Skip to main content
Blues Harmonica logo

User Account

Username:*
Password:*
Forgot Your Password?

Visitor Menu

  • Sign Up
  • Sample Lesson #1
  • Sample Lesson #2
  • Student Recordings
  • Forums

gary smith

What's New: A.G. Blues

Posted Wed, 06/17/2015 - 06:48 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

In this video for "Recording Study 4 - Studio Recording" Gary Smith and Aki Kumar construct and improvise a slow blues that turns into the song titled "A.G. Blues."

  • recording
  • ,
  • study
  • ,
  • studio
  • ,
  • gary smith
  • ,
  • aki kumar
  • ,
  • harp
  • ,
  • harmonica
  • ,
  • blues

David's Tip of the Day: Real-time Transcription Example

Posted Mon, 04/13/2015 - 08:57 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

I'm home rehabbing my knee and doing a lot of transcription work and I thought you would be interested in being a fly on the wall and see the transcription process. This is the last chorus of Gary Smith's “Alviso Rock,” a song from "It Takes Three." I turned on the screen capture and here it is: https://youtu.be/gOhmazFjP4U (make sure to click on the YouTube link below and watch it in full-screen mode). continue reading...

  • harp
  • ,
  • harmonica
  • ,
  • transcription
  • ,
  • process
  • ,
  • blues
  • ,
  • gary smith

What's New: Recording Study 4 - Gary Smith

Posted Wed, 01/21/2015 - 12:32 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

In our newest episode of the BluesHarmonica.com Recording Study series Gary Smith shares his recording experiences and how he would like to approach our new CD project. Gary and I rehearse our harmony tunes and I provide you with MP3 scratch tracks and PDF music/TAB for you to play along with us.

  • recording
  • ,
  • record
  • ,
  • blues
  • ,
  • harp
  • ,
  • gary smith
  • ,
  • david barrett
  • ,
  • studio

Improvising - Tremolo/Vibrato, Part 2 (Wolf, Butter, Smith and Kash)

Posted Tue, 09/23/2014 - 07:41 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

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...

  • harp
  • ,
  • harmonica
  • ,
  • blues
  • ,
  • tremolo
  • ,
  • vibrato
  • ,
  • Howlin' Wolf
  • ,
  • Paul Butterfield
  • ,
  • gary smith
  • ,
  • Mitch Kashmar

What's New: Mark Ford Interview

Posted Sat, 06/07/2014 - 06:25 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Mark Ford had a strong impact on the Bay Area blues harmonica scene in the early 1970’s, starting with the release of the Charles Ford Blues Band on Arhoolie in 1972, which is now considered a modern blues classic (Robin Ford on guitar, Patrick Ford on drums and Stan Poplin on the bass). His powerful amplified tone and mastery of the entire range of the harmonica (he’s known for his killer licks above Hole 6 in 2nd Position) has caused him to influence many generations of blues harmonica players around the world. continue reading...

  • blues
  • ,
  • harp
  • ,
  • harmonica
  • ,
  • play
  • ,
  • bay area
  • ,
  • gary smith
  • ,
  • mark ford
  • ,
  • interview

Sign me up!

Full access to all lessons starts at $20/month! (with annual subscription)

Subscribe

Free Sample Lessons

After watching the BluesHarmonica.com overview video, try one of the lessons below to experience a lesson at BluesHarmonica.com.

  • Tongue Blocking Study 2 – This study is for the newer player or the player new to tongue blocking
  • Bending Study 5 – This is for the advanced player looking to improve their bending skills

Contributors

  • Aki Kumar
  • Joe Tartaglia
  • Gary Smith
  • Mark Hummel
  • Joe Filisko

Site Links

  • About David Barrett
  • Accredited Instructors
  • Links
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
Hohner
© 2009 - 2025 David Barrett and the Harmonica Masterclass Co. for Bluesharmonica.comSyndicate content