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David's Tip of the Day: Making the Bullet Mic Smaller

Posted Fri, 09/28/2012 - 08:42 by David Barrett Admin
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Does the bullet mic feel too large in your hands? Instead of holding the mic with the meat of your left thumb (reference Picture 1 at http://www.facebook.com/bluesharmonica), tilt the face of the microphone down so that the bottom edge of the grill aligns with center of your palm (reference Picture 2 at http://www.facebook.com/bluesharmonica). Though the left-right diameter stays the same, the top-bottom diameter decreases dramatically, turning the shape of the mic from a hard-to-hold circle to a much easier shape to hold, an oval. Tone is not adversely affected. Give it a try. continue reading...

Harmonica Masters Workshops 2012: News Update

Posted Fri, 09/28/2012 - 08:05 by David Barrett Admin
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Harmonica Masters Workshops 2012: News Update

The biggest Harmonica Masters ever!
With only four weeks to go until the Harmonica Masters Workshops 2012, we are pleased and proud to announce that this years event has already broken all previous attendance records. To date we have received nearly 120 registrations and the classes with Joe Filisko and Steve Baker as well as Riedel Diegel's beginners course are now fully booked. continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Practicing Scales - Part 1

Posted Thu, 09/27/2012 - 09:03 by David Barrett Admin
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It's much more fun to practice scales while playing to a jam track. If you're practicing the Blues Scale, then choose a Bluesy jam track, or even better, a Minor Jam track, this way if you accidentally step outside of the Blues Scale, or play a bent note out of tune (like the 3'), you'll know it right away. For the Major Pentatonic Scale use a jam track with a Light feel, like a Rhumba or Swing.

P.S., before doing this, play each scale slowly while playing the same notes on a piano, pitch generator or tuner, to make sure your bends are in tune.

What's New: Movement Exercises Study 2 - Essential Scales

Posted Wed, 09/26/2012 - 22:40 by David Barrett Admin
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In this lesson we'll dig into the Essential Scales for the blues harmonica player... our C Major Movement Scale, Major Pentatonic and Blues. Video Include: Section 1 - Scales Discussion: Introduction to Essential Scales; What is Essential and for Whom; Section 2 - Essential Scales: C Major Movement Scale; C Major Pentatonic Scale; C Blues Scale; Grouping Scales for Practice; G Major Pentatonic Scale; G Blues Scale; D Major Pentatonic Scale; D Blues Scale; F Major Pentatonic Scale; Section 3 - Closing Words: Closing Words for Essential Scales

David's Tip of the Day: Out of Tune Octaves

Posted Wed, 09/26/2012 - 08:38 by David Barrett Admin
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Are some of your octaves slightly out of tune?... specifically on some holes of some keys of harmonica... even when they're new... out of the box or customized?

If so, try to find one right now and reproduce it... the newer the harp the better. continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Essential Scales for the Blues Harmonica Player - Part 2

Posted Tue, 09/25/2012 - 08:29 by David Barrett Admin
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Here they are, from holes 2 through 6+, referencing a C Harmonica again in 2nd Position...

C Major: 2 3" 3 4+ 4 5+ 5 6+ (G A B C D E F G)

G Major Pentatonic: 2 3" 3 4 5+ 6+ (G A B D E G)

G Blues: 2 3' 4+ 4' 4 5 6+ (G B-flat C D-flat D F G)

David's Tip of the Day: Essential Scales for the Blues Harmonica Player

Posted Mon, 09/24/2012 - 08:13 by David Barrett Admin
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Referencing a C Harmonica... C Major, G Major Pentatonic and G Blues.

David's Tip of the Day: Bendometer

Posted Fri, 09/21/2012 - 09:32 by David Barrett Admin
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Many students through the years have found this visual software to be helpful in mastering their bends http://harmonicagame.com/index.html

What's New: Ryan Walker Lesson #11 (Intermediate Student)

Posted Thu, 09/20/2012 - 19:27 by David Barrett Admin
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In this lesson Ryan continues his blues chromatic harmonica studies by exploring textures and slide usage. We also continue on in his music theory training, check his progress on his original instrument and speak about his experience at the student concert rehearsal.

Videos Include:
Lesson 11 - Intro & How Rehearsal Went
Lesson 11 - Theory, Study 1: Section 2 Review
Lesson 11 - Theory, Study 1: Section 3 (Major Scales)
Lesson 11 - Chromatic Harmonica: Holes 1 thru 5 Review
Lesson 11 - Chromatic Harmonica: Textures, Part 1
Lesson 11 - Chromatic Harmonica: Textures, Part 2 continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Piano as Reference

Posted Thu, 09/20/2012 - 08:05 by David Barrett Admin
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The piano IS the standard reference instrument in the music word... for all instrumentalist. As a music major in college everyone is required to have a basic proficiency on the piano. Due to its very visual nature and the fact that it can play both single note melodies and chords, it's a wonderful reference for whatever you may study or play. If you don't own a piano, keep your eyes open for an inexpensive electronic keyboard, it's a valuable reference to have in your practice room, especially if you're studying bending or the music theory lessons on the site.