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David's Tip of the Day: Checking if a Tune is in Minor

Posted Mon, 11/04/2013 - 08:05 by David Barrett Admin
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It can be challenging to hear if a tune is just very bluesy (in Major) or in Minor. To check if a tune is in Major or Minor, play the following in 2nd Position...

2 3 4 = Major - The 3 draw is the defining note. If it matches, then it's Major continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Dealing with Dry Mouth when Playing Harp

Posted Fri, 11/01/2013 - 08:14 by David Barrett Admin
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Today's tip comes from Joe Filisko's "B1 Blues Room" class...
"Hey, for those of you suffering dry mouth when playing harp, especially if it is a result of medications you're on, Joe has heard from other players that this stuff really works - check out Biotene over the counter at your local pharmacist and get back on the bandstand!"

David's Tip of the Day: Song-Specific Blues Harmonica Jam Tracks

Posted Thu, 10/31/2013 - 09:31 by David Barrett Admin
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If you're studying a classic blues harmonica song and are looking for a jam track to match it, there's a good chance that you'll find it here: http://www.bluesharptracks.com/home/buy-individual-tracks

David's Tip of the Day: Playing in Precise Time

Posted Wed, 10/30/2013 - 08:20 by David Barrett Admin
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A student recently commented on the challenges of tapping his feet in time and the difficulties of playing in precise time playing with a metronome. You might also benefit from my response... continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: More Consistent Shakes - Part 3 (Multiple Shakes)

Posted Tue, 10/29/2013 - 08:15 by David Barrett Admin
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Now that you've become comfortable centering your shake between the two holes you're shaking between, let's start with the common 4 draw shake (4 and 5). Again, focus on keeping your nose at 12 O'clock between the two holes, shaking to the left to 11 O'clock (4 draw) and to the right to 1 O'clock (5 draw). Play the shake for a moment and then take the harmonica away from your lips. Keeping your nose at 12 O'clock, move the harmonica to the left and perform a 2 draw shake (this is a very uncommon shake, but good practice of extremes). continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Steve Baker: Three Special Tunings for Diatonic Harmonica

Posted Mon, 10/28/2013 - 13:07 by David Barrett Admin
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Steve Baker defines the Country, Natural Minor and Harmonic Minor tuning in this video.
http://youtu.be/ptkCrQBW7LU

What's New: Joe Filisko - Train Imitation: Artist Study - Salty Holmes

Posted Sat, 10/26/2013 - 07:41 by David Barrett Admin
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Join Joe as he digs into the playing of Salty Holmes

David's Tip of the Day: Blues PLAYALONG by Olaf Bohme (for students in Europe)

Posted Fri, 10/25/2013 - 17:18 by David Barrett Admin
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Fellow blues harmonica player Olaf Bohme has released a CD jam track in Europe titled Blues PLAYALONG. The seven jam tracks include the following songs (with and without harmonica): You’re the One, Caledonia, Dark Walk, Walking By Myself, Boogie All Night Long, As The Years Go Passing By and Got My Mojo Working. More information can be found at: http://bluesclass.de/

David's Tip of the Day: More Consistent Shakes - Part 2 (Arcing off the Harmonica)

Posted Thu, 10/24/2013 - 08:24 by David Barrett Admin
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Now that you've practiced having your nose centered between the two holes you're performing the shake on, we can use this as a tool to get better at doing shakes across the range of the harmonica. Let's first focus on general movement on the harmonica. continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: More Consistent Shakes - Part 1 (Mechanics of a Good Shake)

Posted Wed, 10/23/2013 - 09:28 by David Barrett Admin
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The Shake (also known as a Warble or Trill) is one of the all-time great sounds on the harmonica. The shake is used as a substitution for a single note. Using the 4 draw for example... play the 4 draw first, and then move to the 5, and then back to the 4, repeating the process (4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 etc.). The speed of the shake is up to you, but generally floats in rhythm somewhere between that of a triplet and sixteenth-note triplet. You can move your head, hands or both for the shake... this is up to you... but you may find choosing one (head or hands) and sticking to it best. continue reading...