Hello everyone. I am a new member, though have been following the forum for about a year. I live in Oxfordshire, England.
I play harmonica and a few other instruments with varying degrees of competency. I really don't consider myself a master of any. I'm not really a blues player, but I love listening to the blues, especially when harmonicas are present. I like to think I take some influence from blues harp, and I have learnt a lot from some of you guys.
I write my own stuff and record it at home using an 8-track multi-recorder, Most of it is based around the harmonica, with some tracks purely harmonica multi-tracked. Some of my stuff is on you tube here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Greenoharmonica
The two most harmonica based songs I do on Youtube are called "The Bumping of Gums and "Rhinestone Emptiness". I will post the videos as soon as I can get my 14 year old son off Facebook for 5 minutes to show me how!
(Apologies to all you blues harpers for one track which contains a dylanesqe puff-and-blow style. It suited the song.)
I forgot to add that I would love some feedback if possible. I don't mind whether you love or hate it - I'm fairly thick-skinned, and realise my playing has a long way to go. Any advice would be greatfully recieved.
Greetings from another newbie. Hope you don't mind a rank amateur lurking about. I picked up my first harp about 42 years ago. Can' t say I ever really learned to play with any great proficiency. However, it kept me company as I walked a route as a letter carrier for US Post Office. Eventually went to college, pursued career etc.... Got to point where some musician friends would let me sit in when they were really drunk or had just returned from a day of heavy demolitions by explosive and were unable to hear anything. Pretty much forgot about harps for 35 years although always kept a few around even if I did only pull them out every few years when in Key West and totally at one with my tequila consciousness.
Fast forward 35 years.... And did I mention I indulged in abusing the most harmful drug man has ever abused, TOBACCO, all those years.
So here I am, 4 years tobacco free, after decades of self abuse, with the lasting memory of my addiction in the form of COPD, trying to reconnect with my musical yearnings and get some great respiratory therapy at the same time. Bought a few Lee Oskars, found Adam's website and got excited. Trying to learn properly, and have already learned some basic stuff that eluded me in the past.
Oh yeah, I have also agreed to play with one of those real musician friends from my past, in a local charity talent show, in January. Need to find or discover a basic 12 bar blues that will get me through this with the least embarassment possible. I am told we will be doing a song called " Back to LA" which I Have not been able to find anywhere but I am told it is a lot like " Sweet Home Chicago". I guess I will find out at first rehearsal....itis only ONE song I need to get through.
So that is what got me here..... And just scanning the threads I am inspired to, as Adam says in his first video of the beginner series which I downloaded, , practice practice practice.... and I am having fun doing it.
So, thanks for allowing me to look over your shoulder as I lurk and learn from the Forum community, AND if anyone has some good basic 12 bar blues tabs that may help me save face ( They want me to open it with a solo 12 bars that will kick off the number). There will be about 5 pieces plus female vocalist.
Good "meeting" everyone. Again, thanks for letting me look over your shoulder.
Hello, Judge. Welcome from the 2nd newest member. I guess you haven't had any other responses because you tacked your greeting to this post when it was already fairly old. My guess is that if you start a new post to introduce yourself again you'll get a few more welcomes.
Everyone - I'm new forum membership, and my son has just told me that its bad form to insert lots of videos in one post. And come to think of it - I have never seen a post with more than one. If I have crossed any etiquette-based line, my apologies. It won't happen again. ---------- Greeno
Last Edited by on Oct 27, 2011 1:58 AM
@Greeno. I had a listen to your stuff, I liked it!
I actually live in London now but I do still play with a band in Oxford – The Knights Of Mentis. You can find us here: http://www.myspace.com/theknightsofmentis
The recordings are a bit old and rough, and I think there's only a couple of songs on there with harmonica on, but you get the idea...
@Harmonicanick I can't make it as I am away. I've been trying to go for the last 3 years and always had something on. Next year for sure!
@Greeno, I just listened to "Bumping of Gums". Nice work, you have a nice voice, and a nice light touch on the harp with good tone. Your vocals though, are buried in the mix and it gets in the way of the story you're telling with your lyrics. I suggest ducking the instruments a bit during the vocal passages, but also putting more muscle in the vocal track, first by backing off on the reverb. When you sing, I notice reverb as an effect separate from your voice; I can hear why you used it, but I think it's too much and getting in the way.
Last Edited by on Nov 01, 2011 6:24 PM
