General Discussion

Dear All,

Has anyone created or know of any Spotify playlist which inclues harmonica songs or practice songs I can listen to train my ear for blues playing. I would soon create one as and when I come across songs and harmonica solos on spotify and would love to share it across when its ready.

Maeanwhile, let me know if we already have any playlist created by Blues harp players.

For any harp players based in the UK, I recommend joining Harmonica UK. I paid £20 for 12 months membership and for that you get regular online 'coffee mornings' with other players, some who are big names in the harp world. Rob Paparozzi was at the Christmas event.

There are also regular workshops led by big names in the harmonica world. Joe Filisko is doing one in February - free to attend if you have membership! continue reading...

Anyone making any harmonica-related New Year's Resolutions? Like, "I'll brush my teeth before playing one of my chromatics," or "I'll get a small practice amp and stop waking up the neighbors in the middle of the night with my Harp KIng."

For myself, I resolve to lose ten pounds ... by giving to a charity a whole box of harps that I've collected over the years, but don't play these days.

Here's to a great 2024. You might start out with Roy Milton's resolution, from 1947: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPIEhuuca-E

Would like suggestions for warm-up routines, 5-10 minutes, before a practice session. I have some things I routinely do, but would be interested in what others do.

Thanks.

Phil Pennington

Great article by Bruce Weinstein in the latest Harmonica Happenings quarterly (Fall 2023). Bruce is one of David's students, and an eithics consultant regularly published in financial and business news, including Forbes. He uses a conversation with Jason Ricci to talk about eight life lessons "learned the hard way." Thought-provoking stuff not only re music, but about life in general. continue reading...

What are some of your favorite blues-flavored holiday tunes that you like to perform, whether on stage or just for family and friends around the Yule Log? Whether or not the original is harmonica based. continue reading...

Does anybody have any advice for me on the level 5 instrumental assignment. Im just so bad at improvising and I dont know how to make my fills sound good with the licks I have chosen. Also I cant find a head lick. I was hoping for something super catchy but nothing stands out. I have about 5 licks all with different focus notes. 

To tell the truth I also haven't put a lot of time into it because it kind of feels daunting the task. I do put a lot of time into chorus form improve but like I said my fills suck.

I feel like I'm stuck

Hi everyone.

I've been frustrated for a long time by the "muted" sound of bends.

They sound very different than clean notes, and all the advice I could get on the internet was to keep practicing. But I'm not sure that's the problem (maybe just a part of it).

For example, Amazing Grace, which featuers extensive 3 hole full-step bends. continue reading...

G'day

In one of the 1st pos tutorial videos, David says he was making a specific video on using blow bends in 2nd position. I can't seem to find this - did it get made?

cheers

Adam

Hello Fellow students! Would anyone happen to have a backing track to "Have a good time" by big Walter, and be willing to share it? Thanks!