What's New!

In our newest episode of the BluesHarmonica.com Recording Study series Gary Smith shares his recording experiences and how he would like to approach our new CD project. Gary and I rehearse our harmony tunes and I provide you with MP3 scratch tracks and PDF music/TAB for you to play along with us.

In our newest episode of the BluesHarmonica.com Recording Study series Aki Kumar shares his recording experiences and how he would like to approach our new CD project. Aki and I rehearse our harmony tunes and I provide you with MP3 scratch tracks and PDF music/TAB for you to play along with us.

In Section 2 of Recording Study 4 (Professional Studio) we sit down with students Joel Saal and George Bisharat and listen to their recording process. Videos Include: Joel Saal: Growth and Legacy Project; George Bisharat: Getting to know George; Why Do a CD?; Preparation, Music Mentors and Musician Selection; Recording, Mixing and Mastering; Photography, Artwork and Promotion; Tips for Students, Copyright and Distribution. George has provided you a song from his new CD on the lesson page. continue reading...

Finally we start the epic series of recording at a professional studio! Your lesson begins with an overview of what's involved in recording at a studio and then we cover a bullet-point list of what's needed to prepare for the process. Next to release in the series will be an interview with students Joel Saal and George Bisharat. Videos Include: Section 1 – The Recording Process: Introduction to Professional Recording Study; Why Record; Choosing Musicians; Ways to Record; Preparing for the Studio; Rehearsing for the Studio; Choosing your Harp Amp; Recording Process; Recording Budget

Andy Santana is a long-respected tradition blues harmonica player, guitarist and vocalist from the California Bay Area. In this interview he brings the perspective of a longtime performer, songwriter, recording artist, bandleader and producer. continue reading...

Happy Holidays everyone! it's been a pleasure working with all of you and I look forward to another great year of growth and accomplishment!

Ryan's latest lesson is now up. Videos include:

Lesson 29 - Intro
Lesson 29 - Accompaniment Study 6: Ryan Plays Used To Be My Baby
Lesson 29 - Accompaniment Study 6: Used To Be My Baby Critique
Lesson 29 - Solo Harmonica Study 3: Ex. 2.6
Lesson 29 - Solo Harmonica Study 3: Ex. 2.7
Lesson 29 - Improvising Study 4: Section 4, Ex. 60-68
Lesson 29 - Bending Study 4: My Blues, Opening to Chorus 2
Lesson 29 - Bending Study 4: My Blues, Chorus 3
Lesson 29 - Bending Study 4: My Blues, Vibrato Discussion
Lesson 29 - Bending Study 4: My Blues, Chorus 4

The separate mixes of Bill's performance are now in the Recording Study 3 lesson.

Gary Smith, Aki Kumar and I are looking for suggestions for the main title of our new CD project. The theme is our interaction... two songs with all three of us playing harmonies together (horn section style), one with Gary and I, one with Aki and I and one with Gary and Aki. We also each play a couple of tunes on our own with the band (Kid Andersen, Mike Phillips, Marty Dodson and Steve Lucky). All of the music is original and steeped in the tradition of Chicago and West Coast Blues Harmonica. continue reading...

In this lesson I'll show you how to record acoustic harmonica, mic a harp amp, do punch-in recording and edit multiple takes into one cohesive track. Many of the techniques I'll share with you are common to professional recording studios, just on a smaller scale. As a bonus, you get to follow fellow student Bill Bussell as he records his current study song ("The Tub"). This study is for all skill level players and no harmonicas are needed. continue reading...