Tip of the Day

Identify who's the leader for that song. If it's your song, it's you. If it's another jammer who suggested the song, it's them. If none of the jammers called the song, then it's either the band leader of the jam or it's their responsibility to assign someone else. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LEADER.

You now have your harps, mic, amp, water, etc. Let's first focus on a jam session... we'll later speak as if it's your gig. continue reading...

Now that you know what the other instruments are doing groove-wise, it's time to practice counting them in and taking them out. Visit Performance Training: Beginnings, Breaks & Endings to find out how to practice this.  

Whether this is a jam session or you're playing a new song with your band, know what the other instruments are doing. Listen to each new song one time through for each instrument. Listen to the bass... what type of line are they playing... can you learn how to play this bass line on the harp so you can easily show this to the bass player? Listen to the drums... what's the groove... what cymbal are they primarily using (hats or ride). Is the guitar playing a rhythm part or playing fills. I think you get the idea. continue reading...

This may sound funny... but bring water. I can't tell you how many shows I showed up to and things got so busy as soon as we walked in that I, or someone I asked, couldn't get water before playing. Throw a bottle in your bag, you'll thank me. Also throw some business cards, or at least pencil and paper, in your bag to help with new contacts.
 

Now for the amp. The rule-of-thumb is to bring an amp that's loud enough to hear yourself on the bandstand without monitors. I'm not saying loud enough for the audience to hear you... that's the PA system's job. If you don't have a large enough amp, then you can rely on monitor's, though this is not always the safest bet (you're at the mercy of the sound engineer to balance the monitors and control feedback).

Now for the mic. The mic is easy, it's what sounds best with the amp you're bringing, though one consideration could be helpful. If you're playing with a REALY loud band, and you commonly get drowned out, bring your cleaner mic. Distortion equals feedback... so your more distorted mic is more likely to feed back. Your more distorted mic will also tend to be more bassy and muted, which is not what you need to cut through and be heard.

To make these tips a little more organized, each month I'm going to have a main topic that we'll follow... this month, playing with others.

What to Bring continue reading...

There are two things you need to memorize if you wish to be a great blues harmonica player and musician.

1) The pitch set of the C Harmonica

2) The three chords used in blues, for this C Harmonica in 2nd Position, key of G (I7 = G B D F / IV7 = C E G B-flat / V Chord = D F# A C)

That's it. The knowledge of these two things is of tremendous importance to being creative in both your accompaniment playing and improvising. And you only have to do it for one harmonica... the rest are a carbon copy of this.

When creating an original Solo Harmonica piece it's all about finding the main chugging pattern for your composition... something rhythmic and catchy... it MUST make you want to tap your feet! Once you have your main pattern, experiment with replacing beats within your pattern with singe notes... little pieces of melody. You then experiment with creating a main melody... something that your listener can hum after hearing your composition.

Start working on your original Solo Harmonica piece... contest coming soon!