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Tip of the Day: Tip of the Day: Effective Lick Practice (Lesson 2)

Posted Wed, 08/03/2011 - 07:29 by David Barrett Admin

Here's more insight into yesterday's Tip of the Day...

1) Listen - No playing... no humming... just listen to what's being played.

2) Hum - This personalizes and internalizes the lick... learning the rhythm and contour of the lick before you pick up your machine (the harmonica) is imperative.

3) Practice - Stop the loop and practice on the harp. With the provided music work on the blows, draws, bends, movement... everything related to performing that lick on your machine. Do this until you can get close to the rhythm of the lick in your memory. continue reading...

What's New: Joe Filisko - 18 Harmonica Insights, #13 - Memorization

Posted Tue, 08/02/2011 - 15:22 by David Barrett Admin

Join Joe Filisko for his 18 Harmonica Insights with Tip #13 about Memorization.

What's New: Mark Hummel Submission #13 - Song Writing 5 "Humble Bug"

Posted Tue, 08/02/2011 - 15:20 by David Barrett Admin

Join Mark Hummel for his chromatic harmonica instrumental "Humble Bug." In this video he explains the songwriting process for this tune and where some of the licks came from.

Tip of the Day: Harmonica Sharp Corners

Posted Mon, 08/01/2011 - 08:32 by David Barrett Admin

Many harmonica models have sharp corners left over from the manufacturing process that can be uncomfortable and possibly cut you up. Get a file, fingernail file, fingernail boards (sand paper), anything that's meant to take material off... they all can do the job. File until that sharp corner feels butter smooth. If you're afraid of messin' up your harp, try it on an old model first.

New Lessons: Big Walter Horton Artist Study

Posted Sun, 07/31/2011 - 21:22 by David Barrett Admin

Join me for an artist study of one of our four great post war Chicago blues fathers, Big Walter Horton. In this lesson we dig into what Big Walter Horton is really known for... his killer shuffle. All of the licks used in the study song "Shakey's Shuffle" come from Big Walter himself, providing you with great vocabulary for you to study and draw upon for your own improvising. You may record yourself playing to the provided jam track and submit it to me for review if you wish. This study is for advanced skill level players. You'll need an A Harmonicas for this study. continue reading...

Tip of the Day: Sticky Gear

Posted Thu, 07/28/2011 - 08:21 by David Barrett Admin

Every now and again we get tape goo on our equipment from either labeling it (gear) or taping it to the floor (cables). Goof Off is a great product to remove sticky substances.

Joe Filisko - 18 Harmonica Insights, #14 - Failing

Posted Wed, 07/27/2011 - 20:27 by David Barrett Admin

Join Joe Filisko for his 18 Harmonica Insights. Tip #14 is about failing.

Theory - Root Notes (Lesson 5)

Posted Wed, 07/27/2011 - 07:47 by David Barrett Admin

Moving the lick up an octave we get the following notes...

I7 = 6+ 6+
IV7 = 4+ 4+
V7 = 4 4

and another octave we get the following...

I7 = 9+ 9+
IV7 = 7+ 7+
V7 = 8 8

Do you have your C Harmonica pitch set memorized? If not, why!?

Theory - Root Notes (Lesson 4)

Posted Tue, 07/26/2011 - 08:00 by David Barrett Admin

Let's now take a lick that uses only root notes for its construction... an accompaniment lick. Play the following lick to a jam track or favorite blues artist track in the Charleston rhythm (fist note on beat 1 and the second note on the & of 2). The lick below represents one measure of that chord change... follow the 12 bar blues progression when playing.

I7 = 2 2
IV7 = 1+ 1+
V7 = 1 1

Theory - Root Notes (Lesson 3)

Posted Mon, 07/25/2011 - 09:45 by David Barrett Admin

Here's an example based on what you did in yesterday's lesson...

Lower Octave: 2 2+ 1 2+ 2

Middle Octave: 6+ 5+ 4 5+ 6+

Upper Octave: 9+ 8+ 8 8+ 9+

Experiment with this... try to make your own licks and move them up an octave and see if they work.

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