Well, it's been a year since I started playing harmonica. No one has ever heard me play (well, maybe one group - I played at a nursing home once, but not sure they heard it"). I play mostly for my own enjoyment and I do enjoy it immensely. My wife doesn't like it at all and has never asked to hear me play :).
However, I really need some feedback - where my playing needs work, what I need to do to improve my technique/tone/timing/etc. I figured that this is the place to do that. I think I'm ready to throw what I've got out there. WIthout doing that I don't think I'll improve much.
This is a little clip that I copied because it seemed, at least for me, to be a moderate challenge with a good range of notes and varying timing. It sounds better with backing but I didn't have the song without the harp playing. It's a song titled Balancing Act by someone with a username BlueShiner and I'm not sure who to credit for the song. Perhaps it is someone even on this forum but I don't know.
Anyway, it was good practice for me.
I'm looking for guidance. I want to improve my technique, tone, etc. but not sure where to go. I have viewed You Tube videos and bought some from Adam but I am lacking the feedback. So I've got my thick skin on. But at least give me some tips to know where to go (hopefully, it won't be to play the kazoo!).
Here are a few things I know, but not sure what to do about them: - my 2-hole draw isn't stable or always on-tune - my timing gets a little weak in places - I really need more practice! Not sure the best way to practice, though.
Here it is. I haven't figured out how to embed it. If you have any tips I'm open. It is hosted on MediaFire.
Sounds good. IMO, play with a little more 'swing', and with a little more intent when hitting the notes (if that makes sense). other than that, sounds good.
Hey vonpowell! I thought that was pretty good especially since you recorded it and I expect the fact the recorder was running you probably tensed up a bit. You probably play better when you are more relaxed.
When I'm on my own and things are just right I can play fantastically well but once the recorder is on I fall to pieces. Just another little hurdle to get over.
However, you've done it now, you've put it out there and found it didn't hurt and you have nothing to be ashamed of. I expect you'll be wanting to Blow Your Brains Out with the rest of the gang too. You'll be more than welcome to give it a shot. ----------
Thanks, guys. @harpdude61, it does have some 3-hole bends, but probably not what you would consider standard 12-bar blues stuff. I may submit something of me comping if I'm brave enough. I'm working on defining what my "voice" really is (aka Buddha's thread).
@MCM545, yes, it does sound a little stiff. Could have been the fact I was recording (see response to tookatooka).
@tookatooka, you're right! Once I realized that I was recording myself I felt like I couldn't play anything. I would find myself thinking too much rather than playing. I guess you eventually get past that. As far as whether it hurts or not, it's early in the game.
Your playing is very nice. I actually think the piece is your limiting factor here. Sure, you could improve the depth of the bends and add more swing - I agree completely with that. If you were to play this again - for 3 or more minutes - we would be bored stiff. As it is a short example, it is just fine.
My suggestion - for practice as well - would be to play it a second time through working on various textures - adding warbles, tongue flutters, chords, vamping - whatever technique you would like to work on. Then you can go a third time through and try something different, etc.. Try it swinging - try it straight - get ahead - drop behind - just play with it a little.
The song is a bit major and non-bluesy. If you were looking for something to be a little bluesier, make sure and hit those blue thirds as mentioned above, and try to hang on to those bends a little longer (I know you are working on it - it just sounds better to get a deep bend than a little dip).
Your tone is fine but will certainly improve as you make those "breakthroughs" that no one will really be able to explain to you very well. You will just find them out through playing more.
One last thing to add richness to your playing. Start trying to add vibrato now. It will improve your sound tremendously. Don't worry if it sounds awkward at first, and don't try and play it on short notes yet just sustained ones. You will find context for it all later on - just try and get the mechanics down - it takes a long time to refine and you might possibly work on it for years.
That's impressive for one years worth of playing. Picking out single notes, bending notes, tone variation. You're on your way. Just need to continue working on technique and become more fluid. You've identified already areas you need to tighten up on and that is good in that you are able to critically examine your own playing. I would keep playing this piece as a practice song and tape yourself occasionally to see where you've improved from last time.
Just to say though that you've got a thankless task trying to bring the wife onboard with this. I've been playing for years now and my wife is not warming to it one bit. She posed the question the other day; What do you call one harmonica at the bottom of the ocean? - A good start. Well i mean to say that's just demoralising!! :)
Thanks, all. Lots of good advice that I'll take to heart. Maybe I'll submit another recording in this thread a little later that's a little different that is more "bluesy" to get your take on. It will only help me improve and I'm a long way from where I want to be. But I still enjoy it.
@Greyowlphotoart, I've never had my wife make jokes just yet - she is a more sensitive type and probably won't. But she doesn't ask to hear me play. And my kids just groan when I pull it out (mostly just kidding around, but they're not real harp fans, either). To really irritate them I play some random polka tune! To top it all off, even when the dog's in the room or on the porch, he usually leaves. But I don't take the hint and just keep on playing anyway! :-)
From another person around the 1 year mark, I thought it sounded great. Its funny how you sound different than me stylistically. Very cool, Von. I am not ready to offer critisizm yet(Dont think it would be fair since I dont KNOW and am still learning myself) but encouragment is a must. Keep up the good work. Its paying off. ---------- For me there is only traveling on paths that have heart, on any path that may have heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse its full length. And there I travel looking, looking, breathlessly.
