Howdy harmonica folks -- it's been a long while since I posted anything. Still been playing, but since new job, house, kid, etc., much less time to post on forums. Wonder if anyone I know is still here?
Anyway, here's a couple of recent harmonica things I've been doing:
Welcome back. I've been "lurking" for quite a while without posting much. This forum remains one of my most trusted source of information on my favourite instrument! New jobs have a way of robbing you of time, and I really feel you there! I'm going to try to join the conversation a bit more often. :)
Great playing. I like Iceman's comment about your cupped sound in places. Nice. Glad you spiced it upnwothnsome.octaves at the end of your solo section. :)
Cheers! ---------- Rob Laferrière Russell, MB, Canada
www.woozleeffect.com
Last Edited by WoozleEffect on Apr 30, 2019 3:46 PM
Hi fellas! Very good to see some familiar names!! When I first logged in, it was so weird to not see any names I recognized...
I appreciate the kind comments indeed. The last few years have been pretty intense, but I am hopeful to find more time to make and share music once again. I've been on parental leave this semester, and playing music for my little daughter has rekindled my spirt these past few months. I've been getting way into fingerstyle blues on my baritone uke, and now bringing back the harp into it too. My ultimate goal will be fingerstyle uke with rack harp and some singing. Challenging indeed, but something to work toward. In the mean time, I've been recording these little vids again while the baby takes her naps (that's why the timing's a bit wobbley -- I'm trying to play softly so I don't wake her up, and it's robbing my concentration, lol!)
@Iceman and WoozleEffect: I learned that style of cupping from Dan Kaplan down in Austin Tx. The right hand thumb goes down around your chin. Creates kind of a "megaphone" with your right hand, and then you can get some outrageous wah's with your left.
@WoozleEffect: New jobs and babies! I tell ya! But I'm finally settling into it all, and figuring out my "work life balance," such as it is! Hope to keep up with this fine forum again as well. I too learned so much from my previous time here! ----------
Isaac, good to see you again. I'll 'echo' the thumbs up in regard your cup. Lovely.
My advice is to embrace the need for quiet. Volume and power are one thing. But, to be able to manipulate the sound while trying to barely allow any volume is a valuable exercise. Try to make as many of the same sounds as you can but as quietly as you can.
But, you have a baby. You already know this.....
Welcome back
---------- ~Buzadero Underwater Janitor, Patriot MBH poseur since 11Nov2008
Hey @Isaacullah. Yeah I'm still around and check out the forum every now and again. I owe a lot to the forum. I first joined with zero musical knowledge and have learnt so much from the guys here. It's been a great ride. Pleased to hear you're good and now have a family.
Enjoyed your playing again. Dan Kaplan - I used to love his playing. Funny how we both went down the Uke route. I'm messing with a Low G Tenor and standard tuned concert mainly fingerstyle with a little blues in the mix. It's an enjoyable pastime and broadens the musical knowledge plus there's always the opportunity of doing a little tweaking to the instrument too. :)
Hello to all the old forum members that I used to chat with. Hope you're all OK.
Thanks @Nacoran :)
Last Edited by tookatooka on May 07, 2019 4:02 PM
Took! Very glad to hear from you, and awesome that you are into the uke too! For me, I was messing with guitar, but it wasn't quite gelling with me. The string spacing was too narrow and I couldn't hold down chords that well. I had a little success with fingerstyle blues on the guitar, but not much progression. Switching to the Baritone Uke was a reveltation to me. Suddenly I could play all these chords because with fewer strings, wider string spacing, and a smaller scale, my hands could do it! It felt natural, and opened up a whole new world. I now also have a tenor (low g) and concert banjo-uke in high-g. Been playing a lot more music with these guys than I ever really could before. Lotta strumming and singing, but definitely fingerstyle (learning a lot of Mississippi John Hurt songs), and now clawhammer on that banjo uke. And, of course, mixing that harp in there too! Would love.to know what kinda things you've been up to with the uke! ----------
