Re: [Harp-L] Why Musicians Hate Harp Players

[Mike <mikefugazzi@xxxxxxxxx>]

I am mostly just going to echo what Richard Hunter is saying.  I consider 
myself to be a rock player.  I can play other styles, but my favorite is 
rock.  The most fun I ever had gigging was playing in a cover band that 
treated harp like lead guitar.  I also sing, so it is generally impossible 
for me to play harp *all* the time.  Since SPAH 2010, I've had a huge 
change in my day job and two more children - my days of commuting an hour 
and a half for rehearsals and such are over.  Mostly I sit at home with a 
full harp rig, PA, lights, etc., waiting for the chance to play in a BAND 
locally...duo stuff is available, but I miss the full band stuff.

At any rate, the live music scene has changed over the last few years, and 
if the average harp player won't adapt, then there is going to be less and 
less room for paying gigs.  Being a blues harmonica player isn't as easy as 
it used to be (from a paying gig standpoint), but that is generally, even 
in the world of musicians, what harmonica is associated with.  I blame the 
bulk of this on harmonica players themselves.    Blues Traveler is playing 
a few blocks from my house at the end of the month...Richard's mention of 
Magic Dick made me think of John Popper.  He is a fantastic rhythm player 
in both technique and gear.  I have never heard ANYONE in any genre with 
such a unique rhythm harmonica style that is extremely sophisticated and 
hard to replicate.  Please don't mistake that for a commentary on his lead 
playing.  Actually, like it or not, his style fits rock music extremely 
well.  He is NOT playing blues harp over rock tunes.

There is a ton the harp can offer for rhythm playing.  People need to stop 
thinking straight I-IV-V chording.  Learn about intervals, octaves, triads, 
power chords...Throw in a few effect pedals and you can cover organ parts, 
etc.  I had a pick up gig last summer in a country rock band.  They wanted 
a fiddle player but couldn't find one.  I had to hound and hound to get an 
audition.  When I did, I was hired after the first song.  The band leader 
insisted I use a rotary effect in lieu of an organ player, auto wah, long 
delays, all sorts of fun stuff.  I played bag pipe parts, synth parts...it 
was great!  It fit the music extremely well and I didn't even have to sing 
back ups.  They did one non-country tune to close - Livin' on a Prayer...I 
was the one playing the Whoa part at the beginning (Line 6 Growler effect).

The biggest enemy to the harp is the harp player.  If the issue is people 
don't want to pay us to play limited solos over blues progressions, then 
find something to do other than blues riff over entire songs.  While things 
like not playing, learning to sing, playing hand percussion or other 
instruments is GREAT, don't limit the instrument!





On Monday, June 17, 2013 2:26:29 PM UTC-5, Greg Jones wrote:
>
> This is a great topic and one that is so much better than endless 
> discussion on combs. 
>
> Musicians dislike harp players because one extra body in a band takes away 
> from the cut essentially reducing by 20-25% the amount the other players 
> get in a 5-piece vs. a 4-piece. 
>
> The harp is a lead instrument which is a bit counter-intuitive because it 
> is a lead instrument that really shouldn't lead on every song and every 
> verse.  Also, harmonica players are notorious for playing over vocals. The 
> guitar players are guilty of the same infractions but they get a lot more 
> grace because they do serve a purpose when they are not playing a lead and 
> that's to help keep the rhythm. Plus a lot of them sing, too. 
>
> Sunglasses and a fedora can only take us so far.  As a general practice, 
> unless we can play endless creative licks like His Ricciness.. we should 
> probably play less and leave them asking for more.. 
>
> Hats off though to Mr. Greg H. of Blows Me Away who I believe has served 
> the harp playing community well by providing good products that help us 
> monitor our sound which is another sticking point between us and the 
> musical community. 
>
> By no means a gigging expert here, but rather one whose felt the sting ... 
>
> *Greg Jones* 
> *16:23 Custom Harmonicas* 
> *(210) 445-6600* 
> 1623customharmonicas.com 
>