Toogdog, it is lake Michigan. One photo is not. I added the photos because I’d lost the video on an earlier Summertime recording. And thanks for the note on teaching style. Kinda winging it but I’ve got some experience in teaching.
Cloves, thanks man. Among other things, I’ve been working on building a more modern sound (like something you’d hear in a hip hop track or 2024 pop song). I played that summertime version at SPAH in Rubin’s variety show. They had an audio issue in the recording, but once that’s fixed I’ll add a link somewhere.
Curly, thanks. I really think there’s room in the harmonica world for beautiful. The harmonica does it VERY well, but generally we end up focusing on more aggressive music. But with the right vibrato, it can be as beautiful as the violin, even without valves.
Since this is a theory post, I’ll say, from a theory standpoint, for blue, rock, and pop, I rely on a pentatonic backbone, but use a ton of chromaticism. For other styles, I take a different approach. But this one is home.
hi Hogie sat down while the misses is getting ready to go out heard you play the Blues. Brilliant mate absolutely loved it. Will listen to the others when I can.
When I’ve got a chance I will listen to your other stuff, you may regret offering to answer questions:rofl: but the style you are playing on the Blues footage is pretty much the style and approach I’m after. On my holiday/ vacation atm so don’t want to upset the misses too much by being on my phone
@Hogie.Harmonica many apologies finally got around to listening and watching these vids. Monday’s are usually a day to chill for me, I was out yesterday afternoon playing with some really good friends who I am very comfortable playing with and was able to vary my style a bit first I did got my mojo working the later Stormy Monday which I was able to pull out some William Clarke licks the band were blown away saying how much better I was getting which I put down to this site. As for the vids! Very cool, love your Blues style, and that’s literally were I want to be with my own style, fantastic!
The More modern stuff was amazing my wife listened with me and there are points when the harp doesn’t sound like a harp but sounds like a violin. And the cute factor with the kids running in at the end, she said it reminds her of my self with the grandkids.
That last vid with the ins and outs of the Trochillus/ Game changer I loved the tune and the playing and the stuff about the harp was interesting. I’m not sure now whether I’ll buy one as I’m in the process of getting another couple of Chromonicas any way so do you think it would be worth the outlay cost wise if I’ve already got a bunch? Any way Id just like to say again what an amazing player you are looking forward to hearing more in the future.
Thanks man, appreciate the listens. I’m trying to put myself out there more. Working on “What a Wonderful World” in 12th position (on the low end!) and looking forward to sharing that.
As for the Trochilus, yes I think they are well worth the cost. Lots of reasons but I’ll sound like an ad if I list them.
Short version: if learning to overblow, this helps. Gets the lines “under your fingers” and in your ear, which helps when you try to OB instead. Or, if you already overblow, these give you two ways to play nearly every note. No other harp does that (unless you have Bill Barrett level skills with valved bends). Plus it gives you twice as many bends as a regular blues harp.
They do catch facial hair - so if you have a beard it might be good to wax or trim. I don’t have facial hair so I don’t have good advice on this.
I got rid of my beard, as several of my harps became barbers tools, blunt ones at that.
I have a Lucky 13 Power Bender that bends on every note, I doctored it a bit as it rattled where the harp rests on like a stanchion I made some paper gaskets that stopped it. And I took out those horrible wind savers that buzz.
I will look forward to hearing What a Wonderful world in 12 position (blimey!) the most I play position wise thus far is up to 4th, I play mostly blues stuff the West Coast style and the Chicago style so rarely go beyond 4th but I have heard that quite a few blues players could play all sorts of positions
@Hogie.Harmonica great playing! thanks for sharing these links. Love your playing. Love the dynamics, and the feeling is just wonderful!!!
Those your 2 sons in the Something Beautiful vid? What a wonderful surprise! Also, great to find another point of overlap, I’m also very interested in harmonica in other genres, especially hip hop. I had a blues rap duo called Nowelo, we put out a self-titled EP, and that’s what got me into a friendship with Lee Oskar, but that project dissolved right before I started working with Harmonica.com in 2019. I’m also a producer / mix engineer and I’ve got some projects I’m trying to finish up this year so that I can clear the decks and get back to exploring that harmonica/hip hop kind of sounds.
I think @Luke may have said it and he was bang on the money the best way of learning the Blues is to use you ears. But I would add that you need to start at the earliest harp recordings you can find, some of the guys have posted some wonderful train stuff on here, I used to do it years ago then I stopped big mistake! Since returning to doing the train I have gained a better understanding of breath control, timing and a whole lot of things like the lore behind it adding different horn sounds that had different meanings that has expanded my knowledge tremendously. @davidkachalon has done a fantastic post on this very subject which has been invaluable, I would also check out his vid on Vamping and SuperVamping if you want to play blues they helped me a ton. I’ve been playing for 30 years but there’s still stuff I’m learning
I don’t listen to any of it. I rarely list en to the radio. Everything thing is text.
I understand timing. I just over blow right through it. Like learning the twelve bar blues. After I understand the material. Then comes timing.
I’ve had so much friction involved. I had to learn and adapt. Steel reeds, and pointing into the storm. There’s a lot of friction where I hangout. ‘Kind of funny.
Frustration? Frustrating? Beauty, I close my eye’s. Absorb the sound.
but the style you are playing on the Blues footage is pretty much the style and approach I’m after. On my holiday/ vacation atm so don’t want to upset the misses too much by being on my phone
