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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Do you ever get bored?
Do you ever get bored?
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Dog Face
218 posts
Sep 10, 2013
6:28 AM
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I've been playing with a band for just about a year now. We came together as a joke, but when people heard us they wanted us to play everywhere. We've been getting paid gigs regularly as well as good audience response at those gigs. I attribute most of that to our front man, his singing, and his politicking.
Here's the problem I'm running into: we play top 40-esque music from the 60's to today. We originally did not have a lead guitar player so I had to fabricate the lead on harmonica. This gave us an interesting sound that I can't deny is strange but cool.
I get so bored playing covers, even though I won't play them the same way twice. The rest of the band has a hard time playing blues. So when I attempt to add music that doesn't bore me it's hard to get into the set list. I'm not a singer... in comparison to our lead guy, so that idea is out. When friends or family come to see us play they always say, "you guys sounded good, but you looked so bored up there."
When I don't play the rest of the band gets upset saying don't just stand there. My argument is that even as a harmonica player, the harmonica cannot be played all song every song. I'm a firm believer in the thought that sometimes it's not what you play, but what you don't play.
Do or have any of you experienced these thoughts or emotions? Maybe this is just a vent session for me, but I would like to hear like stories.
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Brad
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Gnarly
690 posts
Sep 10, 2013
6:49 AM
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This is nothing like my experience onstage, but I do have an opinion.
Change it up! Play long tones, try altered tunings, use a chromatic--or a bass harp!
If you think harp shouldn't be on every song, use an effects processor to turn the sound of the harmonica into another virtual instrument.
If all else fails, chug!
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MN
274 posts
Sep 10, 2013
7:26 AM
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Earlier this year I found myself in sort of the reverse of your situation, Dog Face.
I still enjoyed the music we made on stage, but all the other stuff got so bad I ended up throwing in the towel. The band leader refuses to be a leader. As a consequence, we start every gig late and half the guys get drunk. Those beers often get deducted from the entire band's pay. Sounds-checks are embarrassing, unprofessional noodling/masturbation sessions that the audience often mistakes for the beginning of the show. The "leader" insists on writing a new set-list every single gig, usually starting this about 10 minutes 'after' we were due to start. The money we earned was paltry 10 years ago and has only gotten worse. On and on.
I just realized that I came home from every gig pissed off. I also realized that the only reason I'd stayed in the poop soup so long is that I knew there's little to no chance that, as a harp player only, I'll land into another working gig any time soon. I haven't played a paying gig in like nine months now, but at least I have my mental health. The band leader still asks me to come back all the time, but I'm done pissin' in the wind.
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dmitrysbor
99 posts
Sep 10, 2013
7:37 AM
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Yeap,
I'm tired of playing covers about a year ago. I started to wrote lyrics and coming up with a solo on harmonica&sax on the top of guitar backtrack which could be found a lot on youtube.
And I strongly believe that it's much more creative thing to do. Now I'm start thinking of arrangement and composing music.
Last Edited by dmitrysbor on Sep 10, 2013 7:38 AM
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HarpNinja
3445 posts
Sep 10, 2013
8:07 AM
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I play primarily rock music. There is MUCH more a harp can do in that arena than blues. If we're looking at things you can control within that group starting today...
Learn some theory. Most, not all the time, harp players get stuck in the rut of playing 2nd position blues scales over changes that allow for much more than that.
Stop playing "harp" stuff. Treat it like a horn or piano instead.
Start playing around with effects.
The most fun I ever had gigging was with a cover rock band that treated harp as the lead instrument. It was like playing in Blues Traveler and doing all songs people knew. I sank a ton of money into lights and PA and didn't have much for recording gear, sadly. I wish I had vids from that group.
Here is an example of harp in context to your example (I am not singing, it is lame bar rock, and the harp doesn't always sound like harp).
The only clip I have from Groove Stew, which was actually from a really crappy gig...
And the last time I played out live...
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Mantra Customized Harmonicas
My Website
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Dog Face
219 posts
Sep 10, 2013
9:00 AM
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I do mix it up. I play different textures and sounds and all that. Sometimes I play a horn section or go for a percussive sound. I'll play the bass line, melody, and lead guitar (on my harmonica). I'll play different positions (1,2, and 3rd.. a little 5th, but that's the extent of it) I never play the same song the exact same way twice. I play chromatic and low tuned harps. There are songs that we play that I will switch between 2 or 3 harps to play different things.
I guess I need to get some video or sound bites of us playing. Think of the past, I don't know, 6 decades and the most over played songs of those decades from different genres (reggae, rock, country, pop, etc..we play it all) and there you have our set list... Think wedding band...
The money is good. The gigs fall in our laps. I like the guys personally, but to them music is business and to me it's fun. I guess I just get bored listening to the same songs over and over. When a new song is brought up for us to play, it's already been played out. When I bring something up, they're like "I like it but could you play something like this with it?"
It's funny when I think of all of those jokes about harp players coming in when they shouldn't, walking over other players, taking a solo when it's not wanted, etc- They want me to be that guy! It's weird. When I go home after practice or a gig and want to sit and play a slow drag, I can't. It's like I get brainwashed.
Like I said, this could just be a vent session for me because I got an email with new songs to learn and it ground my gears.
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Brad
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Gnarly
692 posts
Sep 10, 2013
9:08 AM
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I play music for a living, it used to be more dependable for me.
I never mind playing things that are stale to me, I am playing for the audience after all.
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Michael Rubin
790 posts
Sep 10, 2013
9:44 AM
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One of my bands it is my schtick to look bored except when I solo. Then I jump around like crazy. I often stretch, floss my teeth, make phone calls, anything to look bored. Amazingly, often audience members do not get it and chide me after our sets.
I will say I am amazed how often I hear stories like yours. I think you have to let the money go and find a band that is interesting to you. If you really need the money, stay in the band and pretend to be happy. Then find another band on the side. I am not sure I agree with the idea of playing for the audience if you as a musician are bored. I think you need to play for yourself first and then the audience will coincidentally reap the rewards as it feels the energy of a happy musician.
Last Edited by Michael Rubin on Sep 10, 2013 9:47 AM
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JInx
526 posts
Sep 10, 2013
10:03 AM
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i don't get bored, but i only play for fun so....
but, i can see that if it was my job, something like that might happen i suppose. louis armstrong supposedly liked it with reefer. maybe it kept his edge.
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Sun, sun, sun
Burn, burn, burn
Soon, soon, soon
Moon, moon, moon
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harmonicanick
2020 posts
Sep 10, 2013
10:11 AM
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@DogFace
Leave the band asap but first be honest with them about your reasons for quitting
You will find the older you get the less tolerant you are of boredom
You would be better off just going on your own to open mic's, or jams
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JInx
527 posts
Sep 10, 2013
10:26 AM
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yeah man, nice roadhouse! what was that you did there at the 7:00 mark? that was wild stuff. Is that harmonica beginning from 1:30 - 2:50 ?!
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Sun, sun, sun
Burn, burn, burn
Soon, soon, soon
Moon, moon, moon
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Gnarly
693 posts
Sep 10, 2013
10:41 AM
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Michael opined:
I am not sure I agree with the idea of playing for the audience if you as a musician are bored. I think you need to play for yourself first and then the audience will coincidentally reap the rewards as it feels the energy of a happy musician.
And I reply:
Getting paid takes me a long way toward being a happy musician.
It's like with teaching, I am not normally a patient man, but become considerably more patient when the meter is on.
Oops, that makes me a whore. Oh well, it's not like I hate music or anything . . .
Please remember that most people who hear me aren't paying attention anyway--but it seeps into their world, and sometimes they tell me they like it.
Also consider that I am not primarily a harmonica player--I consider it "value added" in my act.
I DO agree that if you just aren't feeling good about it at all, you need to evaluate if there is another good reason to continue. But I personally have quit very few bands.
Ooops, last disclaimer. I perform as a solo act a lot.
Last Edited by Gnarly on Sep 10, 2013 10:41 AM
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nacoran
7117 posts
Sep 10, 2013
11:54 AM
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We always tried, in my bands, to let each member pick and lead a couple songs each. That gives everyone a chance to play a bit of what they want to play, and since they are leading it, they get to play it the way they want and everyone learns each other's tastes and techniques a bit. I don't think I'd want to play in a band that wasn't open to that sort of thing. Work on side projects. I'm not nearly the singer our ex-lead singer was, but we still had some songs I sang on because I had a different sounding voice than him that worked better for some things. We always were encouraging other members to sing a song or two too.
There is a local band around here that has several guys who play horns, on a couple songs, they send them out into the audience to play. (You might need a megaphone to get the same effect with a harp, but that gives it's own interesting tone, and it changes things up a bit.)
The most important question though is, is it effecting your outlook on playing in general, or just playing with these guys. If it's not spilling over into your enjoyment of music in general and the money is good, you can look at it like a job and take it or leave it for the money. If it's spilling out into the rest of music, run.
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Nate
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Gnarly
697 posts
Sep 10, 2013
12:02 PM
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Nate, yeah that's my litmus test too.
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Frank
2719 posts
Sep 10, 2013
2:16 PM
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Life sucks then you die - it's a mean ole world, I wish I could help, tragic story...sorry you have to endure it, maybe you'll find a way out?
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