Re: [Harp-L] "Average" vs pro harp playing (was: Internet)

[Larry Marks <larry.marks@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

As one excellent player I know put it, we are our own worst enemies.

To me, the harmonica is a musical instrument, like the other musical 
instruments I play. Currently, it is my main instrument. I practice it 
for hours every day, running scales and arpeggios and riffs, and playing 
the tunes I perform.

Unfortunately, the harmonica started its life as a toy. To some, perhaps 
most it remains a toy. I can't begin to describe the grating feeling I 
get when people tootling on a harmonica fail to make changes and play 
garbage over competent musicians.

If that makes me sound like an asshole, then so be it.

Unfortunately, though, that's life.

We have one of the best daily music shows in the country here in N. 
California/S. Oregon. I can guarantee you that you will hear only good 
guitarists and bassists and pianists and horn players. To their credit, 
they occasionally play Carlos del Junco, Toots and Norton. But most of 
the harmonica playing, even on that exalted show is execrable. Nobody 
gives a shit.

-LM

Blueharp1@xxxxxxx wrote:
> Well, it drives me up the wall too. And of course you could add Springsteen  
> (and the room goes WIIIIILD!!!), and a whole raft of others.
> I'd take slight exception to the implied dis on the Roadhouse Blues  harp. 
> Granted, the short riff played by John Sebastian Jr. on that cut is a  simple 
> one. But Sebastian was and is an accomplished player nonetheless, and his  tone 
> and articulation are spot on. Simple, but nowhere near as grating as, say,  
> Tom Petty. Or Alanis Morissette. But I do get your point.
> And of course, it's ALL relative.
>  
> Jeff G
> Denver
>  
>
>
>
>
> In a message dated 1/12/2009 12:01:42 A.M. Mountain Standard Time, 
> _dan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (mailto:dan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) 
> writes:
>
> I was  really frustrated, making similar observations to the ones in your 
> post.   Hell, I still am.  What I started to realize was that nobody cared, and  
> that I looked like a jerk every time I called someone out for their  "crap".  
> Why?  Because the average is the majority.  They think  Neil Young just wails 
> on the harp.  They freaking LOVE the harp in  Roadhouse Blues.  They eat up 
> reality TV like it's gourmet food at  discount prices
>
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