I’ve been playing the harp for a few years now and one thing I’ve wondered for a while since before ever joining this forum is this: how do you know when you’re ready to play in a bigger way? For example - with a band, on your own at something like an open mic, or even beyond that?
Thanks!
That’s a great and somewhat tough question.
Theory: it is a blend of belief and actual skill/talent and in some ways I think belief is a majority of the blend. Someone with little skill and a lot of belief will get up on stage or jam with a band and not think twice — yet someone with excellent skill and little belief will possibly always question there readiness.
Practical ideas: You might consider recording yourself playing over jam/backing tracks and:
(a) critique the basics yourself. Am I hitting clean notes? Hows my rhythm aligning with the jam track? Etc… and most importantly, How does it sound to you.
(b) share the recording with others — in this forum, friends and family and get critique and feedback.
(c) share it with a band/‘s and/or band member you know and ask them for feedback.
Final thought: depending on your comfort level, consider asking a local band (if you know any) if you can jam in a practice session with them.
Em Cee
Thank you so much for these recommendations. Super helpful. I’ll be doing more recording soon.
I wholeheartedly believe that somebody’s readiness for the stage is a mix of skill and self-confidence, just like @cloves-fibs0f said. I’ve dealt with a lot of mean comments from people who think they are big-shots when it comes to harmonica, but they can barely play at all or can only play with one note.
This upcoming story is all true. The reason why I wanted to start lessons with Todd Parrott was that I was banned from MBH Facebook because of me telling somebody that I don’t want to sound like Charlie McCoy and instead sound like Terry McMillan. The admin put some unfair rules on me and thought that he can manipulate me. People would attack me for my personal taste in harmonica players and the admin victim-blamed me because I said I didn’t get why people love Charlie McCoy. Another reason was that somebody who can barely play at all told me I sucked, I didn’t have any emotion to my playing and I would never be a good harmonica player. I have been cancelled on so many forums for being autistic in so much time that I eventually stopped listening to those people and get lessons.
All of those comments hurt my self-esteem and made me think that I’ll never be any good. One person even told me to give up the instrument, but I resisted his “advice” because I didn’t want give up the harmonica because somebody told me to. I was a laughing stock in the Facebook harmonica community, so I wanted to show them all that I can be a good player. So I messaged Todd on Facebook for a lesson and the rest was history.
Todd is very open minded as he is also influenced by Terry McMillan too, so we had something we could bond over. When I first heard him gave an explanation about one of the licks Terry played in a song, you could tell that he knows what he’s talking about. He and I became friends after that first lesson. Todd is just the sweetest, kindest, and most humble soul on the planet and I wouldn’t trade a single day with any other teacher.
I would often record myself playing the songs I would learn and post them on Facebook, usually with positive results. There is sometimes trolls trying to tear you down in the comments, but the best thing to do is not respond, then block them. The best kind of comment you can get is constructive criticism. The difference between hate comments and concrit is that hate will only tell you how you are a terrible player according to their standards, meanwhile constructive criticism is like “I like how you did A, but didn’t like how you did B. So do C to improve”. Also if you see a hate commenter say “I’m giving you constructive criticism”, do not listen to them.
@Michaelgb93 @KeroroRinChou. To Michaelgb93 you don’t until you try it but self confidence is key. Believe in yourself, never apologise or talk yourself down with things like ‘I’ve only just learned this’, it’s a dead giveaway that you’re unsure of yourself. And this is for KeroroRinChou as well, have some cutting retorts ready for any big mouths from the audience, I found ‘OK, I’ve a clean harp in my bag come and show us what you can do’. When I played in public I never had any takers but be prepared to say 'OK you’ve made your point and then lead the audience in clapping if you do get a taker. Answering back in a jokey way with a smile and a quick response gets the audience on your side. Have a few responses planned in advance so you’re not thinking ‘oh I wish I’d thought to say that’. We’ve all thought that at some time. Nothing too personal, just a quick-fire response. An easy confidence boost is to look and act like you know what you’re doing. Have all your own kit including mic and cables in a worn gig bag. In the UK new lawyers are known as whitewigs because their court wigs are new and white, I bought a secondhand grey wig rather than something looking new; a worn gig bag will give the same impression that you’ve been around rather than the new kid on the block. Probably the hardest lesson is learning when not to play with less being greater than more, when you’ve worked that out your ready to move up and enjoy yourself. Jay1
Lots of good advice there. Just a small thing to add, there’s a half way house to joining a full on gigging band and that’s just to join a group of people with similar experience levels to jam with. There are plenty of websites out there like bandmix which put like minded musicians of all levels together. Theres probably already a group of beginner musicians in your area having fun, jamming and learning together who would be more than happy to have a harp player.
Personally,I jammed with a lot of different bands, I still do I gauge the audiences reaction my Wife is good yard stick a she also watches the audience for me and people go up to her and ask her if I’m playing again or do I have my own band and so on. It’s usually a good indicator of where you are. But also don’t rest on your laurels always try to improve and try new stuff. I also tend to be my own worst critic, when I play in my head I make notes of any mistakes that the audience missed and things I could’ve done better I hope that helps.
I’m autistic too Asperger’s syndrome and a late diagnosis at that, I’ve found that the Lazer focus we have helps a lot, I also hear something once or twice and I can play it. I have come across a lot of jealousy myself and the best way to deal with that is just keep on doing what your doing and keep improving getting better, ignore people who put you down because that hurts them more than it hurts you.
@chris3 Chris you have raised an important point with join a group of people with similar experience levels to jam with playing with others who are much further advanced can destroy confidence and irritate the people you’re playing with, equally playing with people who are a long way behind will probably irritate you. It’s not easy to find those at a similar level but certainly worth the effort. @Andy2 I suspect we are all our own worst critics but self criticism is healthy, it’s criticism from those who only play air guitars that’s not worth anything. That’s what I like about studio playing, it’s team work to produce the sounds being looked for often helped by the sound engineer. Jay1
Wow, all of these replies are so helpful… thank you all so much for the fantastic, sincere replies and advice, i am extremely grateful!
I’m very fortunate. My local Blues Society hosts a Jam Workshop (separate to the monthly jam) once a month. Three tunes are published (with a link to the YouTube version) a few weeks beforehand. It is expected that you know how to play your instrument and are aware of the exemplar arrangement of each of the tunes. The Workshop ‘house band’ plays the tune first and then jammers get up and form a band. They play the tune, and then another band is formed until everyone that wants to has had a turn. Then we move on to the next tune.
The purpose is to build confidence and get experience playing in and with a band in a positive, encouraging environment. These workshops have led to many bands being formed, based on jammers hearing others they would like to play with. A great, but I believe pretty rare, initiative.
That’s actually a brilliant idea, would love to try that where I live.
There’s really nothing better than to play for just yourself. On the other hand, the “biggest” way to “share” your music (if “share” is what you are asking about) is just you playing for someone else. However the more people you play for the “smaller” you become when you look at the ratio between you and the size of an audience. LOL! It’s not really bigger. Think about that! Maybe the word we should use is “socially relevant.” That’s the wrong reason to play music. You are on our team. You are a music maker. I don’t care what level of “skill.” you are at. You decided to make music, you are a music maker. Regarding playing with other music makers: Answer: Don’t ask. Just find someone else that wants to experience this adventure with you. Music is one of the most powerful and beautiful and mysterious experiences in the world. When we allow social relevance to have anything to do with it we … (I will let you all finish the sentence). But I have been finishing that sentence for over 60 years. LOL! - Corky - your partner in music.
All of these ideas, stories, sentiments and suggestions are extremely appreciated. If I were to take a video of some of my playing would you all mind giving me some feedback?
Yes, I would definitely give you feed back
Sure will.
Okay, this is a very rough take I just recorded. Let me know your thoughts. Thank you!
Hi Mike, the first thing that stands out, it you need to count your beats by tapping your foot. All guitar players harp players every muso I know does this it gives them timing. Otherwise you’ve got a series of notes piled on top of each other with no audible direction. On the plus side you’ve got your basics more or less down. So if I were you try slowing everything down and count your beats fit what your playing within those beats, or use a gadget to count the beat for you (although I’ve never found one that’s very accurate) another thing you can do is play with backing tracks on YouTube I’ve been playing 30 odd years when I started no Internet it was backing tracks on cassette tape! So I find this and amazing tool and you are not limited to one style.
I hope this helps you
Yes, very helpful. Thank you, I will take your advice pronto!