DannyRanch
19 posts
Dec 06, 2014
9:08 AM
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Hey folks
I don't know if this topic has been talked so far
But considering this forum is frequented by pros and really cool harp players, I will like to see if ya guys can share any story of yer first time playing on a jam session or something like that.
To know stuff like the preparation, what you did, and how it went overall.
Stories can be cool as well and we all learn from errors.
So I'll start
I've been playing for 2 full years by now, but I started seriously studying by August of last year.
So my buddy (Guitar Player) told me there was a Jam Session on so we could drop by to play da blues
But it was a Jazz gig, Honestly I was a little bit scared due to the guys playing were really good.
They started calling out people to jam out, and just requesting to play any Jazz Standard.
When not strictly Jazz I play Saint James Infirmary Blues, which is my best song on my repertoire (currently)
Its a tune I've been working for a while and I have it transcribed to 5 different positions so considering playing it on several different harps, I can pretty much play it on almost every key requested.
Considering I look pretty young, and its the second time I show up to play live nobody knows me, and upon that the house band declined my request to play...
Anyway, we manage to get a space on stage with other people, and since nobody had a common song to play on (lol)
We just improvised a tune on Am
So I Played on a G harp 3rd Position
(LOVE 3rd position, despite my really limited knowledge on it yet)
Listening back, I need to work on my cupping technique, as the mic is new, I'm not used to play with it.
And I really need to work with closing my solo parts, some of them when it is starting to end it losses the musical sense.
I'm connected to the PA clean
At the end one guy from the house band (the guy that refused me to join really rude) just came and said "Nice playing man.."
So what about your Initiations to the Jamming world?
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Mirco
227 posts
Dec 06, 2014
9:35 AM
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Looks like you did a good job. Good for you! I was completely unprepared for my first experiences, but I guess that's how a player grows. Three stories from my start:
My first time playing harp onstage was at a Gussow/Shellist workshop a little in San Jose, about a year ago. At the end of the workshop, I played about three choruses to a flat tire jam track, in key of G. I had been playing about 6-8 months at that point, and I crashed and burned. I had a good repeating riff at one point, but the flat tire groove totally threw me off. Ronnie and Adam were kind. Ronnie told me to "never apologize for your music" and Adam commented on my "strong chord sound."
Next was Aki Kumar's blues jam, about a month later. I had worked on a Dave Barrett instrumental, "Temperature", and Aki let me lead the band. I had never led a band before. I was nervous and apparently couldn't be heard at all. I didn't knw because it was my first time with a band onstage. After a few choruses of playing, Aki came up and rescued the song by singing "Tiger Man" over it.
Lastly, playing a duo with a piano. This is at a faculty talent show at a high school where I was teaching. This was tough, because there was only a piano and I remain terrible at keeping time.
http://youtu.be/0scZUaJ0gWU
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DannyRanch
22 posts
Dec 06, 2014
10:17 AM
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Wow!
Playing on stage near those guys must be a hard one, I'll be so focused on not screwing it up that I will probably screw it up hahaha
Having Sound issues is probably the biggest concern I have when I think of playing specially on a Jam.
At least on my case I was still plugging the mic to the DI box and getting the harp to play when they already started.
I went to the soundman before to let him know the gear so I think that saved the deal, but I still was scared of not sounding/sounding too loud/feedback
Thats a nice performance as well, playing only over a piano has to be hard. Considering you have to be active all the time, has if the piano goes to solo, switching to back up (I suppose can be difficult) and laying back will weaken it up
Thanks for sharing your experiences!
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Pistolcat
744 posts
Dec 06, 2014
12:16 PM
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I just came from my third "real" jam, I've been to harmonica-centred, sheltered workshops before. Today was a lot of fun.
Everyone get a coloured sticker dot when you sign up. I got a blue dot to play with "the blue band". The regular guys always gets more than one dot and plays multiple sets. One of the guys in our band was really nervous and/or a beginner and screwed up the groove, changes and key repeatedly. I was glad it wasn't me but it was kind of a train wreck. Kind of downcast I took my seat and ordered some food. The singer/guitarist from my band came up and told me I played well and that I should go up to the jam leaders and get a black dot and join him and some others guys in one of the later sets.
I was really flattered and Let me tell you I wore those two dots like medals of honour. :)
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Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
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Littoral
1170 posts
Dec 06, 2014
12:41 PM
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Nice job! You handled the hardest part (for harp players, evidently) especially well and that's listening/not over playing. The clean PA issue didn't get in your way because the tone was there. It didn't look like it was your first time.
A suggestion, to my ears that tune was begging for the octaves that work so well in 3rd. Get them down and you will be VERY happy.
Last Edited by Littoral on Dec 06, 2014 12:41 PM
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jbone
1818 posts
Dec 06, 2014
7:55 PM
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Danny that was not bad at all for a first or second time out. You already know much more than I did early on.
I did the living room thing with some friends at first and there just was no jam where I lived. I did go to a bluegrass thing and completely alienated the whole bunch with my ham handed honking. That was a very long time ago.
I always knew I wanted to play blues harp. I just had very little opportunity where I lived and was too proud to ask anyone for help.
I have to say, I am old school, long before the internet is when I began trying to learn to play.
It's been about 15 years since I discovered 3rd position. I play in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and have tried a bit in 5th.
I moved to Dallas in '79 and once I got my harps sorted out I found a jam close to my apartment. Those guys were very forgiving as it was a little beer bar and not one of the "real" blues joints.
I have been to jams where it was head cutting all the way and people would actually try and trip you up on stage. If you didn't know your stuff and have a tough hide you were going to wish you'd stayed home.
But let me say this too. Open mic and jam nights are where I became a harp player. I was lucky to be near several jams a week and went to every one I could get to for several years, and I made progress at those things. I met musicians and was challenged to improve and helped along by my peers as well. I was invited to join my first bands by guys I met at jams. Later I recruited players into bands i had formed.
Learning to play is hard at first. Remember learning to swim or ride a bike or horse? Scary and difficult right? But with some diligence and courage you make progress.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbTwvU-EN1Q
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JustFuya
659 posts
Dec 06, 2014
8:59 PM
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My first big gig was with a touring band @ 'Chances Are' in Ann Arbor, MI. The building had 2 tiers, almost stadium-like, with a dance floor right in front of the stage. I felt comfy until my solo on 'Taking Care Of Business'. I hated that song but it was popular at the time and I had no problem playing it. But the bobbing heads on the dance floor stopped when I started because I was playing an instrument that nobody expected. I know I missed a note but I was the only one who cared.
For the record, during my short time in Ann Arbor, I had the privilege of seeing J. Geils at the U of M. And 2 time afterwards. At a time when I was always worried about a reed giving out, Magic Dick always hit his notes without worry or fail. I was a very critical member of his audience every time and he never hit a blank. It was magic. Now that everyone is dissecting his jams it's no less magical.
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jbone
1819 posts
Dec 07, 2014
6:25 AM
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slightly OT JF, J. Geils was the second concert I ever saw and Dick had a weird effect on me. On one hand I wanted to DO THAT, on another I was sure I'd never be that good and was tempted to give my few harps away and take up another hobby.
Happily I got over myself.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbTwvU-EN1Q
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Fil
6 posts
Dec 07, 2014
2:29 PM
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I'm into harp seriously for about 18 months. Attended Jon Gindick's Jam Camp las spring. We spent the summer up in Clayton, NYT, and I got together with a guitar player and very good vocalist. Did an art assn 'gig' and another at the antique show (background music, I guess). Another string player had joined us for the antique show. Afterwards he asked if I wanted to play some blues with him and Emilie at a pub. Sure I said, figuring acoustic, small, muted. Got there and full on electric blues group, alcohol infused crowd, lacking only a harp player. My wife and son at a table 5 feet away from me. Pointed me to a mic. The band began picking around seemingly randomly, slowly gelled, then started from the five (is that how you say it??), and the leader pointed at me to take a solo. Medium fast shuffle. I'm pretty sure he was calling my bluff. I got thru it, he came back to me pretty much for most of the songs thru the night. It was an unpaid gig, more like a jam? People sure were having a good time. I know where I could have done better, but I wasn't kicked off the stage, no esoteric keys, no dirty looks or rude comments that I saw or heard. A fantasy 50 years old fulfilled. I'm not sure I would have done it knowing more of what I was getting into. I asked my friend later for a critique. His response...we were all there just having a good time. Did you have a good time?
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cyclodan
100 posts
Dec 07, 2014
3:04 PM
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Hey JustFuya, What was the band's name? I hung out at the "Chance" a lot back in the day (The name was soon changed to "Second Chance"). Saw a lot of really good shows there...from The New York Dolls, Ramones, Cheap Trick, Johnny Winter to Chuck Berry and more. I first saw Peter Madcat Ruth there With Sky King...that's the one that made me wanna hang up my harps (sorry for the OT digression).
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jbone
1821 posts
Dec 07, 2014
7:48 PM
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Fil, sounds like a good time there. If the leader was pointing at you, then yes, no doubt he wanted to see what you had. Probably also he was being a good guy and including you in the music, no?! I always take it as a compliment when I am invited to play. No matter if it's over my head, that's where we grow.
You have started later than I did by about 15 years. You have plenty of time to get your sound together and have some great adventures!
Good for ya man.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbTwvU-EN1Q
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Fil
7 posts
Dec 08, 2014
7:07 AM
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Jbone, thanks. Just to be clear, the fantasy is 50 yrs old. I'm a number of years beyond that. But I intend to live a long time to get my sound together. And every time I pick the harp up, it's an adventure. BTW, a few days ago I went looking for New Stranger Blues and found you and Jolene on YouTube. Great and precisely what I was looking for. I'm learning it.
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DannyRanch
23 posts
Dec 09, 2014
12:05 PM
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Thats a great story and message!
Harp surely has something that no other instrument has for sure, after taking guitar, bass and several percussion things, its all bout the harp!
I got contacted by some of the guys of the jam and they invited me to future sessions.
ohhh those feelings when you heard that kind of things!
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pharpo
752 posts
Dec 09, 2014
2:50 PM
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I had played with an acoustic band for a few years back in the 80's....when I started to have a family I could not manage that lifestyle. ( was also a DJ) So I stepped away from it all(the bars and the booze) for about 18 years. I began to be interested again and with the support of the better half began playing again. I wanted "more" than just Bob Dylan and Neil Young material.....so I went to a local open mic night. It was a great move. The "house band" was made up of local pros.....BUT ...they were a very supportive bunch especially the guitar and bass player and they loved to play the blues. They MADE me play....they MADE me sing ! Gave me hints and were mentors and became great friends. after probably six years now I still go to the same open mic.....but now I am often asked to play the first set with the house band. I've heard all the horror stories about jams and especially about guitar player head cases.....I was lucky to meet these guys and owe them a debt of gratitude.
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Procrastinator Emeritus
Last Edited by pharpo on Dec 09, 2014 2:51 PM
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JustFuya
663 posts
Dec 09, 2014
2:56 PM
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--- Apologies to the forum for all the OT.
@cyclodan - It was a dance band that did a lot of BTO while it was current on the radio. Good memories but the band and member names escape me. I loved 'Chance' as a venue and a place to hang out. It's a shame it went out of business. Great people all around.
@jbone - I could never do Whammer-Jammer either.
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jbone
1822 posts
Dec 09, 2014
3:46 PM
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@Fil- delighted to hear about New Stranger Blues! Jolene says it's public domain so no copyright issues at all. And to boot it is a great song. I think we do it in G and I either play a C in 2nd or a low F in 3rd on that. Always a fun and cool song to do.
@pharpo- and that, sir, is what a jam is for. Be ready to pass the gift along, the time will come if it has not already!
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbTwvU-EN1Q
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Goldbrick
792 posts
Dec 09, 2014
4:03 PM
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Since you mentioned stranger- it dont get better than this. RIP Johnny
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kudzurunner
5176 posts
Dec 09, 2014
7:04 PM
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Danny:
Just listening to the first 48 seconds of your video, I'd say you're doing a little better than I would have done after two years.
You're playing 3rd position, and you intuitively had a sense that 6 draw and 4 draw were good places to go. Plus, you had a basic sense of how to move from one safe spot to the other, in time. That's something that CAN be taught, but I'm always looking for somebody who can just....do it. You just did it.
You also made the mistake that every single player who plays 3rd position has made early on: you went to the 3 draw, realized that it didn't sound bluesy, and....didn't really know what to do. We've all been there. (Next time, hit it bent down a whole step; woodshed on that. Then play the 4 blow and 4 draw, and you're in business.)
Very good playing for a first jam session. I've heard much worse, many times.
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