Taking the next step

Mark:

Great advice from SOTB. It sounds as if you've already scoped out a local open mic. What is the general style of the performers there? E.g., singer-songwriter types, folks who play current pop hits, Broadway and Great American Songbook tunes?

E.g., re the guitarist who made the suggestion: Does he play and sing blues standards? If so, so long as you know what key he's singing and playing in; what the structure is (e.g., 12-bar, 16-bar, 8-bar); what position you want to play in; and are careful not to step on his vocals or any melodic guitar solo, you should be good to go with any blues tune he does. If you're just starting out, practice at home holding your harp using a vocal mic in a stand to be sure you're comfortable with playing into a mic without banging into it. 

But if the folks you want to play with aren't doing blues, you'll want to be careful. E.g., depending on the style of the song, blues licks may not work. E.g., to go into something like Jimmy Webb's "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" with a blues solo would sound just weird. If they're doing pop songs, listen to the recordings of those songs and see what fits. I find that if asked to sit in with doo-wop, pop, folk, or even early jazz standards, the safest thing to do is play in first position, just using the notes in the major scale for that song's key. If you have nice tone, folks will love it. Find either the songs folks at the open mic are playing and singing, or that sound like the songs they're playing and singing, and experiment playing along at home.

Re your musician friend at the open mic saying to just play "when he isn't singing" that's his way of saying "don't step on me." For starters, I find it handy to ask a vocalist "would you like me to play fills," before actually doing it. Some vocalists don't like it; some love it; and some are inexperienced and don't know what I'm talking about. But listen to great blues artists who play fills to get a feeling for when a fill works. (Some songs have lyrics that run together so there's no space for a fill.)

And a good soloist or band leader should be able to signal to you when he or she wants you to take a solo. So be sure you're always looking at the leader; understand how to play pickups that'll get you into your solo, and what the chord and rhythmic structure is so that you know when it's time to lay out. (I've been on the stage at blues jams where a lesser-experienced instrumentalist starts a great solo over 12 bars, plays through 24 bars, and then keeps playing for three more bars and stops, and looks at the rest of us with a sort of "where am I" look.)

Finally, if you haven't already, go through all six of David's Performance Training studies here on the site. A bunch of great musicians will lead you through nearly everything you need to know for public performance. And even though they're all blues-oriented, their advice and tips apply to every style of music you might imagine.

Oh ... and finally: Stage fright? Forget about it. I've never been to an open mic or jam where anyone showed up looking forward to giving a performer a bad time, or hoping one would fail. Everyone at the open mic, whether on stage or in the audience, is there to support you, no matter what. 

Have fun ... and report back!

Ukulele Rob plays Hohner™ harmonicas customized by Kinya Pollard, The Harpsmith™

Hey Mark, 

Where do you live? Look for "Harp Fest" events that provide a combination of Educational Classes that also provide plenty of Jam time with a live band. Typically you are only rotating in for 12 bars at a time and it's a very friendly environment.

I am fortunate to have one near me - Carolina Harp Fest, which is in October. This will be the year that I actually participate in the Jams! I don't feel anymore prepared, but I just need to jump in and do it.

Mark:

Are you a member of HarmonicaUK? If not, join now. The UK's equivalent of SPAH. Lots of info about UK events. And ... coming up in October their annual festival and convention, in Birmingham: https://www.harmonica.uk/pages/harmonicauk-festival-2025

If you're up for further travel, check out the annual "Harpin' By The Sea" events in Brighton & Hove. Look for them on FaceBook, as it looks as if they're sort of leaving their website. See HarmonicaUK's post about the 2023 fest: https://www.harmonica.uk/articles/it-s-back-harpin-by-the-sea-2023

For sure, link up with some UK performers who show up at festivals, workshops and camps. (Like Liam Ward, https://www.liamwardmusic.com/contact). Always a good source of info.

Looks as though your closest big city is Manchester. Just looked at Hohner's list of dealers and found something called Johnny Roadhouse Music. Maybe give them a call to find out about jams. (Tho' be careful. From time to time I've found Hohner dealers here in the US who knew absolutely nothing about the harmonicas they sell, let alone about blues events.)

Also, a good blues jam is worth an hour's drive. Check out the Liverpool scene.

Finally, do you listen to Neil Warren's Harmonica Happy Hour podcast? Great stuff. And I think Neil is based somewhere in the Midlands. Get in touch with him and he may know about blues jam activities all over the UK. https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com/about/

By the way, I've never actually been to a harp festival or blues jam in Great Britain. But during the COVID pandemic lockdown I virtually met a lot of people while attending on-line festival events that folks like Harpin' by the Sea put on. And learned a lot about harmonica activities in the UK.

Along with being nervous about being a beginner on stage, you may have "stage fright" about reaching out to famous harmonica players to find out about events in your area. Don't be. One of the great things about the harmonica world is that harp players are a very small group, and even if one is just beginning, experienced players, including touring pros, are generally more than happy to respond to an inquiry with information and encouragement. 

Keep us all posted.

Hi Mark.

Re ukulele, it was my first instrument (at seven years old). I play and sing blues, pop, jazz, Great American Songbook, etc., with it. And teach from time to time. I'm not that good an instrumentalist (more of what they call a "hummer and strummer"), but have always enjoyed playing. For great ukulele blues check out the CD that Jake Shimabukuro recently recorded with Mick Fleetwood. 

Re Bessie Smith's "Back Water Blues," it's a straightforward 12-bar, as you've correctly heard I7-IV7-V7. If your ukulelel friend is doing it in A, and you're using an A harp, you have all the wonderful challenges of playing the blues scale in 1st position. How are your blow-bends on the 8, 9 and 10? I'm still working on mine, and am less than comfortable in 1st position. And I don't do overblows at all. Go through David's 1st position lessons to get a feel. You may decide that buying a D harp is easier than getting a good 1st position sound. (Or ask your ukulelel friend to play the song in E.)

Which brings up the topic of harp keys. If you're going to start going to blues jams, you'll want to have a sufficient number of harp keys to be ready for just about anything. At the very least, G, A, Bb, C, D, and either low or high F. Keeping in mind that if you don't have a harp that'll work in 2nd position for the key the leader calls for, you can always use other positions. (I usually carry all 12 keys, and have actually had cause to use every key except Gb/F#, so frequently leave that harp home and carry both a low and a high F in my 12-harp kit. E.g., if somebody for some reason calls out a tune in Db, I just play my B harp in 3rd position. But months and months can go by with certain keys gathering cobwebs, while my G, A and D harps get plenty of use.)

Mark:

Take a look at David's lesson on the site, "Movement Exercises Study 2 - Essential scales. Given the major-ish sound of the piano part in the recording, the major pentatonic scale works, as does the blues scale. (Keep in mind that David writes out notes as though one were playing a C harp, so while the 1st, 2nd and 3rd position scales in the PDF are in C, if you're using an A harp you'll be playing those same scales in A.) This particular lesson and study materials is a great way to start understanding scales and positions.

By the way, the original recording is coincidentally in A. But whether or not your uke friend sings in the same range as Bessie, have him try the song in E and B, so you can try licks in 2nd and 3rd position, too, to see how they sound.

Enjoy!

By the way, Mark, John Cephus & Phil Wiggins recorded a wonderful version of Back Water Blues, Piedmont style, in E, i.e., "the people's key." After reviewing the lyrics, I think I'll add it to my own setlist. A song that's 98 years old and still sounds good is a keeper.