There's a very interesting video on learntheharmonica.com of Liam Ward interviewing Magic Dick in London after a show. It is a tad over 20 minutes long and is well worth checking out . Magic Dick is very thoughtful and compelling about why and how he listens to his heroes - Little Walter & both Sonny Boys - and about the lessons he continues to learn about the harp after playing at the highest level for over 50 years.
He gives a shout-out to Barbeque Bob about what he considers "the secret" of playing soft and developing breath control. It sure made me rethink how I'm gonna practice & play from here on out. Nice job Liam. And thanks to the great Magic Dick for all the insights.
Last Edited by Sundancer on Apr 29, 2017 7:03 PM
What Dick is saying is EVERYTHING that I've been telling harp players for YEARS, but most of them are often too hard headed to understand it. I've known him for a long time. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
So here we have one of the most iconic harp players of all time, and it does not generate A conversation on a forum dedicated to harmonica. In the 70’s we would have killed To have a conversation with the man himself.
I recall a thread here where we discussed using an amp at home. I floated the idea of “not” using an amp At home to practice. It went over like a lead balloon. But listen to what he says here approx 3 minute 30 sec mark. Regarding a mic and an amp
I also like what he says at the 16:13 mark, about thinking and playing. I have a good friend, I bet I have told him a 100 times…. Don’t think! ……At least try not to.
Who the hell is liam?......... Is he from the band oasis?
Last Edited by 1847 on Apr 28, 2017 11:09 AM
Certainly not from Oasis, Liam Ward is a British harmonica player and teacher. He has a very good web site called "learntheharmonica.com" with interviews with other harp players including a couple with Adam. sorry but I don't know how to post links on here, I'll have to find out, as I don't like not knowing.
Only in harp circles can we utter the words Magic Dick in normal conversation. He's the main reason I got interested in harp.I like the fact that even after 50 years,he is still learning and evolving. Great interview!
1847- Id like to do a thread count on gear vs on actually learning to play the damn thing.I'll bet gear wins 10 to 1.
Last Edited by Tuckster on Apr 28, 2017 11:52 AM
This interview is absolutely awesome and something I think all aspiring harp players should hear. This community with it's sages like BARBEQUEBOB is fantastic.
Tuckster - you made me laugh! I told my wife about the interview with Magic Dick and she looked at me real funny at first.
I share 1847's bemusement that the wisdom of Magic Dick on playing didn't get much response, and I concur on the wager you suggested. 10 to 1 minimum. 20 to 1 if ya remove overblows from the "learning to play the damned thing" posts.
Barbeque Bob - as they'd say Down Under, "you are a legend & a champion".
Last Edited by Sundancer on Apr 28, 2017 2:20 PM
A big part of the problem why what Magic Dick says isn't getting much response is that the cold, hard, brutal truth be told, in almost every harp forum where it is dominated by diatonic harp players (I HATE the European term calling them all blues harp players, so that makes me very old school because that assumes all diatonic players are good at blues, which is NOT true at all), you get tons of responses for two things, soloing and gear, things they THINK will make them better harp players/musicians, but truthfully, NEVER WILL and most of them will never have the guts to admit it. What he says is much like what I've said, basically not just trying to teach harp players to better harp players, but better MUSICIANS overall, and kill every damned negative stereotype around it but again, many harp players are just too goddamned hard headed to understand it and the constant response from those who ignore it is often, "it's only me," but that response can be multiplied by 10K and so then they constantly leave a negative impression of themselves and then they're the first to wonder why their sorry behinds get dissed so often. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
I am not so sure little walter did not have a favorite mic or amp. But then again, when he was plying his trade in the early fifties, it was the golden era of microphones and amplifiers.
If I could walk into a club when it was common to have a 1949 black label controlled reluctance shure mic, into a 40 watt all tube pa or something similar, who would be too particular about their harp rig?
I think the very first thing an aspiring harp player should do is buy the best mic. And amp they can afford. It will take less than thirty sec. to drive everyone in ear shot completely bonkers, and in 15 minutes or less they will be bored stiff. Then they can put the mic down and work on actually playing the harmonica.then they will have a great mic. And amp on hand that they can plug into, any time their heart desires.
it's a really good interview. he's lucid and articulate about topics that are elusive and difficult to articulate. I liked "excursion of the reed in the slot" WRT to tone and soft breath control and resonance, great stuff. expect a revelation every day. Love it.
---------- 4' 4+ 3' 2~~~ -Mike Ziemba Harmonica is Life!
Last Edited by slaphappy on Apr 30, 2017 8:49 PM
Trust and Believe I've been listening to you folks (especially Bob.) Who have been saying these things to me since day 1. The proof is in the pudding.... Not to toot my own horn, but I think my playing isn't half bad for the time put in. And it's all because I didn't have to waste 20 years figuring it out, like so many of you did. I took the sage advice and I've been working it from the start.
Now I still like to BS about gear and whatnot. It's fun. That's the Toys part. The gadgets and things. But there are 2 kinds of players imo. Those who buy into the BS we throw around about gear and think that they have to have such n such amp/mic to sound good. And those who get their harp chops up and know the gear is just for fun. Ofcourse certain gear sounds better than others. But if you ve got killer acoustic skills .... you pretty well off on nearly anything.
I like Magic Dick's reference to the average player being "loud and blaring" aswell. Dynamics is what it's all about.
Liam says it best in the video. " Shit in, shit out."
Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on May 01, 2017 3:09 PM
MD and Whammer really got me into wanting to learn the harp. This is a great video. While I do have an amp and mic now both forum recommended here I believe Killa, the Pyle Pro mic and the Blackstar Fly 3. I've only played harp through it twice. I mostly hook my phone up and listen to various blues harp players but I like the versatility of it and know I'll grow into it. I chose Suzuki Bluesmaster harps because alot allot of reviews said they sounded quieter. Having a newborn that was key for me. The fact I try to play quiet most of the time has been because of the great advice by Dick and others on here, to aspiring harpists. The harp community itself is one of the real gems of learning harp. Not many other musicians of other instruments are as welcoming to newcomers as harp players are.
This is now my second favorite version of "Blues With A Feeling"...after Little Walter's version, of course.
I have seen Magic Dick perform with J. Geils in Bluestime back in '94.
Even though he is well know for being one of the best (if not the best) rock harmonica players (if you really want to call J. Geils Band just rock), he is a great blues harmonica player, as his work in Bluestime shows.
Before J. Geils Band got recorded, they were entirely a straight-ahead blues band. The drummer Dick had with the Blues Time outfit, Steve Ramsay, a good friend of mine, is one of THE very best blues drummers I've ever gigged with. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
i have been listening to the record, "full house " all week long, on my way home from work. what a powerful recording. It has some of the best recorded harmonica anywhere. his lines are just perfect, and it has such a glorious tone.
happy birthday... let me hear you dickie... i'll get down to it.
