I am watching a video of the legendary Buddy Green playing harmonica. I find myself staring at the screen abashedly. He is awesome and plays some very intricate numbers. Goosebumps stuff.
Watching him play with such ease and poise, I reckon playing a harmonica is super-duper easy. “isme kaunsi badi baat hai!? How hard can it be to learn to play such a chintukli (tiny) instrument?” I think dismissively. Breath in and out. Move the harmonica left and right. And tada… You are a harmonicaist! Easy Peasy.
The idea of playing harmonica is growing on me at the speed of hair growth on Anil Kapoor. It is so rapid that I have already started dreaming of becoming a rockstar harmonicaist performing at a packed stadium.
I act on it. I pick the evergreen song Hai Apna Dil to Awara to learn. Every generation since 70s love the song. The song is perfect for harmonica.
I share the idea of with my lovely daughters.
“Appa, Vedas recommend Vanaprastha for people of your age” blurts Omya.
“Point hai.” I consider.
After a pause, she adds “But, YOLO. Go for it.”
“What’s YOLO?”
“Uff, Appa. You Only Live Once”
I commit to learn on my own – by trial and error. I start playing “Hai… Apna… Dil….” on the harmonica. Hemant Kumar is singing, …. inside my head. And I am perfectly following the notes on the harmonica.
But my harmonica at lower notes produces Hee Haw… Croak Croak… Quack Quack…. At higher notes, it’s same as the annoying truck horns on the highway – Peeeeeennn, phoooooonnn – basically screeching and piercing.
Had I been in a zoo, these notes would have helped strike conversations with a few inmates…
Itna bessura! Maa kasam, One hundred percent disastrous!
Contrary to my (and my mother’s) belief, I quickly realize I am not a born musician.
But since I am committed Mai khud ka bhi nahi sunta, I practice daily.
Vivek, my roommate, politely asks me pointing at my harmonica “Does this thing connect to a headphone or change its volume?”.
“Hmm… No. But brilliant idea. It will allow the harmonica player to clearly listen all the notes being played.” I say excitedly. However if electric harmonica is manufactured, it can be connected to a speaker and one can crank up the volume” I add enthusiastically.
I don’t think Vivek is amused by the idea.
And then suddenly goes down on his knees and begs with folded hands, “Jitu, in that case, can you please learn to play a modern electric guitar instead of this archaic H-A-R-M-A-N-I-A-C?”
That’s when I realize he does not like the sound of a harmonica.
Being a sensitive person, I start practicing in a park far away from home.
Interestingly, I find kids shift their playing area to the other side of the park. And the parents started taking a walk on the far end. How thoughtful of them to allow me to practice without disturbance. But I was puzzled when the cats, dogs and birds started disappearing.
I continue my practice.
But today, I am dumbfounded. My neighbour, Rajesh, is jamming with me. He is supplying the beat while I am practicing. He is pounding and tapping Dhag-Dhag-Dhag on the common wall we share.
The tempo of his pounding and the tempo at which I am playing the song is completely OUT OF SYNC… but we are in a zone.
“Rajesh, can you increase the tempo.” I shout out a request.
No change. I try few more times. And I stop playing.
He continues to play the beat Dhag-Dhag-Dhag on the common wall.
Being a perfectionist, I can’t tolerate out of sync tempo. I must rectify the tempo. I get up and walk to his house. I walk right into his house.
And I am aghast at the sight.
He is banging his head against the wall – Dhag-Dhag-Dhag.
He gives me a death stare and barks “I am not jamming with you. Please stop playing the f*&^%$ harmonica. It is a 1000-degree torture. ”
My heart sinks. Totally embarrassed, I disappear.
With that feedback, I figure enough of this trial and error method, I must take harmonica lessons online.
Experts say learning musical terminologies like rhythm, beat, tempo can help you grow your skill as a musician. A quick google search takes me to the website for Harmonica beginners.
The lessons start with terms Hole, Hole Position, Blow, Suck, Breath Control…
WTF!?! What website am I on?
I re-check. It is indeed the website on Harmonica fundamentals.
Blow means breath air into a hole of the harmonica. And suck means breath air out of the harmonica. A different note is created at each Hole position.
Aah! Now I get it.
I start all over and learn the fundamental notes on the Harmonica.
Just so my neighbours don’t complain to police or strangle me to death, I have been practicing in the middle of the desert – no birds and animals here
or wait…. Gosh, have they have disappeared too?!
But hey shhhh…. please keep this a secret. I have been lying to my friends that I am on long cycle rides.
I put in hours and hours of practice. Now, when I play the harmonica, it does sounds like Hai-Apna- Dil-to-Awara. I am very excited and impatient to show off to my family. I record it and send it to my family WhatsApp group.
“Hey, guess the song.” I announce.
And wait for the answer. My heart is pounding and I am checking and re-checking.
Silence.
6 hours and still no response.
Is it too easy to be quiz question, I wonder.
12 Hours. And still no response.
“CAN YOU PLEEAASE GUESS THE SONG?” I am unable to stay still.
Finally, I see Bhairavi typing… I’ve a big smile.
“We heard it several times. TBH, we are not sure of the song. Is it “Bekarar karke Humein….?”
Gulp! What!? My big smiles gone.
“Bhairavi is a Generation Z – Zoomer. She has definitely not heard the song” I convince myself.
Priya? Bandu? Varsha? Amma?
“Is it Diwana Hua Baadal?” inquires Priya.
I am shaking my head in disbelief.
“Main Shayar to Nahin” explores Bandu.
“It is Jab Chali Thandi Hawa…” Declares Varsha.
I am openly staring at the screen in shock.
No. No. No. Absolutely Not. Are you kidding? “It is Solva Saal Film ka Hai Apna Dil to Awara…” I reveal.
“No way” writes Priya while rolling on the floor laughing.
“Jitu, download the notations and practice with it. This is nowhere close to Hai Apna Dil…. that world knows”
“Ok, I have got to go” I exit the group chat in disbelief.
But, I am committed aur Mai Khud ki bhi…. Correct! So, I am back !
I download the notation.
I practice with the notations. I am attempting to play the 1st line…. Hai Apna Dil to Awara…
Hole #-3 Pa (Blow out), Hole #1 Sa (Blow out) Hole #1 Sa (Blow out) Hole #2 Re (Suck in) Hole # 3 Ga (Blow out) Hole #1 Sa (Blow out) Hole #2 Re (Suck in) Hole #1 Sa (Blow out) Hole #-1 Ni (Suck in) Hole #-2 Dha (Suck in)
Oh! My Golly Gosh! It’s exhausting to get the right notes. It is anulom vilom at breakneck speed. And not sequential. Phew!
Slowly, bit by bit, I begin to play the right note and it does sound like “Hai Apna Dil….”
I had started with Isme kaunsi badi baat but over a period of few weeks, Naani yaad aa gayi. I confess with my rock bottom music abilities it is tough to play a harmonica. I am humbled. Now I understand why we pray goddess Saraswati. I have a newfound respect for Buddy Green.
I share the new recording with my family.
And this time I get a quick response.
“Appa, O.M.G! That Was Sic… It does sound like Hai Apna Dil… I am so proud of you”
Now, that is music to my ears.
Journey of learning a musical instrument can be challenging and frustrating. But it is also so much fun and rewarding.
3 comments
hahah the photos help in visualizing the scene even better! the dessert seems to be deserted!
Awesome dad!
That was realistic and relatable while inspiring and absolutely hilarious – you strung together so much craft! keep it up, both with the writing and the harmania!!