-i don't impress easily, but this YT i stole from that other thread is something i think worthy of discussion. he's tounge blocking and tounge blocking overblows to boot. he's thinking like a jazz guy would think. and.. he has good tone etc.. top shelf MAL!-----
MP hibachi cook for the yakuza doctor of semiotics superhero emeritus
Last Edited by on Nov 08, 2010 5:42 PM
Yes, but Dennis hasn't been playing for a year and a half.
Kudos MAL. Truly nice work.
My question for MAL is, to you find the effects that work well for TB effective going into Obs? Can you slap into an OB? Do you find a great deal of difference in playing OBs TB and switching to Lip pursing to OB?
I can TB OB when I really work at it, but not sure of the advantages of pursuing it.
I love Dennis' stuff. Perhaps he had it down in 2 months and was the prodigy of the century. There is a reason he is a pro - and such a good one at that.
That doesn't take away from the impressiveness of MAL's accomplishments, regardless of the amount of time.
MAL is doing very good, I think. When I heard he was out jamming with bands it blew me away cause Ive played about as long & nowhere near considering doing this! Having played for about the same time frame I can already see where having past music experience plus putting in many more hours practice time is actually paying off for him!
MAL, are you doing this song from a jazz fakebook or something like that? Id like to mess with playing things like this. I screw around with basic classical music a bit just cause I can, lol.
I kinda thought that if you practiced many hours there'd be a cutoff where you gained what you were going to gain that day already. But I did some asking around & it turns out in music schools & professional music 2+hrs a day is typical. Not that I have that time but at least I know that what I thought was the typical average really isn't.
I started popping slight OBs tongue blocked on my better set up harps, just takes perserverence. Though, there's things you do better pucker like fast lines of 32nd notes! Couldnt see doing that TB'd but maybe someone does?
Everyone's got certain strengths & weaknesses so I don't see the point in mentioning Dennis Gruenling. We could have threads on top of threads of who's better then who at what & not reach any one person that is better then everyone at everything.
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~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Stephen Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
i see a lot of promise here. MAL has managed to do in a year and a half what lots of seasoned pros cannot do. such as overblow while tounge blocking. hell, if you are a purser for years and switch to blocking you have a hell of a time articulating simple draw bends and blow bends.(i as have).
i knew someone would say, "well dennis greunling can do that". but....can you? ---------- MP hibachi cook for the yakuza doctor of semiotics superhero emeritus
@Ryan: Just a note to say that you guys (you and MAL) may have been playing for a similar number of DAYS, but MAL has been playing for a far greater number of HOURS. That's the intent of his 5K project. To put 5000 hours of practice into the harp as soon as possible. The number of hours you practice translated directly into what you can do on the harp and how good you sound. Also, he's coming from a music background (clarinet), and that helps a lot. I remember that I used to compare myself to my "cohort" of players on here (MBH). I used to get really down on myself. "Why am I not proceeding as quickly as so and so?!?". Then I realized that everyone is coming to the harp with a different level of musical knowledge, and everyone comes up with a different practice schedule/ethos, so everyone proceeds at their own pace. Me, I came in with almost NO musical knowledge (besides a very rudimentary knowledge of rock drumming), so I had A LOT of things I needed (and still need) to catch up on, musically speaking. In fact, working on my musicality is the hardest thing for me (well beyond simple technique, or even tone). So, basically, what I'm saying is that you should just judge yourself against yourself. You won't get anywhere if you constantly are trying to measure yourself against other folks. It took me a couple of years to figure that out, and now I'm MUCH happier with my playing (even though I know it's not nearly as good as some other folks'), and I have more confidence too.
None of this is to detract from the amazing progress MAL has made. That cut above is pure badassyness! It also goes to show that practice really does make all the difference. We had a thread on here a while back about how many hours it takes to get really good. Well, MAL, it seems like you are fast approaching it! Good on ya, brother! ---------- -------------------------------------- View my videos on YouTube!"
@isaac: GREAT POST!! I struggle with what your talking about all the time, to the point that seeing someone progressing much faster than I am depresses me rather than inspires me. But hey, that's a me problem, at least I recognize it as such. Anyway, your words, well said, and a good reminder to many of us, or at least me.....;-)
Last Edited by on Nov 09, 2010 10:04 AM
great post isaac! for me, my take on technique is always, "how does he do that?" and, "i'm going to get that down too." ---------- MP hibachi cook for the yakuza doctor of semiotics superhero emeritus
Jazz gives me a headache more often than not, but I enjoyed listening to this. No lack of swing either, IMO. Very pleasant tone. Some work to do on intonation, but that might be partially due to the harp being in JI, with a raised but still flat 5/9 draw. I've heard a lot worse in that regard from very well known/respected players, on ET harps, and using a pursed embochure. In the Dennis clip he hits an OB occasionally in passing, certainly not sustaining any with throat vibrato as MAL does. If you're going to post clips, how about comparing apples to apples.
Hey just saw this, didn't realize I was in the thread! Anyway thanks for the comments and critiques. I certainly don't have as many hours as Dennis Gruenling has put into the harp so I don't think there is a comparison there. I took a lesson from him (thanks to Tin Lizzie here) and must say that his ear for music translates to an excellent to hear what the student needs to work on.
@ Isaacullah you pretty much said everything there is to say! I would LOVE to take a "pupil" and have them start a youtube channel to do like a 1000k or 500k project to see how well my project so far can be duplicated. Like give some exercises that I practice and see how well that mirrors what I am doing. The only thing I would ask would be they post a weekly video. I think I realized what you are saying about not comparing yourself to others recently too. I read some stuff by ralph waldo emerson about how everyone is a unique manifestation and imitation is suicide. Basically once you start trying to be YOU and not others is only when we shine.
@ Kingobad I am working on implementing tongue switches and certain effects into playing melodic music. For sure it seems awkward but there is a lot of potential and almost ALL other instruments do random octave leaps or intervals and I think this would bring the harp into territory that would make it sound more cohesive. TB slap OB? I am working on that but for sure, NOT easy. Also, I am working on doing TB octaves OB on the 1-4 blow. I have accomplished it exactly ONCE. Again, NOT easy!
@ harpwrench for sure your harp is the reason I can play that way, else I wouldn't even attempt it! I was meaning to ask you if I could get my harp retuned to ET but that is hard to ask that and send it off, your chords are just too freakin beautiful!
MAL-That was some sweet playing-especially for a guy who has only been at it a year or two. Heck, for anyone. To even be mentioned in the same breath as Dennis G is a huge compliment. I also don't think it lacks swing tremendously. Hell, you've got the hard part down:nailing all the OBs and making the melody work. Any more 'feel' will come in time and only improve what you've already accomplished. Again, I don't think you lack anything-except maybe a live band behind you, and a snazzy suit on your bones, perhaps some gorgeous go-go dancers to either side of you doing the shimmy. In a non-smoking venue, of course. You should be proud! ----------
Todd L. Greene, Codger-in-training
Last Edited by on Nov 10, 2010 5:16 AM
