1. There is no swing...do they even know what "swing" means? 2. There is no feeling. 3. The thin guy looks silly as hell with all that grinning and giggling. And his harp tone is bad. 4. The bass player is way up in the frets that give no bottom. 5. The lead guitar cannot sing worth a flip. (he's worse than me and that's hard to do) 6. The kinda' husky harp player had some nice tone and some good licks. 7. The presence(?) is ridiculous. 8. Abandon it all and take up golf.
---------- "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
Woah - I don't see or hear anything that merits the nastiness of the above response. In fact the clip showcases better playing than the majority of clips that get posted here (posts of pro's asside) . Igor asked for some constructive criticism - and that's usually what people on the board tend to give - with differing degrees of bluntness-yes, - but with the intent of encouraging a players growth and developement. I miss William F. Buckley too - but sheesh.
Igor - I assume you are the smaller dude in front? You are alread quite good and have the confidence and skills to keep advancing.
You've got some good chops and decent tone. Just my opinion and some 'nit-picks. For my taste you are overplaying a bit. Trying to do a little too much with the 3'd position chops you do have (which are probably better than mine by the way) . Listen a little more, play a little less. Your freind behind you has the right idea in this regard. - but you are clearly going to follow your own muse - and should.
Try to keep in a little better communication with other players- there is a bit of tripping over the guitar player (who is quite good imo). Also - in terms of stage etiquete and professionalism, - Playing unmiced next to your buddy who has the mic is not really cool. Take your turn , when it's your turn.
re. tone - this is something I and a lot of us continue to work on - and there are lots of threads on this subject if you search. Experiment with tounge blocking where you can, - playing with the harp deeper in your mouth, controlling bends and tone with different parts of your mouth, tounge, diaphram, back of the throat etc. You already sound good and you will evolve if you want to work on it.
a 'minor point' - I wouldn't call that tune a "swing" - just a minor blues. Also 'Minor Swing is a Django tune - and this is definitely not that. ----------
I can see where this is headed already, right from the gate. Soooo, my last remark on this mess. HE ASKED for the comments...he didnt say "constructive" or anything else along those lines. I gave him my opinion. I am not being "nasty" with this...I am brutally frank and nothing more. I have no fears of receiving the same thing back from anyone else. I have been ridiculed by some of the best. Ridicule is one of the best medicines in the world for those who are floundering in a craft. Let him take this in front of Rick Estrin and see what happens. I am dealing in real world stuff where you play for strangers where they have paid money and don't give a rip about any learning curves or anything else. In the world of reality, you produce excellence...or you hit the road. I will give no encouragements to mediocrity or CF's. That is the worse thing that can happen to someone who is trying to make it...being accomodating to them is a terrible thing to do. Far worse than telling them to abandon it all and take up golf..which I still say is my opinion of that music(?).
First I would like to thank you for the ignorant and destructive criticism. Second: The reality here in Brazil is very different and I play harmonica is because I really like the instrument and so I was not playing golf! Third: The assessment was for my harmonica and not for the bass and guitar player after all this is a forum for harmonica. is not it? fourth: I just wanted a position on my sound, and as much as you do not understand that you have helped me with their ignorance. Finally: If you are ridiculed around for several players you still think you have the right to do this to me? after all you're nothing! You can die trying to be the same as Rick Estrin or any other! And I just want to bring a new way to play the harmonica and that is why I study! Now you can get out of this mess Mr.! Thanks
things can get a bit harsh here, ignore what you don't want to hear, but also think if there might be something in those comments you can take away to make yourself a better player
I am going to comment on the video but more as an audience member then another harp player. I don't have enough experience to offer any advice or critique. But as a music lover and someone who would be the guy paying to see the band/harp player this is what I thought.
I think you play well....certainly much better then me. I think you know what you are doing. I think at times you are trying to do too much though. As someone who might be in the audience to see a good band, I wouldn't like the goofing around that when on early in the song. I also agree with the point about playing acoustically while your buddy was trying to solo....uncool in my opinion. As a spectator I wouldn't like seeing that. I didn't like seeing it on the clip. But I suppose that has nothing to do with why you posted this right? You want to know about tone and playing. I think it all goes hand in hand. I thought the tone was good when it was good but got lost a few times among the showmanship. I really liked parts of it but felt that toward the end (up to the end) when you were playing chords....I liked the idea "BUT" for me, it went too long and kind of got too busy and unclear at some points. I think you can play well but maybe need to play less. For me, as a spectator anyway.
As a side note. I really wanted to hear the other guy played based on the few notes he did play. I guess that proves that less is more...lol. I am thinking of stealing one of those licks he played. I think that says something about how much or how fancy one should play.
Overall I liked it "once you got serious ans started really playing." At the beginnin, I was about to turn it off.
I Understand averything that you said man!! I'll try to restrain myself and improve my tone! I was wrong in saying swing .. = [ And I understood that this is only a minor blues! =] Thanks for the reviews! I follow the studies and submitting! I tried to be a little different than normal as the 3rd position. What do you think about? Becuase think I'm That I'm not a blues player = [
I understand how my behavior should be here. Unfortunately some people believe in some logical questions = [ I really do not want to hear only good things here, but some find it hard to understand that. I'll take what they give and the good (good reviews) that will help me grow. =] Thanks Man!......
Hehe Nice opnion man!! I like when people say to me that I'm playing more than the music need! heheh I'm trying to walk in this way because I never saw !!
Igor, I am not sure if you got my point. The most important thing is getting the groove of the tune. You only found it for a few moments in that video. If you don't have the groove, you don't have sh$t. The rest of the band was in and out, so it is not just you. That is the gist of one of the harsher comments here.
Next, you need to understand the lyrical nature of the music and the feeling.
More traditional Brazilian music is really about groove and lyrical poetry. That will elict more emotion in the audience than fast runs and any degree of technical skill.
Really what we say here does not mean much. If a crowd shows up and digs what you do, and you do too, then you are ahead of most of the people who post here. However, even the greatest players, early on when they thought the were good, had a more experienced player put them in their place. The response was to go practice full time for a year and find the music, and then come back.
Yeah man I had seen I think I really miss the groove! But I'm studying! This second video was just to show I customize a harmonica, showing the overs and everything. But the performance but I understood what you wanted to tell me.
But do not you think sometimes people do not like the notes I use? because notes are not routine for the blues.
And this way of playing is something new That I've never seen anyone play ... so I have chosen this path also
I do not know if you could understand me in the end. but you can be sure that I understood everything you said about the groove =]
i think your tone is very good and loved your enthusiasm - just use a little 'less-is-more' and keep on swinging (the first review instead of being helpful or constructive was IMHO 1000% mean-spirited period...nice job helping to promote our instrument with young people by telling them to quit - real smart). ---------- ~Banned in Boston!
I think there comes a time in everyone's harp career when they step on the front porch of an elder bluesman and get kicked off. In this virtual world, this is where those things will happen.
Now if you cry and whine and quit - well that just shows your character. If you are looking for coddling, then perhaps you should shrink your world to an appropriate level.
Take the good with the bad and don't be a wussy. There are going to be people who don't like what you are doing. While this is generally a supportive place, don't be surprised when you get kicked in the ass when you need it. There are elder bluesmen around, and not all of them crap daisies and butterflies.
---------- Danny
Last Edited by on Jul 06, 2011 2:02 PM
Thanks for feedback!! like I said ... I try to use a little less! This is the way I am trying to open here in Brazil! Few people play that way and overs. And it worked! Has a personal interest in the technique and the kind of playing! Thank you for watching and criticizing! Now I'm growing!
Thanks for the tip man and really think you're right! I'll try to take things the best way possible! I'm here to be criticized and that's what I want! But sometimes it's hard to support some type of ignorance .. after all I think the forum is for growth and not to suppress players
