I am stuck as to how he builds the loop after the intro. I know he beatboxes, but I can't tell if he is "harpboxing" or using the studio for help. It sounds like there is some chugging right on top of the "drum" part.
I've tried several approaches to harpboxing the loop, but it never sounds right. I guess the quick chugs at the end of the loop throw me most. It is driving me nuts as I have the rest of the song figured out (my timing on the stops is sloppy yet), but I can get through the whole song.
I can only play the right loop if I beatbox first and then add the chugs. Obviously, the "bass" part is looped after the "drums" and harp. However, at the intro, and in the middle of the tune, I swear it sounds like it is harpboxed. From what I can tell, on this album, most of the songs were build live...however, there are times where "drums" and "bass" come in at that same time, which is probably impossible live.
Any help? Thanks! I got Guilty and Brokedown Lincoln down this week after a Low Bb came from our friend Jim! ---------- Mike Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
Hmm. After a quick listen it doesn't sound that complex to me. You can combine several "drum" strokes with chords or single notes.
I might be wrong, but to me it sounds like he's using similar effect I use here, the beat being of course totally different (skip to 2:15).
There are several sexy snares you can combine with a chug or a single note. The "handclap snare" can actually be used nicely with a draw chord. But sounds like here he's using a more regular "k-snare" with a chug. Different kick drums can also be easily combined with chugging, as you probably know.
And sorry if I'm repeating things you do already know. Hope it helps.
That video is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Super ballsy. Way sweet!
Yeah, I am not anywhere even remotely close to that level of harpboxing. I can do most of the beatboxing on the Son of Dave albums, and I have a decent ear for the rhythm harp playing, but I do NOT have a good ear for harpboxing.
It sounds like, and I am probably way off, that there is beat boxing into the harmonica and then there is super fast switching between beatboxing and specific chugging.
For example, the S.O.D. song Hellhound sounds like him beatboxing into the harmonica for part of the intro. In the first half of your video, it sounded like there was a lot of beatbox-harp-beatbox, etc.
Am I on the right track? To put it into perspective, I've been noodling with a looper for about a year and have only recently started using it formally. I bet I started the beatboxing thing about 3-4 months ago (got the basics really solid with some alterations of sounds), and started trying to harpbox 2-3 months ago.
I've performed solo a few times in public now and have stuck with easier pieces where I can limit the harpboxing and rely mostly on looping and using an octave pedal to create a bass line.
I tried emailing you through your site, but the address didn't work. Shoot me a line at mikefugazzi AT gmail DOT com if you'd be so kind! ---------- Mike Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
