Here is my YouTube video. I'm looking for suggestions or constructive criticism on how I can better my acoustic playing. Thanks! cliffy
Thanks, guys! I agree with all your suggestions, actually, and I am going to look up Tony Glover and check out Paul Lamb's videos.
What I played was just made up as I went along. It was really a collections of riffs I have learned and made up, sort of connected and strung together. A couple of times I stumbled in transitioning from one idea to another. I did get a little tongue-tied and lost my place with the beat a few times as well.
I really appreciate the feedback, because among my circle of friends, I'm the only serious harmonica player. They just say everything I play sounds great and I am looking for real objective feedback and advice rather than just blind praise. :)
PS I just edited the main post rather than replying, because I could not get the captcha to work.
Last Edited by on Mar 06, 2012 5:11 AM
My advice would be to go back, slow down, and work on clarity. The in/out chugs are a bit muddled in places. And the transitions in and out of the chug are not smooth. Those places seem to be where you loose your hold of the beat. Slow it down then speed it back up as you can smoothly transition in and out of your chugs.
Now with that having been said I rather like that bit at 1:52 to 2:00 minutes but that is a good example of what I am talking about. The exit from that bit gets a bit awkward.
I can't criticise your playing because I couldn't do that but it seems to me you have the techniques OK and just more practice will take off the rough edges. You seemed to go through the motions of getting the pops at about 1:11 but they weren't quite there. Once again with practice I reckon you'll crack it before too long. Good to hear you cliffy.
Just as a side note. I expect you've played this better but with the camera on the old nerves kick in. ----------
Last Edited by on Mar 05, 2012 1:01 PM
Yeah, I think you've got the right idea & execution there. I agree that the ins & outs need work and about how to get there. Jus' jammin' on that kinda stuff should help. May I suggest that you also focus on your expressivess, and incorporate some harder accents on some downbeats...?
Also, if you haven't already, you may wanna give a listen to some of Walter Tore's stuff on SpontoBeat, if you can find his country style stuff (particularly for his expressiveness). Also, I highly recommend another disciple of Sonny Terry: a guy named Tony "Little Son" Glover. His stuff with "Koerner,Ray, and Glover" has alotta the style yer after. It's available used online. The album entitled "Blues,Rags and Hollers", or "The Return of Koerner,Ray, and Glover" would be good listening for you. BTW, have you seen the Sonny Terry Licks teaching book with accompanying CD?
Last Edited by on Mar 05, 2012 2:03 PM
Just kidding, good effort. Yeah, could use some polish. Paul Lamb has some excellent youtube tutorials on Sonny, check them out. IMHO every serious harp player should study Sonny Terry first.
