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David's Tip of the Day: Quick Recording, Part 1 - Access

Posted Fri, 06/20/2014 - 08:19 by David Barrett Admin
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Songwriters have a recording device with them at all times--Inspiration comes at any moment, and a moment not captured is an opportunity lost. I carried a mini-cassette recorder with me for years and though the quality wasn't good, it did the job. Now that smartphones are ubiquitous, the voice memo app that comes with most phones (or an inexpensive recording app) provide much higher quality and are an easy way to store and backup ideas. continue reading...

What's New: Performance Training Study 5 - Joining or Starting a Blues Band

Posted Thu, 06/19/2014 - 06:53 by David Barrett Admin
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In this Performance Training study I'll help prepare you for the process of joining an existing blues band or starting your own. No harmonicas are needed for this lesson, but download the PDF to reference as we go through the points in this lesson. This lesson is for all skill level players, but is generally focused towards upper-intermediate and advanced players. continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Cupping Presure Test

Posted Wed, 06/18/2014 - 07:38 by David Barrett Admin
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A tight cup is used in preparation for a Wa or Tremolo in acoustic playing, or when holding a bullet mic for amplified playing. Whether you use the Pinch, End Cap or Two Thumbs Up approach taught in your lessons, each have the common element of an airtight cup (I'm not saying you have to squeeze your hands tightly, but your cup results in an airtight cup). A great way to test this is to hold your harmonica in your normal way... close your cup (in preparation for a Wa acoustically or for deep bass amplified)... drop your harmonica into your lap... continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Rhythm and your Foot

Posted Tue, 06/17/2014 - 06:51 by David Barrett Admin
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If your foot stops or stalls while playing a passage of music, it’s a great indicator that your rhythm is off. Use it as the canary in the coalmine—when your foot dies, something’s wrong.

David's Tip of the Day: Dave Tauber in Performance Training Study 4 - The Jam Session

Posted Mon, 06/16/2014 - 06:53 by David Barrett Admin
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Dave has some great tips for you today on preparing for a jam session. You can see these new videos in the "Performance Training Study 4" lesson, in "Section 4."

David's Tip of the Day: Different Types of Tremolo and Vibrato - Part 18, Hand Fanning

Posted Fri, 06/13/2014 - 09:01 by David Barrett Admin
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When watching players like Sonny Terry and Rice Miller on video you'll sometimes see them move their hands left to right or fan the harmonica while playing. Though they don't touch the harmonica, this rhythmic movement in front of the harmonica does alter their tone and volume in a rhythmic way. It's hard to call this a full-on tremolo due to its short duration and small tonal change, but it's cool and worthy of mention.

David's Tip of the Day: Different Types of Tremolo and Vibrato - Part 17, Diaphragm Tremolo

Posted Thu, 06/12/2014 - 07:08 by David Barrett Admin
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Though not usually taught as a way to produce a tremolo, using the diaphragm in a panting-like movement creates an interesting version of it. Jason Ricci uses this and demonstrates it in his interview on the site http://www.bluesharmonica.com/jason_ricci. Why is this not taught?... it takes less effort to produce a tremolo from the throat (vocal folds opening and closing) and is easier to produce a vibrato by actuating it from the throat. With this said, Jason makes it sound pretty good, so it is a valid option.

David's Tip of the Day: ROPE

Posted Wed, 06/11/2014 - 11:55 by David Barrett Admin
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Research, Organize, Practice and Execute. Now get to work.

What's New: Curley Fox train imitation

Posted Tue, 06/10/2014 - 20:51 by David Barrett Admin
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Curley Fox train imitation lesson with Joe Filisko is now up under the "Train Imitation Study 2 - Artist Studies"

David's Tip of the Day: Different Types of Tremolo and Vibrato - Part 16, Double Tremolo

Posted Tue, 06/10/2014 - 07:14 by David Barrett Admin
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The most powerful vibrato/tremolo type I've heard came from the late-great William Clarke. He played an intense tremolo or vibrato (very fast tremolo or vibrato with large swing in pitch) and at the same time opened and closed his hands slower than the vibrato, creating a very cool and powerful oscillating effect. Take a listen to "Lonesome Bedroom Blues" from the Blowin' Like Hell release at 2:27. continue reading...