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David's Tip of the Day: Becoming a Popular Musician

Posted Thu, 02/09/2012 - 08:40 by David Barrett Admin

Here's a quote on accompaniment playing from Steve Czarnecki, keyboard instructor at School of the Blues.

"We’re not always the center of attention in music or in life, and there are times when it pays to play the background role graciously—learning to be a member of the musical boiler room propelling the great ship of song. You can become a very popular musician by being a good accompanist."

What's New: Joe Filisko's Breathing Guide

Posted Wed, 02/08/2012 - 22:59 by David Barrett Admin

Join Joe Filisko for his latest submission to breathing. Joe talks about: Breathing Range, the Exhale Push and Nose Breathing.

David's Tip of the Day: Context - Part 4, Chorus Forms

Posted Wed, 02/08/2012 - 09:17 by David Barrett Admin

The most effective way to encode a lick into your long term memory and ensure that it shows up in your improvising is to apply the chorus form method. Learn the lick, then play it as an: AAA; AAA with fills; AAB; AAB with fills; the three variations of A B/A C; change the presentation of the lick (dip, add a little of the upper note, shake, slap, pulls and slaps, flutter, octave, etc.); move it up and/or down an octave; break it into smaller pieces (fragmentation)...

This process is not only VERY effective, it's very fun!

David's Tip of the Day: Context - Part 3, Licks & Neon Post-it Notes

Posted Tue, 02/07/2012 - 09:53 by David Barrett Admin

We often hear a cool lick and learn just that lick, leaving the solo or instrumental behind (sometimes that lick is the only cool idea played... or at least cool to us at that moment in time). Many players just learn the lick and move on. If you move on you're guaranteed to not have it show up in your improvising. Unless the lick contains some super-sticky elements that makes it unusually easy to remember (doesn't usually happen) you'll need to play it a minimum of 50 times before it sticks into your long-term memory. continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Context - Part 2, REAL goals

Posted Mon, 02/06/2012 - 09:29 by David Barrett Admin

If you have a band, take each new song you learn and place it in your set to give it context. Not only does playing a new song with the band in an upcoming gig give you the impetus to practice hard, the great thing about having a band is that you have the opportunity to use your new and old material often... the licks, movement and technique stay active in your playing.

I don't gig often, so I when I get a high-profile gig, I use it as an opportunity to write something new.

Since most of you will not have a band, you can place that new song on the bandstand via a local jam session. continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Context - Part 1

Posted Sun, 02/05/2012 - 09:04 by David Barrett Admin

What are you doing with the songs, licks and concepts you're learning?

What's New: Joe Tartaglia says Goodbye

Posted Fri, 01/27/2012 - 17:41 by David Barrett Admin

Joe Tartaglia has reached the skill level he was interested in achieving and is now passing the torch on to a new student for the intermediate study material at BluesHarmonica.com. In one month I'll introduce this new student to you and we'll continue working through the material on the site. Best wishes to you Joe!

David's Tip of the Day: Absolutes - Bending & Tongue Blocking

Posted Fri, 01/27/2012 - 08:52 by David Barrett Admin

A dialog on absolutes today. Not that anybody does this, but it's a good thought process...

The two main techniques used (and thus the two main technique areas of study) on the harmonica are bending and tongue blocking.

Someone who uses tongue blocking, but no bending, is focused on textural and rhythmic elements, at the detriment to bluesy pitch content. continue reading...

What's New: Joe Filisko's 5 Types of Tone

Posted Thu, 01/26/2012 - 10:13 by David Barrett Admin

Join Joe Filisko for his latest insights on the 5 Types of Tone

David's Tip of the Day: 2 Draw Abuse, Part 4 - Musical Foreplay

Posted Thu, 01/26/2012 - 09:19 by David Barrett Admin

Play that jam track again and improvise over the first ten bars without playing the 2 draw or 6+. At the end of your V-IV-I Transition lick allow it to resolve to the 2 draw or 6+.

What you're doing is building musical tension... tension that gets released on the downbeat of bar 10. Think of it as musical foreplay. continue reading...

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