jimbo-G
1 post
Mar 04, 2011
4:51 PM
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I have been playing now for around a year, and have been searching the internet trying to find things to help me learn harmonica. I started watching you tube videos with a crappy wee harmonica from a toy shop and since then have been totaly devoted to learn I now have a GM and a BH. But to get back to the point of this writing I would just like to say thank you to Adam and that he is probably one of the best guys out there. Also I have terrible stage fright anyone know how I can get over this?
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chromaticblues
661 posts
Mar 04, 2011
5:01 PM
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I've heard smoking pot helps, but I can't remember who told me!
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7LimitJI
404 posts
Mar 04, 2011
5:10 PM
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Try and find some other harp players to play/learn with.
The shared learning experience and hearing positive comments from your peers will help.
As far as getting on stage. Just do it !
The more you do the easier it gets.
A jam is less intimidating as there is nothing expected of you.
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The Pentatonics Myspace
Youtube
"Why don't you leave some holes when you play, and maybe some music will fall out".
"It's music,not just complicated noise".
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jimbo-G
2 posts
Mar 04, 2011
5:13 PM
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Tryed it already I just wanted to eat
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jimbo-G
3 posts
Mar 04, 2011
5:23 PM
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I have been trying to convince my friends to start playing for ages but they are to busy drinking all the time. My wife plays horns( the brass types you blow into) but sold it just before I started playing. She refuses to play the harmonica and says its not a real instrument.
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GermanHarpist
1963 posts
Mar 04, 2011
6:11 PM
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Yeah, this truly is a great place for learning. Regarding the harp not being a real instrument. Check out this version of 'Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen' by the late harmonica master Chris Michalek. Maybe it'll make your wife reconsider.
http://www.itriser.com/harmonica/Bei_Mir_Bist_Du_Shoen.mp3
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MichaelAndrewLo
529 posts
Mar 04, 2011
6:21 PM
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GermanHarpist that is Chris? That is the most marvelous playing!! When, where was that recorded you know?
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Andrew Larson, R.N.
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GermanHarpist
1964 posts
Mar 04, 2011
6:27 PM
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Yes,.. it's Chris. I took his word for it. But hey,.. who else could it be?
And yes, I totally agree. IMO it's the most amazing piece of harmonica playing I have heard yet.
And unfortunately no,.. I don't know when or where it was played, only that it was recorded live. I know that there are some more recordings, but I don't know if they are out there.
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eharp
1174 posts
Mar 04, 2011
7:59 PM
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when i first started to play in front of other folks, both at jam circles (which can be reeaaal intimidating considering the talent) and with bands, i used a strategy i called "f them."
i would tell myself, "i dont know these folks. i dont care what these folks think. i will never see these folks again. f them."
though i did care, and it was cold hearted, it got me over the hump.
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Joe_L
1111 posts
Mar 04, 2011
8:28 PM
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The best way to confront that fear is to face it head on. Learn a couple of simple tunes. Find a jam. Get on stage and play. The more you do it, the easier it gets.
1. People will cut you some slack as a beginner as long as you aren't an obnoxious jerk. Be humble and demonstrate a willingness to learn.
2. Do a lot of listening. Play whenever you get a chance. Don't wear sunglasses. Keep your eyes open and watch the band leader.
3. Don't play when people are singing.
4. If you don't know what to play, don't play anything.
5. If you don't know what to play, ask the leader who originally did the tune. Google it, buy it and learn it for next time.
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The Blues Photo Gallery
Last Edited by on Mar 04, 2011 8:33 PM
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toxic_tone
5 posts
Mar 04, 2011
8:52 PM
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that was an awsome link to this harmonica master. i love that style of playing i want learn it!!!
how to get over stage fright? ...hmm what i did is i got one song down packed and then i played it at an open jam. o wait no what i first did to get over stage fright is i went and played on the street for change. dont stop till u get ur first tip. nerve raking but when u get to open jam ull feel so lax it will go really smoothly
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LittleJoeSamson
502 posts
Mar 04, 2011
9:10 PM
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Joe_L has some good advice. KUDOS ! Go 'pocket' and you can't go wrong ! One of my git buddies asked some plugs ( cause i have played with so many 'names' ).
I told him to learn to play 'pocket' ...like the Myer's brothers on git and Fred Below on drums.
My friend has taken this to heart, and now plays tastefully until he solo's...Then he WAILS.
Stage fright is an individual thing. It can be something initial that is overcome with experience...or like Lawrence Olivier, it suddenly presents itself.
I had it early as a child soprano, and had to look off to some stationary object to overcome it.
the Eyes of the audience are Killers !
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Joe_L
1112 posts
Mar 05, 2011
4:11 AM
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I hate to be a buzz kill, but I don't think drinking will help much. It may intensify the feeling. Relax. This stuff is supposed to be fun. One more thing. You might as well start singing, too. There is no sense going through this stuff twice. Once is bad enough.
For the record, I like drinking as much as the next guy. Maybe more.
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The Blues Photo Gallery
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Miles Dewar
748 posts
Mar 05, 2011
8:56 AM
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A Great way to get over the fear is to do what an aspiring actor would. Do exercises REGULARLY.
The best thing I believe to do is to talk to strangers. If you can just strike up conversation with someone you don't know and not feel akward, it's not hard to play in front of them. It feels like pretty much exactly the same thing.
Some good places to practice... grociery stores, gas stations, government offices (DMV, SSA,) when you walk next to someone... Start small, ask for the time or say "Go Bears!".
Do stupid things like this everyday and you will not have much stagefright.
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Oh yeah, I forgot the most important thing..... Play in front of people.
Last Edited by on Mar 05, 2011 8:57 AM
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Greyowlphotoart
515 posts
Mar 05, 2011
9:31 AM
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@Joe_L 'I like drinking as much as the next guy'
That's ok Joe, unless the next guy is Charlie Sheen.
Grey Owl YouTube
Grey Owl Abstract Photos
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nacoran
3859 posts
Mar 05, 2011
12:11 PM
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For the stage fright, just remember, you aren't trying to get to Carnegie Hall on the first night. Your goal is to play a song and have fun. As long as you are having fun the stage fright won't be a problem.
As for the wife, explain that the harmonica produces sound in a different way than brass instruments. It's a free reed instrument, so instead of setting a whole column of air into motion like a brass instrument it chops the air as it goes through the harp. It requires complex changes in turbulence to create the 'other' notes that it doesn't usually play. The science is actually kind of cool and maybe she'll reconsider. :)
(Tried posting this last night but the CAPTCHA's were glitching.)
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Nate
Facebook
Thread Organizer (A list of all sorts of useful threads)
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hvyj
1278 posts
Mar 06, 2011
9:22 AM
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I've never been severely plagued by stage fright as my interest/desire to play along with other musicians was always greater than my nervousness.
I prefer playing with others. i play better in a group context because I come up with things to play that I would never come up with playing on my own.
So what's my point? As far as overcoming stage fright is concerned, the more you focus on the INTERPLAY between yourself and the other musicians, the less you are obsessed about screwing up what YOU are playing. It's not about YOU or your harmonica anyway--it's about the overall sound being created.
How to do this? Find someone who plays guitar or keyboard and just sit around jamming with them focusing on INTERPLAY or interactive playing. Then as you listen to recorded music try to imagine how you would fit harp to different tunes. Then when you get up to play in public you eventually get to the point where you lose yourself in the music--nothing else in the world matters but the collective sound being produced.
So, get up and do it (with the attitude I've described above). Focus on the interplay and interaction. Make mistakes and don't worry about them--that's how we learn. Then get up and do it again. You'll learn more in 20 minutes of live jamming on stage than you will in a month of practicing at home.
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Littoral
275 posts
Mar 06, 2011
10:09 AM
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2nd the thanks. This site has upped my game.
Joe L. said it well. Watch the band, record them, learn 1-2 tunes they do and learn them well. Listen Listen Listen...the groove is everything...Listen Listen Listen.
Last Edited by on Mar 06, 2011 10:10 AM
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