- I love the sound of this instrument through a small tube amp - it could be cool to play both instruments together - In some ways, guitar will force me to learn different scales, practice with a metronome or a jam track and will improve my rhythm and my melodies.
I 'll be busy practicing harmonica and guitar... But I'm sure I'll get some benefits of this learning.
Fore those people who wants to start playing guitar and don't have many time in the week to practice, here is a cool website I want to share:
Thanks, I'll go to that site ; I'm beginning to learn to play guitar too, I bought an electro-acoustic one year ago but I never plugged it. I play it acoustic, with my bare fingers.
Thanks for the link. Nice little site. I too am trying to learn both guitar and harp, though I come at it a little bit differently than you (ie. - I didn't pick up guitar to get better at harp).
I started out trying to learn guitar first. My intial difficulty with simple guitar prompted me to pick up a harp thinking it would be easier to play (patience is not my strong suit). It was.... and wasn't.
Initially it was easier for me to get some simple songs and riffs out of the harp...but of course really being able to play it, I now know, is a whole different story.
Anyway, picked the guitar up again, well aware of the danger of becoming a "jack-of-all-trades....master of none".
It's just nice to see someone else on here that's pursuing both..thanks again for the link.
I'm also aware about the danger to be a "master of none".
The last doctor I saw last year told me: " Samuel, you know perfectly how to be with yourself; you are a master. But you don't know how to be with the other people".
I feel like my harmonica playing doesn't fit well in band situation. I can play soulful riffs with one guitarist but in a band, my soul is disturbed. Maybe I should try to find other musicians or keep on playing just simple and standard riffs that everybody loves...
So my learning of the guitar will tell me what a good blues guitar player with "soul" is able to do. It will train my ears as well. I'm tired of all those "Eric Clapton" "SRV" and "Kurt Cobain" substitutes who are on the road.
My aim is to master SIMPLE things which sounds good. Groove, good tone, good vibrato and good bends with my harmonica and my guitar.
Here is an other cool video called "the finger gym"
---------- Youtube Myspace
Last Edited by on Jan 07, 2011 11:14 AM
I'm also trying to get the hang of playing both with a harp rack-it is tough! Much, much harder than I thought it would be.
I'm just trying to play simple Jimmy Reed style lines on the guitar and simple bass lines on the harmonica. It is very hard to keep it all together, I usually have to stop after only 5-10 minutes of practice.
Kind of like patting your head, rubbing your tummy and tapping out some Morse code with your toe.
If anyone had any tips on using a harp rack I'd like to hear 'em thanks.
I have picked up guitar over the last year myself. I do find myself split between two masters at many points. My main focus is the harmonica, but it is too fun to play and sing at the same time. I have certainly slowed my progress learning harp songs in lieu of learning new guitar songs because there is so much low hanging fruit in the beginning!
I try to keep it pretty simple by pounding out a Jimmy Reed style shuffle and playing over the top on rack. My right hand is great at cranking out the rhythm, but my left just hangs on for dear life.
I do find that my understanding of the actual notes is much better, as well of my understanding of the chords. Musically it has opened up a lot - just slowed the fast pace I was moving on the harp.
It is great to finally bring to life songs like "juke" when I have been used to playing with no accompaniment. The beginning hook was always shortened to starting on the V because I hated carrying on so long. Now it can come to life with the actual chord changes.
Unlike AV8R, I find the playing somewhat intoxicating. I often find that I have played for a couple of hours and didn't notice. (although I am pretty good at the head patting tummy rubbing thing)
I think the main part of rack playing - like singing and playing - is understanding the timing of the song vs what else you are doing. Once you learn the queues, you can start really getting it down. I am no expert here, as I pointed out in the beginning, but I have made some decent progress for a little over a year on guitar - at least in my book.
My next trick is to add a foot drum. I have one - just haven't chosen to add it yet. While my foot is like a metronome, playing a drum pedal is a little more complicated. Especially when you hear a more complicated rhythm in your head and want to make it happen.
@Throttleskeezer, Thanks for the site info. I had not been to that one yet. Had a great time with the BB King licks I learned. Great stuff so far.
I play guitar too, but I sure it's much better to play piano to understand music better. ---------- Excuse my bad English. Click on my photo or my username for my music.
Are you guys using tongue block or lip purse when you play harp with a rack? I am a fair lip purser who is trying to adapt to tongue block while also learning guitar. Anyone know which method Jimmy Reed used? How about John Hammond? Also, I believe Reed played in 1st position. True or false? What about Hammond?
Jimmy Reed was lip all the way I would wager and IMO his playing is far from simple. I have been working on guitar/harp together for about 40 years. It is a slow process that most don't realize going into it. That is probably why there are so few rack harp/guitar players that are decent. I advise you look at playing harp/guitar together like another instrument even though you may already know how to play both well in isolation. The same goes for the drums on the feet. I have been dabbling with that on and off since the mid 70's and for the past 7 years or so, been at it full time.
I learned it from playing harp with one of the most famous 1 man bands- Wilbert Harrison. He had a huge hit with Kansas City in the 50's and Lets Work together in the 60s' (as a 1 man band). The secret I have found is to learn how to disconnect from every instrument that you are playing at once. I imagine a real band behind me as I sing. When I start to think it all falls apart. I let it drive me and soon I am just along for the ride.
Again, it will take a long time to master. I can't tell you how many thousands of hours I have put in on playing the guitar, harp, vocals, drums (snare, bass, ride cymbal), keys, all at once.
The cool thing is once you get it going you are free from all the hassles of dealing with other musicians. I not only mean the band drama garbage, but the sheer amount of time it takes to get together with others and the lack of actual playing time that happens from having to play with others. How many times have I sat around saying- I wish I had the band together right now to jam??? No more of that. This is what allows me to record a cd a day in my studio. I am ready to go with all I need 24/7. Hang in there because I can tell you that the 1 man band thing is the most freeing musical approach I have found to date.
You can check the links below to hear/see samples of how I approach the 1 man band. It is quite different than the one most take here. If anyone is interested in my set up, etc, I would be happy to share what I know. Walter ---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
I was a guitar player long before a harmonica player. However, I got back into the guitar about 3 years ago after a long stint. The free YouTube videos from Justin Sandercoe (justinguitar.com) were instrumental in getting my back playing. In fact, it was Justin who suggested learning harmonica from Gussow. The rest is history.
I've said it many times: if you aspire to play racked harp, you have to listen to Walter Tore's playing on his "spontobeat" website. His expression, attack, and soulful playing is a benchmark.
Also, I've played keyboards and harp for over 40 years, and there is a price to pay, especially if you're just an average gifted guy like me.
I wouldn't start it without being very clear about what the goal is, and what it could take to accomplish the objectives.
If you are older than 40, you won't learn as fast, and may not have the time necessary to become accomplished on two instruments.. unless you are truly a gifted musician.
But, if you want to jus' have fun, and play the blues, it's achievable for most moderately gifted musicians.
thanks LittleBubba! I find I lose a lot of fancy/impress the masses stuff with the 1 man band set up, but as I get older I find the fancy stuff is not very interesting. The 1MB allows for the deep groove, freedom to drift anywhere, and to be able to express exactly what is in me. This far exceeds any of the fancy stuff I ever have experienced with a real band. There was hardly a time where I wouldn't mess with the 1 man band. Even when I was hooked on a real trio I found myself sitting down with it because there was no gig that night. I simply need to play a lot more than most people (3-8 hours a day)and the 1 man band concept is a perfect fit for me. Now it is "coming down the home strech" with my life on this planet and I feel like I am way out in front in the 1 man band race. Why? Because I no longer have to mess with any kind of technical angle to playing it. I can just flow off into the universe. Walter ---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
Walter talks about the "emoting" part of playing the blues. Any discussion of getting better on one or two instruments should include talk of the prime directive for performing: you gotta connect, one way or another. Walter is willing to pay a big price in order to connect.
For me, when I'm polishing my skills (as limited as they are) on harp or boards, I progress more if I try to remember that people need to buy into me when I perform.
The search for better skills is wasted if you only succeed in becoming a great mimic of great players and fail to connect. I survived the 80's rock, meat-market bar days, where there were a ton of travelling regional acts whose members could outplay alot of the artists they were covering... but alot of 'em had no souls. No wonder that live performance is taking a hit in today's culture. (btw,Walter.. I'm Bubba/jeffl from BRB.)
Last Edited by on Jan 11, 2011 11:35 AM
I am cross training on piano :) . At the least it's doing wonders for my music theory & I can only presume my rhythm & time is getting better faster. I think it'll pay off in a big way in the long run. Not to mention I play some of my piano homework on harmonica and harmonica homework on piano.
But yeah, wish there was lots more time in the day. And yeah, if I picked up guitar I'd want to learn to play flamingo music which probably takes its own lifetime, lol.
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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)
Hi Bubba! Walter ---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
"For me, when I'm polishing my skills (as limited as they are) on harp or boards, I progress more if I try to remember that people need to buy into me when I perform."
There's a lot of good stuff here for the aspiring one-man band guys like me--Great to have you back, Walter--I missed this kind of discussion when you were gone! ---------- ==================================== Always be yourself--unless you suck. . . -Joss Whedon
Hi oldwailer: Thanks! I missed conversations like these as well. I find it really exciting to see so many people getting into 1 man band configurations nowadays. Up until recently you could count most of us on one hand that sounded 1/2 way decent. I have dreams of a 1 man band tour that would feature the many configurations and styles that are being played by guys today. It could be a part of the larger festivals around the world. Kind of like when they did the old blues guys on those folk/blues tours. It was a package deal but not a one band show. Walter"mixing tonights songs as I type" Tore ---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
Oh, man! Wouldn't that be a kick! It would be great just to see what others are doing in the OMB genre.
I've been to SPAH and Blues weeks that featured harp and guitar--and a couple of misc. harp week-ends--but I've never heard of a "1-man band week." I just googled it--no such thing, I guess. Probably too vertical of a market there--but it sure would be fun--I elect you, Walter, to organize it and put together the curriculum and faculty. . . ;)
---------- ==================================== Always be yourself--unless you suck. . . -Joss Whedon
oldwailer: Thanks for the appointment but my days of booking things are over. I booked myself for 35 years and it drove me nuts everyday. I finally realized that it just ain't my thing :-) I am satified to remain in my studio recording in isolation and doing my house parties until someone who wants to book me emerges. It would be a cool thing at festivals I bet! Hopefully someday. Walter ---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
I agree, guitar isn't easy to learn. After one week I still get stuck on " Oh When The Saints Go Marching In" because of the D Major chord... Progress come slowly.
Now I just want to show you this video. The guy with the black sunglasses was my harmonica teacher 2 years ago and have been working on his guitar box for 2 years:
He's doing "Muddy Waters" things with his 2 strings and I honestly thing that it sounds quite good. It's simple but great.
This guy has recently worked with Bob Margolin.
What I try to say is we don't have to do complicated riffs to sounds good.
According to the MBH, I am a advanced intermediate harmonica player. Everybody who listen to me says I have a good tone and I sound bluesy. I have a ton of work to become a better harmonica player; especially on speed things. Tomorrow, I'm going to spend most of the afternoon, trying to do fast repetitive licks like Jason is doing. If I could get only 10% of what Jason is doing and makes me mine, I would be happy for the year...
Last year, I have been lucky enough to play during 2 big Blues festivals. It's been the most effective lesson I got since I started playing harmonica 3 years ago.
I have learned that the better could be the enemy of the good.
I'm a perfectionist and in the same time I'm a sensitive person. When I start a solo with my harmonica, it can go in 3 ways:
1 The music around me is loud (Texas groove), It's fast and I want to impress the audience. I focus too much on my playing => I play too much notes and some notes aren't correct...My own solo made me dizzy and the audience stay polite...
2 I feel the groove very well, I start my solo slowly and... stay stuck on long notes... Tasteless.
3 I feel the groove very well, I'm happy and start my solo with simple rhythmic chords. Then I add some single note. I'm dancing and I finish my solo with powerful things which comes from heaven. The audience is receptive and start to dance. => Yeah!!!
So I'm playing in two bands. One with very good musicians but the leader is in love with SRV... I'm not a fan of SRV because it's hard to modulate his playing into texas shuffle. The other band is my brother, cousin and some friends who are not good musician and bad blues players.
I'm in love with the blues and It's exciting for me to learn guitar. It will keep me into this music and I'm sure I will get some benefits of this learning.
I don't post video of me anymore because there are so much guy who post on Youtube. I'm more interested in playing gigs now (which is rare).
I will post only if I think it would be interesting for the people or for me.
Instead of doing videos about my harmonica skills I will maybe make one about the Kinder Anti feedback pedal and my gear. If I could get one video of me on stage, it would be cool...
I hate to speak in English in front of my camera because I feel stupid.
