Rontana
56 posts
Mar 12, 2015
7:34 AM
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Hi All,
A short preface here. Posting anything I might play is not truly in my comfort zone, which is why I'm doing it. Started about 6 months ago (I'm 55 . . . primarily learning via Adam's excellent lessons) mostly to distract my mind from a difficult scenario.
Long story short, I sold my home 4 years ago and moved WAY out in the sticks to help care for 90+ year-old parents (it's an Alzheimer's situation). No regrets on that, but there's little opportunity for personal feedback/interaction where I presently live.
So, I'm slapping this up for any constructive comments/feedback from you folks that know what you're doing. I guess I'm trying to push myself a little.
The link is to my website, but the brief (1:30 audio file) starts automatically).
Thanks.
Ron's Harp Demo
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Marr's Guitars
Offering custom-built Cigar Box Guitars for the discriminating player of obscure musical unstruments
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GamblersHand
556 posts
Mar 12, 2015
8:10 AM
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Impressive playing after 6 months! There are very few obvious areas to work on. Perhaps try making you bends a bit smoother - they're quite accentuated, and you seem to hold them longer than other notes at times. It would also be good to hear you against a backing track, to see how well you phrase & swing against a groove.
Hope that learning this instrument is a good distraction from the other pressures going on for you right now.
Last Edited by GamblersHand on Mar 12, 2015 8:13 AM
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MindTheGap
562 posts
Mar 12, 2015
8:40 AM
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Coming along nicely I would say. Particularly in the second half you were expressing the rhythm well, and that's a very good thing to be able to do. It's one thing playing in time (solo or to a backing track) and quite another to be conveying the rhythm. As I discovered!
I should mention that Ronnie Shellist offers a Personal Audio Feedback service (for payment of course) where you send him a track like this, and he replies with detailed comments and advice. If you want to get more than just 'bravo' then it's a brilliant thing. No flim-flam or false praise, but the detailed advice wherever you are now to take the next step.
It's hard posting stuff here, as the standard is generally so high, but I can't think that everyone was born playing like they do.
Good luck with the circumstances, hopefully the harp will be a help.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Mar 12, 2015 8:41 AM
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Rontana
57 posts
Mar 12, 2015
9:05 AM
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Thanks to both of you. No, the "bravo" is the last thing I seek. The comments on the bends/accentuation/rhythm are very helpful. I appreciate it.
Yeah . . harp has been fantastic for taking me away from the other stuff. Has become something of a welcome escape hatch, as I have one with me almost all the time.
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Marr's Guitars
Offering custom-built Cigar Box Guitars for the discriminating player of obscure musical unstruments
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Leatherlips
323 posts
Mar 12, 2015
10:00 PM
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After 6 months I think you are doing fine. Your tone needs some work and it will come with time. Are you breathing with your diaphragm?
Maybe less notes is more. You could try and hang onto a note a little longer and give it more feel. I also think playing along to a backing track is a good thing to do.
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BronzeWailer
1617 posts
Mar 13, 2015
12:16 AM
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Rontana, I think you are on the right track. Very impressive for six months. Keep doing what you're doing. Recording yourself is a very good idea. Post some more and let us hear your progress. It is good to reflect on what you have done and see how far you've come that way.
Staying out of your comfort zone is a great way to learn. I started going to jams when I was barely ready (or maybe not even) and it helped me enormously. Same thing with busking, and singing.
Sorry to hear about the Alzheimer's. I went back from Oz to visit my Dad in Canada when he was fading and my wife told me to focus on what we could do together, not what we couldn't. That eased the situation in a small but positive way.
BronzeWailer's YouTube
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MindTheGap
566 posts
Mar 13, 2015
2:18 AM
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I think that what you are doing i.e. recording yourself, and listening with a critical ear, and getting advice is a great way to progress.
What you could consider is stating what you are working on in the recording, and what you like and dislike about it yourself.
One helpful thing Ronnie stresses is playing with intention. For instance, in your clip, you are treating that 3D bend in a particular ways. And there are plenty of ways available. Is each one a conscious choice?
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Rontana
59 posts
Mar 13, 2015
4:26 AM
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Thanks all
@Leatherlips: Yes, I am striving to breathe from my diaphragm, though I'm still at the state where I have to consciously think about it. Thanks for the advice on the notes; I was re-listening to some recordings last night, and noticed some of the stuff sounded awful busy.
@BW: Thanks. I record a lot . . . some to keep for comparison down the road, and some just to try and hear what sounds I'm making (or not) during practice. Appreciate the thoughts on my Dad's dementia. Though he's not really sure who I am these days, it does seem to make him happy that I'm just down the road
@MTG: I've downloaded some of Ronnie's lessons, and done a personal feedback session. He's been immensely helpful - part of my daily practice is doing his entire "beginning licks" lesson. Some of the comments I've received here have added to his very good advice (figure I need all the assistance I can get).
I've tried to translate his thoughts on "intent" to advice I've tossed at beginning writers (I'm a longtime writer/editor). Sometimes, with words, less is more. Thinking about the mood or response you wish to evoke yields greater results than semi- random verbiage. Seems to be the same with notes/phrasing
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Marr's Guitars
Offering custom-built Cigar Box Guitars for the discriminating player of obscure musical unstruments
Last Edited by Rontana on Mar 13, 2015 4:28 AM
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MindTheGap
569 posts
Mar 13, 2015
7:58 AM
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...nice look 'Unstruments' btw! What is a Bowed Psaltery? Sounds a bit like The Ipcress File theme. That was some kind of dulcimer.
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CarlA
722 posts
Mar 13, 2015
8:40 AM
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Sounds REALLY good, especially in the short time you have been playing. Well done!
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KingoBad
1611 posts
Mar 13, 2015
8:53 AM
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Again, nice job for a short time in. A lot of the stuff you will learn will just come to you. Part of getting good at harmonica is simply putting time in. Some do it faster than others, but it is easy to see when you play with or watch an experienced player.
I would pay attention to the timing of your embellishments, as well as the timing of your notes (particularly relative length of notes and phrases). It is easy to go far afield from the timing of the song playing solo. That being said - It is also your prerogative as a soloist. However, it eventually all sounds a little like an endless noodle if you don't stick to the main groove ideas - especially on a well known song.
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Danny
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Rontana
62 posts
Mar 13, 2015
9:57 AM
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First, thanks to everyone for the help, advice and support. I appreciate it
@Mind the Gap. Bowed psaltery is probably better seen/heard than explained. Basically 25 or 32 hitch pins (and matching tuning pins) built into a triangular acoustic frame. Pretty . . . but a pain to build as the pin locations require close tolerances. Don't even get me started on tuning all those strings. You play it with a bow (some folks use two bows).
Here's a link to a good player
Bowed Psaltery
Even cooler is the bowed dulcimer. The best player is a guy named Ken Bloom. Here he is doing some Robert Johnson (I never thought I would hear blues - and good blues - on a dulcimer).
Bowed Dulcimer
@CarlA: Thank ya kindly, Carl
@KingoBad: Yeah . . . and I'm in no rush. I'm just enjoying the attempt. It's just a good feeling to feel/hear a bend and think "okay, that sounded better." Fun for me to just play a tune and escape reality for a bit.
I'll go back and listen to the timing/length of notes/phrases. Just starting to sink in that I don't need to fill every space with sound. Maybe there are times when silence or a pause is more dramatic.
Best to all, and thanks again
Ron
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Marr's Guitars
Offering custom-built Cigar Box Guitars for the discriminating player of obscure musical unstruments
Last Edited by Rontana on Mar 13, 2015 10:03 AM
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