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David's Tip of the Day: Transcription Set for "It Takes Three"

Posted Fri, 04/24/2015 - 08:23 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Transcription set for It Takes Three is now available at http://www.bluesharmonica.com/it_takes_three_transcriptions ($20) for those interested in learning the songs on the album. Harmonica TAB and standard music notation provided and includes all solos, harmonica harmonies and charts for songs with harmonica horn lines. Link to download PDF transcriptions are sent within 24 hours. The CD will release on 5/2, but here are four songs available now for your viewing pleasure...

It Takes Three by David Barrett, Gary Smith and Aki Kumar
https://youtu.be/dHhzq2AN99s continue reading...

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David's Tip of the Day: John Németh Interview

Posted Thu, 04/23/2015 - 08:30 by David Barrett Admin
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John Németh is featured in this month's Blues Blast Magazine: http://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/issue-9-17-april-23-2015/ You can see John's video interview here: http://www.bluesharmonica.com/john_nemeth

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TubeDepot

Posted Wed, 04/22/2015 - 08:00 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

I often get asked where to purchase replacement tubes for an amp. Here you go: https://tubedepot.com
Thanks to Mark Overman for sharing this website with me many years ago.

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David's Tip of the Day: Tongue Blocking Tips - Side Flutter

Posted Tue, 04/21/2015 - 07:53 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

An alternative to the Flutter Tongue is the Side Flutter, where your tongue moves side to side. I commonly see three ways this is approached...

1) The tongue moves side to side on the face of the harmonica. When the tongue is to the right, the low note sounds (D for example on the C Harmonica when performing a 1 draw/4 draw side flutter). When the tongue moves to the left, the high note sounds (4 draw in this case). With a light touch on the face of the harmonica and a relaxed tongue, the tongue moves side to side quickly, jumping between the two octave D's. continue reading...

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David's Tip of the Day: Tongue Blocking Tips - Flutter Tongue

Posted Mon, 04/20/2015 - 09:15 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Start with a slap and continue to make the slapping motion with a fully supported airstream (not individual pumps of air like that of individual slaps).

TIPS:

Most importantly...
1) Keep your tongue to the left. The most common error is to allow the tongue to drift to the center, essentially causing the technique to turn into multiple pulls. continue reading...

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David's Tip of the Day: Singing is Playing

Posted Fri, 04/17/2015 - 08:42 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Howard Levy and I were having a discussion a while back about teaching and the challenges students deal with. He recounted a story of a specific student that couldn't play a song... his rhythm was off and he would commonly be on the wrong hole of the harmonica and not recognize it. He asked the student to put down the harmonica and sing it, and the student couldn't sing it. continue reading...

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David's Tip of the Day: Rare Early Blues Harp Recordings by Singers and Sidemen introduced by Joe Filisko

Posted Thu, 04/16/2015 - 07:45 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Here's the second and final broadcast just released from Joe Filisko and the NHL (National Harmonica League) on Recordings by Singers and Sidemen: https://www.mixcloud.com/PodKast/rare-early-harmonica-recordings-by-voca...

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David's Tip of the Day: Tongue Blocking Tips - Light Touch, Part 2 (The Good)

Posted Wed, 04/15/2015 - 10:47 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Here are some key benefits of using a light touch with your tongue on the face of the harmonica...

1) Holes to the right or left (depending on which tongue block technique you're performing) will not unintentionally be blocked by your tongue squishing into the holes. continue reading...

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David's Tip of the Day: Derek Trucks’ 10 Commandments of Jam

Posted Tue, 04/14/2015 - 08:29 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

It's always good to hear advice from experienced players on stage etiquette... we sometimes forget that it's not all about us ;-)

Derek Trucks’ 10 Commandments of Jam
http://alanpaul.net/2015/04/derek-trucks-10-commandments-of-jam/

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David's Tip of the Day: Real-time Transcription Example

Posted Mon, 04/13/2015 - 08:57 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

I'm home rehabbing my knee and doing a lot of transcription work and I thought you would be interested in being a fly on the wall and see the transcription process. This is the last chorus of Gary Smith's “Alviso Rock,” a song from "It Takes Three." I turned on the screen capture and here it is: https://youtu.be/gOhmazFjP4U (make sure to click on the YouTube link below and watch it in full-screen mode). continue reading...

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Free Sample Lessons

After watching the BluesHarmonica.com overview video, try one of the lessons below to experience a lesson at BluesHarmonica.com.

  • Tongue Blocking Study 2 – This study is for the newer player or the player new to tongue blocking
  • Bending Study 5 – This is for the advanced player looking to improve their bending skills

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