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What's New: Recording Study 4 - Gary Smith

Posted Wed, 01/21/2015 - 11:32 by David Barrett Admin
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In our newest episode of the BluesHarmonica.com Recording Study series Gary Smith shares his recording experiences and how he would like to approach our new CD project. Gary and I rehearse our harmony tunes and I provide you with MP3 scratch tracks and PDF music/TAB for you to play along with us.

David's Tip of the Day: Transcribing Series, Part 2 - Basic TAB, Version 1

Posted Wed, 01/21/2015 - 10:48 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Here's my basic handwritten TAB for the fist line of Little Walter's "Rocker." When a hole number stands by itself it's to be drawn (inhaled). When a hole number is followed by a plus it's to be blown (exhaled). Each slash that follows a hole number represents a half step of bend. If two notes are connected by a arched line, the bend is to be slurred (slides from one note to the next). I use a comma to separate phrases, making breaking down the phrase for study easier. This is also helpful for seeing how the phrasing works for dynamic presentation. continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: The Art of Sound: A Conversation with Producer Christoffer “Kid” Andersen

Posted Tue, 01/20/2015 - 08:41 by David Barrett Admin
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This is good timing!... foreshadowing for our Recording Study video interview with Kid Anderson to release in a month's time. Kid will also be the guitarist and recording engineer for our new CD (Gary Smith, Aki Kumar and I). Congrats to Kid on this featured article!

The Art of Sound: A Conversation with Producer Christoffer “Kid” Andersen
http://thehub.musiciansfriend.com/art-of-sound/the-art-of-sound-a-conver...

David's Tip of the Day: Transcribing Series, Part 1 - Key and Rhythm Answers

Posted Mon, 01/19/2015 - 10:50 by David Barrett Admin
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I hope you enjoyed the challenge of the first part of our transcription process. Here are the answers to Friday's questions...

1) Harmonica Key: A

2) Key you and the band are playing in: E

3) Where he starts in time: The 2" is on the "and" of 4, with the 2 draw on the downbeat of the next bar. So, he's playing a 1/2 beat pickup to Bar 1. continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Transcribing Series, Part 1 - Key and Rhythm

Posted Fri, 01/16/2015 - 13:47 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

It's now time to get to work. Take a listen to the first four bars of Little Walter's "Rocker." I would like you to figure out: the key of harmonica; the key Walter and the band are playing in; where he starts in time; and how you would count this song in.

I'll get you started...

1) He's playing in 2nd Position

2) He starts with a 2" (2 draw whole step bend) that quickly goes to 2 (2 draw)

Here are your challenges in regards to timing... continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: 12 Amazing Things Scientists Discovered This Year About People Who Listen to Music

Posted Thu, 01/15/2015 - 07:21 by David Barrett Admin
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Thanks to fellow student Marc G. (thanks!) for sharing this paper.

12 Amazing Things Scientists Discovered This Year About People Who Listen to Music
http://mic.com/articles/106100/12-amazing-things-scientists-discovered-a...

What's New: Recording Study 4 - Aki Kumar

Posted Wed, 01/14/2015 - 13:58 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

In our newest episode of the BluesHarmonica.com Recording Study series Aki Kumar shares his recording experiences and how he would like to approach our new CD project. Aki and I rehearse our harmony tunes and I provide you with MP3 scratch tracks and PDF music/TAB for you to play along with us.

David's Tip of the Day: Little Walter - 50's Guitar Styles, Instructional Guitar DVD

Posted Wed, 01/14/2015 - 08:15 by David Barrett Admin
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Fellow student Mike Z (thanks Mike!) is also a guitarist and said that this video is really informative on how to back harp players in the traditional 1950's style. If you play in a band or with a guitarist buddy that's not hip to this way of playing, it would be wise to purchase this DVD for them as a gift.

Little Walter - 50's Guitar Styles, Instructional Guitar DVD continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Transcribing Tip - What Position, Part 2

Posted Tue, 01/13/2015 - 07:57 by David Barrett Admin
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Before we leave this subject of figuring out the key...

If you're trying to figure out the key of a song, and there's no harp playing on the recording you're copying/referencing, upon guessing what the key is, make sure to grab the corresponding harp and play a song you're familiar with to the music. This will confirm that you have chosen the correct key and position of harp. continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Transcribing Tip - What Position

Posted Mon, 01/12/2015 - 10:33 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Now that you've figured out the key of the song, the next step is to dig in and work out what the harmonica player is doing. BUT, even though you may have figured out the correct key, you might be in the wrong position. As a young harmonica player I would often try to learn a new song and I would figure out two-thirds of it, with the rest being a mystery... continue reading...