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Rock Harmonica Lessons

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HarpNinja 3774 posts Feb 18, 2014 7:51 PM	I've wanted to do this for a couple of years and am finally forcing myself to: ---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog
Chris L 34 posts Feb 18, 2014 8:43 PM	Hi Mike! I'm intrigued by what I've heard so far. I enjoyed your perspective and presentation, and I'm looking forward to your series! Thanks in advance!
SmokeJS 226 posts Feb 19, 2014 3:50 AM	Good start. As an injured guitar player turned into a wannabe harp player in progress I've no problem with the theory in this video. My main source of harp instruction has been David Barrett books so I've spent some time applying that theory to practical application on the harp. My issue is improving my dexterity on the harp. I think your lessons could be very helpful based on the approach you've outlined. One thing I've noticed about many harp players is that theory is often not a strong point. Hopefully you can find and retain an audience. Keep posting your videos here and you can count me in.
HarpNinja 3777 posts Feb 19, 2014 5:25 AM	I 100x agree with you, SmokeJS. My hope is to start deceptively simple and get more complex as the series goes. The next vid will review the minor pent, major pent, and Mixolydian. Then we'll look at those scales on the high end. The first step is understanding that you can use the whole harp in cross harp to play most rock music without having to worry about avoid tones. That in and of itself if a huge door to open for a player. I can't decide if I want to add annotations, use charts in front of the camera, or create free PDF's to go along with the lessons and host them on my website. If I do the PDF's, which are the most work, I could use them for MANY things. ---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog
KingoBad 1429 posts Feb 19, 2014 6:10 AM	Very nice job, Mike! I look forward to more! ---------- Danny
gmacleod15 233 posts Feb 19, 2014 7:20 AM	Mike, I also look forward to your series. Just a note about creating pdf files. As long as what you are trying to present is on a computer the process to create a pdf file can be simple. There is an application called CutePDF (free) that you install that esentially acts like a printer, except that when you hit "print" the image is exported as a pdf file instead of printing a page. Hope that helps. ---------- MBH member since 2009-03-24
HarpNinja 3778 posts Feb 19, 2014 9:35 AM	What if I put the vids and writings in a blog? Thanks for all the kind words!!! ---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog
MindTheGap 285 posts Feb 19, 2014 10:49 AM	The blog format looks ideal. These days e.g. in WordPress, you can add static pages, menus and make it a full mini website, and have the ease of the blog format too. So you wouldn't necessarily have to put all the notes in PDF anyway. ---------- MTG
HarpNinja 3779 posts Feb 19, 2014 11:33 AM	I purchased a URL that will lead to a blogger page...will take a bit to update, but I think I can work on it with the Blogger app too, so should be manageable??? ---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog
HarpNinja 3780 posts Feb 19, 2014 12:05 PM	I threw this together over lunch... harmonicarocklessons.blogspot.com Eventually, the URL will be harmonicarock.com and that will redirect to that blog. Rock harmonica was taken on both, so "harmonica rock", it is! ---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog
nacoran 7542 posts Feb 19, 2014 12:53 PM	Cool. I usually lean more towards the rock end of the blues spectrum. Looking forward to your videos. :) ---------- Nate Facebook Thread Organizer (A list of all sorts of useful threads)
HarpNinja 3781 posts Feb 19, 2014 1:35 PM	I always eat lunch while catching up on the computer...I am a pro at eating on the run, lol. I got a lot of work to do, but I want it to be simple from the start...working on some key concepts broadly, and then refining so people can noodle right away. ---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog Rock Lessons
orphan 314 posts Feb 19, 2014 1:53 PM	This sounds like fun! Thanks Mike. ----------
Mirco 110 posts Feb 20, 2014 11:15 AM	Good blog. I originally wanted to play harp because of guys like Mick Jagger or Steven Tyler. I think rock harp sounds great. There aren't a lot of rock harp teachers. So I had to go with blues harmonica instruction. And while learning blues harp will give anyone a solid foundation to any musical style, I feel like I've moved away from my original purpose. Thanks for reminding me why I play harmonica.
JInx 747 posts Mar 10, 2014 2:35 PM	I don't you find it much in your rock but we hear it all the time in the who and stonesy kind of rock---the suspended 4th Maybe you do something on that in our rock lessons? I know I could use some demo from that angle ---------- Sun, sun, sun Burn, burn, burn Soon, soon, soon Moon, moon, moon Last Edited by JInx on Mar 10, 2014 2:35 PM
HarpNinja 3814 posts Mar 10, 2014 3:05 PM	Suspended 4ths are jumping the gun a bit. I will do the rest of the Mixolydian scale for harp tonight and give some examples. ---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog Rock Harmonica Lessons Last Edited by HarpNinja on Mar 10, 2014 3:05 PM
HarpNinja 3815 posts Mar 10, 2014 7:26 PM	I recorded over an hour's worth of material tonight ranging from playing all ten holes to how to start jamming on holes 6-10 to how to add dynamics to holes 6-10 to how to resolve improved licks on holes 6-10. I even hinted at some tips for speed playing. I did everything with just a few ideas I wanted to touch on and it is funny how you can see me tire out from the first lesson to the last, lol. Off to bed! Lesson number two is processing. I will post three yet this week and save the last three for a bit. ---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog Rock Harmonica Lessons
HarpNinja 3816 posts Mar 10, 2014 7:52 PM	---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog Rock Harmonica Lessons
SmokeJS 234 posts Mar 11, 2014 3:35 AM	Another good lesson. Music theory is not an issue for me so your quick paced, brief discussion is easily understood. Hoping you don't lose part of your audience as my experience is many harp players, even good players, aren't familiar with basic theory let alone chord constructuon and modes. But as a new-to-harmonica player struggling with blues phrasing I think you're going to help me a lot even though my goal is to sound more bluesy not less.
HarpNinja 3817 posts Mar 11, 2014 6:30 AM	Right now, the point is to not over think the theory part, which is why I continually say I am "oversimplifying" things in the videos. Hopefully a few blues players are able to start adding in a few extra notes in the lower two octaves and can now start exploring some jamming in the top octave. I do move to more intermediate-type advice in the next couple videos. Bascially, I am just shooting from the hip besides knowing I am going to talk about the high end of the harp at this point. I am going to load some top octave Mixolydian playing in the next week as an example of how it sounds over a blues. After getting threw some action patterns in the next set of vids, I'll get into some third position stuff and then start talking more basic theory of how the scales work and why - including following blues harmony. After that will be Major playing and the overlap between Mixolydian and minor playing...that will require some theory as well. I want to do some "song studies" between lessons, but I am running into two problems. 1.) I am not sure how fair use really works with copyrighted music like jam tracks. 2.) The only way I know how to record to a jam track is through a DAW into Audacity, so no video. ---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog Rock Harmonica Lessons
Seven.Oh.Three. 278 posts Mar 11, 2014 12:40 PM	Mike, I just saw this thread and am eager to get the first two lessons under my belt. I've learned a lot from youtube "classes" like this. The only thing that would make them more accessible if there was a way to download them. Most my practicing happens on the go or in my car and streaming becomes tedious. I'd even pay per download.... not sure if others feel the same way or not. BUT either way, I'll be along for the ride and and VERY thankful! 7.o.3.
HarpNinja 3821 posts Mar 12, 2014 7:41 PM	) ---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog Rock Harmonica Lessons
capnj 214 posts Mar 12, 2014 9:29 PM	Very informative Mike,your style works well.Going slow learning along the way.Playing fast on the high end,surely sounds fantastic over the right chords.Man can really tell you like what your doing,appreciate it.
JInx 751 posts Mar 13, 2014 12:46 AM	Nice color saturation! what camera you got? ---------- Sun, sun, sun Burn, burn, burn Soon, soon, soon Moon, moon, moon
HarpNinja 3822 posts Mar 13, 2014 9:02 AM	I used an iPad two with the front facing camera...which isn't even a full megapixel. After struggling with a webcam, I decided that was more reliable and had better sound. The trick is the lighting. I put the iPad on my customizing desk and used the adjustable light as front lighting. I made the attempt to edit the next two vids in iMovie, but I either don't get it or it can't do it. It'd be nice to have at least a title page and fade in/out. I am HORRIBLE with the whole video thing. ---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog Rock Harmonica Lessons
orphan 324 posts Mar 14, 2014 6:16 PM	This is some good stuff Mike! You have given me some real good ideas to mess around with. Thank You! ----------
MindTheGap 345 posts Mar 15, 2014 10:09 AM	Just watched 2 and 3. These are excellent, thank you. I get the impression that you think you need to fly through these introductions, as people are waiting on more complex things? Certainly not in my case. Do you have a target audience in mind? These are high-density packed with useful detail, I'll have to run through 'play it slow' to extract all the goodness :-) Looking forward to the next. Nice colour scheme on the vids BTW, it appears as bronze/brown + blue on my monitor. And you have a halo. Do you always carry a halo? ---------- MTG Last Edited by MindTheGap on Mar 15, 2014 10:09 AM
HarpNinja 3826 posts Mar 20, 2014 3:51 AM	This week's is sort of a continuation of lesson three. I almost didn't post this one, but there is some solid info there. I will post video five yet this week, which is fairly advanced as it talks about using dip bends and single reed bends for expression. ---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog Rock Harmonica Lessons
SmokeJS 239 posts Mar 20, 2014 6:06 AM	Watching lessons 2 and 3 a few days apart I thought perhaps I was watching something I'd already seen. Will have to restart to figure out where I am. If it was me I'd wear a different shirt for each video to help give a visual separation.
Harp Study 17 posts Mar 20, 2014 6:27 PM	Mike- Thanks for these. I've loving them. Good stuff for sure.
gene 1162 posts Mar 20, 2014 8:17 PM	Why is Lesson 3 not on Rock-Harmonica.com?
JInx 759 posts Mar 20, 2014 11:22 PM	yeah change your shirt man, it's stanky! ---------- Sun, sun, sun Burn, burn, burn Soon, soon, soon Moon, moon, moon Last Edited by JInx on Mar 20, 2014 11:23 PM
MindTheGap 366 posts Mar 21, 2014 1:29 AM	Maybe a different shirt for each lesson, with the lesson number on it? :-) And how about a logo - if you are to become an Internet phenomenon these things must be considered. I see your Blues Traveller video - but how did this come about? Maybe others have heard the story. ---------- mtg
HarpNinja 3830 posts Mar 21, 2014 3:47 AM	Please listen to the lesson intros. All of those were shot the same evening over a two hour span in which the material was more important to me than the shirt (and changing it four times in one night). I am not good with video editing, and to be honest, that is what delayed doing these vids early and even the follow-ups. I am not at the point where I am going to invest in new technology to shoot free YT vids either. I have no ambition for YT stardom, hence the niche videos on rock harp. I make next to nothing as a harmoncia instructor as I do a lot of volunteer work - workshops at SPAH are voluntary, and I donate time to the local Blues Society to do lessons. I will be at the Midwest Harmonica Workshop where I will teach formal lessons with materials, PowerPoints, and such. ---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog Rock Harmonica Lessons
HarpNinja 3831 posts Mar 21, 2014 3:49 AM	Gene, I haven't had time. I've worked until 8pm every day this week, two last week, and I then commute an hour home each night. My harmonica time is at a premium currently. ---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog Rock Harmonica Lessons
HarpNinja 3832 posts Mar 21, 2014 3:50 AM	MTG, I've told the story before, and John pretty much explains it in the video. We have a mutual friend that put us in contact with each other in the hopes I'd get to listen in on sound check. John decided to listen to my stuff online and then Facebook me with an invite to sit in. We walked through the tune on the bus before the show and hung out a bit after. ---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog Rock Harmonica Lessons
SmokeJS 240 posts Mar 21, 2014 4:09 AM	When I mentioned the shirt I was half kidding and knew others might mock the suggestion. But I was also half serious as what you're giving us is valuable and whether or not YT stardom is in the cards will only be determined down the road. My hope is you'll continue to make videos with the passion you've demonstrated so far and make them the best they can be with the technology you've got on hand. Also, from my perspective, there's no need to hurry and push out lessons. Those of us who've found you will probably stick with you and our word of mouth, or internet version of that, may bring more. Last Edited by SmokeJS on Mar 21, 2014 4:11 AM
MindTheGap 367 posts Mar 21, 2014 4:16 AM	Mike - I was only joking about the shirt, and being light-hearted about the Internet fame thing. You sound hard-pressed, please don't take it the wrong way. I'm enjoying your videos as they are. I know this is MBH, and people like it edgy, but that's not my style. I think what you have done is excellent. ---------- MTG
MindTheGap 368 posts Mar 21, 2014 4:18 AM	Ah, Smoke, our posts crossed. Well said. I 2nd your sentiments. Edit: PS I think the Internet needs a new emoticon that says: This sentence is intended to be gently light-hearted, and not in a mocking or challenging way. ---------- MTG Last Edited by MindTheGap on Mar 21, 2014 4:22 AM
HarpNinja 3833 posts Mar 21, 2014 9:38 AM	We're all cool. ---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog Rock Harmonica Lessons
REM 255 posts Mar 21, 2014 2:11 PM	Mike, I just got done watching the first video, and from now on I'm going to have to insist that you pronounce your name Foo-Gah-Zee, just like the band. Trust me, you'll thank me later. And for good measure you should probably cover this song on harmonica: That is all. Last Edited by REM on Mar 21, 2014 3:21 PM
paul45 157 posts Mar 22, 2014 7:58 AM	Thanks for doing these Mike!
teba 1 post Mar 27, 2014 8:08 AM	Thanks man for your lessons, they are really solid! I have though a question, since you are a harmonica customizing expert so how would you set up the top octave (holes 7-10) in terms of gapping in order to make it response best? And then another question, where could I harvest some solid licks to top octave? I can overblow, but only with pucker, and not having that flat third disturbs me quite a lot (I only tongue block, so I'm not able to catch the note with my embouchure). I'm looking to get something a bit flashier to my solos, one thing that I have been considering is to play some licks in the first position over IV chord, but the six overblow is still there an important note. Last Edited by teba on Mar 27, 2014 8:09 AM
HarpNinja 3838 posts Mar 27, 2014 8:56 AM	Thanks, Teba! There are a lot of guys that play runs you could listen to including blues players like Charlie Musselwhite and Sugar Blue. Personally, I see a ton of value in transposing your lower and middle octave licks to the high end. That not only builds your vocabulary, but you're understanding of what you are doing and why. We'll jump into the topic of flash in the next set of vids...they'll be about some action patterns. For now, just remember that you don't need the flatted third in the top octave to play up there (although you have the 10 blow bend that is the same note). The Mixolydian scale fits the chords of a blues song perfectly, and it adds a new character to your more bluesy playing. The best licks are the ones you create on your own....most harps need to be gapped tighter on the high end, but not so tight they choke. Usually, you can gap the blow side tighter than the draw. IME, things like embossing help a lot with speed playing, but gapping goes a long way! ---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog Rock Harmonica Lessons

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