I'd say try for a little more syncopation early on - playing those notes exactly on the beat sounds very stiff. You get there in the end. You probably had a nervous start.
I say something elsewhere about phrasing - listen to that note at 2:03/04! (is it supposed to be a bent 2-draw?) You need to prepare for that note in advance and aim for it like an archer aiming at a target because you can't afford to screw it up - it's the most important note of that phrase.
Last Edited by on Aug 30, 2009 1:14 PM
Yeah, that bent 2 screwed me up at 2:04. Sounded even worse to me when I was playing it! I just recently started trying to bend to pitch, rather than just effect. Its one of the sins of being self taught for so long.
You're thinking about riffs and how to get from one riff to another and the riffs are kind of flowing where they want to go and you're locked in a loop.
It was the Silver I did? Oh that was the problem! rofl Does it feel OK? I set it up for what you are doing, as time goes on, you may want it a bit tighter. Just lemme know, OK?
I watched it again noticed something else. You're doing a lot of hand vibratto. Don't think of your hands as a tool for effects... like if you've seen that Dr. Who episode set during the London Blitz where people grew gas masks on their faces, think of your hands like that, a part of the harmonica, which it is. Alter your hands for resonance. It can go way beyond "wah wah" you can make it cry. Anytime I'm lucky enough to be in the same room or vehicle with Jason Ricci, I'm not listening for the overblows or whatever, I'm watching those hands. I watch those hands like freakin' hawk. Doug Tate is another guy who had mastery of the hands.
I'm always nervous as hell to post anything of me playing in this forum... for one reason and one reason only, Buddah posts here and he's one of the freakin' best I've ever heard. So, I think, oh sh.. Buddah's gonna see this and I don't post it. But, for you, Philosofy, I will postify...
This is what I mean about the hands. They are working the whole time. A hand vibratto would keep me from doing this stuff... my hands were working better and my tone was better at the championship, but I've only got audio of that, unfortunately. I think you can get an idea about what I'm talking about from this one:
Dave,the harp plays great. I call it my "no excuses harp." When I'm trying something new, if the harp seems too leaky or not gapped right, then I pick up your harp. If I still can't do it, I know its me and not the harp.
Its funny you picked up on the hand vibratto. I'm actually overcompensating. When I started lessons back in Jan, my instructor noticed I NEVER did hand vibratto or head shakes. Its because I practice when I'm driving, and play with one hand (and don't want to shake my head and take my eyes off the road.) So I've made a conscious effort to do a lot of hand vibratto. I'm also trying to vary the 4 verses of that song. But I'll watch for hand vibratto from now on.
john told me about the recital, phil. sorry i wasnt able to make it. the song sounded fairly good. those lessons with john sure seem to be paying off!!
Hey Phil! Impressive. What's on the music stand? Sheet music, chord tab or harp notation? That's my current challenge, trying to come up with a way to help memorizing instrumentals, keeping track of chorus', etc.
