Steven

Steven
Steven commented on: Fundamentals of Open G Basic Delta Blues Rhythm May 19, 2016

Thank you mr. harris.

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Jun 22, 2016

Thanks Steven

Steven
Steven commented on: Pony Blues Intro & Main Body Oct 13, 2014

Thank you Mr. Harris. Working on this a little while practicing PReaching blues. You look a little tired. I hope youre doing well. Thank you again for your lessons.

Steven
Steven commented on: Preaching Blues Singing and Review Oct 08, 2014

nice playing, Mr. Roullier. have you tried angling the guitar from the pc's mic/camera? so its not a direct onslaught of sound?  maybe put a blanket near the computer or something to help dampen a bit might help? i dont know. just in case you didnt think of it. good luck!

Steven
Steven commented on: Preaching Blues Singing and Review Oct 08, 2014

Thanks Mr. Harris. Wife and 3 kids. and living in Japan here in close proximity to people that arent used to loud americans singing. as well as the house being rather thin. paper walls arent a metaphor here. ^_^

So i have to pick the time when i can bust out, but certainly not timid about singing. ^^ Though I wanted to get the guitar down and also wasnt sure if i was hitting the mark correctly for starting phrase. since you didnt mention it i guess I was on the mark for vocal phrasing?

I'll work on that part of the slide. I also did a few minutes of practice on pony blues. Thats great. I was thinking of that song. Read my mind! I dont know why but learning something new seems harder than it used to be. ^_^ Thank you again. and sorry for being verbose.

Steven
Steven commented on: Preaching Blues Singing and Review Oct 03, 2014

mr. harris, here is an update. i havent been able to practice every day. have i fixed the string muting problem? 

I appreciate your time in reviewing my material.

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Oct 08, 2014

Greetings Steven and thanks for your post.  Yes it sounds a lot better.  Thanks also for singing...many people are too timid to step out there and sing.  I would suggest now that you work on the slide a little...it sounds good but i have noticed when uyo do the second sliding down near the third fret (end of phrase before going into rmain riff) that the last note before the hammer-on sounds a little too major...sounds like the slide is going a little too far.  That note should sound pentatonic, not pretty...  Thanks again.

Steven
Steven Oct 08, 2014

Thanks Mr. Harris. Wife and 3 kids. and living in Japan here in close proximity to people that arent used to loud americans singing. as well as the house being rather thin. paper walls arent a metaphor here. ^_^

So i have to pick the time when i can bust out, but certainly not timid about singing. ^^ Though I wanted to get the guitar down and also wasnt sure if i was hitting the mark correctly for starting phrase. since you didnt mention it i guess I was on the mark for vocal phrasing?

I'll work on that part of the slide. I also did a few minutes of practice on pony blues. Thats great. I was thinking of that song. Read my mind! I dont know why but learning something new seems harder than it used to be. ^_^ Thank you again. and sorry for being verbose.

bruno
bruno Oct 09, 2014

@steven Love your voice! Heard a little Louis Armstrong in there.

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Oct 14, 2014

Greetings Steven.  Try starting the song with the slide licks as an intro.  This will make it stand out more and be more exciting.  

Also I would like to hear the phrases that you sing be more compact as they seem to run on.  Try listening to Son House version...listen to his phrasing, how every vocal line has a place within the lick instead of running on. The phrases are short and rhythmic.  

Thanks for posting.  You are getting there!

Steven
Steven commented on: Preaching Blues Variations and Ending Sep 25, 2014

Yes. I'm not sure because the playing and tabs for that part seem different to me. So I felt confused. I guess I'll just try to follow your slide in the first video only and work on that. Thank you for the help.

Steven
Steven commented on: Catfish Blues Main Riff Sep 24, 2014

I have it. did you still want to hear it?  http://gudkarma.com/catfish.mp3

Steven
Steven commented on: Preaching Blues Variations and Ending Sep 22, 2014

progress update. for some reason my feeling is to do something different when leaving the verse pattern and sliding to the 12th.  but i'm starting to get smoother with it.  any crituques are welcome, Mr. Hariss. Thank you.

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Sep 25, 2014

You play the main riff very well and in good rhythm.  I would only suggest that you listen again to what the slide is doing.  It seems that you are not totally sure. There are stops in the slide playing that you can add and also  try slide UP to the note and let it vibrate instead of sliding it on the fret without vibrato.  Thanks for posting and good luck.

Steven
Steven Sep 25, 2014

Yes. I'm not sure because the playing and tabs for that part seem different to me. So I felt confused. I guess I'll just try to follow your slide in the first video only and work on that. Thank you for the help.

Steven
Steven commented on: John Henry Rhythm and Melody Sep 22, 2014

sounds nice.

Steven
Steven commented on: Preaching Blues Variations and Ending Sep 21, 2014

Mr. Harris, thanks for your lessons. I havent got past the first one in this series but I wanted to thank you here since you might be only reading current lessons. I was wondering today at how different his first recordings of Preaching Blues is from the 1965 "re-discovery" album...and later sets recorded live that i've heard. he does some high string bending wihle singing the verses. 

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Sep 25, 2014

thank you steven. yes his first recordings of that song sound very different than the 60's version.  in the first recordings from the 1920's you can hear the fire in his voice and playing.

Steven
Steven commented on: Preaching Blues Review and Double-Time Riff Sep 20, 2014

Yes, sir. i posted a video..though i've got no handle on this song at all. just going to take time.

Steven
Steven commented on: Preaching Blues Main Riff Sep 20, 2014

 after an accumulated hour of practice.. for some reason i cant smothly get to the 12th freet and do that  open 12 brush. no coordination.

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Oct 02, 2014

Thanks Steven.  You getting off to a good start with the basic lick.  You play it in smoothly.  I suggest that youuse your palm to mute out the low e string because it should not be ringing out...should be more punchy if you know what I mean....almost staccatto.  Break up your practicing into 1) learning the basic riff like how you start out and 2) slide...think of it as two different things you are learning and break it up into pieces.  With your slide I suggest that you slow it down and listen to the nuances...vibrato, and whether to slide up into the note or hit it directly.  I like how your guitar sounds tho.  Keep on with it.

Steven
Steven commented on: Preaching Blues Review and Double-Time Riff Sep 15, 2014

Thank you, Mr. Harris.  I want to ask you about the thumb and finger picks. especially the thumb pick. I've never ejoyed using them. I thought its roughly a matter or prefference, however, I think that maybe some styles and songs just need those picks because it fits the song.  i might be wrong but I dont think son house was a real pick user. Will you touch on this in a future lesson on this song? I think the song sounds drastically different if the thumb is without a pick. I'm sorry for the question, but I wondered about  this one point in this tune. Thank you again for your hard work and generosity sharing your skills.

Steven
Steven commented on: Preaching Blues Main Riff Sep 06, 2014

smooth speed, Mr. Harris.  Thank you for the lessons. Look forward to trying this one.

Steven
Steven commented on: How Long Blues Chords Jul 26, 2014

video is 'how long..'   however, the tabs etc are for kanas city? 'm confused.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren Aug 04, 2014

Hi Steve --- the chord chart is for the Kansas City style of How Long Blues.  The key word here is "style."  What you find in jazz and blues is that you can play the same song many different ways.  

Hope that helps and enjoy Duke!

 
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