|
Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Advice from an older player to the young bucks...
Advice from an older player to the young bucks...
Page:
1
2
Brother Tuck
1 post
Jun 20, 2011
9:58 PM
|
Greetings, fellow harp heads! :)
I'm 59. I purchased my first harp when I was 19. A friend of mine could play a little bit and I saw that the girls liked it, so off to the music store I went. I think my first Marine Band was less than $5.00. Man, those were the days!
I picked up the harp to help me get chicks and proceeded to drive everyone within earshot completely crazy 'cause I couldn't hit a lick, but I stuck with it and fell in love with the instrument and the music, all the while driving the girls away form me instead of to me. That changed in time, but time is what it takes if you're like me and not a natural musician. I am a true amateur (that's French for "lover of", y'all), harp player to this day, having never played in a band or anything like that.
Anyway, what I want to share with the young guys out there just now starting out is just a few things:
1. LEARN TONGUE BLOCKING! Lip parcing will only get you so far, generally speaking. I didn't practice it when I was young and I'm too old to pick it up now. I've tried, but I might as well try to learn Chinese. Tongue blocking will round out your sound and enable you to play sounds and licks otherwise unplayable with lip parcing alone. Ask me how I know! :(
2. DON'T SPEND A FORTUNE ON GEAR! A $1,500 vintage tubed amplifier and a $300 custom mic is not gonna help your sound at this point! 90% of a good harp players' sound comes from his chops, i.e., breathing techniques, note bending, chording, etc. If you wanna play amplified, start out with a cheap solid state amp and just about any old decent microphone. That expensive gear can wait. You've got a lot of practice to do!
3. FOR EVERY HOUR YOU SPEND WORKING ON YOUR CHOPS, SPEND 2 HOURS JUST LISTENING TO YOUR FAVORITE ARTIST(S) WITHOUT PLAYING ALONG! That's right, put the harps down and just listen and absorb the music. This will pay off in spades over time.
4. RECORD YOURSELF! This is a great learning technique. Think you're sounding really good? Record it, play it back, be honest with yourself, and you may realize that you've got a ways to go yet. Like a mirror, recordings don't lie.
That's all for now, sports fans. I hope it helps someone and I wish I had had been told these things when I was 19.
Keep on harpin',
Brother Tuck
P.S. Adam - if you're reading this, I really enjoyed your interview with Magic Dick. He is, for my money, the best player to ever pick up a lickin' stick, bar none. His stuff with the J.Geils Band was simply amazing and while "Whammer Jammer" is indeed THE icon cut of his, my personal favorite is what he did on "Back To Get Cha" off of the old Bloodshot album. Check it out if you haven't already. It's just tooo much! Stoop Down #39 is another. I think it was from "Ladies Invited", not sure. :)
Last Edited by on Jun 20, 2011 10:40 PM
|
Oisin
831 posts
Jun 20, 2011
11:24 PM
|
-Welcome brother Tuck. Good to have you on board. Those ARE some words of advice but I would prepare yourself for a bit of disagreement, especially about tongue blocking.
---------
Oisin
|
Brother Tuck
2 posts
Jun 20, 2011
11:34 PM
|
Thank you brother Oisin. Disagreement is fine and debate is a good thing! This is just from my own personal experience and I certainly don't claim to be a master or even a teacher. ;-)
Listen to Adam's interview with Magic Dick and the discussion about tongue blocking if you haven't already. Dicky spells it out pretty good.
Last Edited by on Jun 20, 2011 11:35 PM
|
Andy Ley
124 posts
Jun 20, 2011
11:45 PM
|
@Oisin: too right. It all stays civil 'till someone suggests that tongue blocks are the "only" way to get fat tone, or a lip purse advocate decries 'lack of accuracy' inherent to tongue blocking.
In fact, to save time can I suggest we all assume that we've discussed the merits of slaps, talked about octaves, a TB'er has mentioned tone, a LP'er has refuted the fact and countered with the 'accurate fast runs' argument, videos have been posted, challenges have been issued, somebody has pointed out that proficiency in both techniques pays dividends (and been soundly ignored) two men have entered the Thunderdome, Neo and Smith's magazines are both empty, General Ouromov has the gun to 006's head, and then Kudzurunner has turned up, posted his approach to switching styles depending on the context, we all agree with him and walk off together as friends again?
I mean; it's just a suggestion. . . .
|
Andy Ley
125 posts
Jun 20, 2011
11:48 PM
|
@Brother Tuck: Oh, and how rude of me, I forgot to mention: Sage advice indeed; thanks for the post. As I've certainly discovered the other points myself along the way, I shall endeavour to follow number 3 too.
thanks
|
Brother Tuck
3 posts
Jun 20, 2011
11:54 PM
|
Thank you brother Andy. I am in no way suggesting that tongue blocking is the only way to play. In fact, what I should have said is that it is just another arrow to add to your quiver to help expand your abilities and techniques.
Weapons, man! A good harp player needs weapons! :-)
I went to a harp class hosted by the fabulous Dennis Gruenling a couple of years ago here in Atlanta. There were maybe 25 of us in attendance. One of the first questions he asked the class was; "Who here can tongue block?" Only one guy raised his hand. Dennis went on about the importance of it and played several examples of using the technique. It sounded so good, man!
I can't do it, just saying....
Last Edited by on Jun 21, 2011 12:44 AM
|
Andy Ley
126 posts
Jun 21, 2011
12:46 AM
|
Brother Tuck, I'm in 100% agreement with you. The more tricks you have in your bag the better.
My comments weren't aimed at you, or anyone in particular, I've just noticed a pattern whenever this subject crops up.
|
didjcripey
104 posts
Jun 21, 2011
1:33 AM
|
Greetings brother,
great advice; my best advice is just to take it up young, and stick at it, I wish I had!
I beg to differ about not being able to tongue block because you're too old. I know its a bit of a difference between 50 and 59, but I have picked it up recently and find it addictive, it now feels very natural
and I don't know how I managed without it. David Barrett's lesson series walks you through the basics from a very easy to a level where you can pick up on Adam's lessons. Just depends on how much you practice and how much you want it.
And for the sake of argument about the relative merits of each;
I like a hybrid mix of each; I don't think I'll ever be very proficient at good bends with tongue blocking and I have no trouble switching styles. ----------
Lucky Lester
|
Brother Tuck
4 posts
Jun 21, 2011
3:51 AM
|
@Lucky Lester: Haha, you know what they say, right? "Never encourage a harmonica player!" lol
You're right, I may have given up too easily on tb'ing. I'm self-taught and attempts to teach myself blocking has lead to nothing but frustration with a muscle in my mouth that won't cooperate. Fact is, if I'm ever gonna learn it, I'll need some help and perhaps something like Barrett's lessons would be the way to start. I thank you, from one old man to another, for the suggestion, my brother.
To all: I'm aware that it may sound corny to address everyone as "brother", but if you love the harp as much as I do, you're gonna be my brother in here. Any females will be "sisters". And that's just the way it is! :-)
Great forum, and thank you.
|
kudzurunner
2543 posts
Jun 21, 2011
5:21 AM
|
@BrotherT: I wholeheartedly agree with your list. Thanks for laying things out clearly.
One small point of clarification: there's a big difference between tongue blocking and tongue blocking EVERYTHING.
Paul Butterfield, Jason Ricci, Kim Wilson, Carlos Del Junco, Howard Levy tongue block, but they don't tongue block everything. I fall into this category.
Sugar Blue (it turns out), James Cotton, Big Walter Horton, Joe Filisko, and a number of other players tongue block everything.
And of course there are some very good players who don't tongue block at all, or almost never do.
I happen to think that tongue blocking, at least some of the time, is a very good thing. Certainly it changed my playing in a very positive way. But the subculture of harmonica players is filled with bickering and dissension, and lots of people, I've discovered, put me in the "no tongue blocking" category. It doesn't matter how passionately I endorse the technique: the simple fact that I don't hew to a hard-core "all the time" line leads people to distort my views--and, of course, to disagree once they understand what I'm saying!
So Oisin is correct: be prepared to be misunderstood. For all that, I really love your list.
Last Edited by on Jun 21, 2011 5:22 AM
|
2chops
6 posts
Jun 21, 2011
5:48 AM
|
Good points bro. I definitely agree with recording yourself and being honest in your evaluation. Also go a step further and play it for someone who doesn't know it's you and ask them what they think of "this guy". I was a competitive athlete for many years, and part of my training was to video my performances and do a technical analysis of my game. That played a huge part in my having done as well as I did.
Good point too about the TB. I'm mainly a LP, but I do TB for certain chords and effects. Like it's been said, it's good to have as many weapons in your quiver as possible. I still have a LOT to learn. But I'm passionate about this, have a great desire to improve, have a blast playing, and I'm only 46. I still have time.
|
Brother Tuck
5 posts
Jun 21, 2011
6:02 AM
|
Brother Kudz, thanks for your post and I'm glad you liked my list. I left at least one thing off, so here we go:
5. DON'T SOAK THEM HARPS! lol, everyone should know that by now, but back in the day it was a common thing to do. I remember playing with bleeding lips 'cause the wood had swelled up so bad and was cutting my mouth up. Anything for a fatter tone though, right? Learn to play with a dry, clean mouth and harp.
Concerning tongue blocking vs. lip parcing, I didn't realize it was such a hot issue amongst my brothers but then, I don't get out much, lol. I'm not out to stir up a storm about it and to each his own. I just think it's a technique any young harp player should explore, practice, master, and add to his arsenal. At the end of the day, you wanna sound GREAT and able to play most anything you want one way or another. Shoot, Rice Miller could play through his nostrils! Truth!
Lucky Lester has already convinced this old lip parcer to give it another try with some proper instruction. Glad I joined the boards here. This is what it's all about!
Last Edited by on Jun 21, 2011 6:07 AM
|
Miles Dewar
968 posts
Jun 21, 2011
6:19 AM
|
Nice list!
One thing........... ;)
"1. LEARN TONGUE BLOCKING! Lip parcing will only get you so far, generally speaking. I didn't practice it when I was young and I'm too old to pick it up now. I've tried, but I might as well try to learn Chinese. Tongue blocking will round out your sound and enable you to play sounds and licks otherwise unplayable with lip parcing alone. Ask me how I know!"
You can also make the arguement that there are things you can't do well tongue blocked that you can do lip pursed.
----------------------------
P.S.
Go for the Chinese! Mandarin Chinese isn't that hard of a language. There are only a small number of words. Compared to the 600 Billion English words.
Last Edited by on Jun 21, 2011 6:19 AM
|
belfast_harper
255 posts
Jun 21, 2011
6:35 AM
|
I think there are a few techniques that have to be done lip pursed.
Is it possible to roll your tongue against the top of you mouth to get that machine gun effect that Walter Horton liked to use on the 6 & 9 hole blow while tongue blocking?
|
Brother Tuck
6 posts
Jun 21, 2011
6:41 AM
|
@Brother Miles:
"You can also make the arguement that there are things you can't do well tongue blocked that you can do lip pursed."
I say learn 'em both, and that goes for Chinese and Chinese Mandarin too!
Last Edited by on Jun 21, 2011 6:42 AM
|
waltertore
1425 posts
Jun 21, 2011
6:43 AM
|
I would add -
first and most important - enjoy the journey
do what comes easy because things that come easy lead to more creative roads than ones you have to struggle with
be proud of your playing at all phases of your career
realize if you try to rush the learning curve you will be slowing down the process
nothing can replace hearing the music live, getting to know the players, and imeshing yourself in an in the flesh scene.
----------
walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,800+ of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Jun 21, 2011 6:52 AM
|
Brother Tuck
7 posts
Jun 21, 2011
6:51 AM
|
@ Brother Belfast:
"I think there are a few techniques that have to be done lip pursed."
Of course there is!
To all once more; If you haven't listened to Adam's interview with Magic Dick yet, go do it. It's on the orange left hand column here. In the interview, Magic says something like "Learn it all!", when talking about TB and LP.
|
Honkin On Bobo
657 posts
Jun 21, 2011
7:02 AM
|
I hear ya brother tuck.
Can't tongue block a lick, but wished to hell that I could. It seems to me that if you truly want to master the instrument wouldn't you try to become at least competent in ALL techniques?
Isn't telling an aspiring harp player to ignore one or the other techniques akin to telling an aspiring guitar player to never play any chords (or conversely never play any single notes), or exclusively flat pick or fingerpick?
I've always thought it was really that simple. Natural abilites may dictate which techniques and styles you gravitate toward, but why not strive to be as well rounded as you can?
|
Brother Tuck
8 posts
Jun 21, 2011
7:10 AM
|
@ Brother Honkin: Most well put, sir!
I was gonna use that analogy with guitar playing, but you beat me to it! :-)
Last Edited by on Jun 21, 2011 7:49 AM
|
SonnyD4885
15 posts
Jun 21, 2011
7:17 AM
|
I hear ya too brother tuck i think every aspect from lip pursing and tounge blocking should be put into playing all the time i know some people like to just do one or the other but if you mix everything you can become great i do both and its tricky but it helps my playing to do diffrent things -----thanks sonny
|
orphan
28 posts
Jun 21, 2011
7:22 AM
|
Hi Brother Tuck and welcome to the MBH Forum. What kept you away all this time?
|
Buzadero
782 posts
Jun 21, 2011
7:31 AM
|
"What kept you away all this time?"
The good friar is clearly anti-social.
Beinvenidos, Hermano Tuck.
----------
~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
|
Brother Tuck
9 posts
Jun 21, 2011
7:34 AM
|
@ Brother Orphan: Thank you sir! I would have been here long ago but I've been too busy trying to learn Chinese!
|
Brother Tuck
10 posts
Jun 21, 2011
7:46 AM
|
@ Brother Buz: Thank you sir! :-)
|
barbequebob
1677 posts
Jun 21, 2011
7:53 AM
|
Brother Tuck, I agree with your post, but tongue block alone, I disagree with because I use both and both have advantages that the other is unable to do and I often switch back and forth in mid phrase and can fool almost anyone about what method I used, but I do feel one should learn tongue blocking in addition. I started out TB'ing, then later learned the pucker method mainly for bending the upper register, but I can do so much with both that I don't need to think about it anymore.
----------
Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
|
Brother Tuck
11 posts
Jun 21, 2011
8:14 AM
|
@ Brother BBQ: I never said to "only tongue block". I'm just suggesting learning it from early on to add to your arsenal of playing abilities, like you have done.
Bending notes on the high registry? I can't imagine myself doing it any other way but puckering up and letting it rip!!!
|
toxic_tone
201 posts
Jun 21, 2011
8:22 AM
|
i agree whole heartdly with you brother tuck. problem is i started with LP. however i am learning to TB. i think i do OK. but TB has its own sound that i love to hear. thanks for the advice. I'm 26 and i want to learn as much as i can i couldn't do it with out the wisdom of y'all old schoolers. it is very much appreciated.
|
bacon-fat
40 posts
Jun 21, 2011
8:25 AM
|
Good advice !
From my experience, one more bit;
Get some lessons early before bad habits set in
----------
my facebook
my youtube channel
|
bacon-fat
41 posts
Jun 21, 2011
8:26 AM
|
take a lesson early on before bad habits set in
----------
my facebook
my youtube channel
|
kudzurunner
2544 posts
Jun 21, 2011
8:46 AM
|
Here's an example of a perfectly good player who doesn't tongue block at all: Dr. "Feelgood" Potts, a leading contemporary black southern player: born in Greenwood, Mississippi and currently residing in Memphis. Sure, it's possible to listen to what he's doing and say, "Hey, he'd have a bigger sound if he did some big octaves," but then again: he sounds great, soulful, idiomatic, and bluesy right now. If he came to me for a lesson, I'd say, "Get the heck out of here!" I damned sure wouldn't tell him he had to tongue block. Joe Filisko might; I wouldn't.
Check out "My In-Laws" in particular.
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/drfeelgoodpotts
|
Greg Heumann
1155 posts
Jun 21, 2011
8:54 AM
|
@BrotherTuck - another in 100% agreement with you - and adding what WalterTore says makes it even more valid. Nice to have you here.
Of course, once you HAVE developed great technique and tone - better gear STILL makes you sound better than crappy gear. (I had to say that. I freely admit my prejudice. But then, that's my job... Check out my web site if you're not familiar with me.)
Cheers
----------
/Greg
|
Brother Tuck
12 posts
Jun 21, 2011
8:57 AM
|
@ Brother Toxic: You have to start somewhere and there's nothing wrong with LP. I guess the real point is this: on a diatonic harp, there are only 10 holes on that little sucker. 10 little holes, from which an amazing array of sounds can come from. You, as a young player, want to explore every possibility and that means learning techniques,...all that you can.
I referred above to Dennis Gruenling's demonstrations of TB. He was chording, very staccato, haunting. I remember him saying; "When I learned to do this, I was king for a day!" It's really something special to hear a master like Dennis play acoustically (and amped) for a small group in a church room. I joined several other players after the class to go out for dinner with him. What a cool dude and nice guy he is!
@ Brother Bacon: Excellent advice! Bad habits can set in and you don't even realize it. If a young player is truly serious, professional lessons (one-on-one) can be worth their weight in gold. I wish I had done it. Oh, what the hell, I ain't THAT old! I may do it yet! :-)
Last Edited by on Jun 21, 2011 9:46 AM
|
Brother Tuck
13 posts
Jun 21, 2011
9:13 AM
|
@ Brother Greg: Thank you sir, and by ALL MEANS, once a player has reached a fairly proficient level of play, good gear is a must! But starting out, it can be a real waste of money. A lot of young players get frustrated and quit, or simply lose interest. That's one reason why I recommend cheap gear at the beginning of the journey.
Back in the day, my first experience with amplified play was when I accidentally discovered that I could play through my earphones on my stereo system. It worked! Drove my neighbors NUTS!
Last Edited by on Jun 21, 2011 9:14 AM
|
12gagedan
83 posts
Jun 21, 2011
9:22 AM
|
I think number 4 is super-important, especially for performance. In my experience I leave a gig either thinking I was great or thinking I was terrible. The recording tells you what really happened.
I'm all for tongue blocking, but Andy said it all in his post.
While I may disagree with the exact ratio presented in #3, I agree with general sentiment of this rule. Actually, you can put #1 and #3 together and just say, LISTEN!
I often note a lack of musical awareness in developing harp players. I also often notice a lack of self-awareness. Ever notice how the best guys can probably tell you 50 things wrong with their own performance before you can mention 1? I try to keep it under wraps somewhat, because projecting insecurity doesn't sell, but listening to self, listening to others and self-critique are absolute keys to success.
----------
12gagedan's YouTube Channel
|
Brother Tuck
15 posts
Jun 21, 2011
10:07 AM
|
@ Brother Kudz: OMG, I just now realized that is you, Adam! lol
You know I am in no way saying that if a player can't TB, a player can't play. Hell, I can't TB, but I can play,...just not as good as I wish I could. After 40 years of hackin' away, I still don't know all the tricks and TB'ing is one of them. Another is/was head shakes. I always did it with my wrist and hands, but after listening to your interview with Magic Dick, I'm shaking my head baby!
|
SonnyD4885
21 posts
Jun 21, 2011
10:09 AM
|
just when i think i know most of the lick or tumes and chord ect. i find somthing new then i start all over again
|
yogi
62 posts
Jun 21, 2011
10:29 AM
|
@ brother Tuck,
I am just loving the way, with your very first post you have disarmed everybody. I began smiling half way down the page, bythe end i was just clear giggling stupidly.
With the opening gambit of each response beginning brother this and brother that it just seems the place has turned in to one big love in.
Well done brother tuck, well done indeed!!!!!!!!!
|
LittleBubba
60 posts
Jun 21, 2011
11:10 AM
|
2 things, brothers: Where's the part about "have fun"?, and yeah, I learned in a vacuum and have carried some bad habits for about 45 years.
I worry about some guys who put so much pressure on themselves to be better than the next guy that it kills it for 'em when they realize that they'll never be better than alot of 'em. As far as playing skill goes, the emphasis should be on getting the most out of yourself relative to your goals.
|
waltertore
1426 posts
Jun 21, 2011
11:22 AM
|
hi LittleBubba: I added that and some more in my post. Most of todays newer players are innocent victums of the info age- too much info/sensory overload and such.......... There playing is technically correct but bland/generic. It is like testube vs. the outside world or better yet like playing a video game vs. actually getting out and playing the game with real people in the real world. Our music community is getting more and more top heavy with players that have no real experience with the juke joints/blues greats/lifestyle of the blues. I keep posting on these forums to remind people that playing is the actual thing not typing on these forums and to get out and make live music alive again is what the blues is all about. Watching a video is meaningless compared to being in that scene in the flesh. If that offends some I do not appologize but hope it gets them to getting out and playing some. I am off to my studio to make some music. Walter
PS: I have learned and continue to learn via self discovery and imersing myself with the blues greats by leading the life. I did this because it was what was inspiring. I am not at all against lessons and such because I know most are comfortable in that format. I just want to keep the old school way of learning alive so that younger players see there is such a thing.
----------
walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,800+ of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Jun 21, 2011 11:39 AM
|
MP
1706 posts
Jun 21, 2011
11:56 AM
|
brother tuck,
glad you've left robins hoods in the forest; do you think that's safe?- and decided to talk to your people.
love the harmonica to meet girls angle! everyone knows that the harp geek on stage trumps the guy at the bar percentage wise, even if the geek can't play for beans. it may be a scientific fact, like pizza is good no matter what.
my first harp cost about $3.64. and was one of my wiser investments.
welcome to the pedantic jungle adam is responsible for:) aside from being an informative place, it is also very humorous at times.
perhaps you saw the legendary almost harmonicas for beef jerky trade?
mark
----------
MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
|
LittleBubba
61 posts
Jun 21, 2011
12:10 PM
|
You can be a great entertainer without being a great musician, obviously.
I've played with a guy who is what I would loosely call a "schlock" guitarist. He knows very little about music theory, and often doesn't know what key he's playing in. He hardly ever plays a tune in the same key twice. He's harder than hell to play with.
The guys he competes with for gigs have nothing but disdain for his abilities, but he consistently beats them out of gigs, and, oh, by the way, he's in the Wisconsin Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. His audiences have alotta fun.
I'm not sayin' that you shouldn't try to learn and practice as much as you can though. But don't let your inadequacies keep you from enjoyin' yerself.
|
Chickenthief
111 posts
Jun 21, 2011
12:35 PM
|
A lot of interesting and useful things being said here. Thanks for the good word Brother T. and welcome.
As a way of addressing advice to young bucks I just want to put a word in for good intonation on the bent notes.
Man. Awhile back, maybe a year or more, I read on the forum here where BBQ Bob was advising on the importance of playing 2 and 3 draw bends with good intonation. Learning to play harp in vacuo out here in Diddywadiddy City with only my record collection and the internet to teach me, my first thoughts on that subject went something like this - come on, this is the blues, I'm not looking for a spot with the Boston Symphony, somebody's just being a little bit too fastidious.
Nevertheless, I decided to tackle the thing. At the time I still wasn't convinced that something like that could make a big difference but I wanted to be able to earn a little respect from the accomplished musicians so I got me a tuner and had at it. Now I'm a year out and don't get me wrong, I still have to work at this every day but man ohh man, there's something new going on in 2 and 3 draw! It's called music.
This kind of brings me around to something else I discovered which is that in my case I tend to get the most mileage out of this thing when I just shut up and listen to what the experienced can teach me. Kind of like listening to your father who might be half wrong on a given subject, or just drunk and stupid, but when you are 13, shit, he still knows more than you do.
Anyone starting out is going to automaticaly have their hands full and time spent on the net is best devoted to watching, listening, and asking questions. Anyhow, I noticed that after playing harp for 3 and a half months not too many people were interested in what I had to say about Little Walter or tongue blocking.
See you later, gotta practice.
Last Edited by on Jun 21, 2011 12:51 PM
|
Brother Tuck
16 posts
Jun 21, 2011
12:42 PM
|
@Brother Bubba: You ask a great question. If it ain't fun, it's hardly worth doing, especially if you're not getting paid for it.
Fun is where you find it just like life is what you make it. Not all of us are cut out to be great, or even good, at playing the harp. Self-acceptance is the key here, even though we may strive to get better at something we love, as we should. I personally realized many years ago that that I didn't have "it", but that didn't stop me from having fun! Countless nights practicing and jamming with the recordings, occasional impromptu jams for my friends at parties, and making a few friends with amateur players like myself.
Playing the blues (or trying to), is one thing. Living them can be quite another and not everybody is cut out for that.
Having fun in my own way is what's kept me going for 40+ years. If I may, let me tell y'all my most funnest story as a harp player, please: I joined the army at 21 and ended up in Germany. Man, you could get Honer harps cheap as dirt there, and I collected a locker full of them in short order. I had only been playing about 2 years and the only song I was decent at, knew all the words to and could play all the way through, was "Parchment Farm", the John Mayall version. My buddies in the barracks enjoyed it when I played it, as long as I didn't play it more than 2 or 3 times a night, lol.
Anyway, one morning we had an inspection and in walks this big black captain (who I later found out was from Mississippi), and I was a skinny little white boy from Georgia. When he got to me, he gazed in my locker and asked: "Private Tucker, what are you doing with all of these harmonica's in your locker!?!" "Sir, I play them, sir!" "Oh you do, do you? Well, why don't you just play me a song, then?" I was taken aback, but I pulled out my C harp and lit into 'Parchment Farm' for all I was worth. My buddies were clapping their hands and stomping their feet and I was giving it hell. When I finished, the captain couldn't suppress the grin on his face. He then turned to my squad leader and said, "Private Tucker has the day off. Everyone else report to the motor pool."
I'll never be a recording artist. I have bad stage fright amongst strangers, so playing gigs is out. I'm not a natural musician and I have had to work real hard for everything I've learned which, in retrospect, ain't that much. BUT, that one moment in the barracks all those years ago, I wouldn't trade for anything and I'll take that memory, along with a C harp, with me to my grave.
Ok, I'll shut up now. ;-)
|
oldwailer
1641 posts
Jun 21, 2011
1:10 PM
|
Do the following test:
1) open your mouth wide in front of a mirror.
2) stick your tongue out and touch the tip to your upper lip.
3) now touch the lower lip with just the tip of the tongue.
4) Touch the left corner of your mouth
5) touch the right corner of your mouth
6) using the tip of your tongue only, touch your navel.
If you did all but #6 successfully, you can learn to TB and tongue warble. I'm still working on the warble one--Sonny Terry did it that way.
If you did #6--join the circus and eat lots of peanuts.
----------
Oldwailer's Web Site
Always be yourself--unless you suck. . .
-Joss Whedon
|
joeleebush
249 posts
Jun 21, 2011
1:42 PM
|
Unless something has changed, it's Parchman Farm..not "parchment" (over in Mississippi)
The only reason someone has "stage fright" or dogs it in the clutch is if they're unprepared and have allowed themselves to get into a position they're not fully qualified to handle.
Selah.
----------
"The degree of someone's "open mindedness" will be in direct proportion to how much they agree or disagree with the issue being discussed"...William F. Buckley
|
Joe_L
1310 posts
Jun 21, 2011
1:56 PM
|
"I'll never be a recording artist. I have bad stage fright amongst strangers, so playing gigs is out. I'm not a natural musician and I have had to work real hard for everything I've learned which, in retrospect, ain't that much. "
With a self defeating attitude like that, you're right you won't ever play gigs or record anything. If that's something that you want to do, you'll need an attitude adjustment.
Thank you for your service.
----------
The Blues Photo Gallery
|
Brother Tuck
17 posts
Jun 21, 2011
1:59 PM
|
@ Brother Joe: Correct, "parchman". My bad. That was a long time ago. Your assessment on stage fright? Correct again, I guess.
Last Edited by on Jun 21, 2011 4:50 PM
|
Brother Tuck
18 posts
Jun 21, 2011
2:00 PM
|
@ Joe L: That's not something I want to do, brother.
Y'all take it easy on me. I'm an old man! :D
Last Edited by on Jun 21, 2011 2:24 PM
|
LittleBubba
62 posts
Jun 21, 2011
2:55 PM
|
@joeleebush: your assessment of stage fright is an inadequate generalization. Was that a serious remark?
I've never suffered from stage fright, but Barbra (sp?) Streisand has. Do you think she was unprepared for her gigs? Or, are you saying that performers like Streisand don't adequately prepare their minds....?
Many people react differently to performing scenarios; it takes longer for some people to get accustomed to playing in front of crowds.. and the size of the crowd may have an influence on that.
|
Brother Tuck
21 posts
Jun 21, 2011
3:07 PM
|
Carly Simon was another artist that struggled with stage fright, even refusing to go on two or three times and cancelling shows.
Charlie Musslewhite use to have to get drunker than Cooter Brown before he could take the stage. He finally kicked the booze and is fine now. Maybe I should take up drinking? lol
I don't know. The few times I tried stage play, I just froze up and forgot just about everything I knew how to do. It was unpleasant experiences for me and embarrassing, so I just decided it just wasn't my bag. I'm cool with that though. I'm happy where I'm at.
Last Edited by on Jun 21, 2011 5:10 PM
|
Post a Message
|
