I think SJ wants me to stick to instrumental pieces, but maybe I could construct a Rice Miller style, shuffle instrumental, and draw from “snakes” and utilize other SB2 type, devices.
Thanks, Grant - I’d say first, make sure you’re able to produce a clear, clean focused sound on a single hole - try to eliminate air leakage. Next, become a curious, constructive critic - listen to yourself and experiment by making tiny adjustments to your embouchure, to the position of your jaw, to the compression of your throat and facial muscles, experiment with diaphragm breathing vs shallow breathing, all those things and more will help you to find and develop different tones. So, be patient with yourself. Putting in the time to experiment with small adjustments and just spending time with that harp in your mouth, is the way you’ll discover how to make different sounds and tones and take ownership of them.
Doing a tongue-vamp means I'm lifting my tongue and getting the 1-2 draw chord anyway...I am playing the 2 draw, and in between getting the 1-2 draw chord while vamping (taking tongue off the harp)...does this clear this up? Thanks!
Hey Dennis, listening back closely to the first lick in the performance , are you picking up some of the 2 draw with that half step bend on the 3 draw or is it a function of the mic and amp? Also on the rhythmic tounging on the 2 draw my tone is very thin, any tips on making it bigger? I don’t seem to have that problem except on that one part.
That first run up the scale, when I hit the 3 draw half-step, it is slightly distorted. Meaning, I bleed in just a hair of the next higher adjacent hole (hole 4 draw) to get that "dirty" sound. A distorted note is usually just that...a bleeding in of a touch of the next higher adjacent note. Thanks for bringing to my attention. Obviously you can add this or not, but for that "dirty" sound on that note, that is how it is done.
Hi Jerry, on these examples, when you are playing the chords, are they always the same through the changes? My ears and brain aren’t cooperating with me tonight LoL
HI again Dennis, could you offer some tips for hitting that whole step bend on the 2 draw right on, everytime I get to it i seem to be sliding down from just above the pitch and doesn't sound right.
Best thing would be to spend some time just practicing to hold that whole step bent note...get your muscles built up a bit more so that you can hit it on command.
Thanks again for answering my many questions. I’m really loving your lessons on here, I think I’ve finally found the the website And lessons that will begin to get me where I want to be as a harp player
At the end of both of the first 2 licks when you go back to the 2 draw is there any tounge slap there? I could swear I hear something besides the striaght single note.
The second time around it seems that there is a very slight 'slap" effect, but it's not essential to the piece or necessary...it was more of an after-thought that snuck in subconsciously when I played it
Hi again Dennis, i'm noticing when I am trying to play first chorus at tempo, I alwasy seem to hit the bend on the 4 draw a little flat, any tips to fix this?
Spend a little practice time going between bent and (completely) unbent 4 draw notes...first slowly, then quicker. Make sure you can control the muscle movement needed. It's not difficult, but the tricky part is that it's a very small controlled movement between the two and us players usually play and breathe too hard (even when we think we aren't) which adds to the drop in pitch also. Try that out! Thanks for asking, great question!!
it’s right around 3 minutes 30 seconds into the video
Sounds good, yeah I completely forgot that there is a vocal on that
Yes sir
Also I know it’s off topic here, but would love to see a lesson series on Fattnin’ Frogs For Snakes
Do you mean break down what Sonnyboy does on the Chess, 45 version?
Yes sir
I think SJ wants me to stick to instrumental pieces, but maybe I could construct a Rice Miller style, shuffle instrumental, and draw from “snakes” and utilize other SB2 type, devices.
Sounds good, yeah I completely forgot that there is a vocal on that
Thanks Rick
Hi Rick, your acoustic tone is amazing, any tips for a achieving that big tone?
Thanks, Grant - I’d say first, make sure you’re able to produce a clear, clean focused sound on a single hole - try to eliminate air leakage. Next, become a curious, constructive critic - listen to yourself and experiment by making tiny adjustments to your embouchure, to the position of your jaw, to the compression of your throat and facial muscles, experiment with diaphragm breathing vs shallow breathing, all those things and more will help you to find and develop different tones. So, be patient with yourself. Putting in the time to experiment with small adjustments and just spending time with that harp in your mouth, is the way you’ll discover how to make different sounds and tones and take ownership of them.
hey Dennis, on the little rythmic thing, I can't tell if you are playing the 12 draw chord or doing a tounge vamp
on which rhythmic thing?
Doing a tongue-vamp means I'm lifting my tongue and getting the 1-2 draw chord anyway...I am playing the 2 draw, and in between getting the 1-2 draw chord while vamping (taking tongue off the harp)...does this clear this up? Thanks!
it’s right around 3 minutes 30 seconds into the video
Cool thanks
Hey Dennis, listening back closely to the first lick in the performance , are you picking up some of the 2 draw with that half step bend on the 3 draw or is it a function of the mic and amp? Also on the rhythmic tounging on the 2 draw my tone is very thin, any tips on making it bigger? I don’t seem to have that problem except on that one part.
That first run up the scale, when I hit the 3 draw half-step, it is slightly distorted. Meaning, I bleed in just a hair of the next higher adjacent hole (hole 4 draw) to get that "dirty" sound. A distorted note is usually just that...a bleeding in of a touch of the next higher adjacent note. Thanks for bringing to my attention. Obviously you can add this or not, but for that "dirty" sound on that note, that is how it is done.
Cool thanks
Thanks Jerry, that’s what I thought
Hi again Jerry, on the lick that starts at around 13 seconds in, after you hit the 2-5 draw, are you going to the 3-6 or 6-9 blow octave?
3/6 blow
Thanks Jerry, that’s what I thought
Hi Jerry, on these examples, when you are playing the chords, are they always the same through the changes? My ears and brain aren’t cooperating with me tonight LoL
Yes
Thanks Dennis
HI again Dennis, could you offer some tips for hitting that whole step bend on the 2 draw right on, everytime I get to it i seem to be sliding down from just above the pitch and doesn't sound right.
Best thing would be to spend some time just practicing to hold that whole step bent note...get your muscles built up a bit more so that you can hit it on command.
Thanks Dennis
Thanks again for answering my many questions. I’m really loving your lessons on here, I think I’ve finally found the the website And lessons that will begin to get me where I want to be as a harp player
Glad you are digging the lessons...many more things planned for Sonic Junction, and they already have tons of great stuff!!
At the end of both of the first 2 licks when you go back to the 2 draw is there any tounge slap there? I could swear I hear something besides the striaght single note.
The second time around it seems that there is a very slight 'slap" effect, but it's not essential to the piece or necessary...it was more of an after-thought that snuck in subconsciously when I played it
Hi Dennis, This my be out of the scope of the format of this site,but I would love to see a lesson series on improvising
It's a great idea and would love to talk about that...thanks!
Hi again Dennis, i'm noticing when I am trying to play first chorus at tempo, I alwasy seem to hit the bend on the 4 draw a little flat, any tips to fix this?
Spend a little practice time going between bent and (completely) unbent 4 draw notes...first slowly, then quicker. Make sure you can control the muscle movement needed. It's not difficult, but the tricky part is that it's a very small controlled movement between the two and us players usually play and breathe too hard (even when we think we aren't) which adds to the drop in pitch also. Try that out! Thanks for asking, great question!!
Thanks Dennis, yeah I had it backwards
Thanks Dennis, yeah I had it backwards