MichaelAndrewLo
578 posts
Feb 14, 2014
11:51 PM
|
Well at the last months of 2013 I suddenly found myself playing music full time and making a living at it after my work contract ended I just decided not to renew from october. Immersing myself in the local music scene and playing with everybody going to every open mic and jam and suddenly people offering gigs and getting in with a group of musicians. Have a set gig every monday that plays from 630pm to 1am pays 60 to 90 depending on turn out plus tips. Then usually a friday and saturday gig making $90 to 150 usually playing 9 to 1230. It feels really good and it's finally allowing me my fantasy of practicing all day and playing all night. The beauty is we don't have to tour much. I didn't realize how much I would dislike traveling to play music but it's good to learn.
The reason I'm sharing this is because I have had trouble recently with trying to push myself to learn new stuff and really progress. I feel I can do certain things and the bar crowd will enjoy it so why try any harder? It's a terrible attitude I know but it seems hard to rub it off when I hit my practice sessions. I have a taken a larger picture to the music as a whole in a rather depressing way realizing that most people don't care what is exactly in the harmonica solo or what the harp player plays as long as the song is good. But sometimes when I hit an amazing feel and play something incredible for some seconds people are hit like a ton of bricks. I want to be able to have that power at my fingers. I have been learning bluegrass tunes and have a set 75 minute practice session I do every day.
But other than that I am looking for advice on other things to work on that might help me get to the next level of excellent phrasing or keeping things fresh when playing 4-5 hours straight.
All advice much appreciated! Thanks!
----------
Andrew Larson, R.N.
|
Kingley
3463 posts
Feb 15, 2014
12:41 AM
|
It can be very hard to maintain a rigid practice routine when you're playing a lot of gigs. Probably the best advice I could give you is stop listening to harp players and try stealing licks and stuff from other instruments. Also learn actual songs not just solos. learn to play melody lines. That way when a certain song comes up you have the knowledge to play it, plus you can also quote parts of songs in solos here and there. A lot of people really dig that kind of thing. Also practice rhythm playing and brass section lines, so you can play lots of stuff behind the vocals. Also try not to play on every song. If you can sing, then put the harp down now and then and just sing the main vocal or do backing vocals, or even just stand back and let the band do their thing.
|
Leatherlips
230 posts
Feb 15, 2014
1:53 AM
|
Geez, I know this feeling well.
What Kingley says is right on the money. I've been practicing my singing much more than the harp. If there is something specific in a number which is vital to how it sounds , I will learn that and make it mine. Otherwise I think that as you are playing so much anyway, that those special things which come out of it will come much more naturally and you'll find you are playing them without even thinking about them.
|
Frank
3831 posts
Feb 15, 2014
6:55 AM
|
Mastering the art of fundamental, foundational "improvisational skills" is an excellent way to keep music pertinent and fresh...Strong improvisational abilities gives the freedom to express oneself confidently and meaningfully – song after song…
No doubt, 4 or 5 hrs of playing live will always be a challenge…But knowing how to improvise is the ticket to help keeping things varied, colorful and exciting. And of course posessing the skills for being a very strong rhythm player / supporting player should help a ton with keeping it fresh and fun too ?
Last Edited by Frank on Feb 15, 2014 7:04 AM
|
DukeBerryman
154 posts
Feb 15, 2014
9:13 AM
|
No advice - just congrats on going pro! How about practicing a completely different instrument to get some musical ideas?
|
Tuckster
1393 posts
Feb 15, 2014
11:12 AM
|
Congratulations and good luck on your new career! I'm far from a pro but I gigged pretty heavily in a band about 10 years ago. Just the gigging is practice in one respect. We gigged so much that we never had time to rehearse and learn new songs(we all had day jobs). So after a while it became a rut,playing the same songs night after night. I begged the guys to learn new songs,but we never did. It ultimately caused me to quit.I like to always keep challenging myself and one of my favorite ways is to learn new songs and try to figure out how to fit on them. Not just in the blues genre,but in other styles and grooves. Plus there is the band dynamic. Depending on band members moods,they may not play it the same way they did last time. For instance, if my solo follows the guitar player's solo,what he plays determines what I play. That helps keep it fresh,which is what you want to strive for.
|
robbert
280 posts
Feb 15, 2014
1:52 PM
|
I have a couple of long term main groups and a couple of less frequent side projects with other folks...each one a different style of music. In each group, depending on the song, the harp has a different role. Sometimes lead, sometimes accompaniment(faking the role of horn, bass or organ). I'm not saying I always pull out a completely convincing part, but there's the challenge. Often improvising a solo is not so hard, although the execution can be fumbled, but learning an actual melody, or comp part can be more demanding. Anyway, all this variety keeps it fresh and an ongoing challenge. BTW, these groups all gig out.
|
Rick Davis
2963 posts
Feb 15, 2014
3:44 PM
|
Some of the pros I know don't really practice...
----------
-Little Rick Davis
The Memphis Mini harp amp
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
|
Frank
3837 posts
Feb 15, 2014
4:43 PM
|
I suppose the only time it would be necessary for them to practice would be in order to learn something new that they're not yet familiar playing...ex: a new tune or technique and such :)
Last Edited by Frank on Feb 15, 2014 4:45 PM
|
GMaj7
358 posts
Feb 15, 2014
6:22 PM
|
Just remember that image is everything.
I think a lot of musicians destroy their value and hurt their image by propelling the starving artist routine. Music doesn't really pay except for an extremely fortunate few. However, if as a musician your communication is always laced with how tough times are and how little you make, it is hard to garner respect.
That seems to be a calling card for harp players and I can't see how it helps get better and higher paying jobs.
----------
Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
|
MichaelAndrewLo
579 posts
Feb 15, 2014
11:57 PM
|
Thanks for all the advice so far, I feel better about it already! I will try to focus on singing practice a little more/ear training as a little bit of that seems to have made a difference already when a new tune is called I am not familiar with. Between the three of us and the bass player we probably each know 50 or so songs to play and sing, mostly all different, so at least that keeps things fresh. We play probably 80% originals as well so if one of us writes a new song we can try it out very quickly. Maybe it is best not to sweat trying to improve on harp and develop musically in other areas, letting the harp take care of itself. This is what I have taken from the group advice so far.
@ Gmaj7 I am not quite sure what you are saying? I am in no way getting rich off what I make playing music but it's regular pay and enough to live off for me as I'm not really worried about saving money now. It's good I'm not a gear head now and actually I've gone back to playing stock harps as I have destroyed my custom harps pretty much. I find I like stock marine bands better in the end strangely.
----------
Andrew Larson, R.N.
|
GMaj7
359 posts
Feb 16, 2014
1:50 AM
|
.. MichaelAndrewLo.. My post was just a general rambling rant about the number of pro musicians out there who like to constantly remind the world how much they aren't making. They seem to give everyone a little too much information...
I found a hole so I thought I would stand up and do a solo on the topic. Definitely sounds like you are NOT one of those kind of musicians. Cool stuff that you got the snaps to pull this off. .. It would amount to a drastic weight loss program if I did it..
Super best to you ...
----------
Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
|
JustFuya
2 posts
Feb 18, 2014
10:06 PM
|
Congratulations! Booking a regular gig is a huge accomplishment.
Doing what you love is natural. Getting paid for it is a blessing. Don't over think it. Enjoy it.
Best of luck!
Last Edited by JustFuya on Feb 18, 2014 10:17 PM
|
