I live in Texas so our definition of country music may vary. Songs like Ghost Rider are a good start. The Yellow Rose Of Texas is one of my favorites.
When I pick a song to tackle it has to be one that can be soloed with a harp. You could try searching for the top ten country tunes but such a list is typically void of many of the best and oldest tunes.
Hi mate, I think you play pretty well as it is, I know the problem with hyper- fixation I have it myself to some extent, but as I’ve got older, I realized that I’m never going to be able to play or sound like my heroes, their method is different, their Physical and mental attributes are different they can afford really good gear thanks to sponsorship deals and they wear snazzier suits and all of the have hair ( well except for Kim Wilson) my friend you know how to play, rather than being someone else be you? Take all the best bits you hear from your heroes mix it with other stuff you like and add you. It’ll save you a hell of a lot of frustration in the end. And if Terry MacMillan was around, I’m pretty sure he’d tell you this.
I already sound like myself, but I’m always afraid of being unsatisfied of my playing style. Especially since many years ago, people were telling me to sound like Charlie McCoy and Little Walter in order to be an “actually successful” harmonica player. I didn’t like their stuff, but people insisted I should sound like them and get rid of Terry’s influence instead of being myself and pursuing the sound that I wanted. I’ll always have that sound, but I don’t deal with those comments anymore. Mainly because they stopped telling me those things. In fact, people telling me that I sound like Terry is more of a compliment than frustrating.
Well, the fact you sound like Terry is great if that’s what your going for, then your pretty much half way there, have you just tried playing along with backing tracks etc or just join the kind of country band that plays a style or similar to what you enjoy. I mean I wish people where I live said that I sounded like one of my heroes but the fact is that where I live nobody has even heard of my heroes let alone listened to them
I actually am not in a country band since none of the bands I’ve found don’t want a harmonica player. I tried to post my work for finding a country band, but nobody asked me to join. Nor have I played with country backing tracks because the tracks always sound the same, more on the Johnny Cash side instead of the style I grew up on. That’s why I practice the songs I enjoy as well as the song I play with my own band.