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David's Tip of the Day: Leonard Bernstein on Importance of Repetition & Violation of Expectation

Posted Mon, 06/25/2012 - 06:44 by David Barrett Admin
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Have you been studying Chorus Forms? If so, check out what Leonard Bernstein has to say about the same general concept in the "The Unanswered Question, Part 3" from his 1973 Harvard Norton Lectures. Watch from 41:55 to 52:09 and then 57:10 to when the musical example is done.

Special note to 1:02:30 where he speaks of the "Violation of Expectation"

YouTube Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IxJbc_aMTg

What's New: Scott Dirks Interview

Posted Fri, 06/22/2012 - 10:16 by David Barrett Admin
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Join me for an interview with blues harmonica player, recording artist, producer, historian and author ("Blues with A Feeling, The Little Walter Story") Scott Dirks. This interview was held in Chicago, Illinois in June of 2012.

Videos include: Introduction & Scott’s Early Years; Scott’s Early Influences; Scott’s Early Bands and The Blues Brothers continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Shakes: Top Note Down & 3-Hole

Posted Fri, 06/22/2012 - 06:56 by David Barrett Admin
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In your lessons I teach that a shake should always start with the bottom note (and commonly with a dip if it's a bendable note). This is the case... most of the time.

Top Note Down Shake
Listen to the last chorus of Big Walter Horton's famous blues harmonica instrumental "Easy," and you'll hear on bar 6 that the 6+ is played as a 6+/5+ shake (this is due to the dissonant sound of the 6+/7+ shake option... the shake focused downwards still gives the melody the variation he was looking for, but with less dissonance).

3-Hole Shake continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Jensen Jet Tornado (Replacement Speakers)

Posted Thu, 06/21/2012 - 07:46 by David Barrett Admin
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In the Bassman Chronicles Mark Overman and I replaced all four of the Jensen P10R reissue speakers with Jensen Jet Tornados tenderized by MegaTone Amps (http://megatoneamps.com/) and they sounded really nice. I tried using just two of Jets (leaving two of the originals in there) and the sound was fantastic. So, no need to buy four, just two sounds great.

Practice#

Posted Tue, 06/19/2012 - 06:47 by David Barrett Admin
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This tip comes from member Emanuel Villa...

The Amazing Slow Downer is definitely a great software, but there are FREE alternatives as good, at least for PC users, take a look to Practice# (Practice sharp)
http://code.google.com/p/practicesharp/

David's Tip of the Day: Hands Off

Posted Mon, 06/18/2012 - 06:43 by David Barrett Admin
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Grab a harp... hold it... play it... pull it away from your lips... look at your left hand... the farther back you can place your index finger and thumb, the more room you have to place the harmonica in your mouth (deep harmonica = deep tone). I hold the harp at the very back, on top of the crest, where it flairs out.

For more information, visit the Lesson titled "Cupping & Hand Effects" and look at the video titled "Ways of Holding/Cupping the Harmonica" for more information.

What's New: Harp Tech Study 6 - Reed Slot Sizing

Posted Fri, 06/15/2012 - 22:01 by David Barrett Admin
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In our sixth study harp tech expert Kinya Pollard (aka The HarpSmith) walks you through how to size a reed slot on the harmonica. This lesson video is for all skill level players.

Videos: Introduction to Reed Slot Sizing; Principals of Reed Slot Sizing; Reed Slot Sizing with UST (Ultimate Sizing Tool); Reed Slot Sizing with UST and Light Box; Fixing the Reed Slot if You Go Too Far; Tip Scooping; Adjusting the Reed’s Profile after Reed Slot Sizing; Reed Slot Sizing Closing Words

What's New: Music Theory Study 2 - Modes & Positions

Posted Fri, 06/15/2012 - 20:52 by David Barrett Admin
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Join me for our second lesson on Music Theory for the Blues Harmonica Player, where we explore modes and positions. In this lesson you'll learn: what modes are associated with each position; how to figure out what key you and the band are playing in for the various positions; and how to make your own harmonica position chart. continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Relax

Posted Fri, 06/15/2012 - 06:36 by David Barrett Admin
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Many technique and tonal problems on the harmonica are caused from tension in the tongue, mouth, jaw, throat, neck, shoulders, etc. Focus on playing all of your technique as relaxed as possible.

David's Tip of the Day: Handing Over a Solo - No Turnaround

Posted Thu, 06/14/2012 - 06:59 by David Barrett Admin
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The #1 problem in a jam session is at the point where one soloist is done and the next soloist is to begin, i.e., the passing of solos. Often no signal is given, essentially giving the next soloist the solo after the form has already begun (bar 2 or 3, instead of 1... that throws new players off big time)... or the previous soloist plays right up to the last beat (beat 48... bar 12, beat 4), leaving no room for the next player to play a pickup to lead into their solo. Playing this far can also create rushed handovers of solos. continue reading...