[Harp-L] Mojo lost and found

["John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx>]

Abner,

It's pretty rude for another player at an open stage jam to take the  
mic away from you.  If it was on a tune that doesn't work with harp,  
it would have been better for him to have suggested that you might  
want to lay out on this one.  Btw, there is some material that just  
doesn't work well with harp.  Don't be afraid to lay out on that type  
of stuff.  Or, if it's a tune where harp will only sound good on the  
chorus because the chord changes on the the of the tune are not harp  
friendly, don't be afraid to play only on the chorus and lay out for  
the rest of the tune. Don't force feed the music.  Other musicians  
respect a harp player who knows when NOT to play.

And even if the tune is harp friendly, you don't need to play all the  
fills.   Especially if you can't think of something cool to play, let  
one of the other players fill it in. Relax.  What you DON'T play is  
as important as what you do play.  It's important to let the music  
breathe.

Keep playing with other musicians in public.  Great way to develop  
and learn. And it's fun.  The lost and found Mojo is just part of  
what happens.

JP