Re: [Harp-L] harmonica playalong tracks

["Suave Blues Man" <res6k2zt@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Brothers & Sisters of Harp,

    Go here, log on and listen. (Contribute, eh?) 
http://harmonicaboogie.com/ Select "Backing Tracks"

    You can especially use the 'slow down' feature of Windows Media Player 
or the Amazing Slow Downer program from http://ronimusic.com/ or the free 
version at -
http://softluv.com/amazing-slow-downer/.

    Pick a riff and go over it as many times as you can so that it becomes 
"Muscle memory". Use YOUTUBE to find programs by Gussow, Ricci, Ronnie 
Shellist, and anybody else you take a liking to and play your heart out. 
Remember that it just doesn't come "naturally". Clean playing, single note 
production and blusifying play come from understanding that a single note is 
what you make of it as well as how you make the note. ( 
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/myquill/ , and others.)

    See the intro for Rick Estrin - http://www.filmbaby.com/films/3717

    Make yourself a 'playlist' of the tunes you like to hear and resources 
available. Such as:

     1. Juke - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiGpv-UeiDI and see how the 
tab compares. Tab at - http://www.celticguitarmusic.com/juke1.htm (Tbanks to 
the link at - http://www.coast2coastmusic.com/general/tablature.shtml )

     2. If You Want To Get To Heaven by The Ozark Mountain Daredevils - 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WZNOaKbYtA&feature=related and the 
associated help at - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYjxwdVbv6Y

     3. "Chugging" tunes. These build up your diaphragm strength. Some of 
them are - "Mystery Train" by the Paul Butterfirls Blues Band - 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_eE0NPArEY (These are just recommendations 
and not saying that the noted artists are the originators or that these 
tunes are exclusive to the artists presented. Everybody knows that this was 
also an Elvis tune - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_eE0NPArEY , a Junior 
Parker tune - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK-qJhKY5R0&feature=related as 
well as others. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V25iA2XPzuA - I Got My Mojo 
Workin.)Jimi Lee has a great one called "Working Too Hard".

     4. Lists of tunes and artists - (Courtesy of David Barrett's Harmonica 
Masterclass. Thank you David!) 
http://www.harmonicamasterclass.com/artist_listing.htm Note - The keys of 
the harps used...Hey, you can get off to a good start or you can search for 
a long time!

     5. Find a local harmonica club like - http://ww.hoottexas.com/ and 
attend meetings. Or a national club like SPAH, http://www.spah.org/ or 
National Harmonica League, http://harmonica.co.uk/

     6. Get together with other players and jam, work out tunes and learn 
from one another.

     7. Contact the performers themselves' if necessary. You'd be surprised 
at the responses you get! Don't be a fool in the questions you want 
answered. You CAN get a lot of help from Harp-L, HarpTalk and other 
resources BEFORE you have to break down and write to you favorite artist(s).

     8. Find a good vendor and a good repair person. Learn the brands and 
what makes and models are out there.

     9. Blues radio, such as - http://knon.org/blues . You can listen five 
nights a week. There's an iPad app for learning. 
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/harmonica/id290205952?mt=8 Cable TV sometimes 
has selections for Blues and other genres.

    10. Instruction DVD's are available all over the place. Mark Hummel, 
Rick Etrin, Jimi Lee, the late Norton Buffalo, John Sebastian (Through - 
http://www.homespuntapes.com/Instruments/Harmonica as well as other 
performers.

    11. Harmonica Sessions - http://harmonicasessions.com/

    12. Tabs. http://www.harptabs.com/
                    http://www.harmonica.com/Harmonica_Tabs.html
                    http://www.harmonicalessons.com/tabs.html
                    http://www.harptab.com/
                    http://www.coast2coastmusic.com/general/tablature.shtml
                    http://www.harmonicacountry.com/
                    http://www.volcano.net/~jackmearl/
                    http://download-sheet-music-online.com/harmonica.html
                    http://www.jt30.com/jt30page/instruct1-0.html

    And this is as short a list as I could come up with for right now! 
Diatonic or chromatic there's no end to the instrument or your ability to 
play.

    Support your instrument, the artists and the genre. We may not all 
become famous but we can have a heck of a nice time while we're playing!

Be Blues...And Jazz,

Suave Blues Man

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <philharpn@xxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, April 08, 2011 10:23 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] harmonica playalong tracks


> If you need some motivation to get you going after the winter thaw,  check 
> out some of these Hal Leonard books. In addition to these harmonica 
> titles, there are other varieties that might prove interesting and using 
> for your listening pleasure and advancement. This series also includes the 
> slowdown software program (if you don't already have one) so you can slow 
> the songs down without changing pitch.
>
> http://www.musicdispatch.com/search/search.do?menuid=4821&seriesfeature=&subsiteid=111
>
> hope this clears up matters
> Phil