Re: [Harp-L] Harmonica Progress

["Blowinharp ." <kham27@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks for all the advice. I was really fishing for the holy grail of a
practice regiment. I'm an intermediate player learning 3rd position and
playing everyday for 10 years'ish.

Melodies seem to be a recurring theme. Maybe I'll go down that road and
play with a rack in the car in the daytime parked with the parking brake
on!!! Hehe.

Thanks again,

Kevin


On 22 January 2014 14:23, Michelle LeFree <mlefree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:

> Blowinharp wrote:
>
>  I am trying to progress my playing and get out of a rut. I am wondering if
>> there is any one thing or multiple things people did (ie. scale exercises,
>> tone exercise, or general training exercise) that really elevated their
>> playing?
>>
>> Any and all answers will help!
>>
>> Kevin
>>
>
> Kevin you don't state what level of playing at which you are currently
> stuck or what your goals are once you get unstuck. I'll offer this advice
> anyway.
>
> I was at a point on blues harp learning curve where I had the mechanics of
> playing fairly well down and had a little library of blues licks that I
> could call upon. I could comp to most any blues song but I didn't know
> where to go from there to become a better diatonic harmonicist.
>
> That was when one of my mentors, Paul Davies, gave me some of the best
> harmonica-related advice I've had. "Learn to play some melodies." Whaaat? I
> thought that would take me a step back to the "Red River Valley" track I
> started my harmonica adventure on. But of course there are far more
> challenging songs to learn and in doing so, I became far more intimate and
> friendly with my favorite little instrument.
>
> So that's my advice. Learn to play some intricate melodies. You'll thank
> me later, just as I am still thanking Paul.
>
> Michelle
>
>
>