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David's Tip of the Day: Simple Tip for Good Tone

Posted Thu, 10/10/2013 - 09:33 by David Barrett Admin
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Bring the harmonica to you, not you to the harmonica.

Translation...

Players often bring the harmonica close to their lips and purse their lips to meet the harmonica. This pursing raises the jaw and makes the entire mouth cavity (your resonating chamber) small... this results in poor tone and tired facial muscles.

By opening your mouth and bringing the harmonica into your mouth, then all that's needed is a slight closure of the mouth to create the seal (like a soft gasket) needed to play the harmonica... this results in better tone and less fatigue.

David's Tip of the Day: Simple Tip for Good Tone

Posted Thu, 10/10/2013 - 09:33 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Bring the harmonica to you, not you to the harmonica.

Translation...

Players often bring the harmonica close to their lips and purse their lips to meet the harmonica. This pursing raises the jaw and makes the entire mouth cavity (your resonating chamber) small... this results in poor tone and tired facial muscles.

By opening your mouth and bringing the harmonica into your mouth, then all that's needed is a slight closure of the mouth to create the seal (like a soft gasket) needed to play the harmonica... this results in better tone and less fatigue.

David's Tip of the Day: Using Standard Mic for Digital Recording

Posted Wed, 10/09/2013 - 09:11 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

If you own a microphone, but not a digital audio interface (a mixer that converts analog to digital for you to record using computer software), then this product from Senal could be the way to go to keep costs down.

Senal XU-1648 XLR-to-USB Adapter
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/948650-REG/senal_xu_1648_xlr_usb_s...

David's Tip of the Day: Focus

Posted Tue, 10/08/2013 - 08:36 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

To focus on everything is to focus on nothing.

David's Tip of the Day: Joining a Band - Part 9 (Final Thoughts)

Posted Mon, 10/07/2013 - 11:04 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

You've now completed the steps needed to play your first gig...

1) Charting - This defined the form of each song and the elements (head, hooks, breaks, etc.) that you needed to learn.

2) Listing - This gave you a quick reference of all of the songs and their key elements (key, groove, start, end, hook, head, etc.) continue reading...

What's New: Contributor Ryan Walker, Lesson 21

Posted Sun, 10/06/2013 - 08:11 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

In this lesson Ryan plays "Easy Baby;" we review his music theory work; we spend time talking about mode exercises; we define the V-IV-I Transition; we play the chords associated with the V-IV-I Transition; and learn the 12 Bar Blues chords, one hole of the harmonica at a time.

Lesson 21 - Intro & Chromatic: Ryan Plays Easy Baby
Lesson 21 - Theory Study 1: Sections 2 through 4 Review
Lesson 21 - Movement Exercises: Modes
Lesson 21 - Improvising Study 4: V-IV-I Transitions Defined
Lesson 21 - Improvising Study 4: V-IV-I Chord Tones continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Joining a Band - Part 8 (Solos?)

Posted Fri, 10/04/2013 - 11:24 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Now that you have the heads and hooks dialed in, and have chosen what theme you'll use for each song if one doesn't exist, the next step is to adress the solos. The best approach is to not work out the solos. The head and hook are essential to work out ahead of time, but the solos are best left to the inspiration of the moment. If you don't feel comfortable with improvising as of yet, then working out the first lick of each solo chorus works well, allowing your knowledge of chorus form phrasing to take over on the spot. continue reading...

What's New: Contributor Gary Smith - Submission #41: Accompaniment Playing, Part 7

Posted Thu, 10/03/2013 - 16:50 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

In this submission Gary and I continue going through the songs of Monster Mike Welch.

Videos Include:
Gary Smith Submission #41 - Welcome & New Gear
Gary Smith Submission #41 - Acc Lessons: A Thrill To Be Alive
Gary Smith Submission #41 - Acc Lessons: Joaquin Riley
Gary Smith Submission #41 - Acc Lessons: My Father’s Son
Gary Smith Submission #41 - Acc Lessons: They Call Me Monster Mike
Gary Smith Submission #41 - Acc Lessons: Everybody

David's Tip of the Day: Joining a Band - Part 7 (The Hook)

Posted Thu, 10/03/2013 - 08:31 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

The Hook is like the Head in respect to it being the main theme of a song, but as you found out yesterday, the head is an entire chorus in length and is played in the opening and closing of a song. Inversely, the Hook is a short lick, commonly one to two bars in length, that permeates the entire song. The head is played by the lead instruments and the rhythm section commonly plays a standard groove (shuffle, swing, etc.). continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Joining a Band - Part 6 (The Head)

Posted Wed, 10/02/2013 - 10:18 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Let's dig deeper into those essential song elements I spoke of yesterday. The HEAD is the main theme of a song. It's commonly a chorus in length (one time through the form... 12 Bars for the 12 Bar Blues and 8 Bars for 8 Bar Blues) and played in the opening chorus (sometimes twice) and at the end (though not always at the end, it has become commonplace to do so).

I used Jimmy Smith's "Chicken Shack" as an example yesterday. Here's the link to my transcription of the head for the harmonica: http://www.bluesharmonica.com/sites/bluesharmonica.com/files/chicken_sha... continue reading...