Posted Sat, 01/21/2012 - 00:23 by David Barrett Admin
In this installment of the Bassman Chronicles Gary Smith and I take our amps to the Grand Dell to experiment with amp placement and to test the overall affect on what we hear on the stage and what the audience hears in the house.
Posted Fri, 01/13/2012 - 09:23 by David Barrett Admin
In this installment of the Bassman Chronicles Gary Smith shares his years of experience of using Bassmans and what he's done with his 1990 Reissue to dial it in the way he likes.
Posted Thu, 01/12/2012 - 09:19 by David Barrett Admin
In the lesson Blues Harmonica Fundamentals I show you three ways to commonly hold the harmonica: "The Pinch" (standard), "End Cap" and "Two Thumbs Up." Whichever way you choose, the goal is to hold the harmonica the same as when you play for yourself, into a vocal mic, or when holding a bullet mic. continue reading...
Posted Mon, 01/09/2012 - 09:06 by David Barrett Admin
Now that you're focusing on tremolo for those long-held notes at the end of phrases, also decay the volume. Start that last note at the volume you played the previous notes in the phrase and then decay the volume over the length of the notated rhythm of that note until it disappears. It's rare that a final note of a phrase just stops... it decays until it dispersers into the mix of the band. This makes for a MUCH more musical phrase ending and is a common error comment to beginner, intermediate and some advanced student submissions on BluesHarmonica.com
Posted Mon, 01/02/2012 - 10:07 by David Barrett Admin
Now that you have your hands, lips and tongue set into a relaxed position...
Place the harmonica a little deeper in your mouth, lower the middle and back of your tongue (the tip-top is on the harmonica, but the middle and back are able to move interdependently to lower for good tone), drop your jaw a bit, and finally open your throat.
A simple way to perform all of this is to use a slight yawn... it will place everything in the same position. continue reading...
Posted Sat, 12/31/2011 - 08:55 by David Barrett Admin
Enjoy the following videos where we try common professional blues harmonica bullet microphones through our 1959 Fender Bassman Reissue amplifier from 1990
Submission #4 - Mics & The Bassman: Introduction
Submission #4 - Mics & The Bassman: Shure CM and CR Elements
Submission #4 - Mics & The Bassman: Shure & Astatic Crystal and Ceramic Elements, Part 1
Submission #4 - Mics & The Bassman: Shure & Astatic Crystal and Ceramic Elements, Part 2
Submission #4 - Mics & The Bassman: Impedance Matching
Submission #4 - Mics & The Bassman: Kinder Anti-Feedback+ continue reading...
Posted Wed, 12/28/2011 - 10:17 by David Barrett Admin
Your lips are only used as a seal... around the comb and coverplates. Your lips should stay soft and relaxed... at no point should your lips tense (like when trying to bend).