General Discussion

Get this CD set. It's helped me a lot while learning songs. Some original songs are in pretty bad shape (Juicy Harmonica, Roller Coaster). Dave plays these and others almost exactly like the originals and it's much easier to hear the nuances when you're learning these songs.

If you haven't read Blues With a Feeling, The Little Walter Story and want to get it on your Kindle beware! There are two identical versions for some reason. One is priced at $14.55 and the other is priced at $48.56. They are the exact same book though. So make sure you get the $14.55 unless you want to donate more to the author and amazon. Which would be nice, but I'm pretty poor. Haha.
-Taylor

In addition to Dave's "Learning a new song/lick strategies", I also like to play through the song/lick over the top of the track but without making sound through my harmonica. My mouth will go to the right holes and my tongue will go to the right place for bends but I won't blow or draw air through the harp. I'll just go through the motions and listen carefully. I find this especially useful for licks that are giving me timing trouble and paying attention to dynamics. It's a little more active than just active listening. continue reading...

Hello,

On SBW II "Best of" CD, is a version of Bye Bye Bird with a band (not acapella).

Does anybody know how I can get this as a backing track? Is there any?

Thanks for your help!

Kind regards,
Arno

Dave's latest tip on practicing playing softly: http://www.bluesharmonica.com/practice_playing_softly

is one of the most important things a harmonica player can work on.

Playing softly not only keeps your harps working longer, it gives you control over the harmonica - you have to learn how to get bends and other sounds with finesse instead of force.

Playing softly also gives you somewhere to go. If you play loudly all the time it can get monotonous. But if you start at mid-volume, you can go down or up in volume for dramatic effect or to vary intensity. continue reading...

Is anyone else having problems importing certain MP3 jam tracks from Dave's lessons into Cakewalk Music Creator 6? Some of the MP3 files work great while others give a fatal error and fail to import.

I am trying to find a quality source for Blues Diatonic or Blues Chromatic midi files. I want them to be in the Chicago Blues/David Barrett genre.

I can locate songs that are not in the Crossharp style and I want to stay away from them. Does anybody know where I can find them on the web?

Thank you..

Will

Hi...Francis here. I'm a bit new to blues harmonica. I have been using SP20's. My predicament: When a note is sounding flat, when playing softly without bending, does that mean a reed has blown? I've had an A Harp for only 2 months and the 5 draw is flat (or maybe a bit sharp). I can't imagine its blown, but then again I'm new to all this. I have a D and a C that this has happened to also on the 4 draw, although they were a year older than the A. I took the face plates off and put a store receipt under the reeds and jiggled it around, just to make sure nothing was stuck under there. continue reading...

Hey everyone. Maybe you know Hal, maybe not, but he almost drowned recently. He is recovering but need some help with the medical bills (details on the page).

I find he makes a wonderful contribution to the harmonica community and the world as a whole, especially with youth.

I just want to share this with you. Any contribution can help. Thank you.

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/harmonica-hal-walker-emergency-medical...

I play with a blues rock band that, well, let's face it, is never going to turn down the volume. This makes it kind of hard to hear myself. I started putting an earplug in my harmonica case. When I can't hear myself, I just put a plug in one ear. It helps you hear the harmonica in your head space.