This "fast country harmonica" video is based on background country harmonica music I heard on a Book-On-Tape ("Charles Kuralt's America"), augmented by Hill Country Harmonica 2012 lessons from Todd Parrott (the "country licks" workshop) and Phil Wiggins (his afternoon group talk / chugging demonstration).
(I *wish* I could have recorded it without the headphones / metronome, but DAMN in all my takes without a metronome, I kept speeding up on the easy sections and slowing down when it got difficult.)
it was too funny! i came back from HCH3 and my band was recording the next weekend. and there was this acoustic slightly funky song where i was not happy with the rhythm vamps i was coming up with before. they just weren't working. suddenly i realized that that the "wind chop" vamp that phil taught us in the afternoon session was PERFECT... so i asked for a breaK and in 20 minutes had it tight enough to do. the thing about it was that i had never started a rhythm vamp with a blow... and that made all the diference in the rhythm and the texture. i even did that little roll phil showed us! so awesome to have this immediate payback for what was such a great weekend anyway. i love your playing todd!!! how long did ti take you to put that all together?
TO KINGOBAD: Thanks Danny! Yes, I find that my playing improves when I actually practice ... whether or not I manage to retain this new-found habit remains to be seen!
TO LITTLEONION: Impressive to hear that it took you only 20 minutes to get the rhythm vamp down--it took me over a week! As for how long it took to put this together, well, I've been working on it ever since HCH. For one, I've recently switched from lip-pursing to tongue-blocking, so I'm still in that awkward transition stage where things that used to be simple are now "new," and take more time. Also, one of the most time-consuming aspects was finding an arrangement that "worked" for me. (I originally had it based on Todd Parrott's "Country Lick #1," with the "Kuralt's America" section as a "B" section ... it took a bit of experimenting until I was happy with the way each section was placed in its current order.)
TO THE ICEMAN: Yes, an excellent bang for the buck!
yes i will second that... or is it third that... HCH# was an amazing bang-for buck!!!! @todd parrott, i am still slowly slowly moving toward a manageable squeak that is starting to sound like a 6 OB on that prewar G!! i guess she is moving at her own speed. i will just put in the time necessary. i didn't realize how much of a downward stream the OB requires!! almost straight down form a slightly puckered embouchere? and i am still in awe of your amazing grace!!!
I've had a couple private lessons (Skype) with Todd Parrott. It is a constructive and entertaining experience. I wanted some of that country influence as sort of a condiment to my playing, and Todd provides that perspective as well as being a fine blues player and instructor in the mechanics (if that's the right word) of harmonica playing. Some of the exercises he showed me helped me construct my dazzling rendition of the national anthem. One-on-one time with Todd is a good investment.
