
MindTheGap
2001 posts
Jan 01, 2017
2:19 PM
That looks like a nice working environment SuperBee! And people outside looking comfortable in shirtsleeves. I should post a photo of the UK in New Years Day. Brrrrr.

Thanks for pointing those out Ian and bublnsqueak. The £60 I've seen, I didn't want to pay that much! (what a cheapskate eh?)

I've seen the other one too. Thing is, it seems to have a DIN-type connector on it. I emailed him about it actually, but he didn't seem to know much about it and I'm not confident it would actually work, or be what it says on the box.

I've practically given up buying 2nd hand stuff on ebay unless it's a dead cert, because of bad experiences. It's amazing what people will pass off as 'in good condition'. Last thing was a cymbal stand - what could be wrong with that? Well, one of the joints was all smashed up, not easy to see from a long-shot picture.

Trouble with the IMT option is that the Lo-Z mics still have hardwired 1/4" jacks, and you can't get an IMT that is 1/4" in and out. I'd have to rewire it with an XLR connector. OK, but I want it all nice and simple. Also there's the possibility that part of the 'magic' of the mic is the particular transformer fitted.

The wait continues...it'll be that much sweeter when one does appear, hopefully for £5.99.

Last Edited by MindTheGap on Jan 01, 2017 2:30 PM
SuperBee
4392 posts
Jan 01, 2017
3:36 PM
'Realistic' was a Tandy/radio shack house brand?
I tried my ev630 through DI to PA yesterday but the guys thought it sounded too much like an effect which would grow old quickly, so went with the 58. I dunno though, the ev seemed pretty good at practice on Friday (we actually practiced!) so maybe just the eq on PA. I'll try the 630 as a harp mic.

This year; my harp playing is coming along. What I'm doing is working and it basically amounts to studying songs and specific solos. I've added quite a few songs in the last 6 months and I think maybe there is a kind of threshold or critical mass beyond which point things start to come together more easily. But I'm also not sure if just studying a lot of songs would've been effective if I didn't already have a skill base which I could use in playing the songs. It's hard to pick up first position songs unless you have pretty good facility with all the half step draw bends, for instance. And once you do have that facility, those once-daunting 2nd position licks are just matterbof fact and timing is less of a problem and everything is just heaps easier. So fundamentals are key.
Looking back on where my (very slow) progress has come from, I'd say finding this site and Adam Gussow's tradebit lessons was important. And I still play songs I learned there :born in Chicago, have s good time, early in the morning, good morning schoolgirl, Messin with the kid, help me and others. His lesson on cotton's how long can a fool go wrong was important in my idea of 1st position. Many of these things have concepts and principles and licks which have much broader application. And in learning them you acquire skills which of course apply to other things.
I've been inspired by those lessons to seek out the rest of the songs and develop my own parts, learn the lyrics etc. anyway, those lessons are great learning tools.
David Barrett's teaching site has also been important in a slightly different way. I find it very reassuring although it may seem to be rather plodding it is very thorough and inspiring and breaks everything down so you will learn to do it right. There are no shortcuts though. Dave teaches harmonica like a bachelor degree.
I made a lot of progress there, much of which was learning how to learn, how to break things down and put them together. And tongue blocking.
I already had a lot of this behind me when I took lessons from Jimi Lee and without doubt those lessons are where I made the most progress. It was a lot of money though, a lot of $75USD per hour sessions and I'm not sure it was really that efficient but on the other side of it I was a much more proficient and versatile player. Irony is I'm playing basic 50s blues where Jimi was really equipping me to sit in with jazz combos, but this is still pretty cool. I haven't really kept my practice up but I can generally manage to harmonise when I have to play along with non-blues progressions of 4 or more chords.
And Jimi taught me a bunch of stuff which is now coming out in my playing. One thing was pentatonic scales and exercises. He used to say 'careers have been built on it' and called it the official 'get your ass out of a jam' scale.
But mainly he taught me to play bends with proficiency. And he was coming from the same angle as Dennis Gruenling on that 'crawl before you can run' way of learning to bend. I posted about Dennis thoughts on bending recently. I really think that's important. And it's the same principle I'm writing about more generally here. You do need to get these fundamental skills down which then open up the world of possibilities about repertoire and ability to improvise. I feel like I'm just starting to get to a point where it's taking off, or I'm capable of pushing along to a next level. I still don't have much 3rd position awareness so that's a thing I must grow.
But my harp playing is progressing so I'm happy that what I'm doing is working. I used to hold that I might be a pretty good player by the time I'm 70, but for a while that seemed to be a pipe dream. I seemed to getting nowhere. The last 6 months though has been good.

My singing is also much improved. I'd like to do more work on that but I'm really happy with how it's coming along.

The big thing I feel I need to work on, which really has not improved is my on stage engagement. It's like I mentally step off-stage between songs. I think this is really important and I'm just not sure how to improve. How does one become engaging and charming when this is totally out of character. I am naturally surly and self-contained. And almost blind. And often slightly out of breath after playing harp and singing. Whatvghe heck do you talk to people about? Paddy tells them about who wrote the song and how old it is and I think that's ok but s bit dull if that's all there is.
ME.HarpDoc
217 posts
Jan 01, 2017
4:41 PM
Being comfortable learning at my own pace.
Having fun at jams
Developing a better stage presence, i.e. grooving more Grunling like and less sloth like.
Fil
244 posts
Jan 01, 2017
5:12 PM
ME.HarpDoc...well put. I think I'll post these words in my harp space where I can see them.
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Phil Pennington
Killa_Hertz
2065 posts
Jan 01, 2017
6:42 PM
"How does one become engaging and charming when this is totally out of character. I am naturally surly and self-contained. And almost blind. And often slightly out of breath after playing harp and singing. What the heck do you talk to people about?"

I hear you there bee. Not that i have stage experience, but just life in general .. i am that way.

There is a very good video series on youtube about stage performing and little nuances that make your sets better. For instance .. how to keep the energy you created in your last song rolling and not kill it by stopping too long, etc. I only watched a few of them, but they seemed great. Ill see if i can find them for you.
Killa_Hertz
2066 posts
Jan 01, 2017
6:59 PM
Took a minute, but i found em.
Thought these could be useful.



Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on Jan 01, 2017 11:01 PM
Sundancer
75 posts
Jan 01, 2017
10:09 PM
Feliz ano Nuevo a uds Armonicistas! It sure has been a privilege to partake in the lessons y'all have shared this year. I've improved greatly because of your unselfishness - especially my bends-but I still have along ways to get to where I'd like to be. 2017 will be the year of learning to pull everything together so I can begin improvising and not just learning riffs and songs. Wish me luck. See y'all further on down the road ... Adios.
SuperBee
4395 posts
Jan 02, 2017
4:10 AM
Yeah that's helpful I think. Thanks. Good place to start thinking
Glass Harp Full
160 posts
Jan 02, 2017
11:41 PM
Happy New Year everyone!

This year I hope to spend more time on harp. I remember saying in a similar thread towards the end of 2015 that I wanted to get all the bends down and learn more songs in 2016. Well, it didn't quite work out as well as I'd hoped due to work problems, health issues and the birth of my second son. All of those things took up a lot of time and energy and l didn't have much left for harp.

But as others have said it's supposed to be about the enjoyment. So my goal in 2017 is to spend more time on harp and enjoy the time I do get.
SuperBee
4399 posts
Jan 03, 2017
1:54 PM
I've played 2 gigs already this year!
Last night at the blues club was my best gig ever. I tried to up my on stage game and easier than I expected. Hey, baby steps but it's a start. Just talking to the audience, trying to maintain some engagement while my guitarist changed guitars, having my harps on a stool in front of me so I didn't have to bend down to get them, and had my set list there also, so I could read without bending down. I wore contact lenses too, so my specs were not forever sliding down my nose, causing me to look over the top and inadvertently flip the bird at people when I pushed them back up.
We had a full house, not just in the room we played but also around the front bar and the pool table people were all engaged watching the band. And we played quite well.
in the second set we made an error of judgement inserting 'stop breaking down' after 'sloppy drunk' instead of 'blues with a feeling'. We had lots of dancers to sloppy drunk and I think paddy wanted to keep it going but stop breaking down was a poor choice; far too similar to sloppy drunk. I called 'checking up on my baby' which was very danceable and a different, funkier groove. That got things back on track. Never did get to play 'blues with a feeling' though. It's not really that slow. I think it would have worked.
Anyway, when a room that full gives you applause, you know about it. And you can tell polite applause from heartfelt applause.
A lot more people have heard of us now.
I'm particularly pleased that we kept the place full right to the end of the gig. That doesn't always happen there. Probably didn't hurt that the jam set was quite entertaining also.
Anyway; a pretty good start to the year. need more gigs now.
Killa_Hertz
2067 posts
Jan 03, 2017
5:25 PM
Killer, Bee!! Im glad to hear that.
Did anything in those videos spark any good ideas? I was actually about to tag you on FB, that guy posted a few more videos.

Must be an Amazing feeling to work a room like that. Hope you pick up some more gigs.

Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on Jan 03, 2017 5:26 PM
MindTheGap
2010 posts
Jan 04, 2017
2:42 AM
Sounds fab! What a great way to start the year, hope it continues.
Glass Harp Full
161 posts
Jan 04, 2017
5:02 AM
Yeah, sounds like that gig was great fun. Glad it went well and hope it keeps going for the rest of the year. Keep us posted.
SuperBee
4400 posts
Jan 04, 2017
5:04 AM
Yeah defs Killa. Especially the ideas about 'floating moments'. That's what I tried to do something about. And I'd thought of a couple little stories I could tell between songs. I'll do more of that. Prepared with ideas for things to say rather than trying to be spontaneous.
Yeah they were really helpful.
That was definitely our biggest gig to date. Which is not unexpected. And we've been putting the name around so there is/was probably some curiosity.
This town is busy in early January. The big yacht race from Sydney brings a lot of visitors to town, the big folk festival is on next weekend, there's a festival of food and entertainment on the wharf to fit in with the yachts and the new year holidays, and the museum of old and new art (MONA) put on a music/arts festival in a couple weeks (MONA FOMA festival of music and art, usually shortened to MOFO), curated by Brian Ritchie (ex Violent Femmes). So there are a lot of people about.
Next month will be quiet, when people get their card statements. I'm pleased we got the January gig.
That was our 6th gig, we have a website, some video, there will be some evidence on the club website about a good reception; we are starting to build a cv we can point to, and hopefully convince venue managers we are a legit option.
Killa_Hertz
2068 posts
Jan 04, 2017
5:29 AM
Nice man! I'm so glad the videos helped. Did you see the 3 new ones he posted?

I would love to see some new videos. See if you can get some of the festival. That's really cool that the Fems guy is gonna be there.

Can't believe they called it MOFO ..... LMMFAO ... That wouldn't work in the states. Lol.

Glad everything is going good. Try to get some vids up so we can all Gig Vicariously through you. Lol.
Fil
249 posts
Jan 04, 2017
6:11 AM
Bee, great posts. And great that the gig went so well. And the lesson from Killa's videos and the way you applied it with preparation, rather than rely on spontaneity, excellent. I mean, I got a lot out of what you wrote.
The few times I've jammed, and at the 'gigs' my small acoustic group does in the summer (antique show background music, etc), I know I'm often standing there like a deer in the headlights waiting to get the nod. Not so visibly engaged. I have to prepare for that. Wife: "aren't you having fun?" Me: " It's a rush. I love it." Wife: "You don't look like you're having much fun...."
And Killa, regarding a comment you made early in the thread. Based on that sample of your playing you posted a short time ago, I'd say you are ready to jam.
Edited to add: I luv this beginners forum.
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Phil Pennington

Last Edited by Fil on Jan 04, 2017 6:12 AM
MindTheGap
2012 posts
Jan 04, 2017
6:33 AM
Re stage presence, I'm happy to be in the background, but I do know that being on stage is different to normal life - people do conscious things to engage with the crowd, prepared things, things that you might consider cheesy in other contexts, and they work. Or so I've observed.

In general the audience like it when the band are having a good time, interacting with one another, and having a laugh. If you're not soloing you can take an active interest in the soloist, rather than fiddle with...your amp!

In the (dreaded) Rolling Stones thread, Iceman mentions Keef going over and leaning an arm on Ronnie's shoulder. People like that stuff.

Playing harp is particularly susceptible to the 'hanging around with nothing to do' syndrome so it's worth thinking about.

Last Edited by MindTheGap on Jan 04, 2017 6:36 AM
Killa_Hertz
2069 posts
Jan 04, 2017
3:06 PM
Thanks Phil. Its nerves more than anything. I'm not really a "Read it infront of the class. " type. Lol. I know I shouldn't sweat it, but its hard to overcome in the moment.

A friend of Mine trys to get me to sit in with him all the time, but Ive been too chicken as of yet. Hes a good harp player. I feel like if I just get to a Jam and get the first one over with, ill be ok. Lol.

MTG. I never really thought about it like that, but your right. If your playing the comp role ... you have alot of times where your likely not doing much. You could really be the life of the party. Or conversely. . Drag it down, by just Standing there. Hmm.

I saw Tom Petty once in concert. He SOUNDED great. But he LOOKED like someone put a hat on the science class skeleton and put a mic infront of him. He barely moved through the whole show. It was pretty boring.

Im going to start studying those little things when I watch shows from now on.
Fil
250 posts
Jan 04, 2017
5:20 PM
I can tell you all about nerves. I still get them and will forever, but I learned it won't kill me. A friend who wants you in seems like the best kind of opportunity. Go break a leg....
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Phil Pennington
MindTheGap
2013 posts
Jan 04, 2017
11:26 PM
Killa - I'd get on with it sooner rather than later if I were you. At least, if that's what you want to do long term.

Your noodle on the MF shows you are easily ready playing-wise. The problem you are likely to find is that playing to an audience can feel different - aside from the nerves there are a load of practical things that can throw you - and it's best to just get stuck in and solve them.

I can't describe them all but read back SuperBee's notes on his first gig with his new band. Not having enough room to set up, not being able to hear your own playing, that kind of thing. Or the one where his cables went wonky. Your playing may be perfect but you have to respond to other people's mistakes or impromptu changes: adding/subtracting verses from songs, starting the wrong song, starting the right song in the wrong key... :) It's about being robust rather than perfect.

The longer you leave it, the better your technical playing will be, and the more the practical stuff may throw you.

I've just been through the same thing as I went out on the Christmas Carolling circuit with the brass band I joined to learn the cornet/trumpet. I can barely play the thing (unlike you on the harp) but 80% of it was about practical stuff - different things to playing harp in a band - but all stuff to trip a person up. Sometimes literally. Never mind playing in four flats, how about remembering to keep a foot on the music stand to stop it blowing over in gusts of wind!

It's nice when things go smoothly, but it's better to experience things going wrong and working through it. I cite again that great video by Cliffy on the MF, enduring power cuts, while keeping going and making something good out of it. That kind of thing helps with nerves actually, I think because it bursts the bubble of 'everything must be perfect'.

Last Edited by MindTheGap on Jan 05, 2017 4:00 AM
Killa_Hertz
2071 posts
Jan 05, 2017
5:28 PM
Fantastic post MTG. ...That really helps alot. Yea i suppose the "must be perfect bubble" is not realistic. I was a sound tech for several years and know how things go wrong, but dealing with it from that end is much different. Lol

I suppose i just have to bite the bullet and do it.

I like the notion of "Robust more than perfect". No matter what happens, just stay in the pocket and keep it moving. Lol.

Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on Jan 05, 2017 5:33 PM
MindTheGap
2016 posts
Jan 06, 2017
3:07 AM
...that's assuming you do want to play out. It's not an inevitable conveyor belt from shed to jam! I'm not playing harp out myself at the moment, as I'm now on the drum throne. It's quite liberating actually.

I'm very conscious of the 'must be perfect bubble'. When I learnt piano, which I took quite seriously, I remember it was a real problem. Play at home, play in lessons, play in exams - a recipe for nerves and fragility. With classical piano there were few opportunities to break out - until you get really very good. Fortunately that's not the case with harp.

Last Edited by MindTheGap on Jan 06, 2017 3:49 AM
MindTheGap
2018 posts
Jan 06, 2017
3:38 AM
Which reminds me that Killa switched me on to James Cotton. By saying he didn't like his amped sound on 'Hard Again' album! One man's meat... So this year, I'm going to study the James Cotton sound. I've got to get that mic then ha ha!

This post in the main forum nudged me too. Apparently it's from Big Mama Thorton with the Muddy Waters Band...

http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/5494849.htm

Last Edited by MindTheGap on Jan 06, 2017 3:49 AM
Shaganappi
158 posts
Jan 06, 2017
7:52 PM
We are all different.

This may sound rather lame to many forum members here, but I plan to do a bit more transcribing and promotion of rhythm tablature for the harp. Maybe it is because I am not a heavy-duty player but I just see the “puzzle” of rhythm notation for the diatonic to be strangely compelling. It is very hard to find anyone who appreciates that rhythm should be able to be notated along with notes although everyone says rhythm is sooo important. Interesting. But is my hobby. I feel my web page and system (BeatTab) does it, but actually convincing others is an uphill battle. I certainly see the detailed ability to put down on paper for personal or teaching purposes to be very useful. While acknowledging that it is only part of the whole puzzle of learning to play.

On the other side of me, I have another hobby - that of actually playing the harp. Then I drop all usage of tab although I frequently utilize the licks that I have learned from earlier tab practices. And I love to play just as much as solving the above rhythm problem. But only woodshedding and small groups are my comfort zones. Wish I could do better. You guys inspire me to keep at it. Thanks. Have a great 2017 guys.


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