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David's Tip of the Day: The New Hohner Special 20

Posted Tue, 02/03/2015 - 08:24 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

For those of you wondering what changes have been made to our workhorse Special 20 Harmonica, Reedology.com has just published a good article on the subject: http://reedology.com/2015/01/30/is-the-special-20-different-than-it-used...

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  • model

David's Tip of the Day: In A Few Fateful Years, One Record Label Blew Open The Blues

Posted Mon, 02/02/2015 - 08:33 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Thanks to Big Al Blake for sharing this article today...

In A Few Fateful Years, One Record Label Blew Open The Blues
http://www.npr.org/2015/01/31/382701847/in-a-few-fateful-years-one-recor...

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  • music

David's Tip of the Day: Classic Blues Harmonica Backing Tracks

Posted Fri, 01/30/2015 - 08:55 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Mark Mumea of the Elgins has some two-guitar harmonica backing tracks available for download. Here's some samples. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRiK9UTyjFM

Here's the website: http://www.devilstalemusic.com/product-category/cds/

Thanks to fellow students Mike and Dan for sharing this.

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Tip of the Day: Hal Leonard Blues Play-Along Series

Posted Thu, 01/29/2015 - 09:14 by David Barrett Admin
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Hal Leonard has a new and comprehensive (21 books/CDs in all) Blues Play-Along series. You can find out more information here: http://www.musicdispatch.com/search/search.do?menuid=8023&seriesfeature=...

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  • harmonoca
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  • jam tracks
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  • play-along
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  • blues

What's New: Recording Study 4 - Gary Smith, Aki Kumar and I Rehearse

Posted Wed, 01/28/2015 - 12:38 by David Barrett Admin
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In our latest episode of the BluesHarmonica.com Recording Study series Gary Smith, Aki Kumar and I rehearse our harmony tunes together and I provide you with MP3 scratch tracks and PDF music/TAB for you to play along with.

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David's Tip of the Day: Movement and Rhythm - Drummer Chico Hamilton

Posted Wed, 01/28/2015 - 11:47 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Chico Hamilton in "The Checkout" podcast interview stresses the importance of movement, specifically to "dance when you play." He states, "No one knows which one came first, rhythm or movement."

The Checkout Interview Podcast
Drummer Chico Hamilton
http://www.wbgo.org/checkoutjazz/chico-hamilton-euphoric-rhythm

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David's Tip of the Day: Movement and Rhythm - Moving the Body

Posted Tue, 01/27/2015 - 09:08 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

My music instructor in college would often say for us to move our bodies while playing music, it helps with the rhythm. I sure have found this to be true through my years of playing and teaching. Though tapping your foot is a valuable tool, it's a fast muscle structure and can easily rush or drag without much indication to you while playing. When moving your body, the pendulum effect of the bodies large mass makes rushing or dragging less likely. Instead of your foot being influenced by your playing (faster/slower tapping), your body is influencing your playing (more consistent rhythm). continue reading...

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  • harmonica

Transcribing Series, Part 5 - Standard Music Notation

Posted Mon, 01/26/2015 - 08:35 by David Barrett Admin
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And finally here's the fist line of "Rocker" using standard music notation: https://www.facebook.com/bluesharmonica

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  • walter

David's Tip of the Day: Transcribing Series, Part 4 - TAB with Rhythm Notation

Posted Fri, 01/23/2015 - 12:20 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

In our last handwritten TAB example I add standard rhythm notation. Most of the time this isn’t needed while learning by ear, but if you’re having difficulty with the rhythm of a particular passage it’s beneficial to take the time to figure it out (better to spend the time to own a rhythm than cower from it when it comes up in the music). Note that I’ve also changed the 1 and 2 draw chords found on upbeats to a “P,” which indicates the technique Walter is using to sound those chords, the tongue block Pull.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/bluesharmonica for this handwritten transcription.

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David's Tip of the Day: Transcribing Series, Part 3 - TAB with Bar Lines and Chords

Posted Thu, 01/22/2015 - 09:37 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

I've now added what I feel are two important elements to a basic hand transcription... bar lines and chord changes.

By placing a vertical line after the last note of a measure (which in turn is before the first note of the new measure) you're helping to give a basic visual reference of where you are in time. Though you're not providing standard rhythm notation, which would show you exactly where you are in time, this is a good intermediary step when playing by ear. continue reading...

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