|
Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Practice Routines
Practice Routines
Page:
1
rustywater
49 posts
Jun 02, 2009
9:23 AM
|
There are 2 parts to this thread and they are obviously related,
I am interested in how people structure their musical practice routine, not necessarily only with harp but with any instrument.
By that I mean the amount of time used, playing scales, playing what you know, learning new techniques, learning new songs the whole process. I also would include any theory learning in that.
When I used to run I always had a training routine planned because it was the only way to reach a goal that I'd set myself.
That brings me to the second part of the question, what goals do you set yourselves and how do you judge when they have been achieved.
Now I am recovering from an operation and in a few weeks or so would like to take the harp up again but put more into it than I have before.
I'm interested in peoples point of view from beginners up to the pros. I'm really looking for ideas, I appreciate what works for one may not work for another.
I remember reading that Muddy Waters claimed he never practiced guitar but Johnny Winter said that he would practice 6 hours a day.
Any ideas would be welcome.
|
mr_so&so
117 posts
Jun 02, 2009
10:06 AM
|
I'm an amateur player. This is a hobby for me, that I'm passionate about, but have limited time for. Adam, I think, said in a video that you need to put in at least an hour or so a day to get good. That's all I have, at most. With that background, here's my practice routine.
1) I definitely set goals and keep those in mind when I practice. E.g. a year or so ago my main goal was to learn how to do all the bends properly. I also had a goal to learn enough music theory so that I was not guessing about what notes might sound good; know what positions are, etc.
2) Since I have limited time, I try to keep a balance among my various objectives. I play some scales every day, but not generally for a whole session. I've learned a few songs from Adam's MBH videos and often run through those a few times each. If I'm working on a technique, such as tongue blocking, I will do the scales and songs I know, throwing in that technique.
3) I'm usually walking or in the car for my practicing, so when I get the chance to practice at home, I'll try some amplified playing, or some brand new (to me) song or technique that takes two hands and/or a lot of concentration. Once I'm better at it, I'll throw that into my regular practice routine.
4) I also do some "free play" where I just noodle around or play some songs by ear. I hope to do more jamming in the near future.
I'm also working on some other things in my life (e.g. finishing up those $%&@! renovations) so that I do have more time for it and other important things.
Last Edited by on Jun 02, 2009 1:54 PM
|
jonsparrow
392 posts
Jun 02, 2009
10:26 AM
|
i try to play all day every day. my lips are constantly fucked up an sometimes bleeding. so i been trying to make my lips puff out more so it dont realy touch the harp if that makes sense. like the inside will touch more.
the way i practice, i choose one of my favorite keys an just freestyle through the blues scale witch normally turns out to be similar tunes. then i practice certain tunes an riffs an scales. then i praices riffs in minor. i do this for awhile then i do the same thing (but not as long) with all my other keys. i do this maybe twice a day. an through out the day ill ill just play what ever an try to figure out new riffs or just play stuff i know to try an improve it or play it better. better tone, not fuckin up etc...
goals....hmm...i guess my only goal is to get good. i think ill reach that goal when im able to sit in with a pro-harp player. after that my goal will change to be a pro-harp player. i dont have expectations of ever reaching these goals but i sure as hell am going to try my best.
|
dfwdlg
28 posts
Jun 02, 2009
11:52 AM
|
I'm for mixing it up, but having priorities.
Number one is playing with others when the opportunity arises. I just got back from lunch where I played 5 tunes with the solo guitar/vocalist at the local Potbelly's (4 Ryan Adams songs and The Weight by the Band. Thanks to those of you who helped me with Fircrecker on the other thread - ended up using a D-harp) It is now a regular Tuesday thing and he asked if I'd work on an original next week, so that's a good sign.
Tomorrow I'll do 2 open mics (O/Ms)in the evening with a guitarist I met there who does originals (and some Johny Cash). All these lunches & O/Ms are just harp in the room or through the vocal mic of a small PA. I'll probably take my under-used HG-35 out for the Wednedsay gigs as they are getting loud enough for amps (since they allowed bass and drums last week at one of the O/Ms and the other is a full-fledged blues jam).
Two or 3 nights a week I'll play 8 or 10 songs for my 3 yr old at bedtime on harp and guitar. Mostly blues, Beatles and odd new wave/pop (Plimsouls, Costello. Forces me to work on singing and arranging a whole song too
I play 2 or 3 times a day in the car; along with the radio, CDs (working on Dave Barrett lessons - slowly), or just playing one note or chord in and out for tone.
I also keep a harp or two in my pocket so I can kill time when my kids are at the playground or I get stuck at the auto repair shop.
I still want to play more but mixing things up helps keep me from being totally frustrated. I used to do all of Adam's U-Tubes but am stalled at about #142 while I mess with all this other stuff.
All-in-all, I'd say practice being musical and you will find your way. This is my attempt anyhow.
|
sopwithcamels266
85 posts
Jun 02, 2009
1:49 PM
|
rustywater:I'm a Sax player that also plays bluesharp,
so I guess the best advice would be from a pro Harp player like Kudzurunner,Buddha, or Jason Ricci.
I can give you a different angle on it.
To me you should never call it practice, you always play. To get the mind set.It keeps everything your working on interesting and speeds up the learning process.
Always judge your self against the best.
That's it really I don't see my self qualified to give
tips on playing harp.
Last Edited by on Jun 02, 2009 3:18 PM
|
nacoran
33 posts
Jun 02, 2009
2:34 PM
|
I keep a harp with me most of the time and just try to pick tunes out of the air. Keying songs is still time consuming for me, but I've slowly been adding 'key' to my music catalog on my computer in Media Player. Even taking the time to figure out the right key to play along in is a useful exercise. You can then use that to sort songs so you can have a play list of a bunch of songs in the same key to play along with. My trial of Bendometer ran out and I can't afford to update it right now, but practicing scales with that certainly helps. I find I can pick out the melody of songs I know well. That means a I can figure out a lot of songs I listened to when I was a kid, but unless I can whistle it I can't play it. Since I spent a lot of years in choirs I tend to keep time to the words in the song. I'm a little lazy that way. I really should be doing more counting so that I don't miss my entrance after a long guitar solo.
So to summarize, if I actually followed my own advice, I'd probably start of by trying to play all twelve key scales on a couple of harps, maybe one low, one high. Next, I'd put on some music and try to key a few songs. I'd try playing along with those songs a while, following the melody, improvising a little bit, then I'd pick one to play without the music. I'd try a few different ways to play it, some tongue block octaves, some chords, single notes, bends, etc. I'd stop, get a tasty beverage, and see how my lips were feeling. When I decided I'd had enough I'd clean my harp up a bit and listen to some music for more ideas. You want to have a combination of always trying new songs but also making sure you practice a few standards and get them sounding spectacular. I also spend some time just making stuff up. Free play helps you develop an idea of how to create your own music. It also helps you hear the intervals which will be really useful for picking stuff up.
When I was first learning I made a point to NOT TRY to play any songs at first. I just thought of it as making noise. I knew I wasn't going to be great at playing tunes right away but I was sure I could make noise! My friends didn't appreciate this, but after a little while I learned the intervals and I started realizing I was playing the same notes a particular song and I was able to figure the song out. It helped me think of the harmonica more as a bunch of notes than a bunch of holes that make notes.
|
Max-T
13 posts
Jun 03, 2009
3:21 AM
|
With almost no music theory behind me (even though I've been playing piano for years and guitar for 3) I find it hard to find out the key songs are in.
I spend hours listening to one song and flicking through harps finding out which one sounds the best to gel with it.
I've never set out a practice routine (maybe I should)
I've bought a coupple of adams video's and watched alot of his youtube lessons that and songs are where I've been pulling my info from.
At the moment I've been working on using my hands to create a more dynamic sound (adding Wah's to emphasise ceratin notes)
I guesse I find something I like in a particular style and go for it, I got the idea of learning to use my hands from Sonny Boy Williamson II's records, sitting down for maybe four hours just trying to nail it.
the next day I do it again until I am satisfied and then maybe try and work it into a riff I know from Adam's videos or sometimes I just improv with it.
Using this technique I know a few songs, and I can bend the 4 hole and 2 hole and a bit on the third but that is still very very tricky for me, no way I can work it into a song yet. I am getting better with the hands (having said that I tend to roll back to an awkward cupping position which isnt great) and I've been thinking of looking at tongue blocking for a bit to introduce myself too it.
So i guesse my practice is a bit sporadic in terms of structure I've got alot on the go including working in some cool transition type syncopation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31uSB_Wk588
Generally I play how I feel
----------
"imagination is more important then knowledge" - Albert Einstien
Last Edited by on Jun 03, 2009 4:07 AM
|
Preston
393 posts
Jun 03, 2009
5:53 AM
|
Well it's summertime. There are things to do in the back yard and my son is in little league baseball, so my practice time is pretty much the same as non-existant.
When I do practice, I have taken to practicing with an electronic keyboard. I have been practicing the chromatic, major, major pent. and minor pent. along with they keyboard. I believe this helps me with tone and intonation. After I've played each scale several times I turn on one of the keyboards built-in songs and improv to it. I usually record myself and go back and listen of intonation and pitch problems.
|
aka
3 posts
Jun 03, 2009
6:32 AM
|
I try to work on only 2 things at a time, and one song at a time.
3 sessions of 20 minutes each benefit me more than one one hour session. 2 of the sessions are usually drive time.
I also like to record my sessions. I found I sound a lot different, and have been blowing too hard on #6 for some reason.
I try not to practice too hard, if I do, it becomes work.
|
Post a Message
|
