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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
How I Practice
How I Practice
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Rgsccr
189 posts
Aug 01, 2013
12:30 PM
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I know there are different approaches to getting better - this seems to work for me, but I'd be interested in what other think. I try to play a couple of times a day for a half hour or so (I'd play more but I have to at least pretend to work). Generally, I play songs from Little and Big Walter, Butterfield, Paul Delay, and both Sonny Boys in the morning, and other stuff (Junior Wells, Slim Harpo, Kim Wilson, etc.) at night. I play Juke once everyday. The main thing I pay attention to is trying to get as close as I can to the tone of these artists, secondly to the rhythm. I am less concerned with duplicating the exact riffs, although the more I play a song the closer I get to that as well. I do record myself from time to time to see how I sound. In the morning I play a couple of songs acoustically, then the rest through my mic and amp (brown biscuit and bassman). At night I only play acoustically. I do play along with songs that don't have harp in them, using them as jam tracks. Occasionally I play along with actual jam tracks, too. Beyond this I go to (at least) one blues jam every week - generally frequented by some of the best blues guys in Seattle (Elmer's Pub). For me, this seems to be a good approach - for one thing, since I am playing along with songs I like, it seems like fun rather rote practice and I do more. I am definitely improving as guys at the jam are telling me, (and as my couple of drunken groupies have said - at least I think that's what they said), and as evidenced by the fact that I usually get asked up for a couple of sets now, often with guys from the jam band. I also participate in Jerry Portnoy's excellent lessons on sonic-junction.com, although I kind of pick and choose how much time I put into them depending on how interested I am in the song he is teaching. Anyway, that's what I am doing, thoughts? Oh yeah, I always carry a harp or two with me, plus have a complete set in my car. Rich
Last Edited by Rgsccr on Aug 01, 2013 12:35 PM
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tookatooka
3421 posts
Aug 01, 2013
12:42 PM
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Ok Guys, hold him down while I get the straightjacket :)
That's what I call dedication to the cause.
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Kingley
2959 posts
Aug 01, 2013
12:48 PM
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Sounds like a pretty good way to improve to me.
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Rgsccr
190 posts
Aug 01, 2013
1:57 PM
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Ooh, don't mention straightjackets - my wife might get some ideas. On the other hand, that does remind me of a couple of my favorite songs - "Insane Asylum" (Koko Taylor and Willie Dixon) and "Weak Brain and Narrow Mind" (Wille Dixon). Somewhat more seriously, one reason I practice this way is that it is increasingly more fun as I improve. To think that I am now playing songs by my harp and blues heroes in a manner that is somewhat recognizable is super cool. I am not really new to this - I've been playing since the late 60s - but pretty badly for most of that time. The last four years have been much better. I look forward to getting my harps out each day.
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Rarko
27 posts
Aug 01, 2013
2:58 PM
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My friends saw Sugar Blue in backstage, at one european blues rock festival one month ago... And while other musicians from all over the world were talking and drinking he played scales, triplets... whole two hours before coming on stage.
Do you know any story about practicing, how pro players and blues legends used to practice...?
Last Edited by Rarko on Aug 01, 2013 2:59 PM
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hooktool
59 posts
Aug 01, 2013
9:00 PM
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Slacker............. That's a very good post, and encouraging for me. I have played on and off for a pretty long time, more off really. Lately I have jumped in and trying to dedicate myself to learning and getting better. This board has helped, and posts like yours surely help.
I just flew out of SeaTac this morning-should have asked around before I went.
John
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