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Students commonly ask what the best model of harmonica is to play, or at least what I personally recommend. This is of course up to personal preference, but the gold standard has always been the Hohner Marine Band. The current flagship model is the Crossover... this is what the majority of my students play and the model I play if I'm not playing my custom Marine Bands (by Joe Filisko). The Marine Band Deluxe is my second choice. continue reading...

Tremolo (change in amplitude) is what most of our classic blues harmonica players used (pre-1960). Vibrato (change in pitch) became popular in the lat 1960's. If a classic player used a vibrato they tended to have a strong vocal vibrato as well (Howlin' Wolf is a great example). Players that are heavily influenced by Paul Butterfield (many are) they'll tend to use a strong vibrato. continue reading...

The use of tremolo/vibrato is greatly emphasized in your lessons and submission critiques. It's used so much that it can be a dramatic effects to not use it. Listen to the opening of "Blue Midnight" by Little Walter and notice how hounting it sounds to not use it in the opening lines.

I'm off to camp through Sunday afternoon and then come in to do a lesson with Ryan Walker and record the last of the Masco Chronicles with Mark Overman. Have a great weekend everyone!

I stated yesterday that once you play a focus note for a chorus that it should be mentally crossed off... not to be started on again for the rest of the song. BUT, you can use it again after a number of choruses if you present it differently. For example, if you played the 4 draw earlier using the standard slap, you can present it later with a flutter, shake, octave or powerful two-note combination. So, presenting notes with different "textures" (combining a focus note with other notes) you expand your ability to keep your solo fresh and interesting. More on textures tomorrow.