Tip of the Day

My buddy Mark Overman showed me a case company I haven't seen before. He said a friend of his in the states purchased one and it was very nice. Check them out at http://slimscustomcases.com

Now that you have a detailed chart for each song, create a simple listing with text for all of your songs. You should be able to fit 20+ songs per sheet, so keep your notes brief.

Here are my suggested headers (feel free to add your own that you find useful):

Title Key Groove Intro Breaks? Hook/Focus General End

Key to the Highway, G, Slow Blues (Shuffle), From the V, (Blank), Shakes, 8 Bar: I V IV IV I V I V, Standard (m7) continue reading...

Now that you have your songs from the band, start the process of charting. The information can be very basic, or very detailed. I've posted a detailed example of a chart at https://www.facebook.com/bluesharmonica
If you've not competed your Music Theory studies at BluesHarmonica.com (charting is covered in Study 6), then you may need help from one of the other musicians in the band with charting the chords for non-12 Bar Blues songs. Working with a local music instructor is also a great way to go about this (I have personally done both through the years). continue reading...

When students join a band, their focus changes from learning one song at a time to learning thirty songs in a hurry to be ready to play their first gig. This is an exciting time, but also a challenging one to deal with the breadth of material.

Here's how you get started... continue reading...

Let's now bring all of the elements together that we've discussed...

For newer players to the bandstand we know that their highest probability of success is in memorizing a song and performing it to their best ability. The challenge is that they're playing a non-dynamic element (a memorized solo that does not change) into a dynamic situation (the band is responding to you, but you not to them). The other challenge is in keeping track of each chorus and hoping your memory doesn't fail you.

Follow these steps in preparation for performance: continue reading...

A quick reminder as to the value of the TBT in the learning process. I commonly hear from students after using the TBT to dial in a technique that wasn't happening on the harmonica, "Wow, it makes it easy when you can see what your tongue is doing."

To Purchase:
http://www.filiskostore.com/page/480389598

Lessons on how to use the TBT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNNt5HIiN88

Okay, you're now on the bandstand. I want to point this out first... it may help you to feel less nervous. If you get hopelessly lost, look to another soloist... commonly the guitarist or pianist... and nod your head for them to solo. It won't be in the right spot, but look over, nod your head, close your eyes and smile as you listen for the anticipated solo, thus forcing a solo onto them. continue reading...

Put the jam track on that you've been practicing your instrumental with and improvise. Work your Hole Changes (Accompaniment Study 3), Chorus Forms (Improvising Study 1), Soloing Themes (Improvising Study 7) and general jamming with a goal of becoming very familiar with the groove of the song you're playing. This way, if you unintentionally deviate from your prearranged instrumental, you won't freak out. continue reading...

I'm in the process of editing the interview I conducted with Annie Raines and she played a cool ii-V-I line in 3rd Position. I thought I would share it with you...

First, here's a cool 2nd Position bass line with the standard ii-V-I progression in Bars 9 and 10 (it replaces the V-IV-I you're used to) and the I-vi-ii-V in Bars 11 and 12 (which replaces the standard I-V turnaround)... both changes being very commonplace in Jump & Swing Blues.

Play each note as a quarter note...

2 3 4 5+ 6+ 5+ 4 3, 2 3 4 5+ 6+ 5 5+ 4

4+ 2+ 2 3" 3' 3" 2 2+, 2 3 4 5+ 6+ 5+ 4 3 continue reading...

I'm a big fan of having a good selection of jam tracks to practice with. Here's a list of jam tracks I use often.

Blues Harp Tracks provides jam tracks that are generic, as well as jam tracks that have been recorded to work with specific blues harmonica songs.
bluesharptracks.com

For generic grooves, these are my favorite...

Ultimate Blues Jam (3 CDs) by Pete Schmidt
http://www.ultijamtracks.com

Groovetrax - Every Groove A Bluesman Needs To Know by Jimi Lee
http://jimileeband.com/jam_tracks/groovetrax_sample_clips/ continue reading...