I was practicing my timing on this track and decided to post a youtube video about it. I am really trying to stay in rythm because most of the time I try to play to much fancy stuff and I loose focus and rythm. Here I tried to stay focused. All critics are welcome good or bad. The objective is to learn something so I'm not afraid of less good critics. If you think my playing was boring or repetitive please tell me.
It would also be fun if some other try this to see what everyone comes out with.
The track can be found here. http://www.bluesblast.com/j2006/hi_txs_fld_g_full.mp3
There are tons of free wonderfull backing tracks from Martin at bluesblast go check them out !
Personally, I think your self-critique is pretty accurate. The timing is nice some places, and gets slightly dicey others. It's something most people would never really pick on. But hey, your sound is good. Nice. You've got good technique for sure. I think your time issues are directly tied to some of the phrasing "quirks" you've got. It's like you're trying to surprise us (which is good) but it's not flowing somehow in spots (which is not sonically kicking my ass). :^) Overall, you're pretty damn good, Bro. You need to be working with live musicians. Are you? Get on it. -Bob
Nice, i really liked that, you got some good chops. I'll have a go with this track at the weekend if i get time. If i do i'll post it on this thread. ----------
Sounded pretty good to me. Like Chris sometimes says though, I can see you thinking! I'd bet if the camera was off and maybe you had a beer in ya...and could play/feed off of some live musicians, you would be that much better.
Galvanizing stuff my man! Really talented. A marriage of modern and more traditional phrasing. And you seem modest about it....d ---------- Myspace: dennis moriarty
OK here's my take. YouTube displays it as 4:5 format instead of 16:9 so I haven't got a long face. It's just the video. All comments gratefully received. Thanks.
Your playing was very smooth and you kept the rythm pretty well ! Nice to listen too!
As for critics I would say to work on your tone a bit ( especially on your 4 draw wich sound a bit shrill).Also try to incorporate that 3 draw bent a half step in some of your licks. You can do a lot with just the 3 draw if you are able to bend it in 2nd position and it is really a bluesy sound.
Yes thanks Tonyh. All good points which I must pay attention to. Trouble is they go straight out of my head when I start to play. I'm aware that I'd like to play more chords and blocks like you do but I just don't seem to make it sound right like you. I'm working on it though.
Hey tony, I seen some of your youtube videos,nice to see you around here. I agree with your self critique, maybe a bit of too much of fancy playing. what I see is that you play your phrases without a bigger "structure" to unify them, you need a melodic aproach. Try to find a melody that sticks in your head and try to make your phrases around that. Of course you don´t have to repeat yourself playing the same thing over and over again, you improvise over that.
Technically, no flaws, very nice use of overblows, no squeaks. You have all the tools, you just need to unify what you know with the music in your head.
Well, if I get some time, i'll upload something, but I´m also learning, just like you.
cheers, and keep on harping!!
---------- With some latin flavour for you, chico!! :P
Hi Bro's can i play, i was going to get real seriouse but just as i was getting into it had i little smile and decided to make my tune a response to the Infamouse key board warrior MBH member Yogi after his bitch slap comment to me in another thread:)
---------- I love you Yogi still waiting for your vidio or do i still hear chickens:)
Last Edited by on Jul 22, 2010 7:50 PM
Ok Guys you inspired me to do a one take shot at it. Here is my version using stock out of the boxes - 14 hole marine band in C, stock marine band C, and delta frost G. It is called - MBH Jam track in G. The pre-recorded track had way too much bass for my liking. I tried to eq it down some but it messed with the overall sound too much. Anyway, enjoy. Walter
---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
I am working on it...mostly figuring out the tech end on my work computer. Sadly, the kids are asleep and I'll have to know wait until tomorrow to give it a shot. ---------- Mike
This was filmed during a thunder storm. The rumbling you here is actaully thunder. I thought it had a nice effect. Tonyh, sorry I'm not going with the original backing track but a more jazzy one. I didn't know how to download it and put it on my ipod.
When I first played the video, I noticed that the harp was sticking out on the right side - it seemed longer. I didn't remember Mathieu holding the harp that way in past videos.
I wondered if it was a 12 or 14 hole C marine band (364 or 365) but it wasn't nearly low enough to be that. And just when I was thinking that it may be a Marine band 364 in G (which is is the same pitch as a regular G harp but with extra notes on top) he switched to the upper octave.
Now, I didn't really try to figure out what he was doing because I had to leave for work, but I thought I would ask when I got to work. I can't get youtube at work, but I got my home computer to download it and transferred it using FTP to view it at work just now.
So to answer your question, it's the way you hold the harp and the fact that you spend a relatively short time on the bottom register before going up on the harp. But upon listening to it again, I realize that's not how it would sound in first position. It's still very nice, though!
@arzajac. I'm not in any position to crit your playng cos I'm a relative newcomer myself and have an awful lot to learn but two things stood out immediately.
You kept looking down at your harp. To see the numbers? Your confidence will grow in time and you'll be able to go to any hole 6 7 8 9 etc instinctively soon. It's just practice and muscle memory.
Use of hands were not apparent for much of the tune except where you did a little wah wah.
It's not easy is it? but the next one will be better and so it goes on.
Last Edited by on Jul 23, 2010 2:08 PM
tookatooka: the songs starts with a 14 hole marine band in C, then goes to a regular marine band in C, then ends with a delta frost in G. That 14 hole harp has been with me for over 25 years. It plays sweet and I enjoy it more than any other for this kind of stuff- simple notes, space, body/throat induced vibrato, and hand effects.
arzajac: I don't know how long you have been playing, but one thing I saw right off, that I also see in a lot of videos here is a lack of flow with using the hands for effects and or not using them at all. I would bet most newer players here got right on amplified asap. I know people use their hands when amplified, but not having a mic in your hand lends itself to a lot more fine tuned stuff with the hands. I played for years before cupping a mic. Many of the sounds I got on my sample you don't here much here because I use my hands alot for effects. Getting them in time with your breath, the beat, and space, adds a killer dimension that few seem interested in exploring. Another thing is the customized and higher end OTB harps play very easy and I see most going for effects within the mouth instead of coupling that skill with the hands. I would suggest you play a single note, at a steady breath and use your hands like a mute on a horn to explore all the different tones that are available. From there, couple that with what you are already doing and it will be sounding cool man! Walter
If you listen to the second song on my player in my original post, you will hear the harp on the rack. I have worked hard to get some good sounds coming out of it via the rack while playing the guitar and drums at the same time. These sounds came from my years of playing unamplified harp as just a harpist/singer. Once those sounds are in your soul, you can get them out without the hands pretty decently. ---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
@TahoeMike. I recall you said you were only a few weeks into harp playing.
Before I started to attempt the blues, I got some of the first position classic harmonica tunes under my belt first.
It may help you to learn some of those first so you can start to find your way around the harp.
I understand you are seeing a Harmonica Instructor. it would be wrong of me to interfere with what he is telling you to do but I'd definitely look on Harptabs.com for some basic song tabs to get you on your way. Sorry I can't be more helpful. Maybe some of the guys hear could chip in with further advice?
@ tookatooka. You are correct. I have seen an instructor 3 times now. And you are not interfering. We are focusing on the basics obviously. Proper embouchure, single hole draws, bends and just now starting to get into timing. And of course, all the stuff above goes straight out the window when I try to play to a backing track.
Instructor has just now started me on a basic riff (man child/I'm a man) and other coordination exercises.
As well, I almost feel lost at this point. Yeah, great when not trying to play to a backing track, I can get nice clean single hole draws and blows, 2 and 3 chord draw and blows, I can bend 1 - 4. Just now got the 2 hole draw/bend going. Started some basic timing stuff using one of Adams [purchased] beginner lessons. So I am not sure if I am helping or hurting myself by doing improv stuff.
Bottom line is, I should [probably] not be even messing around with a mic and amp at this point.
Maybe after a few more lessons and things will start to form a path/direction.
---------- The more I learn about harmonica, the more I learn how much more there is to learn.
Last Edited by on Jul 23, 2010 3:54 PM
As well as what you are doing have you seen Jon Gindicks book with CD, Rock and Blues Harmonica. It helped me a lot early on and it may be good for you too. He has a website too (search for Jon Gindick) where he gives little lessons to get you going.
May just be you are too keen to get in the thick of it too quickly. Unfortunately the harp isn't a 100 yard sprint, it's more of a marathon. It's a great race though.
Yes, until a few weeks ago, I just played with my hands closed. That was one of the comments from the last time I posted a video and I have been working at it. I love the sound of acoustic harp and have yet to pick up a mic. But I really need to work on hand effects - even just getting a consistent tone with my hands.
What's hard is that I practice every day in the car - I can't use both hands unless I am stopped at a red light!
Also, I never look at the harp when I practice (I am looking at the road). But today was the first time I could see myself play while I was doing it. I didn't want to look into the camera screen and I had nowhere else to look. I was just trying to clear my mind - I didn't even notice I was looking at the harp.
But that's one thing I'll never do again! 'Makes me look like a dweeb...
I enjoyed your track - it's very heavy on the hand effects and with great tone. The last time I tried to warble while doing hand effects, I had to pull over and pick up my harp from under the car seat!
But I see that it can be done and it sound great. I will listen to that track a few more times and practice...
@ Tookatooka I think you hit the nail on the head. I certainly don't expect "instant James Cotton - just add water" I know better than that. I think I just need to get over this particular hump if you will. I think half of it is psychological.
Coincidentally I just received Gindicks's book and CD in the mail. Back to the drawing board....
@ arzajac - "But that's one thing I'll never do again! 'Makes me look like a dweeb..." LOL. Join the club. But I'm a bigger dweeb. OK, I'm the president. Oh well.
---------- The more I learn about harmonica, the more I learn how much more there is to learn.
thanks arzajac! You might want to try going in a dark, quiet room and getting your hands in touch with the music. I spent countless hours in the buildings burned out from the Newark NJ riots. They had no electric or water and were often pitch black in the stairways (my favorite spot). That is where I learned about the hand relationship to the music. Sonny Terry modeled it for me many times as I sat next to him. I never tried to analaze his stuff because I was too caught up listening to it. Now I realize that was my real learning and it has taken decades for it to unfold to where I get it. As many here probably know, I am not of analazing, but just playing. Disecting videos, techniques, learning to read music, etc, are of no interest to me. Heck I still don't know what comes out of most the holes until it does, which keeps the simple 10 hole instrument an ongoing new adventure :-) Walter ---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
yea Walter i ve heard playing with myself in the bathroom,would help improve me as a player,something about better acoustics,But all i got from it was a tired wrist.Sometimes i wonderer about these tips, sometimes:-)
Last Edited by on Jul 24, 2010 1:59 AM
Wow ant that was great,Ive used you for a example twice now to my guitar buddy,who whenever i go over shows a utube video hes found of some harp player,and the other day he had some guy on there that had some lick but,No soul to his music and the licks were flashy but cheasy,I said to him check out ol Ant it was your comp video,I said see how tight he is,his tone,he can get fancy when needed but dosnt flash it,i said i really think this ol boy is on the bubble of being a really ,really good player,he said yea i see what you mean.G1 as allways Ant
@ Hobo, thanks man ,those are very kind words especially as don't feel like i'm progressing at the moment. I thought your video was your finest yet, very cool indeed:o)
@Tooka,I can see what you mean with the front porch thing. I feel like i'm stuck in a rut at the moment. I seem to be working the blues scale in the same old way and i'm finding hard to come up with new phrases. I guess i just need to practice through it.
Its exercises like this which make you sit down and practice. I think more people on here should upload as it makes you pay attention to your own playing. I don't usually play to backing tracks, i'm not sure why but this and the last one with Heart2Harp with the comping challenge has made me play along more to Backing tracks. I might do the next one amplified as i never play through my amp either(i am so lazy with equipment),i might even redo this one amplified:o) ----------
thanks Ant you know what i like about your playing is its solid,not much noodling you hit the right target notes solid,and shape them with what i think is your strongest thing your hand effects, they are great,You have a way with molding and shapeing the sound.I hope to be able to learn some licks as cool as you do in a few more years
