I have two short videos from jam sessions I performed at recently. Iām still in the process of learning music theory, how to play in different positions, and how to play alongside other musicians. Iām self-taught and play by ear completely.
I had never played with any of the other musicians featured here before so itās definitely all improv. Any pointers on my technique? Timing? Thanks for having a listen and letting me know what you think. I donāt know too many harmonica players so would appreciate any honest feedback.
Itās hard for me to evaluate my own playing honestly. The same drive that keeps pushing me to improve my skills, also makes me continually see myself as a total novice.
Really great to get some quality feedback (and also positive reinforcement).
Oh, for real @bubby.graves? I would never see myself as anything close to that, but thanks so much. Thisāll give me the courage to keep improving and putting myself out there more often.
@Jago - I think youāre playing sounds great my friend! What I love is that youāre not just talking, youāre actually saying something. In both solos youāre playing really tastefully, and most importantly leaving some space (not overplaying.)
As the great trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie once said - try putting some holes in your playing, maybe some music will fall out. Youāre already doing that which puts you ahead of 90% of players in my book.
On both sets, and especially audible on the acoustic set, your use of tongue blocking slaps and splits really adds a lot of texture and blues horsepower to your playing. Also really nice vibrato. And great turnaround licks played in the correct place with good phrasing all make these solos sound professional.
If you wanting some advice on where to go next, I encourage you to explore the upper range of the harmonica to be able to add another chorus of soloing and climax it even more.
Wailing on the -6 is good for this.
Actually busting into a little 3rd position riff can work great -6ā -6 7 -8 7 -6 -6ā -5 -4
In a totally different vibe, but also for creating climax, sliding up to the -8 and then playing something like -8 8 -8 and sliding down -7 -6 6 and then continuing back down into lower bluesy stuff works great.
And working on 10" is one of the greats as well. 10 10" 9 and 9 -9 -8 will give you lots of bluesy stuff up there in that register.
I show how wailing on the -6 and the 10" can add climax to a solo here:
Great stuff @jago. Sounds like youāre underestimating your ability. Congrats. Keep up the good work!
Hi @Luke, thanks so much for taking the time to listen. That means a lot! Never had detailed feedback like this before. (I was beginning to think all my attempts regarding tongue blocking slaps et cetera were going completely unnoticed to anyone listening. )
Huge confidence boost, thanks. And what a lovely quote by Gillespie, I couldnāt agree more. Overplaying has been the one thing Iāve been trying to avoid ever since I got intrigued by the harmonica. (Trying to fix the reputation of our favorite little instrument one song at a time. ) I need to pick it up again but a while back was working on transposing parts of his Birksā Works to the diatonic. What a great piece that is.
Youāre showing your teaching prowess, spot on regarding the upper range, great observation. Iāve actually been working on third position playing recently, trying to get more comfortable playing up there. Just got Blowing the family jewels down to a T. What a creative musician William Clarke was.
Thanks for the specific riff suggestions, that helps a ton. Iāll be sure to watch your video on the ultimate harmonica solo as well. That somehow, and inexplicably, hadnāt made it onto my āwatch laterā playlist yet.
Wishing you all the best from (atypically) sunny Belgium. About to take my harmonica outside and soak up some vitamin d.
Thanks so much, Iām really glad and grateful to have found a space here to share and learn.
Congrats. Keep up the good work!
)
) I need to pick it up again but a while back was working on transposing parts of his Birksā Works to the diatonic. What a great piece that is.