Just uploaded a harmonica video on MySpace,it was 2 minutes too long for YouTube . It is a song I wrote 20 years ago and never had the nerve to sing , PLEASE forgive the bad vocals .
I don't know why you're worried about the vocal. I thought that the contrast between the understated vocal and very expresive harp worked really well, it lent the piece good dynamics, very hard to achieve acousticly. I could only say, well done!
When I worry about singing, I find that a couple of beers gives me the confidence to open up and belt out nice and loud. But, I never try this with something I know is out of my vocal range. I think most - if not all - of us can sing; it's just confidence. Nice, colorful playing, though, as a piece, I thought it would've been a bit better for being shorter. Just my thought. ---------- 'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
Thanks for the compliment and the advise about the video being too long.I found that out when I tried to load it on YouTube, 10 minutes is the max. I do not usually play any solo stuff over 5 minutes,I guess I went with the flow and it was a bit drawn out,I agree.
On another note, this is my favorite forum to come to and learn about what is going on in the harmonica world. nice to know everyone. Best Steve hHrvell
You too Steve. I'm gonna put my head on the block soon and invite comments from you lot; trouble is, I get more nervous playing to a recorder than I do to an audience! ---------- 'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
The harmonica is a "Suzuki" HarpMaster in the key of (A) and I do not tweak them at all . The HarpMaster plays better than a lot of custom harps that have been sent to me to review !! It is my favorite harp to play acoustically . Amplified I prefer the Turbo Twenty harps .
And yes,I was putting my neck out there on this video,it was just one of those rare times that I just tried to lose myself and let it flow and I just lost track of time. A few years back and sometimes now , I like to play in a dark room (no lights at all) or outside in the yard at night and play without any outside influences and try to come up with new material (partly by just losing yourself in what you are doing and let the music flow)
I think it was Eric Clapton that once said many people let music wash over them instead of absorbing it. Cheers Steve Harvell http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=SteveHarvell&view=videos
Nice beard. How do you grow it like that? I've been trying to grow my beard to something like that, but it seems to 'stop' at a certain point. Is it genetic?
Nice video (not as nice as the beard) I like the vibrato, I was listening to some Sonny Terry recordings that had a similar type of vibrato, but his was faster and more violent and had a weird sound to it.
@ oda: is this the kind of vibrato you're talking about?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbatmXDKRao
It's at 55 seconds.
@ Steve: is that vibrato done with your tongue? ---------- 'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
@mickil: Yeah, sort of. ST's is more violent sounding, though. I've actually not come across any clips of someone playing it like ST did ... anyone can enlighten me?
There are a couple of types I guess that I do.Whenever I inhale bend hole #3 I start with saying the articulation ( da) and then I start saying on the the inhale as fast as I deem needed the articulation ( oy-oy-oy-oy ) . And then I do the inhale octave vibrato where I will tongue block one or two holes and use my lungs to get that jerky vibrato .And then you can say on the inhale as you are doing the octave or chord the articulation ( ga-ga-ga-ga) .
I have had some of this particular lesson on my webpage for years at http://bluzharp.tripod.com/tricks.html
For instance on the #2 hole on the inhale , you can say the articulation ( doing ) and it will get you a full bend and bring it back.The sound of the harp will overcome any speech you think you would here.This is my self taught way of playing. Best Steve Harvell
There are a couple of types I guess that I do.Whenever I inhale bend hole #3 I start with saying the articulation ( da) and then I start saying on the the inhale as fast as I deem needed the articulation ( oy-oy-oy-oy ) . And then I do the inhale octave vibrato where I will tongue block one or two holes and use my lungs to get that jerky vibrato .And then you can say on the inhale as you are doing the octave or chord the articulation ( ga-ga-ga-ga) .
I have had some of this particular lesson on my webpage for years at http://bluzharp.tripod.com/tricks.html
For instance on the #2 hole on the inhale , you can say the articulation ( doing ) and it will get you a full bend and bring it back.The sound of the harp will overcome any speech you think you would here.This is my self taught way of playing. Best Steve Harvell
