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David's Tip of the Day: How much do you know about Pre-War Blues harmonica?

Posted Wed, 01/25/2012 - 08:24 by David Barrett Admin

We're most familiar with Post War Chicago Blues... essentially the 1950 to 1955 time range (before Rock really took a foothold). Most players are unaware of the mastery our early country blues harmonica players possessed... and in a much different way than players of today. Our friend Joe Filisko really hits it out of the park in this History of the Blues Harmonica 2xCD.

http://www.harmonicamasterclass.com/historyconcert.htm

David's Tip of the Day: 2 Draw Abuse, Part 3

Posted Tue, 01/24/2012 - 08:15 by David Barrett Admin

The 2 draw is overused. The 6 blow is underused. The 6 blow is the same note, one octave higher as the 2 draw. Improvise, focusing resolving your phrases on the 6 blow in place of the 2 draw.

What's New: Bassman Chronicles - Submission #7 - Amp Setup Night at the Dell: Comments

Posted Mon, 01/23/2012 - 21:59 by David Barrett Admin

Join us for the newest submission to the Bassman Chronicles where we hear musicians and student audience members comment on what they heard.

David's Tip of the Day: 2 Draw Abuse, Part 2

Posted Mon, 01/23/2012 - 09:14 by David Barrett Admin

I'm sure you found this challenging to do. The 2 draw is the most common hole used on the harmonica (4 draw being a close second). The 2 is the root note (we're speaking of 2nd Position here), so it's obvious that we'll be playing it a lot. This is true, but we DO NOT have to resolve every phrase we play... in fact it's boring to resolve every phrase we play.

So, what to do. There are some tools. Try this lick.

4 4+ 3 2 2 (hold last note)

Now, instead of resolving the phrase with the last 2 draw, kick into another note like in the examples below...

1) 4 4+ 3 2 1
2) 4 4+ 3 2 3 continue reading...

What's New: Bassman Chronicles - Submission #6 - Amp Setup Night at the Dell new

Posted Fri, 01/20/2012 - 23:23 by David Barrett Admin

In this installment of the Bassman Chronicles Gary Smith and I take our amps to the Grand Dell to experiment with amp placement and to test the overall affect on what we hear on the stage and what the audience hears in the house.

David's Tip of the Day: 2 Draw Abuse

Posted Thu, 01/19/2012 - 12:17 by David Barrett Admin

If you've been playing long enough to feel comfortable soloing, then go ahead and do some soloing to a jam track of your choosing. One change though, you can't play 2 draw. If you have a hard time knowing what hole you're on when jamming, then take your bottom cover plate off and place a piece of tape over the 2 draw reed (painters tape is good at not leaving residue). Give it a try... more tomorrow.

David's Tip of the Day: Gapping (Reed Offsetting) - HOHNER Service Workshops

Posted Wed, 01/18/2012 - 09:03 by David Barrett Admin

Though this is demonstrated on the chromatic harmonica, the principles are also the same for the diatonic harmonica. As Steve Baker states in the video lesson, learning how to gap is essential. It's common for a harmonica to have one or two reeds not responding the way you desire, and this is the quickest way to adjust it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12cdfpp2Sg0

David's Tip of the Day: HOHNER Service Workshops

Posted Tue, 01/17/2012 - 07:49 by David Barrett Admin

Gotta love the modern harmonica world!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7Dc3ssh_bM

Upcoming Shows: Mark Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowouts

Posted Mon, 01/16/2012 - 08:49 by David Barrett Admin

Many of you are familiar with Mark Hummel's Blues Harmonica Blowouts... we've been a sponsor of it for many years. This year is a Little Walter Tribute, featuring Charlie Musselwhite, Billy Boy Arnold, Sugar Ray Norcia, Curtis Salgado and Mark Hummel. I'll be hanging out at the Yoshi's shows this year, most specifically for the 10pm Saturday Show, this is where the grande finale of the King of Swing competition is going to be held. I'll be video recording interviews for BluesHarmonica.com all weekend, so I unfortunately won't be playing... maybe next year. continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Beginner Tips #12 - Set List of Songs

Posted Mon, 01/16/2012 - 08:20 by David Barrett Admin

You'll be learning numerous songs in your studies, of which you'll forget if you don't review. As you complete each song, place its original (with harp) and jam track (without harp... if it's a study song and a jam track exists) in a playlist. Once a week, or at the very least once a month, start your playlist and play along as if you're on the stage, performing these songs in a gig. As time goes on you'll dial each song in well enough to play with the jam track version only, truly like a gig. continue reading...

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