Tip of the Day

It sounds like a simple matter to know that 1+ is C (referencing a C Harmonica), as well as 4+, 7+ and 10+... and that whatever you play on the 1+ can be substituted by the 4+, 7+ and 10+. This is that. It's a simple piece of information... and a powerful one... but often overlooked and underused. continue reading...

When playing amplified (bullet mic in your hand), if we assume you have a good cup to begin with (not one riddled with holes), when your hands are...

1) Completely Open = Very acoustic sounding = Used for special affect = Low in volume

2) Slightly Open = Amplified sounding, but not bassy = Used when you want to be heard over the band more, due to the fact that you're less bassy = Slightly lower in volume, but heard easier due to less muting = Louder overall volume

3) Standard Cup = Amplified sound = Good bass, with full bodied mids and distorted highs = baseline volume/tone continue reading...

When I speak of dynamics I'm commonly just referring to volume change. Another way to achieve volume change PLUS tonal change is to use your hands.

When playing acoustic (non-amplified), simply put, when your hands are open, you're the loudest and most bright in tone. When your hands are closed, you're softest and most muted in tone.

Experiment with variations of how open or closed you are... you'll be surprised how much a small movement of the hands, or even just fingers... or ONE finger! will make in your sound. continue reading...

Join Steve Baker, Joe Filisko and I for our playing and discussion of the Hohner Marine Band Harmonica, Part 1 (filmed in Trossingen, Germany last year).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnRjMQbbrGs

Thanks to fellow student Hank Stefaniak for the following review...

"Disclaimer: I was asked to review this app and to pass on my comments regarding its features and usefulness. If I felt it was not worthwhile, I would not bother commenting at all. continue reading...

TubeDepot.com is a great resource of the tubes we commonly use.

If you find your hands getting tired from holding the bullet mic, you're focusing too much on gripping the mic and not enough on just allowing it to sit, balanced between the palms of both of your hands. When your right hand leaves the mic, the left will grip the mic, but otherwise, both hands are relaxed when cradling the mic.

For more information reference: Cupping & Hand Effects (in lessons)

If Ryan did hear something was wrong, how could he of figure out where they were in the form? How should he have fixed this situation?

This is where the tunnel vision comes in... Ryan learned the song from beginning to end, and most likely worked on individual pieces, but when playing his song he was so focused on remembering all of his parts and what he was doing, he wasn't tracking with the band. continue reading...

Why didn't Ryan hear what was going on?
For new players, the band is thought of as "The Band," an entity that just happens and the thought process that they may be off is a distant one. Up to this point most players have commonly only played to jam tracks, which are infallible. It's important to listen to the form to make sure you're hearing what you expected/requested. continue reading...

Let me first state that Ryan played the hell out of "Take It Easy Now"... his technique, dynamics and tone were stellar!... very proud of him. With that said... here's what happened...

He instructed the band to start from the V7, which is correct. After counting the band in the guitarists are on the V7 (bar 9), as requested, but the bass player started on the I7 (beginning of the form) and then the guitarists quickly changed to the I7 to match the bass player.

So... the band is playing from the I7... continue reading...