Shuffle King

Original Blues Harmonica Instrumental Songwriting Contest!
Sponsored by Hohner Harmonicas, MegaTone Amps, Eminence Speakers and Fritz Hasenpusch Custom Mics

Congradulations to our winners: 1st Place “Shell’s Rhumba” by Jon Eaton, 2nd Place “Swingin’ In” by Anthony Cresci and 3rd Place “Slop Sauce” by Koen Jacobs. You can listen to the entries below. Special thanks to our judges Rick Estrin and Mark Hummel. If you would like to see the video announcement of the winners visit YouTube Winners Announcement

Past Song Writing Competitions

King of the Chug - Chugging Instrumental writing Contest

Shell's Rhumba

Posted Fri, 06/17/2011 - 16:03 by jodanchudan

I used a Jimi Lee Backing track for this - it's a rhumba in G played in 2nd position on a C harp. Some of it is a reworking of the instrumental I submitted for the Chorus Froms lessons. I've tried to use a range of chorus forms and vary each one - some are rhythmic, some melodic, some have long notes, some have short notes, etc. The only problem I had was with the volume of the backing track - ideally, I would have liked to bring the band down on the last chorus before the head returns ... but it's not my band! The backing track stays pretty intense throughout. continue reading...

29 comments

"Goliath's Shuffle"

Posted Sat, 06/11/2011 - 08:14 by Steven Troch

"Goliath's Shuffle" is a 12 bar bluesshuffle in G played on a Hohner Crossover in C (2nd pos).

I used different embouchures, mainly using tongue block (on both sides) and sometimes switching to pucker (to overblow 5&6)
It's an original composition although a couple times I tipped my hat to Walter Horton. In fact this song is dedicated to Big Walter and at first the song was called "Goliath's Tone" referring to Horton's huge tone. continue reading...

16 comments

The V4 Jam

Posted Thu, 06/09/2011 - 21:17 by NickChowda

This recording has an interesting story. My pops gave me my first harmonica and told me "Learn how to bend a note and come see me". That was my first and only lesson from him. Now years later my family, which is spread all over the country, gets together very rarely. This recording happen on a day when my uncle, father, and younger cousin happen to all be in the same room. My dad, who just recently started practicing guitar again after 30 years, had his guitar and asked me if I wanted to play some music. My uncle grabbed my guitar and to my surprise he stared playing some chords. continue reading...

12 comments

Staxed

Posted Wed, 06/08/2011 - 10:59 by Gartland

Hello-

This is an original instrumental inspired by the Stax records sound. In equal measure, it is an homage to both their vocal recordings and their instrumental releases. I hope you enjoy it!

Tim Gartland
tim@timgartland.com
781-698-8747

13 comments

blowin my horn

Posted Tue, 06/07/2011 - 06:12 by frank

Audacity software was used for recording. The amp is a small old PA amp w/ a 6in speaker, the mic is controlled magnetic. Different positions are used to give the effect of horn type qualities.

Playing the harp has been a hobby for 15 years; I’ve been a student of Dave’s from the get - go.

David’s lessons on "improvising" reveal the brainpower needed to create great instrumentals. You Pros make it seem so easy - for me improvising is often a wing and a pray, but these lessons are helping me to think about essential elements of the process. continue reading...

16 comments

Cadillac Repo Blues

Posted Sun, 06/05/2011 - 20:46 by Joe Tartaglia

"Cadillac Repo Blues" is the first solo harmonica song I have written. In fact it is the first song of any type that I have written. I have been playing the harmonica for 1 1/2 years. The song was written as part of my lessons with David Barret on improvisation. It is in the Key of E, has a shuffle groove, is in the 12 Bar Blues form, starts from the 1 chord, and the backing instrumental is from the Bluesharmonica.com "Temperature" jam track. continue reading...