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What's New: Fox Chase Study - More Examples (3A through 3G)

Posted Mon, 10/12/2015 - 16:07 by David Barrett Admin

More examples are up for Joe Filisko's series on the Fox Chase/Lost John http://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/fox_chase_study_1_technique_approach

David's Tip of the Day - Challenges of Playing on the High End - Octave Substitution

Posted Mon, 10/12/2015 - 07:22 by David Barrett Admin

Let's now take some familiar licks and move them up an octave. This is by far the easiest, and most enjoyable, way of getting to know the high end of the harmonica.

First lick of "Juke" by Little Walter (minus pulls and such, just the basic pitches)
3+ 3 4 5+ 6+ 6+ = 6+ 7 8 8+ 9+ 9+

First chorus of "Easy" Big Walter Horton
3 4+ 4, 4 5+ 4 4+ 3
5+ 5 6+, 6+ 6+ 5 5+ 4
4 5+ 4 5 5+ 4 4+, 6+ 5 5+ 4 3' 3" 2 2, 3 4 5+ 6+ slide-to-2 2 1 1

7 7+ 8, 8 8+ 8 7+ 7
8+ 9 9+, 9+ 9+ 9 8+ 8 continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day - Interesting Analysis of Over the Rainbow

Posted Fri, 10/09/2015 - 11:06 by David Barrett Admin

Interesting analysis of Over the Rainbow. Thanks to fellow student Steve for sharing
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/rainbow-takes-us-magical-musical-place/

Analysis
song

David's Tip of the Day - Rod Piazza Interview at Blues Blast Magazine

Posted Thu, 10/08/2015 - 07:18 by David Barrett Admin

http://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/issue-9-41-October-8-2015/

David's Tip of the Day - Challenges of Playing on the High End - Tone

Posted Wed, 10/07/2015 - 07:39 by David Barrett Admin

As blues harmonica players we prefer the tone of the lower keyed harmonicas and the lower six holes of the harmonica. When venturing above hole 6, the tone thins and we start to move off access of our cupped hands and away from our mic.

Players commonly use slaps as their default way to present the high notes for a more powerful sound. Using octaves (4 hole for blow and 5 hole for draw) is also a great approach for a bigger sound. continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day - Making Sense of Music - BBC "The Science Hour" 10/2 Episode

Posted Tue, 10/06/2015 - 07:10 by David Barrett Admin

In the BB's radio show The Science Hour on 10/2 (the episode tilted "Flowing Water on Mars") they spoke of timbre, the overtone series, temperament (our harmonica models come in different temperaments https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_temperament) and how active the mind is in the production of music. The explanations are bit shallow, but still a fun listen. Go here http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p033n9rm and start it at 23:46.

David's Tip of the Day - Challenges of Playing on the High End - Breath Pattern

Posted Mon, 10/05/2015 - 07:43 by David Barrett Admin

The most apparent change on the high end for someone studying the note layout of the harmonica or playing scales is that at hole 7 the blow notes are higher than the draw notes. This is easily seen in the C Major Scale below. Note the change in breathing between holes 6 and 7.

4+ 4 5+ 5 6+ 6 7 7+

If you play two octaves of scale you get...

4+ 4 5+ 5 6+ 6 7 7+ 8 8+ 9 9+ 10 10+ (10'+ B is also available if you want to throw it in there, but it's rarely used)

Now the entire range...

1+ 1 2+ 2" 2 3" 3 4+ 4 5+ 5 6+ 6 7 7+ 8 8+ 9 9+ 10 10+ continue reading...

Whar's New: Beginning Student Hob Bosold - Lesson 4

Posted Sun, 10/04/2015 - 16:08 by David Barrett Admin

Beginning student Hob Bosold's latest lesson is now up. In this lesson we cover: Tongue Block Study 1: Walk With Me, Page 1 Review; Page 2 Review; Solo Harmonica Study 1: Examples 1.2 to 1.7 Review; Major Scale and Finding where you are on the Harmonica; Solo Harmonica Study 2: Example 1.6 and Music Theory Study 1: Section 2 Review (Bending Focus)

David's Tip of the Day - Challenges of Playin on the High End - Intro

Posted Fri, 10/02/2015 - 12:42 by David Barrett Admin

Jot down some notes this weekend on what you think are the challenges of learning to play above hole 6 in 2nd Position and why you may think it's not used as much as it could be. I'll share my observations starting Monday. Have a great weekend everyone!

David's Tip of the Day: All Music Guide to the Blues

Posted Thu, 10/01/2015 - 09:45 by David Barrett Admin

While I'm on a reference kick, "All Music Guide to the Blues" has a very cool section in the back that details the history and evolution (through its innovators) of each instrument in the blues.
http://www.amazon.com/All-Music-Guide-Blues-Definitive/dp/0879307366

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