Hello Mr. Portnoy-
Could you please comment on my daily workout routine below? Although I firmly believe that working on long notes, scales and bending is utterly important for the blues harp player. However, do you think I am spending way too much time in these areas? If I can manager to play for two hours a day what would you recommend to improve the diversity and efficiency of my daily practice?
21:00-21:20 Long notes, 60BPM, 16 beats per note
21:20-21:45 Ascending and descending major and blues scale played at 120, 160, 180 and 200BPM
21:45-22:15 Bending on G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F
22:15-22:30 Exercise song #1
22:30-22:45 Exercise song #2
22:45-23:00 New techniques (e.g. vibrato, side-flutter…etc)
Looks Good!!I do alot of that in my practice as well but I also try to set a side a hour or 2 every day just listening to the greats play. Just like Jerry says you cant play what you dont hear. I recently purchased sonny boy (both versions), Walter Horton, G. Harmonica Smith, Little Walter, Junior wells, howlin wolf and james cotton and Kym wilson.
What I like about what you're doing is that you have a focused practice routine. When you're not actually playing, listen as much as possible to the classic players: Sonny Boy I, Sonny Boy II, Little Walter, Big Walter, Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Junior Wells etc. Get their sounds in your head!
