Re: [Harp-L] Am I alone

[Pic2318834@xxxxxxx]

My harp teacher once told me to get those standard licks or songs we all  
know and then play them in a different key and tempo and use those in jam  
situations.  Seems like this is what most are saying here. 
 
 
In a message dated 11/30/2010 10:02:46 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
cantin46@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:

Hell no  you're not alone Michael.  I'd like to tell you my experience   
with this  problem. I too practiced licks for hours on end and  never  
have an opportunity to use them. Until recently. What I have  done is  
learned these licks cold and what happens is they get parked  in the  
brain somewhere and just sit. I hardly if ever use them but  what  
happens is that I have developed and become proficient in  playing  the  
notes and pitches that I do use in jams, properly.  You will become a  
better player as well by practicing your  licks.

As one example I remember when I first started I had learned the  intro  
and  solo to "Just Your Fool" by LW about fifteen years  ago and never  
ever have used it. I can still play it well but it  just resides in the  
brain somewhere, unused. I feel the practice  time used to learn it was  
not wasted. It taught me multiple bends in  different holes and other  
techniques.

Part of the problem is  that I don't sing and that song never came up  
in a jam, but if it  did it would not be played as I learned it. The  
tempo or the key or  whatever would be different so I wouldn't know how  
to fit it in. I'm  sure you can relate to what I'm saying.

I have recently found myself  using these parked licks more and more  
lately. The reason? Getting  away from I IV V blues standards. Songs  
played in a jazzy or rock  flavor have gotten me to play the licks   
parked in my brain.  They just flow out without much effort because I  
know those licks,  and they just escape. They are most useful when a  
song I never heard  before is played it forces me to dig deep and find  
something to fit  in. I find it challenging and a lot of fun.

So keep on practicing and  playing those unused licks and park them.  
They will come out some  day when they're ready and they will be useful  
and sound  good.
Paul
If You Love The Blues
Honk Your  Hohner