Re: [Harp-L] Gettiing back to harmonica

[Elizabeth Hess <TrackHarpL@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi, Chuck,

My big "breakthrough" in improvising came when someone suggested that  
I  *hum*  improvised lines before trying to play them.  (This is for  
practicing, not for performance.)  The advantage is that it separates  
the task of thinking up a line from the task of executing it on the  
harp.  For me this was huge.

The other thing that really moved me forward was when I realized that  
with blues, you can play  *any*  notes of the blues scale in any  
order, and they will sound bluesy and fit in with the chord progression.

More recently my teacher has been having me transcribe particular  
solos (of his choosing) and learn to play them note-for-note.  I don't  
aspire to play other people's licks note-for-note in the long run, but  
the exercise has proven invaluable for getting inside the heads of  
players who are far more brilliant than I.  I expect that in the long  
run, this will expand my "vocabulary" of phrases and techniques.  I  
must say that having a teacher is of immense help here:  "What's that  
sound?"  "Let me explain to you how to do a reverse tongue-slap."   
That kind of thing.  Saves a lot of time and hair-pulling.

Quite a few participants on Harp-L give lessons via phone or skype; I  
have done very well with lessons over the phone -- don't be afraid of  
distance learning for this.  Many teachers -- on this list and off --  
have You-Tube videos.  I suggest you watch a bunch, take your time,  
and then make a "best guess" as to whose playing style, teaching  
style, and personality seem like a good match for you.

Good luck!  It's a fine adventure.

Elizabeth


On Sep 25, 2011, at 7:45 PM, chuck maguire wrote:

> From: chuck maguire <ctm_v@xxxxxxxxx>
> Date: September 25, 2011 5:56:46 PM EDT
> To: "harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] Gettiing back to harmonica
> Reply-To: chuck maguire <ctm_v@xxxxxxxxx>
>
>
> Why am I finding it so hard to solo and improvise? Even my fillers  
> sound similiar too often.
>
> <snip>

> 1. What is best way to be able to learn to improvise? There are no  
> teachers where I am so would phone or skype lessons go much further  
> than just CD/DVDs. The problem with DVD is you cannot ask questions.