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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Still so much more
Still so much more
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Leatherlips
4 posts
Jan 10, 2012
3:50 AM
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I've been playing for around 25 years. Been in a number of bands and played acoustically.
A couple of months ago I joined my latest band and commenced learning about 80 new numbers of which I recognised a half dozen.
By doing this I realise just how much more there is to know about playing this tiny instrument.
I play in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th positions ( not at all familiar with 1st ) and still find that I'm lacking on some numbers, so I choose to not play at all. This of course is not a bad thing, as I think a break from the harp might be appreciated.
On more than one occasion I've been asked "And what instrument do you play?"
which is often met with "Oh, OK". Conversation over.
Anyhow, that's my rant for the day. It's great to have found this site and have the chance to yarn with like minded people.
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jbone
732 posts
Jan 10, 2012
4:01 AM
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it's a continuous learning curve for me as well. at almost 4 decades of messing with these things i still have more to learn in front of me than all i've learned to date.
wife and i are picking out material for the next cd and a few songs i had recorded with full band some years ago; that cd stayed in the box and was never released. when we got those 3 songs going on the player, i realized how cool they are but also how much i have changed over 5 years. every harp part was decent but as i jammed along i found i was doing things much differently. and for the better i think. i also got out a couple of chromatics i had been ignoring, one a hohner 270, the other a short-lived bushman free jazz, which is a suzuki chromatix with inscribed cover plates. both have merit i had not noticed before. they are now in my case along with my usual 2 chro's, a hering baritono in C and a suzuki chromatix in G.
i think it's very important to find new challenges or face old ones often, it builds musical character and enriches us as musicians and people.
i also play mostly 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, i messed with 5th for a short time and may get back with it soon.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
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Rubes
460 posts
Jan 10, 2012
2:52 PM
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"Oh OK. Conversation over"...
don't ya hate that!! Try...'I play the diatonic harmonica chromatically!' :~}
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One of Rubes's bands, DadsinSpace-MySpace
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jbone
733 posts
Jan 10, 2012
6:25 PM
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well, i DON'T play diatonic chromatically Rubes. in fact if it makes you feel better i have no relationship with that button thing on the end of a chromatic. i play along the lines of maybe Carey Bell on my best day but not as well as him on his worst day.
how's this- i've tried out at least a dozen different brands and types of diatonic over a lot of years. i still have yet to find a harp that i love 100%. lee oskar; hohner mb, sp20, blues harp, big river, blues band, old pal, 365; hering free blues, 1923 vintage; suzuki pro master, blues master, pure, manji; even the lowly huang star performer and one other flavor. i am not proud to say i've blown out most every harp i've ever owned despite a lot of progress with dynamics and wind control.
i try and play along with different music every so often and it has broadened my palette a lot. folk, funk, jazz, rock, country, gospel, blues, swing, but my preference is mostly blues and roots.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
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Leatherlips
5 posts
Jan 10, 2012
10:21 PM
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Rubes, I'd be worried if I said that, then someone would ask me how I do it.
As my old Lee Oskars wear out I replace them with Special 20's. They have the tone I like and they sure last well.
In Australia it's hard to buy one at a store for less than $53.00, so if you blow out a couple at a gig, then there goes the nights profit.
Don't get me wrong. I'm certainly not in it for the money. I mean when you put in around 7 hours rehearsal per week, play a gig for 4-5 hours and replace equipment, there aint a lot of cash left over.
Recently, I've had the opportunity to do some vocals as well ( especially acoustic ) and that adds another dimension.
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Rubes
462 posts
Jan 11, 2012
12:50 AM
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Vocals yes, and there is so much more.... Let's face it guys, music music IS IN US! And Sure we're not REALLY playing chromatically but it's surely something to aspire to..
How about a bit of percussion , my cowbell's starting to look a little worn which is a good sign, and I would just LOVE one of those Farmers foot things , nothing too fancy to begin with.
And I'll second the aforementioned positions, 5th is nice on an Ab for C minor....
Sadly I can't afford Aussie music shops any more....
:~}
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One of Rubes's bands, DadsinSpace-MySpace
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jbone
734 posts
Jan 11, 2012
4:23 AM
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i'm in the states but with recent price jumps i am in the weeds. i am going through all my harps with issues to make sure it isn't just excess saliva or an obstruction on a reed, getting every mile out of every harp.
if i was in it for the money i'd be doing hip hop or country. occasionally we break even over all but more times than not we've gone in the hole.
my vocals have come together nicely over the past 15 years or so, and with Jolene's sweeter yet gritty style we have a good spectrum in the duo.
i am sitting in with a friend at a kind of folk open mic tonight. he'll sing, i'll just do the sideman harp thing. friday we'll play at a feed the hungry deal at a church a few miles away. we do like to give to the community when we can. it's a supper if you want it deal. bar gigs are ridiculous if you are over say 40 around here so we've backed off trying for many of them(we're way past 40), instead focusing on festivals and opportunities to play on the street where and when we can. this is our favorite thing since we can see the effect our music has on all ages and economic strata.
this year will be the year we go digital. our second cd got some very good notice in recent months, going to the IBC and placing in the top 30 of all submissions for best self produced. when we took a look at the competition we were just amazed that our little $35 cd went anywhere so big. the competition is most all full time musicians who have been playing a decade together while we have 5 years under our belts as a duo. very good company and stiff competition, so we are grateful to have placed as high as we did!
next cd will be more ambitious and more expensive for sure. how we'll pay for it is a mystery but we're getting started even so.
my primary reason for doing music- other than it's obvious power to make me feel good- is to make others a little lighter on their feet. i'm past most opportunities to tour or work hard full time as a musician, that's just reality. but when and where i can i do pass it along. i think it has kept me from harm over 35 years of smoking- which the cigs are behind me now for over 6 months. and when i think of some of the crazy times over the past 20 years of deeper involvement in the bar scene, and how lucky i've been, i am sighing with relief!
some 10 years ago i realized that this is a journey much more than a moment of arrival someplace. i have plenty to stay busy with for my remaining years so i'm taking a long view and having a great time every chance i get!
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
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