RE: [Harp-L] How we learned diatonic harmonica in the "olden days"

["Robert Gaustad" <robertgaustad@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'm an "old guy: as well (53) and I learned in a similar manner, with Tony
"Little Sun" Glover's book (I still have the dang thing) and lots of
records, the two most played being Butterfield Blues Band and Bummer Road by
Sonny Boy Williamson II.  I just played and played until I thought I sounded
like Paul and Sonny Boy.  Not quite, but not bad.

I was a Good Humor man on Long Island in 1973 when I first picked up the
harp.  We had to ring bells on the trucks to get the kids out of the house
and couldn't play radios in the trucks.  So I remembered how much I loved
Paul Butterfield and bought a harmonica.  I used to ring the bells as my
"percussion" and play the harp along with the rhythm.

Sometimes the kids would stop my truck and but I kept playing the bells and
harp before getting out of my seat to give the little shi...er, punks their
ice cream.  After a moment or two they'd say, "Come on, man, I want some ice
cream!".  And I'd say, "Hold on, I've got to finish the song." Of course the
"song" sucked...but it was a blast.

The job was a blast and we had tons of parties...uh, with lots of acid and
many pounds of dry ice we'd throw into the pool of a house we once rented
for the summer.

I have to admit that I didn't get a lot out of Glover's book except some
basics.  I didn't have the patience to play all the blows and draws he'd
show.  I'd just do it by ear and then play along with Paul and Sonny Boy for
hours.  They never once told me to shut up. :-) But I loved the hip
Greenwich Village witticisms from Glover.

Robert Gaustad



-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of icemanle@xxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, April 24, 2006 8:39 AM
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] How we learned diatonic harmonica in the "olden days"

 
How did you other "old guys" learn to play before 21st Century teaching aids
were created?
 
The Iceman
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