[Harp-L] Re: [Harp-Lost in the blues

[Philharpn@xxxxxxx]

This whole string reminds of an article I wrote about 10 years ago for 
American Harmonica Newsmagazine about a harmonica teacher who had just released a 
blues instruction book. In the course of teaching group and private lessons he 
encountered a young boy of about 10 who wanted to learn to play the blues on 
the harmonica.
    Thinking that the boy was too immature to undergo the extensive training 
needed to master the blues harp, and too young to have encountered any of 
life's experiences, the author/teache tried to disuade the kid.
    "Well, you know, if you really want to play the blues, you have to have 
gone through a lot of life experiences. Life is not all sunshine. If you 
haven't suffered, basically, you can't really play the blues."
     Of course, the kid completely misintrepreted the meaning, which was 
obvious by what he said.
     "Oh, I'm willing to suffer." 
(No kid, you don't suffer by learning to play blues harp; you suffer from 
life experiences.)


So what's the point?

Blues is a form of music. It has 12 bars or 8 bars (or 13 if you can't count 
-- and a lot of the old guys couldn't).

But the most important thing about playing the blues is being familiar with 
the form. You can learn it from records, you can learn it sheet music (because 
just about everything is available to some extent in harmonica by the number 
tablature and sheet music notation dots on the page today that gives a pretty 
approximation of any tune or chord progression). If you don't believe me you 
haven't been inside a music store or internet shop recently.
  Basically, the only limitation is how much you want to spend and how much 
time you want to spend.

I love the blues (for about 50 years now) and I once paid big bucks to my 
local Detroit public radio station for my all-day personal broadcast message: "A 
day without the blues is like a day without sunshine."

But the blues is not a religion. It's a kind of music. Like a waltz. Ragtime. 
Popular song. One of buddies, who happens to be Jewish, once told me his 
favorite song when he was a kid was "Jesus Loves Me." He was just fascinated by 
it. Religion had nothing to do with. 
   Angst has nothing to do with PLAYING the blues. 
If you want to play the blues, you need to play the blues with feeling. And 
once you can fake that, that you've got it made.

Phil Lloyd



In a message dated 6/23/2005 11:18:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
bcohen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
Chris Michalek wrote:
> Being able to emote has more to do with understanding one's self
> moreso than anything else. 
    Good point Chris.  I interviewed Earring George Mayweather for LIVING 
BLUES a (long) while back. He said many times over a bunch of nights in 
my cramped Boston apartment, "Everybody gets the blues, even the 
President."  Leaving aside any political discussion whatsoever, I'd have 
to agree.  Why else would everyone be on Prozac?
    I have this vague recollection from Psych 101 that one of the fathers of 
modern psychology devised this theory that we basically carry the same 
level of angst regardless of our situation but that our needs change.
    The Internet is wonderful.  Questions seldom have to go unanswered.  I'm 
referring to Abraham Maslov. And his theory is called: "The Hierarchy of 
Human Needs."
1. Physiological
2. Safety and Security
3. Love and Belonging
4. Esteem or Ego
5. Self-actualize
6. Know and Understand
7. Aesthetic
Each "need" is evoked to the degree that the person is "unsatisfied." 
And usually the lower ones like food, shelter, and safety take p 
residence over the higher ones (though not always).
   Aw those college guys, right?  That's just a fancy way of saying we can 
all feel very deeply regardless of our situation.  Blues to me 
encompasses much more than expressing "pain" through music.  Really it's 
a music about communicating your feelings deeply and publicly.
    Crack Pot theory number 10,342: most of us, including a great many 
people who play the blues have lost our ability to touch and use our 
feelings as the more basic needs get satisfied.  What Chris says rings 
really true to my ears: "Being able to emote has more to do with 
understanding one's self moreso than anything else." But to put my own 
spin on his words, being able to access and express your feelings 
through music is what makes effective blues.  And this is no mean feat. 
  Indeed, you have to be authentic, you have to be wise, and you have to 
be very brave.
    Look whose got too much time on his hands today.  Actually, I'm supposed 
to be looking for new clients for my web design business, which I hate. 
      Besides, I played out last night and I'm too busy feeling bad about my 
shortcomings as a musician.  That REALLY gives me the blues.  My lack of 
talent is felt deeply and it sure does find its way out the other end of 
my harps and to the audiences' ears. ;-)
    Peace, love, and happy summer. 
Bob