Re: [Harp-L] Learn to play in 2 days???



Well done, Charlie, glad to hear it all went well.

Last week, I posted that the harp was an easy instrument and one or two people were moved to disagree. Charlie's experience seems to show that, with limited experience, anyone can make music on it. For myself, I've been fiddling around with one for a couple of years or so. A couple of months ago I decided to get a grip on it and began practicing in earnest.. a couple of hours a day. Last month, I went to my first jam... pretty nervous, I have to admit. But on the basis of that experience, all I can repeat to other beginners is... get out there and try it.

I can't say enough to describe the pleasure of making music with other musicians. All of the ones I play with have far more experience than I do.. some are semi-pro, others are ex-pro. But the sensation of picking up from them.. and initiating myself.. patterns and tones that develop a song/tune as living entity is marvellous.. I wish I'd done it years ago. They are appreciative and encouraging.. AND.. love a harp in the lineup because of the uniqueness of its tone and harmonic qualities. Most of the stuff I do is blues, of course... so easy to improvise on numbers I've never heard before... the other day we played 'Mystery Train'.. and the quality a harp brings to that song is outstanding. But, if I can find the chords (I only play 2nd position), 'straight' songs are beautiful too. We did a rocking version of 'May the Circle be Unbroken', for example, last week that got the crowd up at the end and, yesterday, some reggae number I've never heard before but on which every harp chord and note made for a fantastic harmony and just came out as "beautiful" thanks to being able to spark off with the other jammers.

A flautist often gets up and plays, mostly Irish tunes, with guitar/vocal accompaniment. She's also inexperienced.. though very good at her level. But for her, it's going to take a lot longer to learn to harmonise rather than play the straight melody line - because of the complexity of the instrument. Luckily for me.. it's made easy on the harp by the 'limitations' of 2nd position. The fact that all the notes just aren't there forces you to make interesting improvisation and harmonisation.

So.... don't wait till you think you're 'ready'. Get the 12 bar structure as second-nature in your head... be able to play along with the harp on CDs (no.. I don't mean be as good as Little Walter and everything he does.. I mean just keep up with him). Some day.. I'm going to want all these other complexities of bends, positions, gear, etc. that much of the traffic on this list concerns itself with - for the sake of my own satisfaction, if not for the benefit of improving my music. Meanwhile, though... I'd say to anyone.. don't hang yourself up on technique - go out and make music with others.. the difference between playing with and for other people.. and playing for yourself.. is worth untold riches. If you can play it simple but with swing.. why wait?

A.


----- Original Message ----- From: "charlie zevon" <chaszev@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, October 10, 2005 7:56 AM
Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Learn to play in 2 days???



OK, the gig basically went OK. The band and vocals were great and people seemed to enjoy it. I was able to pull off the part but had a couple issues:

1) Needed more of the harp in the monitor. Thought it was fine in sound check but when we played for the service it was way too low.

2) I was concentrating so much on the notes and timing during the first service I missed the slides? (Signature harp thing, don't know what it's called: you're on a note, quickly slide up then down to the next note?). Got it right the 2nd time through.

All in all it was fun. I know that 1 riff doesn't make me a harp player, but I want to keep working on it. Also got some tickets for an upcoming Blues Traveler concert and will catch Charlie Musselwhite next time he comes to town.

Thanks again,
Charlie

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List members,

Thanks to all who replied to my question. First, let me apologize if anyone was offended by my post. I totally agree that the idea of learning an instrument in 2 days is silly. I should have mentioned that I had played for a few months many years ago, and seem to remember the basics. But there’s a huge difference between the ability to make sounds and the ability to make music, it would certainly take years to become a player. Anyway in my post I actually meant to be self-mocking, like “I’ve gone and done a stupid thing, please help.� So any sarcastic answers to a sarcastic question are deserved (I especially liked the offer of Florida swamp land.)

Fortunately this is a relatively simple line, much of my sound will be covered up by the band, and we play for a forgiving crowd. And while I could play the line on synthesizer I’d rather take a stab at the real thing. Hopefully breath and soul will compensate somewhat for lack of talent.

Thanks for tips about the bottom E. Tried blowing through the lips only, with tongue out of the way using more eeee sound and this all helps. Also, the posting in Portuguese (from Gary L) suggested doing a 3 blow instead of a 2 draw for bottom E. This definitely cured the flatness, it changes the chord but works when blowing the E as a single note.

Oh, and I said the line has a G it’s actually G#, so a D harp probably wouldn’t work. It’s a little confusing because the recording of Desire is in Eb, sounds like they tuned the guitars down a half step and used an Ab harp. But we don’t have a crew of roadies for quick guitar tuning so we’ll do it in E. I used Windows Media Player with Chronotron plug-in to transpose the recording to E for playing along with. Anyone know who’s blowing on the recording? Is it a member of U2 or did they bring someone in?

Regards,
Charlie

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Help, I volunteered to play with my church band this Sunday and I need to learn the harp fast....


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