Slaps
Level 2 - In the lessons, sometimes it seems like the slap is with the chord starting right on the beat with the single note immediately following. Other times it seems like I'm hearing the chord start just before the beat with the transition to the single note occuring right on the beat. Which am I aiming for?
It sounds like everythong should start on the beat but those times when I head the chord portion leading into the single note which occurs on the downbeat, it sounds pretty cool.
The first measure of Temperature, my eight nodes just come out sounding like chords and I'm having a hard time anticipating the indended rhythm for the slap. Please tell me it just takes practice...
Yes, just practice. Also speeding up your slap (moving the tongue faster) helps.
Then practice it will be.
I found the video with you and Joe working on the third chorus very helpful. I think I'm on the right track.
Great
My slaps may be starting to come around. I have found that they come out sounding much better if I am playing quitely - perhaps half the previous volume. It's still audible to anyone in the room, but not like before. Is this cheating and a step in the wrong direction, or am I ok?
Also - is there a recording available of the entire Temperature tune with just the harnonica (no backing track)? This might help me better understand what I am aiming for.
Glad to hear they're sounding better for you. Playing softer is a great idea. It's a good idea to play softer in general, it fixes common issues on the harmonica and gives you greater dynamic range (you can play louder when you want to emphasize a passage, instead of everything always being loud all the time).
There is not just a recording of the harmonica, though you will benefit from watching and listening to me playing it in the video.
Hello bbrown1234. The chord of the slap precedes the intended rhythm. So, if the note is on the downbeat, the chord is just slightly before that downbeat.