James

James
James commented on: Catfish Blues Main Riff Jul 20, 2015

Hi Alex

Thanks for the encouragement, I try to keep it groovy and always clean! But if the truth be known (and I think its no great secret) that wasn't me interpreting Corey it was me doing my best to sound like him!! LOL...but if I have any talent, I would call it persistant, so it ain't over until the fat lady sings!!! 

Keep going brothers thank goodness it aint a race.

cheers

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Aug 29, 2015

You have a great attitude for learning.  

James
James commented on: Blues A Rama Guitar Slim Jul 17, 2015

Hi Duke

I think I need to get my self an electric guitar! Never really felt the need until now...

so cool thank you

Cheers

James
James commented on: Catfish Blues Main Riff Jul 16, 2015

Hi Corey

Just trying to slow it down and sit on that groove, once you start breaking things down it ain't so simple! Repitition is the key and my wife has me up dancing trying to lock that rhythm into the DNA.... Rome wasn't bulit iina day and neither was Catfish blues learnt in a day

 

Cheers

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Aug 29, 2015

very true James you are right about that...keep on!

James
James commented on: Catfish Blues Main Riff Jul 16, 2015

 

Alex Barbera
Alex Barbera Jul 19, 2015

Hy James! You sound groovy and clean...I like your reinterpretation of Corey's version :)

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Aug 29, 2015

Sonds good James.  I would suggest that you try not letting the strings ring out as much but experiment with muting and damping the strings also.  That will give the riffs more punch as well.  Sounds good tho....Honor

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Aug 29, 2015

Sonds good James.  I would suggest that you try not letting the strings ring out as much but experiment with muting and damping the strings also.  That will give the riffs more punch as well.  Sounds good tho....Honor

James
James commented on: Catfish Blues Main Riff Jul 15, 2015

Hi Corey

The story so far, just trying to hang in on that groove and keep a look at for that "1".... going to give the singin a whirl.

 

Cheers

James
James commented on: Catfish Blues Main Riff Jul 15, 2015

 

Mike Caren
Mike Caren Jul 16, 2015

Nice!!  Love the riffs around 0:50.  

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Aug 29, 2015

sounds great James and the spirit you have for the music comes thru clearly.  I also like ho whave put some of your own licks into it.  I would only suggest to slow down the tempo a little bit.  Bravo.

James
James commented on: You Got To Move Rhythm and Melody Jul 09, 2015

Hi Corey

Little things just come throught he playing, always had a bit of a problem with the slide on the pinky just doesn't feel comfy..but I just bent the pinky inside the slide, the knuckle pushes up against the inside of the barrel and presto it suddenly feels snug! No one ever said hey dude bend your pinky a little and it will feel right. Thats what they call an epiphany. I can now play along with you and I absolutely love the little turn arounds, just like icing on the cake!

I have to say that these blues lessons are the best I've ever had and I am very grateful as you can tell.

Cheers

 

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Jul 14, 2015

Greetings James and I am glad the lessons are working out for you.  Sometimes the best lesson are the ones where you finally figure it out for yourself.  I look forward to seeing you post something here.

James
James commented on: You Got To Move Rhythm and Melody Jul 09, 2015

Hey Corey

Brilliant, I play an open back banjo with an unwound 3rd freat for getting that bluesy sound never thought of an unwound 3rd on the resonator...I,m going to give it a go.

Do you do a version of Willie Brown's "Ragged and Dirty"? Iv'e been playing it for a while, I also play Mississippi blues whichis one of my "Party piesces" Tim Sparks does an enormous version of it where I think he  plays evry possible variation on an A... 12 bar blues known to mortal man! Still manages to keep the groove! amazing but true! (He does a version on Truefire.. the guitar players mecca, I definitely think your lessons would be go well on Truefire, I'm a big fan of Paul Rishell and David Hamburger who both have really funky blues lessons on Trufire)

I'm going to get me one of those video recorders so I can start to give you a better idea where I'm up to!

Cheers

 

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Jul 14, 2015

fI don't do a version of Ragged and Dirty but I am familiar with the song.  Is that something that you would like to learn.  Thanks for watching the lessons and I look forward to you posting something here.  Honor!

James
James commented on: Catfish Blues Main Riff Jul 09, 2015

Hi corey

Gettin it!

Cheers

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Jul 14, 2015

keep on pushing James...honor!

James
James commented on: Catfish Blues Main Riff Jul 01, 2015

Hi Corey

Hangin in there feelin like its starting to flow, for some reason still find that 3rd beat and then that 1/2 beat  breathe a bit of a challnge, its like I want to hurry up and get to that 4th beat bass riff, just sitting on it and it starts to feel right. Repetition, keep it going....and going.. been practicisin just the foundation 1,2,3 4 and.. its great

Cheers

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Jul 04, 2015

James that's it....repetition.  I'm glad that you are getting it. Honor!

James
James commented on: Dry Spell Blues Run-Through and Main Riff Jun 26, 2015

Hi Corey

what a sound, are you playing with metal picks!

Do you always play slide with meatl picks. I have restrung my esonator with 12-53's and it feels better, seem to have better control ove rthe dynaics and feels better when I play chords. I was playing with the slide on my ring finger, I moved it on to my oinky but it felt way to loose so I got a little gauze square and wrapped it around my finger and it fels really comfortable.

I love Between Midnight and Day, and i wish I heard it along time ago.

 

Cheers

Harry Roullier
Harry Roullier Jun 26, 2015

I have found if you have a loose slide, get some "mole skin " and line your slide wih it.... hope this helps

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Jul 04, 2015

Greetings James....  Yes I use Jim Dunlop metal picks.  I am glad that you switched to the little finger for  the slide.  I find that it opens up a whole world of possibilities lol.  Thanks for everyting and happy playing.

James
James commented on: You Got To Move Rhythm and Melody Jun 25, 2015

Hey Corey

Just bought your "Between Midnight and Day" its a revelation! ....Better late than never (great title for a record)   really workig to get that soft mellow feel. "Not Easy" .... Just had to re string the resonator as I broke third I think I went  past the G sharp!!! Not to worry.

A technical question what gauge strings do you use on the reonator? Bob Brozman rekons on 16 to 56's but I find it abit hard to make the chords, I'm looking for that soft muted feel.

Cheers

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Jul 04, 2015

Greetings and thanks!  ON the resonator I use light guage strings with an unwound third that I buy separately.  Sometimes I might also buy a .32 nickel wound string because I use metal fingerpicks and they stand up better and longer.  

 

For me, .16 to .56 is too heavy, though when I was playing in New Orleans I started to use a .58 (with a regular set of .12s) for the 6th string just to get more volume.  

James
James commented on: Catfish Blues Main Riff Jun 25, 2015

Hey

This seems tune for me evokes the whole feel and groove of JImi Hendrix. Once you start movng the grove around, and de tuning the guitar.... far out

 

Cheers

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Jul 04, 2015

Wow thanks.  Yes I love Hendrix.  

James
James commented on: Catfish Blues Main Riff Jun 25, 2015

Hi Corey

Interesting. how difficult it can be just to let the music breathe, I'm just working on that 2nd measure, keeping that groove locked in, too much of  a whitey trying to cram my whole life in one bar!  But I'm getting it! and watch out!!! I am a rockin.

I know I should be out with the other kids playing in the park, but damn this is blues heaven!

 

Cheers

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Jul 04, 2015

Greetings James you are getting it.  Just setttle in and enjoy the ride.  When you get it how you want it. bless us with a post of your efforts.  Thanks

James
James commented on: Keep Your Lamp Trimmed Post 1 Jun 25, 2015

Hi Corey

Really cool, I have tuned my six string up to an open E. Practicising that really light touch, while dampening the 6th with the heel of my palm to get that nice flat boom boom, I was lucky enough to spend some time with John Fahy in between sets at a Sydney gig (The Basement) in the early eighties he said as way of a joke that an alternating bass has to sound like Death approaching! He didn't mince words, and I think he really meant it he absolutely loved Charlie Patton.  John Fahey was definitely the real deal and he truly suffered for his art, he was a great artist and left an incredible legacy, I think his albumns "After the Ball" and "Of Rvers and Religion are totally awesome. hIs Requim for Mississippi John Hurt is such a classic.

Cheers

 

James

 

 

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Jul 04, 2015

Thanks James for sharing that story.  I'm glad it's coming together for you.  Keep playing!

James
James commented on: Dry Spell Blues Run-Through and Main Riff Jun 25, 2015

Hi Corey

Just cruisin around checking out the sights and sounds (your lessons are like going on a blues holiday)  I have always been a little afraid of Son House, his rhythm is so hard to get, but after practicising with for  awhile, suddenly its starting to sound almost like it should! Brilliant.

Its a real snap and grab kind of thing, like he's angry but not at anything in particular ...just stand back!

I am very fourtunate to own a National Resonator Trovodor, which is almost identical to yours (doesn't quite sound like yours yet though but its in there just waiting to come out

Your totally right about the open A, Iv'e always shied away from it, thinking my guitar will ping apart so tuned to the open G and capoed, but wow it really picks up a gear in Open A

Iv'e got to get myself soething to record myself with so you can hear what's happening or not happening. It's all good, jusy loads of love and patience will always cut the cake. Iv'e been learning Ry Cooder's "Feelin Bad Blues" which has helped me to learn to control that slide sound. Stefan Grossman said that learning slide is both the "easiest and hardest" thing to learn on guitar. When I first bought the resonator my wife told me later that she was really worried! I think it took me at least 6 months before it started even dimly like it should!

 

Thank You

 

Jmaes

James
James commented on: Catfish Blues Lesson 4 Jun 24, 2015

Hi Corey

Greetings from Down Under

I have been sitting here for hours with tune , once you start to surf this groove, it's like when do you stop! You just don't want to stop that's the problem. Riffs suddenly appear spontaneously like out of some quantum blues space somewhere!   I think before this lesson you need to put a warning" Danger this Groove is Addictive" and should be played with moderation! (or player should be supervised by a resposible adult at all times)

Its such a privelege to be able to sit here with you  (in virtual harmony) and just jam, experiment with the licks all over the fretboard.

Can't wait to check out the other lessons. Iv'e been right into Big Bill lately and absolutely love "Saturday Night Rub" completely different blues/rag groove but totally exhilerating once you get it happening. I'm also learnning 'Long Tall Mama" which is an opus!

 

Thanks Again

James

 

 

 

 

James
James commented on: Catfish Blues Main Riff Jun 24, 2015

Hey Corey

Just stumbled onto you and man I do not know where I've been but I'm so glad I'm here now! This is such a beauiful groove, seems to have just tied together so much for me, absolutely love the lead break, been getting into a lot of Lightin Hopkins and your lesson has really helped me lock that bass, solid as brother!

I'm a believer and this is soul food

Thank You

 

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Jul 04, 2015

Wow many thanks.  I am happy that you are here on sonic junction.  Yes Lightnin Hopkins was one of my first inspirations in blues for sure.  Al the best to you.

 
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