Considering how harp players already have breath control, vibrato, and making sounds while exhaling/inhaling, isn't it just a jump away from singing?
It seems that harmonica players who can sing get a lot more playing time in a band.
I think budding harp players should be learning how to sing to capitalize on the instrument. I have NO musical or singing experience, and NO natural talent, but after two years of harp I'm finding I'm becoming familiar with notes and can start to carry tunes...almost any tune.
For sure. Its a natural path if you are getting a vocal coach taking you through breathing exercises to jump to singing, but its not just a small step to get there. Getting the right notes vocally is a lot different then hitting them on the harp. Tongue and mouth position are all different and the breathing is a lot more relaxed. After all you can't sing breathing in but you can play the harp that way. I took a few breathing lessons from a vocal coach for the harp and although I do share the vocals in the band with the rythym guitar player I still have a long way to go to stay on key and hit the right notes. Lots-O-practice-required and lots of funny looks from the aduience when you do hit that wrong note. Still it is just a step further to get there and you can definitely secure a band spot if you can sing. Good Luck with it. ---------- "Keep it in your mouth" - XHarp
Hell yes. Name a commercially successful harp player you know who doesn't sing..... (Actually there are a few, as sidemen to folks like Willie Nelson or Jimmy Buffet, but they really are the exception to the rule.)
I started to sing because I wanted more control over what happened at the jam - my first public performances. Now, I sing tunes in the band even when I don't play harp. I love singing.
If you want to be a sideman there's nothing wrong with just playing harp. If you want to be a frontman you'll have a very difficult time making it if you don't. ---------- /Greg
I think you are right about breath control. I like to record songs on my computer since I don't play with a band. Listening back to them, I've clearly become a better singer as my harp playing has improved.
I agree with Greg's point as well. I went to a jam recently and I only played one song, a Jimmy Reed number. I just couldn't hear a harp part for the rock songs they were playing. I was thinking next time I go, I'm going to be prepared to sing and therefore lead the band and call the shots.
I would think that since the harp is closely related-linked to the expressiveness of the human voice, that the reverse is also true: Vocal coaching could help your harping.
We should all sing, when we practice harp, if only to drive it into our skulls that the singer wants to be heard too. I don't think much of my singing, and I don't do it yet when I'm harping. Adam's "Eight-bar blues" lesson has some nice old tunes with simple lyrics that even I am beginning to learn after a bunch of listens.
I agree that famous harp players are good singers too. But I also believe that not every harp player can make a good singer. However, most people can probably become decent singers with enough work at it and some lessons. I'm going to work at it.
I've always been the main singer in every band I've been in, but I don't think my harp playing helps my singing in the least. Junior Wells IS the man. Check out this vid. This is the BLUES:
Could not agree more with most comments. In fact IMHO if you are a good harp player or generally a good musician on any instrument then the step to singing should be short. If you already have 'mastered' timing, delivery and phrasing with the harp, you should be able to do exactly the same with your voice.
I think the big mistake we make is in judging how we sound. Some voices sound terrible but they still can sing. Probably the majority of blues harp greats don't have what would normally be judged as a good voice but they can be great singers. In the jazz world we had the great Satchmo - fantastic musician, grovelly(awful) voice but superb singer. Similarly there are some beautiful voices around that are unable to hold a tune.
No, I don't sing, I can't. But I also struggle with the harp in timing, phrasing & delivery.
I think you should try singing if you play the harp. There are some similarities at least in the use of the soft pallet (at least that seems to be what I've learned). I also think it plays into the "play like another instrument while playing the harp" discussion I heard on a thread awhile back. Everyone can improve their voice through coaching and practice. Can everyone sing? No, but the attempt I think will be beneficial to your harp playing in timing and empathy with those who do sing if nothing else.
It's a bit of catch 22! If you are not a really good harp player then your role in eg a music trio will be minimal and the guitarist and drummer might not like splitting the nights takings equally with you.
The alternatives are to sing or also contribute by adding to the groups sound with another instrument eg washboard, melodica, tambourine.
good comments all. i played harp for about 20 years on and off before i took the chance to actually try singing in a band. which worked fair, and when i then began also singing at open mics as a live practice, and took some breathing exercises from a voice coach, things solidified a lot. i can sing a whole night's worth if there's no other singer, but i much prefer another voice, different from mine, to counterpoint and share the load. i have a whiskey and cigarette voice. it's ok. what i think i have that's really an asset is, attitude. and great love for what i pick to sing. i don't choose impossible songs, and what i do choose, i try to respect what the originator was doing. even the originals i do tend to remind whoever's hearing them of someone who was in on founding the blues or adding to the body of blues. i agree with the statement made that everyone ought to give vocals a try for a time. funny thing is, i didn't find my voice until my late 30's although i have always been a shower singer! relaxing and doing some breathing exercises made a lot of difference in my stamina vocally too.
we are often our own worst critics with something so personal as our voice and skill. what i have always dug about blues is, sometimes the voice was not the best, but the sincerity was there in the stuff i reacted to. i say, give yourself a chance and try singing. it is good for the soul at the very least, but you will also often find that people appreciate the honest and sincere effort you put forth.
I sing and play , also it helps with phrasing on the harp , Sometimes if the harp is always chugging along it can overshadow what the vocals are doing so , even thinking and fitting the harp around the vocals is always beneficial, listen to little walter, he's not blasting through every song . I also play guiatr and sing , with lead flls it's the same principle , to use phrasing to complement the vocals and not to wipe them out , It ll depends on your Ego , and whether your listeing to the band or just yourself ?
I sing and play harp and sax. For me, I don't like playing a solo on a song unless I know the lyrics for it. I try to phrase my solos to go with the phrasing of the words. I do wish my band would play something other than gawd-awful high-pitched multiple-sharp guitar keys all the time. By the end of a gig, I can't hardly speak for a day. I've tried talking to a vocal coach, and he gave me some good tips, but I still think it comes back to the others in the band being unwilling/able to modulate songs to more friendly keys for my baritone/bass voice. It's always the other guys' fault, not mine, right?
I'm with jbone. Breathing from the diaphram makes all the difference, so harp and singing seem to share that, IMHO.
Next, (American Idol fans), it is about song selection. There are so many songs. Find (or write) the ones that you can deliver effortlessly (at least that's the goal).
Preston said: "Vocal coaching could help your harping." That could be very true. Not being a singer myself I think it is a lot about shaping your mouth cavity, i.e. tone... and it seems to me as if this was also a big subject in harping.
I picked the first singing lesson on youtube and I actually thought it was pretty ok:
I can't imagine NOT singing when I play. It's just always been that way, sometimes singing back up and harmonies, other times singing lead with or without others. Playing harp & singing also involves certain mechanics to get used to. Same focal point, our mouths, different mics, switching back and forth is tough at first. Sometimes it helps to blow harp thru the vocal mic. Another tip for some which may help.. I close my eyes when I play harp alot, it's just the feel I get and a long time habit. Coming back cleanly to the vocal mic sometimes is tough. It helps to use a Shure 55 mic (popularly known as the elvis mic) for vocals. It's a bigger mic then most stick style mics and makes for an easier target. It may sound like a secondary unimportant thing, but it really helps. Singing is also a confidence thing, The more comfy you feel doing it, the better you are. My friends all think I use that mic just to look cool. Hey if it has that effect, no problem. But I feel more comfortable with it.
I was into singing before I ever played any instrument--so I believe that singing is the basic instrument of this universe--everything else is back-up.
So, go find some training and learn something about singing, or you'll always be a sideman to some degree--don't get me wrong--I think there are many GREAT sidemen--but the singer will pretty much always be the real focus of a piece of music.
Even when there is no vocalist, when the band plays "My Funny Valentine," --nobody in the audience is thinking "C_C_D_C_D_C" The Words are what is in the mind of the listener.
I don't mean to come off like I'm a great singer--but I can't imagine not singing as a part of my music. . .
There are singers and there are shouters to be sure.
For some it's really a short jump. Just listen to Phil Collins or the mono-tempo singer of New Order. They are almost talking normally. Just slowing it down and adding some musical qualities.
I am/was a big fan of Rush, and that voice is just so grating, but it still works. I read in one booklet that you have to be able to adduct or partially "zip up" your vocal chords certain lengths to work the voice. Just sitting here and trying to do a throat vibrato without a harp i'm getting pretty much the same action.
As a side note to the post "You can't sing breathing in but you can play the harp that way," I have a nice dvd where voice students can sing several octaves, hitting the notes individually both breathing in and then out. It's quite interesting, even though they aren't singing any songs like that.
Nice if someone could make a youtube video about the connections/similarities between singing and harping.
I have recently decided that I have to learn to sing. It will add some variety to my busking routine and I beleive it will help my harp tone (diaphragm breathing etc.) Thanks to germanharpist for posting the vid above. That guy seems pretty good. Another guy called Eric Arceneaux has some useful looking exercises.
Does anyone know if there is an "Adam Gussow" of vocal lessons out there in YouTube Land?
It all depends on your harmonica skills. If you can play a lot styles well and play chromatic well also not just third position blues you can get a lot more work. ---------- Emile "Diggs" D'Amico a Legend In His Own Mind How you doin'
It's sort of been mentioned already, but the voice is it's own instrument. A lot of people don't pay enough attention to how they currently use their voice in speaking or singing. You don't have to have a "good" voice. Gravelly, raspy, clean, or whatever, the main thing is to have the ability to listen to your voice and be able to tell if you are on pitch. Breath control is necessary, but in addition to that, your vocal rhythm is extremely important. I've heard great voices that I could not stand to listen to because the singer had a horrible sense of vocal rhythm. It's amusing for me to watch a fantastic instrumentalist start singing and not be able to find the pitch or the vocal rhythm. Some people can't make that jump to the vocal instrument without a lot of effort...and some can't at all. So, should you sing? That depends. Find people you really trust and ask them about it. There are plenty of singers who don't have a good voice out there...but if you have pitch and rhythm, you can find the songs that will work for you.
Last Edited by on Jun 26, 2011 9:51 AM
I started singing about 18 months ago after receiving the following pearls of wisdom from some people who shall remain nameless:
1. Non-singing harp players are like tits on a bull. Largely un-necessary.
2. Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon have passed away. The demand for non-singing harp players is at an all time low.
3. Non-singing harp players are a dime a dozen. Learn to sing.
Since, I started singing, even horribly, the opportunities to play more have tripled. Additionally, when you sing and lead the band, you get to call the tunes and you start playing the stuff you enjoy playing instead of being at the mercy of others. As a result, you will be more passionate about what you are doing and that will make you a better player/performer. ---------- The Blues Photo Gallery
1) everybody can sing (I didn't say sing good) Therefore, every listener can relate to the singing
2) If you want other musicians to play along, sing the song. They will catch on MUCH faster.
3) When I went to Augusta Blues Week at Elkins,WV (and again this July), I dropped some harp classes for singing classes. It was probably my best decision. The singing tips have helped my playing.
4) BUT, there are a FEW hopeless that should NOT sing, or will not take the time to learn to sing within their limits.
---------- The WV State Harmonica Championship at The Diamond Teeth Mary Blues Festival Aug 27th & 28th 2011, Huntington,WV
Last Edited by on Jun 26, 2011 11:27 AM
I have never mapped out a course so to speak. I have done what interests me. I always liked to sing so I sing. The harp grabbed me so I played it. Then the guitar got my interest so I played. Then the keys and drums got me interested, so I played them. With art I can't comprehend having a game plan. If I did, it would be a cut and paste experience. Instead I let it guide me and what it leads to , so far at least, has been never endingly intersting. Cookie cutters make the same shapes evertime. That is what I see with a game plan for learning an instrument, band line up, set list, etc.... The more I reflect, the more I realize I do not follow the crowd. I am glad, because this way of doing art/music never gets boring or overwhelming. I do it for my own enjoyment not to fit in or make a bigger name for myself. It puts me in my own universe. No competition or comparisions. That would be depressing to me- being in the mass grouping of the traditional approach to music-too many rules to follow and always someone(s) better at what I would be trying to do. To think about I need to practice such and such, learn this riff, learn to sing this song, and such, crushes my creativety. Allowing myself to let the music guide me has led to becoming a special ed teacher. That brings in enough $ to allow my art to run free of worries. My experience with trying to make it in music often did the opposite..... We have to think all the time in this world of ours to survive. Music is the one place I can let all that go and travel on endless journies with my spontaneous songs. So should harp players sing? I say if it calls you follow it. Walter ---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
I dont mean to minimize this,but isn`t singing the blues much easier and requires much less skill and less natural ability than singing like stevie wonder?
I know I keep saying this, but harmonica players can learn a lot from opera singers. I know they were really helpful to me. ---------- David Elk River Harmonicas
