Re: [Harp-L] Gettiing back to harmonica

["Rick Dempster" <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Chuck;
          The simple answers are: keep at it; play with other people as much as possible (VIP) Try to learn any tune already in your head, and anything you hear that catches your attention.
          OK, that's nothing about theory, scales, chord arpeggios etc. etc. For some people that's OK early on, for others it can be a turn off if you're not ready for it.
          Here's one simple exercise in technique that might help you though. Someone else mentioned drum rhythms, I think. I find taking a random two or three notes and playing a drum rudiment with them produces some useful patterns.
          A simple example of this is to take, say, draw 4-5 (or any combination you like) and, treating the two notes as if they were your left and right hands, play a paradiddle: LRLLRLRR, or,
harmonica-lly speaking, 45445455.
          You can do the same thing with the in and out breaths: DBDDBDBB (just keep it up till you faint)
          You can take any drum rudiment and apply it to note patterns or breath patterns.
          You can play a pattern for a bit, then deliberately break it, and start again. As long as you know where you are in the tune, you can make these things work for you (matter of fact, I've found they work even when I'm totally lost!)
          Grab a book on drum rudiments, and learn 'em with your bare hands; then transfer to your breath/instrument.
Hope this helps,
RD













 solo and improvise? Even my fillers sound 
similiar too often.

First a little about myself.

Started playing years ago. Took a couple basic lessons in Atlanta, and one from 
Glenn Wieser in NY on celtic harp. Between Gary and Brandon Powers CD I can play 
a few Irish tunes on Brandans custom Suzuki harps. I cannot do Brandan Powers 
triplets or other coloring except at very slow speeds.

I lightly studied Jerry Portnoys Masterclass CD's, Gindick, Foghorns methods and 
a litlle Arnold. I love the blues esp. the Walters, Slim Harpo, Williamson 1 and 
2, Cotton, Sonny Terry, Howlin Wolf and many others.  Mississippi Deltra blues 
and Chicago style ala Little Walter.

I can hit all clear (most of time) notes tongue blocking or using pursed lips, I 
can bend most bendable notes (1/2 - full), some better than others, although I 
am not able to play real fast.  I can hit single/dble/triple syncopating cords, 
octoves are OK.  My Vibratos are coming along.  My rythem stinks. It is very 
hard for me to move from one style to another or when trying special effects.  
As I speed up pursed lips seems to replace tongue blocking and I need to fight 
to prevent it from happening.

I just ordered D. Barnetts Improv. with the Harp and Accompanying with Harp 
material as well as starting to listen to Adam Gussow Youtube videos and may 
order some of his stuff.

I have a Shure 9822A mic and a Sure 545s Series 2, and a Nifty Fifty amp which I 
could never get to sound too good, I am sure I was problem. I just started using 
Audacity to slow down harp licks off CD's so I can learn them.

I never played with a band or by accompanying anyone and never a had a mentor or 
longtime teacher.

I also gave up harp for several years.

I have just recently picked up again and am dedicated to working my issues out. 
Basically, due to my shortcomings I got frustrated then bored then put the harps 
away. Bad on me.

Now I want to get better and ask the following:

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.

2. How do I learn to put different licks together for solo's? How many licks do 
you need to have to know in order to be effective player?

Am I too hard on myself and just need to keep focused on what I am doing or is 
there a mistake(s) you can see in my approach I need to fix or adjust.

Thank you for time and sorry for long post but I thought it best to give 
background on myself.

Any idea's, suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Chuck