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David's Tip of the Day: Harmonica Angle

Posted Wed, 05/11/2016 - 08:58 by David Barrett Admin
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Sometimes students change the angle of their harmonica to perform a technique, feeling that the change helps them. Resist the urge to do this, your goal is to use the same angle of attack on the harmonica pretty much all the time.

What angle do I recommend? continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Sessions with Sinatra - Frank Sinatra and the Art of Recording

Posted Mon, 05/09/2016 - 16:10 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

If you're interested in the development of recording technology (microphones, recording media, studio layout and mixing) you may like "Sessions with Sinatra: Frank Sinatra and the Art of Recording"

David's Tip of the Day: Encyclopedia of the Harmonica

Posted Tue, 05/03/2016 - 08:41 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

We currently have three resources for casual reading about the harmonica...

1) Harmonicas, Harps and Heavy Breathers: The Evolution of the People's Instrument by Kim Field

2) Blues with a Feeling: The Little Walter Story by Tony Glover, Scott Dirks and Ward Gaines

3) The Encyclopedia of the Harmonica by Peter Krampert

Pete has a public Facebook page for the Encyclopedia of the Harmonica (https://www.facebook.com/groups/321140011413686) and posts daily facts about the harmonica from his "Harmonica Almanac."

David's Tip of the Day: Encyclopedia of the Harmonica

Posted Tue, 05/03/2016 - 08:40 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

We currently have three resources for casual reading about the harmonica...

1) Harmonicas, Harps and Heavy Breathers: The Evolution of the People's Instrument by Kim Field

2) Blues with a Feeling: The Little Walter Story by Tony Glover, Scott Dirks and Ward Gaines

3) The Encyclopedia of the Harmonica by Peter Krampert

Pete has a public Facebook page for the Encyclopedia of the Harmonica (https://www.facebook.com/groups/321140011413686) and posts daily facts about the harmonica from his "Harmonica Almanac."

What's New: Bending Study 15 - Overbend Study 8, Study Song 5

Posted Mon, 05/02/2016 - 13:11 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Join Ross Garren as he wraps up our series of lessons on overbending with a final study song titled “The Stretch.” In this song you’ll use all of the techniques he's taught you http://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/bending_study_15_overbend_study_8_...

David's Tip of the Day: Bending on All Keys of Harmonica

Posted Wed, 04/27/2016 - 07:58 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Once a player develops good bending chops on one key of harmonica their next goal is to gain proficiency on all keys of harmonica. A simple way to do this is to take a challenging bending song that you can do well on one key of harmonica (a song that preferably uses both deep and half step bends, such as the Bending Study 5 song "Half Steppin'," which has every bend represented on holes 1 through 6 of the harmonica in the first chorus!) and play it in all twelve keys. continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Mark Hummel Interview

Posted Wed, 04/20/2016 - 07:35 by David Barrett Admin
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Overbend instructor Ross Garren just released an interview with Mark Hummel here http://www.rossgarren.com/interviews

What's New: New Blues Harmonica Classes Offered in San Jose, CA

Posted Mon, 04/18/2016 - 22:57 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Three classes have just been opened to the public (my private students get first dibs). Info below...

5/15 - Rhythm Training & Dynamics (Class Size: 10 / Seats Left: 4 / Rate: $145) continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Tempos Differing - Playing a Song Slower or Faster

Posted Wed, 04/13/2016 - 08:13 by David Barrett Admin
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A common question I get asked is how fast 4/4 time is. The 4/4 at the beginning of a line of music doesn't indicate the tempo of a song, it indicates how many beats are in a bar (4 in this case) and which note value receives the beat (quarter note in this case). This 4/4 is what's known as the Time Signature.

Tempo is up to the player, even when playing a known song. continue reading...

We do it out of Love - Tribute CD to Toots Thielemans

Posted Mon, 04/11/2016 - 08:19 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Today is the official release of "We do it out of Love," a tribute album to the 94 year old legend Toots Thielemans. Featured players are Franco Luciani, Antonio Serrano, Alex Rossi, Olivier Ker Ourio, Gabriel Grossi and Grégoire Maret. For those interested in jazz chromatic, you may find this to be your new favorite CD.

Available at iTunes, Amazon or wedoitoutoflove@gmail.com. Sample here: https://youtu.be/yTAugWXghHg