User Account
Sign me up!
The low monthly subscription of $16.95 gives you full access! We accept major credit cards and PayPal.
Free Sample Lessons
After watching the BluesHarmonica.com overview video, try one of the lessons below to experience a lesson at BluesHarmonica.com.
- Tongue Blocking Study 2 – This study is for the newer player or the player new to tongue blocking
- Bending Study 5 – This is for the advanced player looking to improve their bending skills
Comments
Congratulations
Congratulations!
Congratulations
Congratulations - awesome playing throughout!
Congratulations
Way to go Ben. A well developed and played piece of music. Your distinct style came through. Best wishes for success in Trossingen!
congratulations
Really good tune and performance! I'll be in Trossingen and I hope to meet you there and I'm looking forward to your performance! Congratulations on your playing and composing.
Congratulations Ben! Mihail
Congratulations Ben!
Mihail
Congratulations!!!
Have fun in Trossingen!
Judging
CH1 - Head / great tone and technique / cool use of the 2 blow 13th/6th
CH2 - Nice V-IV-I
CH3 - I recommend you delete this chorus (nice side-flutter though)
CH4 - Great main lick w/1OB
CH5 - Good use of 5 draw octave substitution of the 2" in previous chorus / I would of liked to hear more Chorus Form usage here
CH6 - Nice start, but the rest of the chorus is not well worked out
CH7 - Head w/Variation / great V-IV-I and bars 11-12 usage to build to next chorus
CH8 - Head w/Variation / nice ending
Very strong playing with a nice head. The root note, though a comforting note in this light feel, is played too often. The body of the instrumental will benefit greatly from some thought on flow... deleting CH3... using more melodic repetitive devices in CH5-6... maybe some thought on focus note usage. This instrumental can be a real show-stopper with some reworking. Great playing, thanks for participating!
Lee's comments
Hi There,
Terrific!
Man the harp sounds sweet as hell, perfectly in tune. Listen to those reeds sing! One of yours I'm guessing? You can really tell this is a custom harp. Anyone who questions the value of having a set of in tune harps should listen to this. It's an instant edge. I totally dig your vibrato, the throaty note at 0:26 is killer. That's the kind of sound that made me want to play the harp.
The melody is catchy and plays to the strengths of the harmonica with dynamics, swirling notes and octaves. Lot's of lovely 'rewind' moments for example the tongue switch at 1.03.
What advice to offer here....hmmmm...seems ridiculous to say anything....if I was being super critical, the closing phrase is a little rushed, perhaps you start it too early (3.14) i.e. before the tune had resolved to the 1. The only other aspect is may be use some more intervals rather than playing sequentially. You don't leap between holes too often. So e.g. 3d to 6b or the 5b to the 3d*. Or ending licks by going up or down an octave. But as I said this is being super critical. This is a great cut and I really enjoyed it.
Lee
Sweet!
Awesome acoustic harp and love the hand effects and vibrato. Also, there are some really cool changes of pace and feel that keep it fresh. Sweet!
Steve's comments
Very nice head melody. Good idea to play it in a couple of variations before moving into the impro. Strong hand effects & nice acoustic tone. Also good tonal variation. Played with assurance. The impro is interesting and varied, introducing new melodic and rhythmic elements each time around but staying in relation to the theme. Nice use of 1hole OB around 1:20. I found the trills on the IV chord around 2:10 a little jarring, everything else was so embedded in the harmonic structure. I also think the timing could have used a little more punch but overall excellent.
The master and the student!!
Like the old times in Harmonicaboogie.com my friend...how you doing? i hope fine...
your song is amazing. the tone, phrasing, ideas...
Take care,
Erwin
So that's how the pros do it!
Great tone, great tune, great sound.
So many interesting rhythms, hand effects, and "note shapings"
I really enjoyed listening to this.
Hats off!
Hats off to Mr Ben Bouman! I've seen your name here and there but this is the first time I've heard your playing. Great stuff- I'd love to see you play live!
Sweet. That's a very well
Sweet. That's a very well constructed melody. You have a nice warm tone, good vibrato, and very effective wah wah hand effects. I like how you tastefully snuck in some hole 1 overblows. Excellent.
Oh dear!
Good to hear that classic "Beta Ben" tone! - very smooth and professional Ben. You certainly set a high standard and give me something to shoot for. Well done and thanks
Hi Hank.. thanks!! I often
Hi Hank.. thanks!! I often play rhumbas during my courses because it makes people aware on focussing on rhythm..
and I like rhumbas a lot!!
Ben Bouman
No audio
Hi Ben!
In the interest of fair play, you "beta" upload the mp3 as well :-) Probably, you hit "save" button without "upload" button before that and now there is no audio in your submission.
Mihail
Hi Mihail.. I did hit the
Hi Mihail..
I did hit the save button and I saw the upload appearing on the screen. So, it should work. I already contacted the website owner ( David?) to see what went wrong. I'll wait on an answer and maybe i'll have to upload it again..
thx for telling me,
Ben