joe filisko

In Joe Filisko's latest lesson on Train Imitation (http://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/train_imitation_study_2_artist_stu...) and the Fox Chase/Lost John (http://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/fox_chase_study_2_artist_studies) he covers "Train, Train" by Shorty Medlocke (Blackfoot) and "Lost Boy Blues" by Palmer McAbee

At a Chicago Harmonica Masterclass Workshop (I believe in 2005) David Waldman shared a cool tip in regards to phrasing like Little Walter. He said, "If you want to emulate Little Walter's phrasing, start your licks on beat 2." He then played with the guitarist and improvised with this in mind, and sure enough, all of us instructors (Joe Filisko, Dennis Gruenling and Scott Dirks) nodded our heads in agreement... it sounded like what Walter would do. I experimented with this concept after the workshop and it's now a tool I use in my improvising from time to time. continue reading...

Lastly, everything's just easier to play on a custom harmonica. The big one is that bending is easier (draw, blow and overbend) and the middle bends are less airy in tone. When playing a 3" you'll notice that there's an airy quality to the bend... this is normal for all harmonicas, but is greatly diminished with a custom harmonica.

Okay, let's review...

Balanced
Same breath for each reed, making playing across the range of the harmonica effortless

Dynamic Range
The main reason for playing custom harmonicas is so you can play softly, giving you great dynamic range

Longevity continue reading...

Yesterday I gave you two reasons of why custom harmonicas may not be necessary. Here are the reasons why I personally like custom harmonicas…

Balanced
Though construction and quality control is currently better than it's ever been in the harmonica's history... from the factory, for obvious economic reasons, you’ll never reach the level of attention that a customizer will give your harmonicas. Most simply, a harmonica will play more evenly across the entire range of the instrument. This means that it takes the same amount of air pressure to sound hole 1 as it does hole 10. continue reading...

In this streaming radio archive Joe Filisko shares Rare Early Solo Instrumental Blues Harp Recordings. This comes to you via The Archivist (Roger Trobridge) of National Harmonica League: https://www.mixcloud.com/PodKast/

You know that Joe Filisko has video lesson at BluesHarmonica.com, but you may not know that he has blues harmonica study songs (with music notation and recording) at his website http://www.filiskostore.com/category/34192016 for sale. If you like having purpose-written songs for the studying harmonica player, these are invaluable.

Just released today by videographer Mason Dabbag. Thank you for sharing Mason.

Joe Filisko & Eric Noden
Blues In Town - Balu, song for Martin Häffner
http://youtu.be/yXfJEbL1NpI

Joe Filisko and Eric Noden have been busy in the studio creating two new albums that will release in 2015. On the Move by Joe Filisko & Eric Noden and Solid Ground by the Eric Noden Band. Listen to a track from each album here: http://www.rootsduo.com

Curley Fox train imitation lesson with Joe Filisko is now up under the "Train Imitation Study 2 - Artist Studies"

Freeman Stowers Train Imitation Lesson with Joe Filisko is now up under the "Train Imitation Study 2 - Artist Studies"