RE: Why not just call them "Guitar Jams"



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t.albanese writes:
 " Be a singer and band leader as well as harp player.  "

This is excellent advice. If you play blues or rock harmonica then be
prepared to sing. It's really not that difficult. There's such a "Star
Search" mentality about singing, and that you have to born with this rare,
exquisite gift to sing (many non-musician singers perpetuate this myth...)
For a jam/barroom setting all that is required is that you sing in tune. If
you can pull that off, you'll not embarrass yourself. Singing is a craft and
an art and the voice is a musical instrument. You can spend years perfecting
the craft. But singing to a bunch of drunks at a barroom jam is no big deal.
Be in tune, and you'll be all right.

The biggest fault of inexperienced harp players is that they play way too
much. They step all over the singer and all over the guitar solo. So just
sit back, until it's your turn to solo. Don't try to do the fills or comp
the guitar solo. Just find the groove listening to the bass and drums. When
it's your turn to solo, play your guts out for 24 bars and then stop. Leave
'em wanting more.

Guitarists are a funny bunch of characters and have their own rules and
rituals. At times they can be vicious. But if you play blues or rock you got
to learn to deal with them. The electric guitar is an amazing, wonderful
instrument and the music that guitarist create can be downright dazzling,
but many guitarist are a walking catalog of neuroses, quirks and
abnormalities. Just be friendly with them, buy 'em a beer once in a while,
and never, ever step on one of their solos.






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