mx
4 posts
Dec 12, 2011
8:31 PM
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hi, i have been trying to play for six years and still can't. i have taken 100 lessons were i learned too bend, went to spah in 09, went to adams thing last spring and dave's on line class but still cant play music. the last few months the wife wants to know when i will stop practicing (scales and bends two hours a day) and play some music. i never go any where with out a harp so i play it when know ones around. so my question is how do i get to the next step and play.
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FMWoodeye
122 posts
Dec 12, 2011
8:42 PM
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Well, being a musician is not something everyone can do. I would like to play shortstop for the Detroit Tigers, but no matter how much I practice, I have no chance. If you can indeed play the scales and bends, it would seem you may have some tools. Even so, when one has a hammer and a saw, he/she is not necessarily a carpenter. Have you tried one-on-one instruction? I have found this to be most valuable, to have a professional evaluate you and give you goals. It could be that you're just having trouble putting it all together. BUT...I would guess that if you've been practicing two hours a day for six years, the writing is on the wall.
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Cristal Lecter
196 posts
Dec 12, 2011
8:43 PM
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Since I've the reputation of not being a good communicator, I'll say things that might be difficult to hear, BUT that's not a bad thing
If I understand you, you've invest a huge amount of time and money in playing the diatonic harmonica, but now you're stuck and you can't play any songs??? I don't understand here
If it's the case I want to tell you 3 things:
1) I'm a frustrated guitar player, each time I've tried to put my hands on this instrument, I've failed to feel anything positive about it, and I know, even if I spend a lot of money in a decent instrument and taking lessons, I will NEVER be able to be a good musician at this instrument. So may be you can try to play another instrument
2) The hard bit: there's NOTHING wrong of not being a musician, not being able to be good or decent at something... I've very often dreamt to be a jet pilot, being a mathematician, but I suck big time, when it comes to numbers, and I know I'll never be that person, and there's loads of things I'll NEVER be good at...So may be the music is not your thing, and there's nothing wrong with it, I'm sure you've your area of expertise and that you have a huge value to other people
3) you're may be discourage because you've not shared your progress and being free of certain "shyness". If it's the case, play for your kids for your friends at the end of a meal....Then gain some confidence in yourself and DARE to play
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timeistight
263 posts
Dec 13, 2011
1:02 AM
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What music do you want to play?
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jim
1077 posts
Dec 13, 2011
1:18 AM
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@timeistight: good question, I wanted to ask the same thing.
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Free Harp Learning Center
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arzajac
700 posts
Dec 13, 2011
3:10 AM
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You can't play music? I doubt that. I suspect you can play. Do you use jam tracks or have you ever played with another person?
I think part of becoming a good musician is not being satisfied with how well you play. Otherwise, the world would be full of adequate musicians and no one would put in the time to become great.
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The Iceman
184 posts
Dec 13, 2011
3:22 AM
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Perhaps you haven't found the right teacher yet....
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The Iceman
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Tommy the Hat
498 posts
Dec 13, 2011
4:38 AM
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Sometimes it is difficult to answer questions on an internet forum. Part of that problem is that the question is never fully understood and without actually being in front of a person it is hard to really know what is going on. For all we know maybe you can play but just haven't put on a CD and tried playing to it. Maybe you have but given up in 10 minutes instead of spending the whole day trying. Maybe you haven't jammed to backing tracks.
Maybe you're thinking that after all the years of practice a song should just pop out of your head/
Very difficult. More info please.
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Tommy
My Videos
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Baker
187 posts
Dec 13, 2011
4:44 AM
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Have you really spent the last 6 years only playing scales and bends? Do you only practise scales and bends because this is where you feel comfortable. In order to get better at something you need to venture out of your comfort zone.
If you really can't play a tune I would suggest downloading some of Adams lessons and concentrate on learning a tune from start to finish. If you've spent a lot of time on scales and bends the basics of these should come fairly easily.
Studying these lessons will help you build up licks, riffs and breathing patterns that will help you in the future. Specially if you are looking to improvise.
Last Edited by on Dec 13, 2011 4:46 AM
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mx
5 posts
Dec 13, 2011
5:26 AM
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hi I'm trying to play traditional American music, cowboy and blues. as far as me i am the guy that was cut from the school singing group in 3rd grade, was asked not to sing at the sing along when my son was in school. the person i took harp lesson from for two years is a great player i just suck thats all. so i guess the problem is i have no rhythm. i have tried guitar and trumpet so i was hopping that i could this stuff.
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Michael Rubin
368 posts
Dec 13, 2011
6:56 AM
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A great book on rhythm is Modern Reading Text in 4/4 by Louis Bellson. Get a metronome. I suggest the Matrix MR 600. Get a teacher who has helped people with rhythm. I have brought many people back from the timing dead with this book.
Overall it sounds like you have done enough scales and bends for now. You need to start playing songs. Either read tab, learn how to read music (also something certain teachers can help you with) or learn blues solos note for note (also something most harp teachers can help with). After each song learn, create a jam situation based on the style of the music you just played. Band in the box is very intuitive and inexpensive (around $150 for the cheapest version) and a teacher with band in a box experience can train you how to use it and teach you chord progressions which will help you jam to the particular style of music you are working on.
Next, have patience. This is the next part of the journey after scales and bending and it normally doesn't happen overnight.
If you want to talk with me about Skype lessons, contact me at Michaelrubinharmonica@gmail.com There are many other skype harp teachers, Adam has a page on the website guiding you to people.
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The Iceman
185 posts
Dec 13, 2011
7:29 AM
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@mx: " the person i took harp lesson from for two years is a great player i just suck thats all."
A great player is not necessarily a great teacher.
One thing working against you is your negative self image. If your internal dialog keeps telling you that you are a failure, you will be.
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The Iceman
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Duane C.
25 posts
Dec 13, 2011
7:54 AM
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We are often are own worst critic. As hard as Icemans words may be to swallow, they are true. The way I see it you've got a real positive thing going on. You've been working on it six years, that requires a great deal of determination. Lots of folks just wouldn't follow through with it that long.
I'll bet you've learned a lot and come quite a ways since you first started. Every ones journey is different.
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timeistight
264 posts
Dec 13, 2011
8:28 AM
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Maybe it's time to take a rest on the scales and work on some tunes. There's lots of "traditional American music" that's lots of fun to play on harmonica:
Amazing Grace
Oh, Suzanah
On Top of Old Smokey
Wildwood Flower
John Hardy
House of the Rising Sun
The Star-Spangled Banner
Old Joe Clark
Will the Circle Be Unbroken
These are great tunes that you can play for your friends and family and working on them will also help you work on your rhythm.
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jdblues
54 posts
Dec 13, 2011
9:11 AM
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For a quick preview and an easy path to sounding musical, here is a tab for Amazing Grace in 12th position, from Jon Gindick's book "Rock n Blues Harmonica." It's easy to play and I think it sounds wonderful.
(If you don't know what I mean by 12th position, it doesn't matter! Just follow the tab and try to make it sound good!)
4 -5 -6 -6 6 -5 -4 4
A maz ing grace, how sweet the sound
-4 -5 -6 -6 6 7
That saved a wretch like me
-6 7 -6 -5 -6 6 -5 -4 4
I once was lost, but now I'm found
4 -4 -5 -6 -6 6 -5
Was blind, but now I see
Give it a shot and let us know if it feels musical to you. If the tab alone doesn't help, I can make a video explaining it.
Btw, I highly recommend Gindick's book. It's basically designed to get people making music from the get go.
It features a CD with instruction and jam tracks that you will probably enjoy playing along with. It mostly uses a slow, easy shuffle.
There are also a number of tabs in the book for simple songs like Red River Valley, Shortening Bread, When the Saints Go Marching In, Frankie and Johnny, etc.
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Tommy the Hat
499 posts
Dec 13, 2011
9:18 AM
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Don't forget to learn how to dance. Does wonders for rhythm.
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Tommy
My Videos
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JInx
147 posts
Dec 13, 2011
10:21 AM
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take a harmonica break. get yourself a tin whistle and learn a few simple melodies. put some bells on your feet and pretend you're an entertainer.....and you will be.
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gene
982 posts
Dec 13, 2011
12:40 PM
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If you want to learn songs by memorizing tabs, go here. You just might find a song or two you like.
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eharp
1613 posts
Dec 13, 2011
3:35 PM
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why dont you give us a sample of a song?
it would probably help those that want to help you.
can you play taps?
saints come marching home?
easy?
dont worry about "nailing" these.
just give us somethin'!
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mx
6 posts
Dec 14, 2011
12:02 AM
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hi, thanks for the help people. eharp if i can figure out how to i will. Cristal on (3) you are rite, Micheal, Baker & Tommy i will and the rest of you thank you.
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Andrew
1528 posts
Dec 14, 2011
2:18 AM
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It's difficult to understand this question.
One possibility is that you are practising scales and technical things and just assuming that the music will flow naturally. It won't - a piece of music is something you have to practise as well as everything else. Practising scales will make it easier for you to learn a piece of music, but you still have to learn it.
I think you need to practise jamming along to records learning the songs and also an arsenal of licks from them.
This advice is just based on one interpretation of what your problem might be.
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Andrew.
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The only good cat is a stir-fried cat. (ALF)
Last Edited by on Dec 14, 2011 2:18 AM
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