it really depends on what you are hoping to get from the videos. and your skill level if you are looking for lesson-type material.
madcat teaches you rhythm harp, but i find it intimidating due to the speed of his playing. he plays it sloooow and easy one time. the next time thru is "this is how it sounds at full speed after you practice." DAAAAAMN! not really for beginners.
norton buffalo has at least one video. lots of tricks and techniques in it. probably closer to beginner level than madcat's by a little.
jr. wells has one that is mainly his telling stories and harp philosophy. rod piazzi is also pretty much with out lessons. i like them both.
i have heard good reviews for rick estrin's new video. more philosophy than techniques if i recall correctly.
the best, i think, is david barret's masterclass series. the couple i have are very technique/playing orientated. it is a true course in playing harp. there are several videos that take you from beginner to frustrated intermediate player who wants to chuck the whole thing cause i dont sound anything like what dave is doing so effortlessly and i think i am going to snap!
if you are looking for something truly aimed at what you are interested in, technique-wise, ronnie shellist will make you a 1 hour dvd customized for your needs.
Rick Estrin's DVD is great. It has sections on playing in the groove, phrasing, technique, learning stuff note for note, performance tricks. It's well done and it is also fun. Harmonica Masterclass sells it.
Madcat's DVD is worth the price just for the performances--and he will give you stuff to work on for years to come--Jason Ricci has a copy of it and he said, within the last few months, that he is still working on it too. I got it when I was pretty green and I got a lot of vlaue out of it right off.
Rick Estrin's DVD is way cool--fun--and informative--but it's not intended to give you any real info on how to bend, or scales or anything--it's more a philosophy of how to play--I highly recommend it.
If you are looking for a graded method that is written as tab as well as DVD's and CD's--I would agree with eharp--go with the Dave Barrett series--they are great, and they are heavily into playing and jamming without too much theory at the start.
Of course, you can also go with the lessons by Adam and Chris on YT--there is a wealth of information that can be had for free.
I try to get a little of all of them--but I have a problem with properly focusing. . .
I second and third the David Barrett kudos. His videos are "jam packed" with info and theory.
The Madcat video was somewhat more difficult to connect with but I revisit it from time to time as the playing is really good.
I also enjoyed the Gary Smith Amplified Blues Harp Demystified video. It has a certain coolness that made it fun to watch, and it is a comprehensive intro to amps, mics and technique.
If you were not poor you should send a tip to Adam for putting this site up or buy some lessons from him.. The same with Dave Barrett his site Harmonica Sessions.com are great but you should buy a book from him to support him.. I think I might buy the Rick Estrin DVD.
Rick sent me a copy of his DVD and I'll agree with all of what's been said above regarding it. It's very funny. It's divided into a series of tableaux in which Rick walks out of the shadows and talks to the camera for a while. Great bits of playing in these segments! Then a cute chick--and she is supposed to be a CHICK; a femme fatale--strolls into view and Rick holds up his hands, says "Hey baby, yeah yeah, I'll be right with you..." and turns back to the camera, says, "Man, I gotta go, but like I was saying, you got to...." and finishes up the little lesson, then strolls offstage with the chick on his arm.
That is great stuff. His playing is fine, and the points he's making--philosophical but also musical--are great ones.
I did and found it a useful starting point. I added links/summaries to the rest of Adams lessons, the many lessons I've purchased from Adam as well as YT lessons from Jason Ricci and a few others to include maintenance and repair (Dave Payne, Chris M, etc..). Then setup "workouts" based on what I'm working on (syncopation, scales, songs etc..)
Now if only I can get myself back to woodshedding like I used to. Workin' on it...
