General Discussion

If you haven't seen this series of videos, check them out. Pretty interesting "history of the harmonica."

Mostly non-blues history (but some!), but still interesting.

There are four "chapters" on Youtube

The first one is here, and you'll see the others from there:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDHtgcWMrU4 continue reading...

As soon as I can play a study song at 100% tempo, I want to record it and send it in for submission. However, I find that if I play it 3-4 times each day for a week before recording it and sending it in, I get more positive results. I think it gives more time to internalize it and work out rhythm nuances and dynamics. If I feel confident enough, I'll move on the the next lesson after I can play it at 100% tempo, but I'll wait about a week before submitting it. Try recording yourself right after you can play it at tempo, and then a week after practicing it at that. continue reading...

Here's an article in today's Toronto Star that I thought might interest some members. Seems to me I read somewhere that the glass harmonica was a predesessor to the harmonica as we know it.

http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2013/04/10/rare_instrument_makes_a...

Harmonica H.

Continuing from my last post about sax imitation using the Db and Ab harmonicas, another quality that blues sax seems to have is that occasional sax growl (youtube it). We can do this on the harmonica too and get a similar sound. Check out the end of the video on the Gary Smith Artist Study: Minor Mambo Chorus 2. I've found that I automatically will do this now sometimes without realizing it, particularly on the 3' in 2nd position.

I never thought I would need these two keys of harmonicas, but I'm really starting to love them for jump blues stuff.

An Ab harp plays in Eb in the 2nd position which is the same tuning as an alto sax. It also plays in Bb in the 3rd position which is the same tuning as a tenor sax. A Db harp also plays in Eb if you play it in the 3rd position (alto sax). So, if you REALLY want that sax sound imitation, you should have these two less common harps in your arsenal.

So to sum up:
Ab harmonica in 2nd position= Eb= alto sax
Ab harmonica in 3rd position= Bb= tenor sax continue reading...

Here's a nifty trick I came up with independently (maybe others have realized this too.) continue reading...

As you know, you should always use a tuner when you're practicing your bending. Along with the bending exercises on the bending studies, I like to add in bending down to the note with my eyes closed and then opening them while holding the note to ensure it's accurate (give or take 5 cents in either direction). It's good to try bending into the note (up or down), stepping down to the note, and starting the onset of the note. This seems to help my ear know if I'm bending in pitch.

Hey everyone, here's a little food for your soul!

I picked up the harmonica abour a year ago. My goal was to learn to play harmonica as a new challenge because I liked the sound and I thought it would be cool. Well such a pretty vague goal makes it hard to determine if you reached it! Therefore, I came to the point where I was wondering if I was making any progress or if I would ever get "that" good (whatever "that good" may be). continue reading...

OK, so I don't know how safe it is to play harmonica when you drive, but I like to live on the edge I guess. I never drive anywhere without a harmonica in my pocket. I used to spend most of the time "noodling"-just solo improv stuff. I don't think driving is really the time to dig in and learn songs. continue reading...

When the Music Theory Lessons first came out, I was very excited. I plowed through them until I hit the part where I had to memorize every hole's pitches and scale degree for each chord. It just seemed so overwhelming and not that fun to just honk notes through the endless G major Shuffle. I got distracted too easily and ended up learning new songs or working on other things during my practice time instead. continue reading...