Learning solos from the greats note for note (including a couple of your own, naturally) happens to be the approach I started taking a couple of years ago, but I'm pleased to hear that advice coming directly from a pro. So I reckon it's a confidence thing.
First of all loving these Looking Sharp lessons, my first time making the most of that 3 blow.
Although I've been playing blues harp for 5 years now, I often find I'm much more imaginative when practicing on my own compared to the weekly live music night I attend (where I tend to resort to more familiar licks and phrases). Just wondering if you had any kind words of wisdom.
In my experience (and with others I know), that is totally normal. It may be in every player's best interest to use what you are familiar with and what you KNOW will work (and sound good) when you are on the bandstand. But I also think you are asking how to be more imaginative or WHEN do you cross the line and become more imaginative on the bandstand....?
Different things will lead different players to that point. The biggest thing will be comfort and confidence in your abilities. If you want to be more imaginative on the bandstand, you want to be comfortable feeling (and knowing) that the ideas you come up with WILL be good and work out well. It takes a while to get to that point, and everybody has a different level of comfort vs. embarrassment that they are willing to deal with. Not all your ideas will work out, but when you practice jamming and improvising more and more, you will notice when your ideas are more often than not sounding good, and that will help you feel confident enough to do more of that while on stage.
This is an issue I worked at a lot in my development, and learning solos from great players (note for note) helped in my development a lot. It helped me know my instrument better, helped my vocabulary grow, and eventually gave me confidence that I will come up with stuff that sounds good more often than not....assuming I really learned the material well and knew the instrument better once I learned it.
Learning solos from the greats note for note (including a couple of your own, naturally) happens to be the approach I started taking a couple of years ago, but I'm pleased to hear that advice coming directly from a pro. So I reckon it's a confidence thing.
Great advice, thanks!
Learning solos from the greats note for note (including a couple of your own, naturally) happens to be the approach I started taking a couple of years ago, but I'm pleased to hear that advice coming directly from a pro. So I reckon it's a confidence thing.
Happy Harpin'!
Dennis,
First of all loving these Looking Sharp lessons, my first time making the most of that 3 blow.
Although I've been playing blues harp for 5 years now, I often find I'm much more imaginative when practicing on my own compared to the weekly live music night I attend (where I tend to resort to more familiar licks and phrases). Just wondering if you had any kind words of wisdom.
These videos are much appreciated. All the best.
Thanks a lot!!
In my experience (and with others I know), that is totally normal. It may be in every player's best interest to use what you are familiar with and what you KNOW will work (and sound good) when you are on the bandstand. But I also think you are asking how to be more imaginative or WHEN do you cross the line and become more imaginative on the bandstand....?
Different things will lead different players to that point. The biggest thing will be comfort and confidence in your abilities. If you want to be more imaginative on the bandstand, you want to be comfortable feeling (and knowing) that the ideas you come up with WILL be good and work out well. It takes a while to get to that point, and everybody has a different level of comfort vs. embarrassment that they are willing to deal with. Not all your ideas will work out, but when you practice jamming and improvising more and more, you will notice when your ideas are more often than not sounding good, and that will help you feel confident enough to do more of that while on stage.
This is an issue I worked at a lot in my development, and learning solos from great players (note for note) helped in my development a lot. It helped me know my instrument better, helped my vocabulary grow, and eventually gave me confidence that I will come up with stuff that sounds good more often than not....assuming I really learned the material well and knew the instrument better once I learned it.
Hope that helps!!
Great advice, thanks!
Learning solos from the greats note for note (including a couple of your own, naturally) happens to be the approach I started taking a couple of years ago, but I'm pleased to hear that advice coming directly from a pro. So I reckon it's a confidence thing.
Happy Harpin'!