Tip of the Day

When speaking of dynamics we're mostly speaking of volume change within a solo.

Homework #1 - Listen to Little Walter's "Off The Wall." Note the volume of each chorus.

We'll talk about what you find tomorrow.

It's all about "been there done that" when improvising. If you're playing on the bandstand, with some buddies or with a jam track and ideas aren't flowing, it's because you haven't studied a song that used a similar groove. Listen to your CD collection to find some songs that are similar in feel and study the harp licks... this will give you some ideas to draw from when improvising.

When a reed is stuck with spit, don't honk on that reed/hole as loudly as you can... if the reed frees itself suddenly then you run the danger of it fracturing... can you say dead harp? Tap your harp a couple of times and then play a soft blow and draw chord (over multiple holes) to free the reed. If this fails, doing a bend on the opposite reed (which will activate the plugged reed) can do the trick as well.

Spit happens... but as time goes on your body is better able to deal with it and less goes through our tin sandwich. A simple fix is to to tilt your head back a little bit and let gravity do its work. You'll have to ditch the hunchback of notre dame stage posture, but I don't think the audience will miss it ;-)

If you find your cover plates over time getting squished (especially if you've been working on your bullet mic cupping), you're cupping your harps with too much force... relax! ;-)

These are the 7 harps I have in my travel case...

D = D, A & E (1st, 2nd & 3rd)
C = C, G & D
Bb = Bb, F & C
A = A, E & B
Ab = Ab, Eb & Bb (I love this harp for swing 3rd Position)
G = G, D & A
Low F = F, C & G (I prefer the Low F over the standard F)

12 Hole C Chromatic = All keys, but for me I play in 3rd Position, so it = D and Eb (slide-in)

As you can see, these 7 harps cover most of the keys (minus Db and Gb... very rare) with position knowledge.

Since we're speaking of spare parts for your gigging amp, also carry a spare preamp tube and rectifier tube. Again, it doesn't take up much space, but it's a good insurance policy at a gig if a tube goes out.

When you gig, bring a spare fuse with you for your amp. Fuses don't blow often, but it does happen and it's small enough that it doesn't add weight to your gig bag.

Now, the all-important right thumb. Have the right thumb on the right face of the harmonica, next to your cheek. This is pretty much a universal for all players...

...by pushing/extending the left thumb towards the right palm you close off a common cup leakage. Look at Lessons > Blues Harmonica Fundamentals > Blues Harmonica Fundamentals: Holding and Lip Positioning > Ways of Holding/Cupping the Harmonica 1 from :44 to 1:44. Note the position of the left thumb... a lot of players leave a hole from the tip of their thumb to the right palm and that's a big leakage, causing a weak Wa and cup on the bullet mic.