I like this one a lot. The other one has a little too much distortion for me. I don't know if you actually changed the setting on the amp or if you are just playing cleaner...? Anyway, nice job.
This is the first time that I have not had the Pignose sitting up high where the cd player is . Good observation, I may even put it lower next time. My video camera was only $30 bucks and the mic is built into it(I am sure it is not of the highest quality and the amp was too much for it up high).
Nice one Steve. What's with all the gear on the back of your belt? Is it a radio feed to your amp or part of a harness to stop the Pignose from throwing you across the room?
I am using a "Shaker" dynamic harmonica mic and the backing track is from "The Ultimate Blues Jam" Volume #2 . The track is #4 ,"Slow Blues In C" and I am using a Low F harmonica. The website for the cd is www.peteschmidt.com I got this cd years ago but I just keyed in the website,it isstill active and the cd is there for sale.Tell Pete ya heard it from me!
Oh yes,all that gear on my belt is my trusty Suzuki "HarpMaster" Harmonica in a nylon knife case , a cell phone so they can always track me down from work ( I work at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences,I am Curator of Exhibit Design which is a glorified way of saying I am a handy man that does all the lighting in the exhibits and all the repairs on the audio and visual thangees.) And there are a WHOLE darn bunch of keys hanging on one side so I can get into all the different areas of the museum to make repairs and the interactives.
I think that playing to tracks like this is a really good way to hone your chops and come up with new ones as well . Thank all of you for the compliments, I have been working very hard for the last 2 years to "Get There", tone wise and chops,still got a million miles to go.
But I will tell you one thing,there is no substitute for either practicing daily and or gigging,in other words,keeping the harmonica in your mouth as much as possible. I heard an old black man say one time,"If you want to get really good on that thing,you play that harmonica so long every day that it gets as heavy as a freight train in your hands".
"But I will tell you one thing,there is no substitute for either practicing daily and or gigging"
you have to practice correctly. Practicing playing like crap will only get you more of the same. I'm NOT speaking of you specifically Steve, I'm just saying most of you guys need to get with a good teacher. The problem is, most harp players 1. can't play themselves or 2. can't teach and most of the time its both.
Find yourself a great teacher and if you can't learn another instrument like piano or guitar and then transfer that knowledge to the harmonica.
Last Edited by on Mar 28, 2009 9:12 AM
I totally agree with your "practice correctly" philosophy. The old saying "Practice makes perfect" is misleading...Perfect practice is what makes one perfect!
This should be incorporated to anything you are attempting to learn...music, golf, acedamia, etc.
That said, I'm having some problems finding a teacher in the St. Louis area...What advice do you have for locating a good harmonica teacher...And, what qualities should I look for in an instructor?
