Thomas Sterner's The Practicing Mind: Developing Focus and Discipline in Your Life - Master Any Skill or Challenge by Learning to Love the Process (New World Library 2012) is one of the books that David recommends. I found a copy in our local public library, and recently finished it. continue reading...
Back some months ago I received some advice from Brian in Tennessee. I was stuck in Level one; trying too hard to make it sound better than was necessary. Below, in brackets, is the advice Brian provided for me (I saved it because it was so helpful): continue reading...
I recently joined a blues band, which have some songs by Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee on their setlist such as 'I was born with the blues' and 'Walk on'. As this is my first time playing in a band I'd love to have the security of sheet music to play from to get started. Does anyone have a transcription of the harmonica parts on these songs, of others by the same artists? Thanks in advance!
Episode No. 50 of Neil Warren's Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast (https://happyhourharmonicapodcast.buzzsprout.com/) is a wonderful interview with Richard "Magic Dick" Salwitz. Magic Dick talks at length about his approaches to tone and dynamics, as well as how he thinks about practice. (E.g., sing it first, then play it.) Plus a lot of cool history with the J. Geils Band. Great stuff here! (As with all of Warren's interviews.)
I am brand new to harmonicas, just purchased a Special 20 on amazon tuned in C . After checking some of the fundamentals on bluesharmonica.com, I realized that the tuning in A is recommended and I also see that it seems to have a high focus on Blues tyle. continue reading...
As David posted in his "What's New!" section of this Forum: "If you're looking for some great blues history, there's no better tour guide than Billy Boy Arnold. Here's his new book, coauthored by Kim Field https://www.kimfield.com/the-blues-dream-of-billy-boy-arnold "
I pre-ordered it, and just finished my copy. Wow! An amazing amount of history as told by an amazing man. continue reading...
Run - don't walk - to your nearest independant bookstore or public library, and pick up a copy of Bobby Rush's autobiography, I Ain't Studdin' Ya' (Hachette Books, 2021). You'll be glad you did!