Re: [Harp-L] harmonica playalong tracks

"John Dekker" <jdekker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> · Sat, 9 Apr 2011 06:53:44 -0700

Great post. Thank you.
-----Original Message----- 
From: Suave Blues Man

Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2011 1:34 AM

To: philharpn@xxxxxxx ; harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx

Subject: Re: [Harp-L] harmonica playalong tracks
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