Peter757
13 posts
Apr 12, 2008
11:25 AM
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A new shift in some job responsibilities now has me driving at least once a week, 2.5 hours each way to job location. Drive is in and out of some heavy traffic, but predominently highway driving.
How would you best utilize that time? I'm still a beginning player...have worked on vibrato a bit, when traffic allows. Other than just listening to some blues harp legends, any suggestions?
Thanks.
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eharp
4 posts
Apr 12, 2008
3:22 PM
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i play while driving in all but the worst conditions. if the road is open i even drive with my knees for the intense parts.
i dont really have a set practice routine. i just jam with the music or make up songs about what i see along the road.
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harpmonkey
16 posts
Apr 12, 2008
6:02 PM
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I wonder how many of us are out there scaring people while we drive and jam?
Tape the harp to the steering wheel and then change lanes real fast for that warble.
"I got them 60MPH lane switching warbling blues..."
But be careful, or "the Man" might take away your key to the highway.
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Warbleman
4 posts
Apr 12, 2008
8:13 PM
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I thought I was insane for playing and driving but now that I know I'm not alone, I no longer care. And plus, I can now drive outlandishly good with my knees. I find that Crossroads by Cream is a great song to jam to.
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Leanground
3 posts
Apr 13, 2008
11:07 AM
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I play and drive everytime I have to go someplace. "Johnny Law" hasn't spotted me yet but others have...and call me on it.
Chalk it up to that blossoming blues harp personna
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mr sog
8 posts
Apr 13, 2008
7:44 PM
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Now when I see a head on smash I'll know it's 2 mad harpers joining up for a jam session (or a traffic jam session). lol.
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bdr
5 posts
Apr 14, 2008
5:05 AM
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I work night shifts and drive home during morning rush hour traffic, I could be moving at 5mph on a motorway for up to 1 hour on some days. I use this time to jam along with whatever cd's I'm playing, usually Muddy, Butterfield, Snooky or S&A. I find that playing helps me stay awake on the way home.
when travelling faster on the less congested roads I tend to play one handed but only throw in the occasional riff or try to copy something I've just heard 'cos I'm concentrating on the road.
I wonder if a harp rack would help?
rgds
Bdr
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Peter757
14 posts
Apr 14, 2008
7:58 AM
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Interesting idea on the rack....I'm in North Carolina...there isn't even a cell phone law here. You can still drive and talk on phone without a hands free device! Blowin' harp should be ok then, I would think...
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oldwailer
22 posts
Apr 14, 2008
6:23 PM
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Some of the best stuff I've ever played has been while driving down the road. I've gotten pretty good at it. I consider my work truck to be my woodshed--sometimes I go out and sit there on week-ends just to get into the mood!
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Noblezadaxfan
7 posts
Apr 15, 2008
8:47 PM
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with my job i pass by a train and git stuck behind it while its moveing and i like to play some hapr shuffles when im there cuz it seems to fit the passing of the railroad
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Philosofy
2 posts
Apr 18, 2008
7:43 PM
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I drive about 1,000 miles a week, and that's my harp practice time (I get about 2 hours a week in.) I either jam to Bluesville on XM, or my iPod. My "play along" playlist is:
Juke Little Walter
WHAMMER JAMMER J. GEILS BAND
If You Want to Get to Heaven The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
Long Train Runnin' The Doobie Brothers
Shanty Jonathan Edwards
Room To Move John Mayall
Bad To The Bone George Thorogood
The Bounce Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers
Going Up The Country Canned Heat
Heart Of Gold Neil Young
Rocket 88 Rob Stone & The C Notes Jackie Brenston
But Anyway Blues Traveler Chan Kinchla/John Popper
What I Like About You The Romantics
Mannish Boy Muddy Waters
Honest I Do Jimmy Reed
Orange Blossom Special Charlie McCoy
Foggy Mountain Breakdown (instrumental) Earl Scruggs
Train Train Blackfoot
Miss You The Rolling Stones
She Caught the Katy Blues Brothers
Soul Man Blues Brothers
Sweet Home Chicago Blues Brothers
Work Song The Butterfield Blues Band Nat Adderley/Oscar Brown, Jr.
Wipe Out The Surfaris Berryhill/Jim Fuller/Patrick Connolly/Ron Wilson
Hawaii Five-O The Ventures
Runaway Bonnie Raitt
Willie Brown Blues Ry Cooder
Sonny is King Sonny Terry
Take Me Down Larry Carlton
Yakety Sax Boots Randolph James Rich
Taste Of Honey Herb Alpert
The Creeper Mark Hummel
Not all of them are harp songs, but they are when I play them! Rock songs with sax or flute or fiddle play well with the harp, also.
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geordiebluesman
10 posts
Apr 20, 2008
8:10 AM
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to add to harpmonkeys top tip, try driving with your head stuck through the sun roof,i find if you keep your speed above 100mph it makes the draw notes so much easier!
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John
Guest
Apr 20, 2008
10:43 AM
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I play everyday while driving. I have found that it helps in some ways because I need to swith hands. The bad thing is that when I play with both hands, it is a little awkward after playing one handed for awhile.
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Bobbyred16
8 posts
Apr 21, 2008
7:05 AM
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The car is a great place to practice, it is my woodshed during the week. I only have a 20 min commute to work, but you'd be suprised how much you can accomplish in 15 min intervals. I'll either put on some jam tracks and work on my solos while I drive home, or if I catch a good song on Sirius blues 74, I'll play along to that. I also find that Jerry Portnoy's master class is good for the car, espically if you need some help on bending. When I was starting out I used to play the blues scale in the car over and over and over again. If you don't have this down, it is a great exercise to do in your car since you don't need 2 hands to do it.
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harpmonkey
20 posts
Apr 21, 2008
4:13 PM
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Anyone want a bumper sticker?
Honk if yer Harpin'
LOL
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