lumpy wafflesquirt
509 posts
Jan 20, 2012
10:48 AM
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it is often mentioned here that people play while driving.
A DRIVER playing a harmonica at the wheel was just one of the motorists caught in a day of enforcement by road traffic safety officers.
http://tinyurl.com/7o7f73l
it doesn't actually say what the penalty was.
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"Come on Brackett let's get changed"
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atty1chgo
219 posts
Jan 20, 2012
10:56 AM
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Do it all the time. But not with both hands.
Last Edited by on Jan 20, 2012 10:57 AM
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FMWoodeye
200 posts
Jan 20, 2012
11:27 AM
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I may blow a few notes at a long traffic light. Otherwise, I play in parking lots when I'm early for appointments.
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WinslowYerxa
162 posts
Jan 20, 2012
11:31 AM
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I know a guy who was playing CX-12 (black plastic chromatic) while driving and was stopped and ticketed for talking on a cell phone - I guess the CX-12 looked like a phone to the cop.
While harmonica playing is not specifically illegal it probably falls under safe or distracted driving ordinances, so it's best to be careful.
I've noticed that I'm a lot calmer in bumper-to-bumper crawl-and-stall traffic if I'm grroovin' on a riff . . .
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Oisin
914 posts
Jan 20, 2012
11:34 AM
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I do it all the time as well on the A13 from London to Southend. I do keep my eye out for the police though. I don't think anyone has ever noticed as rush hour traffic is mostly one person in the car looking at the road and not spending time looking at other drivers.
Thinking about it I don't think I would play while driving on country roads and I definetely don't play with two hands.
Kinda of off topic...I have a friend (No it's not me!)
who boasted to me that he used to regularly masturbate while driving.
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Oisin
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earlounge
390 posts
Jan 20, 2012
11:45 AM
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I play in the car all the time. I feel as alert and in control as when I am listening to the radio.
I agree with Winslow as it is also my cure to road rage. I am much more content with traffic when I am not wasting my time, but actually gaining practice time.
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groyster1
1699 posts
Jan 20, 2012
12:00 PM
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the portability of harps are one of the best reasons to play them-if traffic is at a standstill the more skilled could get out of the car and busk a bit
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grahamonica
26 posts
Jan 20, 2012
2:03 PM
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@Oisin
Hope he doesn,t borrow your harmonica !
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Oisin
915 posts
Jan 20, 2012
2:21 PM
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I couldn't stop laughing when he first told me Graham and to be honest he was very proud that he'd thought of it. He had even perfected his "method" so as to avoid "mess". He's married now and in his late forties and hopefully he doesn't do it any more but I wouldn't be surprised if he did. He was always very proud of his masturbatory skills.
And no he never borrows my harps. The only instument he can play is the pink oboe.
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Oisin
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Airdale
31 posts
Jan 20, 2012
3:09 PM
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We should all keep a harp or two in the car. When you're at a light or in traffic, get in a little practice.
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rbeetsme
585 posts
Jan 20, 2012
3:52 PM
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There's nothing like driving a 40 foot bus towing a 16' trailer across the Kennedy bridge at 65 mph, wailing all the way...not that I'd know.
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shanester
464 posts
Jan 20, 2012
4:40 PM
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I do so much driving that I do it all: play harp, masturbate, roll cigarettes, eat...
No problem loaning me your harp, though. I keep plenty of waterless soap in the dash ;)
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Shane,
"The Possum Whisperer"
Shane's Cloud
1shanester
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Aussiesucker
980 posts
Jan 20, 2012
4:48 PM
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Personally I think it's not only stupid it's also bloody dangerous.
Such activities IMHO are very damaging for the brand 'harmonica'! Many people are quick to judge us and tar us all with the same brush. eg. 'Harmonica players are dickheads'! Harsh?
I know I am quick in my judgement to quite wrongly label people. As an example I live very close to the beach and there are bloody idiots that hoon around on jet skis creating a safety issue for swimmers, themselves, & causing noise. Plus they get bad press due to a very high number of accidents. They have a real bad name. My judgement is/was that all Jet ski owners were moronic idiots. Wrong! Most really are good people. Most do the right thing.
There are people who wrongly judge us as harp players & we wonder why?
Of course always carry a harp or 2 with you and play it in the car as a passenger (if the driver will allow). Also play/practice whilst parked waiting for someone but be mindful to not disturb others. Not everyone loves the sound of a harmonica.
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HARPOLDIE’S YOUTUBE
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shanester
465 posts
Jan 20, 2012
5:11 PM
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Don't worry, I never masturbate while I'm playing, and I only play tasteful stuff, to insure that I'm representing the harp community well.
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Shane,
"The Possum Whisperer"
Shane's Cloud
1shanester
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Oisin
916 posts
Jan 20, 2012
5:19 PM
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That's reassuring Shanster...masturbating while playing the harp could give harp players a bad name. For one thing your timing would be all over the place...speeding up and slowing down inappropriately and keeping your breathforce under control could be a little tricky especially as you reach the end of your "song".
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Oisin
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billy_shines
35 posts
Jan 20, 2012
5:20 PM
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i sing in my helemet when the road is deserted late night early mornings. havent tried harp yet id need a custom helmet.
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shanester
466 posts
Jan 20, 2012
5:26 PM
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Yes Oisin, one could run the risk of being deemed "unprofessional".
Not to mention, a happy ending for you could be a nightmare for the audience.
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Shane,
"The Possum Whisperer"
Shane's Cloud
1shanester
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Greg Heumann
1436 posts
Jan 20, 2012
5:27 PM
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I play frequently in the car. It is the best practice time I have because there's nothing else I can do.
Look - there are people with all different levels of brain power. Some people are so stupid they shouldn't be allowed to drive at all. Others are multi-taskers and know how to prioritize those tasks. Unlike a cell phone call where I may feel obligated to keep listening to someone else, I have no qualms about taking the harp out of my mouth if the situation warrants it. But there is plenty of time in steady state traffic when I have good situational awareness and can easily have enough cycles left over to play the harp. If you don't feel safe doing both, you probably shouldn't. I DO feel safe doing both, so I do.
When a cop is alongside, that's usually enough distraction that I take it out of my mouth!
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/Greg
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FMWoodeye
201 posts
Jan 20, 2012
5:42 PM
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Greg makes sense...but then he usually does. I guess I will have to put an asterisk after my post above. If I'm trying to be creative, I do it at lights or in parking lots. I can remember one simple James Cotton lick that I wanted to develop speed with, and that I would play repetitiously while driving, just cutting that groove in the vinyl of my brain. It worked. It was a painless way to get through that drudgery. A thousand repetitions didn't take long, and now I own the lick in four different positions on the harp. I have taken testimony from neuropsychologists who have stated that driving is such an overlearned function, that even people with closed-head injuries and resulting functional impairments can still perform it.
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crispyagain
72 posts
Jan 20, 2012
6:46 PM
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off topic...but I have found that I can play while reading and still maintain full comprehension.....anybody else ?
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Leatherlips
19 posts
Jan 20, 2012
7:34 PM
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One of my greatest breakthroughs (throat warble) came about whilst driving and I have no regrets about having done that. Mind you, it was on a country road and I would cease if there was another vehicle in sight.
Not sure as I could do the reading and playing thing though.
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jonsparrow
2687 posts
Jan 20, 2012
8:30 PM
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i dont recommend doing it while driving stick
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MP
1959 posts
Jan 20, 2012
9:56 PM
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i do it driving stick all the time. it's just like having good mic technique and switching harps.
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MP
doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
Last Edited by on Jan 20, 2012 9:56 PM
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12gagedan
156 posts
Jan 20, 2012
10:10 PM
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If I didn't play in the car I would almost never practice.
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12gagedan's YouTube Channel
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walterharp
801 posts
Jan 20, 2012
10:47 PM
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they have done these studies where kids on cell phones walk around in simulated traffic (video) and do much better than adults.
i can play harp and do other things much better than i can operate a cell phone, cause i have more experience doing so. not that i should drive doing either!
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Oisin
917 posts
Jan 20, 2012
11:10 PM
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How about using a harp rack whilst driving? It opens up a lot of possibilities.....
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Oisin
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BronzeWailer
370 posts
Jan 21, 2012
2:09 AM
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I was playing at a red light once with the windows rolled up and noticed some youths in the next car staring at me. I explained what I was doing and they said "OK. We thought you were having a stroke or something."
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Pluto
204 posts
Jan 21, 2012
5:52 AM
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I started playing harmonica when I was delivering pizza's in college. I now keep a full set of harps (even a chromatic) in the car and my ipod with 100GB of music. These days my work keeps me on the road a lot, so I actually look forward to my drive/playtime. I shouldn't admit this, but, I got a photo radar ticket TWICE at the same spot, and in both cases the camera caught me playing. I only hope that someone doesn't compare those photographs!
Last Edited by on Jan 21, 2012 5:53 AM
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eharp
1694 posts
Jan 21, 2012
8:06 AM
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too funny, pluto.
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RyanMortos
1240 posts
Jan 21, 2012
8:28 AM
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I'll admit to sometimes turning on some blues on my ipod & holding a harmonica in one hand and driving with the other. It reminds me of when I used to smoke years ago, not all too different from smoking with one hand and driving with the other. Keep your eye and mind on the road and jam along one-handed with what's on the radio. Traffic seems funny take the harmonica hand and put it back on the wheel till it's cool again, no problem.
I have an hour drive each way to/from work & have driven home playing the harmonica the whole way from time to time. But, I'm not sure I'd call this practice & I know I wouldn't call it good practice. To me it's just fun mindless jamming. My real practicing occurs when I get home from work.
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~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Steven Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
See My Profile for contact info, etc.
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