Diggsblues
42 posts
Jan 24, 2010
5:53 PM
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If you haven't tried the Charlie McCoy Materials I highly
recommend them. His stuff is very musical and isn't a bunch
of riffs that you scratch your head and go this makes no
musical sense. It has great backing tracks and is fun
to play with.
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HarmonicaMick
46 posts
Jan 25, 2010
10:55 AM
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Diggs,
Does he talk about how he articulates some of the very fast passages he's capable of, like near the end of Area Code 615's Stone Fox Chase? That kind of playing still remains a bit of a mystery to me.
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YouTube SlimHarpMick
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barbequebob
386 posts
Jan 25, 2010
12:46 PM
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Back in the 80's, Oak Publications was supposed to come out with an instructional book/cassette/harmonica set that was to have Charlie McCoy and James Cotton and was supposed to be called Master Class. I don't think it ever saw the light odf day.
A lot of what Charlie plays, to move that fast, TB'ing is the easiest way to do it, especially using the classical harp method of moving the harp in a small arc rather than your head as for sheer speed playing, it's much easier, plus you also gotta play with a lot less breath force than most blues players use.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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HarmonicaMick
47 posts
Jan 25, 2010
1:01 PM
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Thanks, bbq. Don't suppose anyone knows of any peeps who play mainly puckered who can play at those kinds of speeds? I know there is stuff that can help, e.g. using 'gah' on the 4 draw band to help pull it down.
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YouTube SlimHarpMick
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barbequebob
388 posts
Jan 25, 2010
1:09 PM
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I've met a few who can, but I've personally found the classical method easier for speed playing.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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Diggsblues
49 posts
Jan 25, 2010
1:36 PM
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There is a technique that he explains on the video
that he tried explain at spah it's something
with tongue blocking that even he said he had a
hard time explaining. I've heard other guys do it
sloppy. It's great material if you want to get out
of the blues rut.
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HarmonicaMick
48 posts
Jan 25, 2010
2:04 PM
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Thanks, bbq & db.
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YouTube SlimHarpMick
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Micha
71 posts
Jan 25, 2010
2:30 PM
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Is he that much faster than Jason Ricci?
Because Jason lip purses all his fast runs. (I think I heard him say that in a video once.)
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toddlgreene
578 posts
Jan 25, 2010
2:37 PM
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John Popper's a purser, and fast and accurate. I can zoom too, and I primarily purse.
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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Diggsblues
51 posts
Jan 25, 2010
7:36 PM
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Charlie was a fast player before there were fast players.
But he is always musical. Fast doesn't always equal musical.
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toddlgreene
593 posts
Jan 26, 2010
8:40 AM
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True. I'm a fan of Popper, and was influenced by him, but his off-the-charts speed, as fluid as he is, does hit on a lot of notes I probably wouldn't choose.
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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barbequebob
393 posts
Jan 26, 2010
9:55 AM
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The fastest harp player, as far as diatonic is concerned, that I've heard who seldom repeats himself, and sounds truly musical to me is country harpman Mike Caldwell and his intonation and articulation is always spot on and a lot of the speedsters are often really sloppy.
For the Guiness Book of World Records holder of the fastest harmonica licks ever played was done by a chromatic player named Alan "Blackie"Shackner, who's a great player.
Also for speed, I still remember Larry Adler on the old Johnny Carson tonight show playing The Flight of the Bumble Bee.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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