Tip of the Day

Here's a transcript of yesterday's "Journey Into Jazz" by Gunther Schuller. Look at the footnote markers I've placed in the text... I'll speak on those tomorrow.

"Journey Into Jazz" by Gunther Schuller
Narrated by Leonard Bernstein (1962) continue reading...

In "Journey Into Jazz" by Gunther Schuller, Narrated by Leonard Bernstien (1962), you'll hear that it sounds like it was written for us blues harmonica players. Take a listen and we'll discuss for a while...
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x15bpi_leonard-bernstein-journey-into-j...

Here's a cool ending you can use that makes great use of the knowledge of octaves on your harmonica. These notes are based on the familiar "and many more..." musical vocal phrase.

1 2+ 2" -to- 4 5+ 5 -to- 8 8+ 9

A pro would play it as...

1 2+ 2" -to- 4 5+ 5 where you slap the 4, the 5+ and flutter the 5 -to- 8 8+ 9 in octaves

You can hear this at the end of Rod Piazza's Blues harmonica instrumental "The Bounce," a killer example of great instrumental writing (both Alphabet Blues and The Best of Rod Piazza releases have this ending)

The rhythm most commonly use in Blues is that of swing-eighths... it's the foundation of our shuffles, swings and slow blues. It can be a challenge to feel the swinging rhythm, especially when studying a new passage of music... but of course we have technology to help us out. continue reading...

Work hard studying the harmonica, but don't be in a hurry. If you're in a hurry, you introduce stress into the learning process, and what should be a fun process to develop your skills on an instrument becomes a daily chore. continue reading...

For those interested in a deeper study of music, but don't have the schedule to go to a local college, Berkleemusic.com has great online courses. Berklee School of Music has a long standing tradition of providing real-world music training for working musicians. You can just take one subject of interest, or start a certificate program. For more information visit: http://www.berkleemusic.com/?pid=4235

I just posted a YouTube video sample from our upcoming Music Theory Study 6 (releasing in September) where I open by playing with John Garcia. Notice how I change my volume from chord change to chord change, from lick to lick and within each lick. Note how I hold the 4 draw in the 3rd Chorus (around 1:00 in) clean, with no tremolo... then add vibrato... then some 5 draw for a thicker, more bluesy texture... then move my tongue forward to rob my mouth of the deep, resonant tone chamber I usually use to make the tone present with more bite... then open my hands to further brighten the tone... continue reading...

Now that all judging is in for the Rhumba King Original Blues Harmonica Instrumental Songwriting Contest, take the opportunity to listen to an entry and take notes for yourself of what you liked and though could be done better. Then read the comments of each of three judges (Steve Baker, Lee Sankey and myself) and listen again to the recording. This process will be a great learning experience in regards to focused listening.

Visit http://www.bluesharmonica.com/rhumba-king to listen to the entries.

In the cupping lessons on the site I teach you the ways in which to achieve a very tight cup by closing off all air leakages. This is for both acoustic hand techniques (hand tremolo, wa wa, etc.) and for holding a bullet mic.

In regards to playing with a bullet mic through an amplifier, be aware of the fact that some amps you need to cup tightly to get it to respond in the way that you want, and sometimes cupping too tightly achieves a tone that's way too muted and bassy. continue reading...

When performing on the harmonica (formal or informal setting) you're often standing, making the standard tapping of your foot a bit awkward. Tapping your heal works a little bit better while standing, though this still assumes that you're staying in one spot.

When on the stage it's much more pleasing to be moving around a bit... it shows you're feeling the music. To move around in rhythm requires that you have a bounce in your step... knees bent... etc. continue reading...