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Value of Repetition, Part 10 (Target Notes & Chord Change Chorus Form)

Posted Wed, 02/25/2015 - 12:26 by David Barrett Admin

In most songs we're used to hearing the harmonica and band start together, with maybe a little pickup from the harmonica. The licks fit nicely within the 12 Bar Blues and are generally intuitive to play... to feel where they belong in the form. continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Between The Ears: School For Harmonicas

Posted Tue, 02/24/2015 - 07:55 by David Barrett Admin

Just announced today... I'm very much looking forward to this...

Saturday 7 March
9.45pm-10.15pm
BBC RADIO 3

Imagine a town of harmonica players; sounds a bit surreal?
Now Between The Ears gives listeners the chance to hear the harmonica as a truly virtuoso instrument, although never less than an instrument of the people - portable, affordable and playable. As acclaimed poet Kim Addonizio turns student, heading back to blues school - with pen, mouth and a stack of harmonicas at the ready - in search of the sweetest sounds made by the modern day ‘harp’. continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Value of Repetition, Part 9 (Target Notes, Juke and Scratch My Back)

Posted Mon, 02/23/2015 - 11:00 by David Barrett Admin

Take a listen to the first lick of Little Walter's "Juke." Though there's some technique going on, essentially he's playing 2 3 4 5+ 6+ 6+. The 2 (or 3+, we don't know for sure) 3 4 5+ happens before the downbeat of the first bar... this is called a pickup. What is it picking up to?... 6+ in this case... the first note of Bar 1 and the Root Note of the I7 Chord. The second 6+ is a reiteration of the 6+, so it's not new information and not structurally important. continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Value of Repetition, Part 8 (Is Your Playing Forgettable?)

Posted Fri, 02/20/2015 - 08:38 by David Barrett Admin

"Can what you play (when you don't repeat your "A" lick) still be cool if it doesn't use a theme?" Absolutely. This where the importance of using phrasing can be vague to new improvisers. They CAN play lick, after lick, after lick, and as long as the licks are cool (pitch, rhythm, texture, dynamics, etc.), the solo is cool. But, "Will it be memorable?" No. We can remember the experience of the solo, which in itself IS valuable, but if you want the listener walking away with a cool hook/melody, you need to repeat it enough so that it can stick with them. continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Value of Repetition, Part 7 (Theme, Part 2)

Posted Thu, 02/19/2015 - 09:17 by David Barrett Admin

"What happens when you don't repeat your A lick... can it still be considered phrasing?"

Nope. Repetition is at the core of phrasing. Without repetition you're playing lick, after lick, after lick, after lick.. after lick.. after lick... after lick... after lick.... after lick. Get it? All change is sameness, boring. At the core of all that is melodic, or that which is story telling, a recurring theme must be present. Change cannot happen without repetition.

The Af Af At Chorus Form is a great example... continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Value of Repetition, Part 6 (Theme)

Posted Wed, 02/18/2015 - 09:01 by David Barrett Admin

We've studied five Chorus Form Types...

1) AAA
2) Af Af At (AAA with Fills)
3) AAB
4) Af Af B (AAB with Fills)
5) A B/A C

What do they all have in common? They all start with a lick, labeled "A." What you do with that "A" lick after it... in other words, how you repeat it... determines the Chorus Form type.

What happens when you don't repeat your "A" lick? Can it still be considered phrasing? Can what you play still be cool if it doesn't use a theme? Will it be memorable?

Ponder this and we'll discus this further tomorrow.

What's New: Recording Study 5 - Recording Session, Setup Part 2

Posted Wed, 02/18/2015 - 08:50 by David Barrett Admin

David's Tip of the Day: Advanced Player Beatings, Part 2

Posted Tue, 02/17/2015 - 09:50 by David Barrett Admin

Yesterday’s long story was for the students that are reaching into the upper levels of the intermediate material or are just hitting the advanced material on the site. You’ll be working hard, wrestling with new and challenging techniques and making great progress towards your goal of becoming a great harmonica player. Your hard work will pay off by eventually being able to play these new techniques. Most likely the challenges of rhythm will keep you busy a bit longer, and this is common. continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Advanced Player Beatings

Posted Mon, 02/16/2015 - 12:40 by David Barrett Admin

I started sparring in martial arts tournaments as soon as I was allowed to (gold belt). I would often win my division, moving on to compete for grand champion, but always losing to the blackbelt division winner... no surprise there.

My story for you today starts with me just receiving my red belt, the second belt in the advanced ranking of belts. Though I was studying advanced material, my skill set was essentially still that of an intermediate student. My form and application were ugly, but of course I didn't know it... I was an advanced student! continue reading...

What's New: Recording Study 5 - Recording Session

Posted Fri, 02/13/2015 - 08:40 by David Barrett Admin

I'm now releasing Section 5 footage of the actual studio recording session. It's taking about three hours to edit every ten minutes of finished footage (three cameras rolling), so instead of waiting until I'm done with the entire project I'll release one video a week for you. Thanks to volunteer cameramen Marc Graci, Gleidson Sousa and John Rafferty!

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