Thanks Rick. You've heard my rabbit side as would have said my wife! Play with the backing track may help me to keep in the groove and the time for future. But I have to work with my internal metronome too.
Although to console me, that's the first time I'm not running after notes and effects. ,)
Excellent work on getting the notes right! The only real problem I hear is that you're rushing the groove a little bit - Maybe now that you have the notes down, listen to it some more, and then, when you practice, focus more on the groove and the timing
Thanks Rick. You've heard my rabbit side as would have said my wife! Play with the backing track may help me to keep in the groove and the time for future. But I have to work with my internal metronome too.
Although to console me, that's the first time I'm not running after notes and effects. ,)
I like your spirit, last night I listened to your lesson, and I dreamed about becoming a singer and a guitar player. I've never found a lesson for a total beginner on sonic before, but maybe I'm a bad seeker.
This morning I woke up, and reality was not so easy... ;)
Do you really think a guy who never played guitar can learn it with these lessons? I tried to play the G and C chords, but my fingers take 2 or 3 strings at the same time! How much training time is necessary in your opinion to correct this kind of beginner problem?
Another pb is that I'm lefty, and I have to transform in a miror all what you describe. I'm hesitating to insist as a lefty or to force me to change as "righty".
thank you for checking out my lessons and for writing in...
the first thing that caught my attention is that you dreamed about being a singer and a guitar player. i think that you have the key right there - the dream!
i had the same dream and it wasn't always easy to get it together, especially at first. i noticed some people could pick up a guitar and play circles around me within weeks! but my dream was strong and i kept at it.
the feeling of fingers crowding the fretboard is very common at first. i'll try to show you something useful in this video.....
but as far as being a lefty in a righty world.... if the dream is strong you'll push on through. and i'll be here to cheer you on!!
I put an audio answer above your advice (third chorus), you can listen if you got time for me.
In that Fourth chorus, I work on the bar 5-6 in particular, there's a 2 draw full step whitch is nearly "un-earable" for me at normal speed cause it's played so quick, it's difficult for me to insert it without being late in the tempo!
Hey Prof. ESTRIN, a big thank you for your answer, sorry you had to detail again this part! I may have a cerebral disease cause I don't play what I know I have to play with special attention! I'll try again just after my brain scan (MRI is forbidden because of my harmo which I never quit) :)
YIPPEEEE! My brain is safe (is it Doctor?) I was doing another mistake than the 2b I was thinking of!! there are two 2b, and you gave me the key to solve it!! Listen the mp3 if you have time. I played the wrong version a hundred of times, now I have to integrate it in my playing. THANKS! (for the moment I can't play the short 1 draw, but I'm happy to progress!)
Coucou André, moi c'est Thomas effectivement, j'habite en Alsace au Nord Est de la France. Je parlais des "cover plates" c'est à dire du couvercle, du "capot" en français, contre lequel tape la lamelle (reed) quand mon souffle est "violent". Donc non ce n'est pas un probleme de décentrage du reed dans son trou de plaque. Jusque là ca le le faisait avec un harmo en G sur le trou 1, mais là je l'ai sur mon harmo en A. Dennis m'avait répondu qu'il n'est pas bon de souffler comme un âne dans l'harmo, faut jouer en finesse. Actuellement, j'essaie de reproduire les intonations de Rick mais comme je ne suis pas pro, je compense par du volume, qui est plus gênant qu'autre chose...
Oui je suis preneur de toute discussion/avis harmo (et divers!), donc no pb! Par contre, je pense que Mike va nous dire qu'il y a flooding, sans compter que le français a peu d'intérêt pour la plupart. Je te propose un échange futur par mail: tu peux m'écrire sur "toutespoir@orange.fr".
Et concernant le problème de 2b: can you say me if there's two 2b or no in the turnarround part?? It makes me crazy!! ;)
I guess it's the same mistake I did last time. But I promess I watched back the lesson, with slow motion and carefully, but I noticed only one time where 2blow is used in the last part, and I play it in my attempts. So I imagine 2 explainations: one is I play the 2 blow so badly/shortly that you don't hear it as a 2b, seconf is there's another one 2b hidden... I'll look again.. if anyone can just answer "yes there's another 2blow" It would help me!
And yes, the bends of the three occur me ear pain when I hear my performance as I said in French to André, I'll train again, that's the main goal of this lesson, you said. Thank you very much for the analyse Rick.
Another one of my actual problems is that I play very loud instead of being precise in the sounds effects. Some reeds hit the plates on holes they never reached before. Strange...
RICK: tomorrow I'll register and publish a slowmotion of the verse end part in order that you can check and help me more, ok?
Oui volontiers André, j'ai guetté ton profil Fb: tu vis au nord de Montréal? Ca donne envie!
J'aime bien tes vidéos, tu as le courage de t'exposer! Je suis vraiment étonné qu'il n'y ait pas plus de commentaires si ce n'est de vidéos de la part d'autres harpistes, car ce site est vraiment une mine de diamants pour qui aime l'harmonica et le blues. Avec les pointures qui sont les profs et les explications et conseils fournis, j'ai l'impression d'entrer dans une cachette secrète chaque fois que je viens! J'adore. Bien sûr, je ne sais que copier/réciter (pas très bien) des morceaux proposés, pour l'instant je ne suis pas capable d'improviser, mais il y a quand même de quoi ressentir du plaisir à jouer et se faire bien plaisir. Et puis j'ai une telle marge de progression!!
Mes altérations (bends) sont très approximatives, et comme tu l'as dit, c'est encore plus flagrant quand on doit jouer les chords entre. Quand j'écoute ce que j'ai publié, ça me fait grincer des dents, mais je me force à publier pour 2 raisons: ca m'oblige à performer à produire quelque chose d'abouti, de complet (et pas seulement un riff de 10 secondes comme sur youtube) et en plus je peux glaner quelques conseils de maitres de l'harmo, ce qui est juste incroyable.
Merci à Mike de ne pas avoir mis de bouton "unlike" à disposition des autres, en bas de mes videos, ça m'aide à garder le moral!
This is where I am for tonight...it becomes something I can show to others, so I'm happy. I will train again (and again).
Soon, I'll receive the zoom h4n pro recorder, cause you, my audience, deserve that. Ok, I'm probably too much excited, sorry, I go down and I come back... I'm fond of you Mr ESTRIN.
Hi Tom - I can't figure out how to record on here. If I could, I would demonstrate the part I'm talking about. I was mistaken when I said you were playing a 2 draw bend instead of the 2 blow - You're actually playing a 1 draw note in one spot where it should be a 2 blow. The resolving lick at the end of each verse starts with 3 draw bent a half step, to 3 draw bent a whole step, to 2 draw, to 1 draw (very quickly), to 2 draw bent a whole step, to 2 BLOW, back to 2 draw bent (with the little wiggle you are doing!) to the 1 draw, and back to the 2 draw. I hope this helps!
Hey Prof. ESTRIN, a big thank you for your answer, sorry you had to detail again this part! I may have a cerebral disease cause I don't play what I know I have to play with special attention! I'll try again just after my brain scan (MRI is forbidden because of my harmo which I never quit) :)
YIPPEEEE! My brain is safe (is it Doctor?) I was doing another mistake than the 2b I was thinking of!! there are two 2b, and you gave me the key to solve it!! Listen the mp3 if you have time. I played the wrong version a hundred of times, now I have to integrate it in my playing. THANKS! (for the moment I can't play the short 1 draw, but I'm happy to progress!)
Very close collaboration of 2draw-3blow, for first time fully developped for me. I've often heard "play 3 blow instead of 2draw in that one precise place, cause it makes more sense", I did it by conviction or confidence but this time, as you associate the 2d and 3b, you bring us to another dimension of explaination. I'm not enough good to catch it firstly, so you got me OF the ring before the end of the middle when I listen to the video 1st! But fight is not finished, I'll come back, like the Rocky of the blues. (!)
For the moment I'm working at the transition rythm between the verses: when to play it and when to stop it and begin the next verse to stay in the groove. Less easy than It seems to be...
Good job, Tom! Especially good on the 2 draw, 3blow part! Try to work on nailing the pitch a little better on those bends on the 2nd and 3rd holes. Also, that last lick - the one that comes at the end of every verse? There's one little spot where you're hitting a 2 draw bend when it should be the 2 blow - Overall though, really good job!
I guess it's the same mistake I did last time. But I promess I watched back the lesson, with slow motion and carefully, but I noticed only one time where 2blow is used in the last part, and I play it in my attempts. So I imagine 2 explainations: one is I play the 2 blow so badly/shortly that you don't hear it as a 2b, seconf is there's another one 2b hidden... I'll look again.. if anyone can just answer "yes there's another 2blow" It would help me!
And yes, the bends of the three occur me ear pain when I hear my performance as I said in French to André, I'll train again, that's the main goal of this lesson, you said. Thank you very much for the analyse Rick.
Another one of my actual problems is that I play very loud instead of being precise in the sounds effects. Some reeds hit the plates on holes they never reached before. Strange...
RICK: tomorrow I'll register and publish a slowmotion of the verse end part in order that you can check and help me more, ok?
Oooups! you're right, I'll try to add that, the rolling effect, the other side tongue bloc of the 1 hole. It's hard but usefull to progress! Thanks again
Hi Tom - You did a real good job on the first verse! Go back and listen to the last lick of the verse - the one that repeats on every verse going back to the I change - You're missing the 2 hole blow. Otherwise, really good job!
Oooups! you're right, I'll try to add that, the rolling effect, the other side tongue bloc of the 1 hole. It's hard but usefull to progress! Thanks again
So, It's 2 in the morning, I'd better stop trying to do it maybe... but I'm addicted to the groove! I share with you Mr ESTRIN the last sounds I've produced. I did my best not to bend too much - too false. I'm ready to read your precious comments, thank you in advance. Stay near from your harp, cause the warmth of the blues can treat your cough!
Hey Tom - Good job! One thing, on that last lick you're using a bent 2 draw in one spot where it should be a 2 blow. If you go back and listen, I'm sure you'll hear it.
For sure, I hear 2 harps playing together in this song...Rick, not any man is able to do all that staff alone... a good news: he will give us his secret in a few time!
I play on a golden melody and I have a question about the first all draw, With G harp, the reed hits the cover plate if I don't draw very softly. So when I play, I hear a "bell" ringing at the same time (sound of the reed chocking the plate). Can you tell me something about it?
That is likely due to the fact it is a lower key harp (G is pretty low, and this means the reed is longer/heavier) and the cover plates on Golden Melody harps are set up maybe just a tad too close to avoid this when played with any force. Obviously, playing softer is the best solution, since it is the best technique anyway, regardless of any cover plate issues with the reeds you may or may not have. The excess force is making the reed vibrate harder than it needs to and going up that extra fraction of an inch and hitting the cover plate. It is common with any of the lower-range harps on most harmonicas. However, this can be good practice for you for your breath control (although maybe a bit frustrating)
Good job Thomas! All the licks are correct and you're getting good definition and articulation on the 2 draw! The only thing I'd suggest would be to focus a little more on the time of the little chords in between the licks. You're putting them in the right place, but in order to help those chords groove a little better, you need to pay attention to how long each chord is, and how sharply to cut it off.
Yes! I listened to your new recording of the first chorus (or verse) - Much better. My suggestions would be, try to play the the 3 blow a little softer and more casually. It's really a ghost note, so it shouldn't be emphasized as much as the 2 draw. My other suggestion would be to listen closely to places where I'm leaving spaces between the notes. The spaces help to keep the groove. And yes! Overall, much better!
I worked on what you wrote to me: 3 blow instead of 2 draw (I didn't catch it firstly, thank you very much, the sound is better) and bending 3 draw closer to what you did (still not perfect but better I hope)... Your advices are efficient, don't you think? (please don't say no!)
Thanks Rick. You've heard my rabbit side as would have said my wife! Play with the backing track may help me to keep in the groove and the time for future. But I have to work with my internal metronome too.
Although to console me, that's the first time I'm not running after notes and effects. ,)
Hey Rick, your new lesson will come tomorrow... It's time for me to post my trying for the fourth chorus: I don't give rein!
Say me what you think... The sequence 3d 2d (3d) 2b 3b 4d made me crazy! I hope it's right. Last bend notes not perfect...
Excellent work on getting the notes right! The only real problem I hear is that you're rushing the groove a little bit - Maybe now that you have the notes down, listen to it some more, and then, when you practice, focus more on the groove and the timing
Thanks Rick. You've heard my rabbit side as would have said my wife! Play with the backing track may help me to keep in the groove and the time for future. But I have to work with my internal metronome too.
Although to console me, that's the first time I'm not running after notes and effects. ,)
Yes It helps Dan, thank you. So I have to hang on to your lesson with my hook fingers now...
Hello Dan,
I like your spirit, last night I listened to your lesson, and I dreamed about becoming a singer and a guitar player. I've never found a lesson for a total beginner on sonic before, but maybe I'm a bad seeker.
This morning I woke up, and reality was not so easy... ;)
Do you really think a guy who never played guitar can learn it with these lessons? I tried to play the G and C chords, but my fingers take 2 or 3 strings at the same time! How much training time is necessary in your opinion to correct this kind of beginner problem?
Another pb is that I'm lefty, and I have to transform in a miror all what you describe. I'm hesitating to insist as a lefty or to force me to change as "righty".
Thanks,
Tom (I'm french, so excuse me for the langage)
greetings tom!
thank you for checking out my lessons and for writing in...
the first thing that caught my attention is that you dreamed about being a singer and a guitar player. i think that you have the key right there - the dream!
i had the same dream and it wasn't always easy to get it together, especially at first. i noticed some people could pick up a guitar and play circles around me within weeks! but my dream was strong and i kept at it.
the feeling of fingers crowding the fretboard is very common at first. i'll try to show you something useful in this video.....
but as far as being a lefty in a righty world.... if the dream is strong you'll push on through. and i'll be here to cheer you on!!
i hope this helps, let me know!
your pal,
dan
Yes It helps Dan, thank you. So I have to hang on to your lesson with my hook fingers now...
Hello Rick,
I put an audio answer above your advice (third chorus), you can listen if you got time for me.
In that Fourth chorus, I work on the bar 5-6 in particular, there's a 2 draw full step whitch is nearly "un-earable" for me at normal speed cause it's played so quick, it's difficult for me to insert it without being late in the tempo!
I'll show you my work in a few days...
I listened - That's it - Good job, Tom!
Hey Prof. ESTRIN, a big thank you for your answer, sorry you had to detail again this part! I may have a cerebral disease cause I don't play what I know I have to play with special attention! I'll try again just after my brain scan (MRI is forbidden because of my harmo which I never quit) :)
YIPPEEEE! My brain is safe (is it Doctor?) I was doing another mistake than the 2b I was thinking of!! there are two 2b, and you gave me the key to solve it!! Listen the mp3 if you have time. I played the wrong version a hundred of times, now I have to integrate it in my playing. THANKS!
(for the moment I can't play the short 1 draw, but I'm happy to progress!)
Coucou André, moi c'est Thomas effectivement, j'habite en Alsace au Nord Est de la France. Je parlais des "cover plates" c'est à dire du couvercle, du "capot" en français, contre lequel tape la lamelle (reed) quand mon souffle est "violent". Donc non ce n'est pas un probleme de décentrage du reed dans son trou de plaque. Jusque là ca le le faisait avec un harmo en G sur le trou 1, mais là je l'ai sur mon harmo en A. Dennis m'avait répondu qu'il n'est pas bon de souffler comme un âne dans l'harmo, faut jouer en finesse. Actuellement, j'essaie de reproduire les intonations de Rick mais comme je ne suis pas pro, je compense par du volume, qui est plus gênant qu'autre chose...
Oui je suis preneur de toute discussion/avis harmo (et divers!), donc no pb! Par contre, je pense que Mike va nous dire qu'il y a flooding, sans compter que le français a peu d'intérêt pour la plupart. Je te propose un échange futur par mail: tu peux m'écrire sur "toutespoir@orange.fr".
Et concernant le problème de 2b: can you say me if there's two 2b or no in the turnarround part?? It makes me crazy!! ;)
I guess it's the same mistake I did last time. But I promess I watched back the lesson, with slow motion and carefully, but I noticed only one time where 2blow is used in the last part, and I play it in my attempts. So I imagine 2 explainations: one is I play the 2 blow so badly/shortly that you don't hear it as a 2b, seconf is there's another one 2b hidden... I'll look again.. if anyone can just answer "yes there's another 2blow" It would help me!
And yes, the bends of the three occur me ear pain when I hear my performance as I said in French to André, I'll train again, that's the main goal of this lesson, you said. Thank you very much for the analyse Rick.
Another one of my actual problems is that I play very loud instead of being precise in the sounds effects. Some reeds hit the plates on holes they never reached before. Strange...
RICK: tomorrow I'll register and publish a slowmotion of the verse end part in order that you can check and help me more, ok?
Oui volontiers André, j'ai guetté ton profil Fb: tu vis au nord de Montréal? Ca donne envie!
J'aime bien tes vidéos, tu as le courage de t'exposer! Je suis vraiment étonné qu'il n'y ait pas plus de commentaires si ce n'est de vidéos de la part d'autres harpistes, car ce site est vraiment une mine de diamants pour qui aime l'harmonica et le blues. Avec les pointures qui sont les profs et les explications et conseils fournis, j'ai l'impression d'entrer dans une cachette secrète chaque fois que je viens! J'adore. Bien sûr, je ne sais que copier/réciter (pas très bien) des morceaux proposés, pour l'instant je ne suis pas capable d'improviser, mais il y a quand même de quoi ressentir du plaisir à jouer et se faire bien plaisir. Et puis j'ai une telle marge de progression!!
Mes altérations (bends) sont très approximatives, et comme tu l'as dit, c'est encore plus flagrant quand on doit jouer les chords entre. Quand j'écoute ce que j'ai publié, ça me fait grincer des dents, mais je me force à publier pour 2 raisons: ca m'oblige à performer à produire quelque chose d'abouti, de complet (et pas seulement un riff de 10 secondes comme sur youtube) et en plus je peux glaner quelques conseils de maitres de l'harmo, ce qui est juste incroyable.
Merci à Mike de ne pas avoir mis de bouton "unlike" à disposition des autres, en bas de mes videos, ça m'aide à garder le moral!
This is where I am for tonight...it becomes something I can show to others, so I'm happy. I will train again (and again).
Soon, I'll receive the zoom h4n pro recorder, cause you, my audience, deserve that. Ok, I'm probably too much excited, sorry, I go down and I come back... I'm fond of you Mr ESTRIN.
Hi Tom - I can't figure out how to record on here. If I could, I would demonstrate the part I'm talking about. I was mistaken when I said you were playing a 2 draw bend instead of the 2 blow - You're actually playing a 1 draw note in one spot where it should be a 2 blow. The resolving lick at the end of each verse starts with 3 draw bent a half step, to 3 draw bent a whole step, to 2 draw, to 1 draw (very quickly), to 2 draw bent a whole step, to 2 BLOW, back to 2 draw bent (with the little wiggle you are doing!) to the 1 draw, and back to the 2 draw. I hope this helps!
Hey Prof. ESTRIN, a big thank you for your answer, sorry you had to detail again this part! I may have a cerebral disease cause I don't play what I know I have to play with special attention! I'll try again just after my brain scan (MRI is forbidden because of my harmo which I never quit) :)
YIPPEEEE! My brain is safe (is it Doctor?) I was doing another mistake than the 2b I was thinking of!! there are two 2b, and you gave me the key to solve it!! Listen the mp3 if you have time. I played the wrong version a hundred of times, now I have to integrate it in my playing. THANKS!
(for the moment I can't play the short 1 draw, but I'm happy to progress!)
Very close collaboration of 2draw-3blow, for first time fully developped for me. I've often heard "play 3 blow instead of 2draw in that one precise place, cause it makes more sense", I did it by conviction or confidence but this time, as you associate the 2d and 3b, you bring us to another dimension of explaination. I'm not enough good to catch it firstly, so you got me OF the ring before the end of the middle when I listen to the video 1st! But fight is not finished, I'll come back, like the Rocky of the blues. (!)
For the moment I'm working at the transition rythm between the verses: when to play it and when to stop it and begin the next verse to stay in the groove. Less easy than It seems to be...
Good job, Tom! Especially good on the 2 draw, 3blow part! Try to work on nailing the pitch a little better on those bends on the 2nd and 3rd holes. Also, that last lick - the one that comes at the end of every verse? There's one little spot where you're hitting a 2 draw bend when it should be the 2 blow - Overall though, really good job!
I guess it's the same mistake I did last time. But I promess I watched back the lesson, with slow motion and carefully, but I noticed only one time where 2blow is used in the last part, and I play it in my attempts. So I imagine 2 explainations: one is I play the 2 blow so badly/shortly that you don't hear it as a 2b, seconf is there's another one 2b hidden... I'll look again.. if anyone can just answer "yes there's another 2blow" It would help me!
And yes, the bends of the three occur me ear pain when I hear my performance as I said in French to André, I'll train again, that's the main goal of this lesson, you said. Thank you very much for the analyse Rick.
Another one of my actual problems is that I play very loud instead of being precise in the sounds effects. Some reeds hit the plates on holes they never reached before. Strange...
RICK: tomorrow I'll register and publish a slowmotion of the verse end part in order that you can check and help me more, ok?
Oooups! you're right, I'll try to add that, the rolling effect, the other side tongue bloc of the 1 hole. It's hard but usefull to progress! Thanks again
Please Rick, can you take a look at my attempt of the first verse? Tks
I'll look now - Thanks
Hi Tom - You did a real good job on the first verse! Go back and listen to the last lick of the verse - the one that repeats on every verse going back to the I change - You're missing the 2 hole blow. Otherwise, really good job!
Oooups! you're right, I'll try to add that, the rolling effect, the other side tongue bloc of the 1 hole. It's hard but usefull to progress! Thanks again
Built with so much intelligence, thanks for this gift! Let's go training now...
Thanks Tommy - I'm not so sure about the intelligence part :-)
So, It's 2 in the morning, I'd better stop trying to do it maybe... but I'm addicted to the groove! I share with you Mr ESTRIN the last sounds I've produced. I did my best not to bend too much - too false. I'm ready to read your precious comments, thank you in advance. Stay near from your harp, cause the warmth of the blues can treat your cough!
Tom
Hey Tom - Good job! One thing, on that last lick you're using a bent 2 draw in one spot where it should be a 2 blow. If you go back and listen, I'm sure you'll hear it.
For sure, I hear 2 harps playing together in this song...Rick, not any man is able to do all that staff alone... a good news: he will give us his secret in a few time!
This is the "magic" of the groove. It sounds like two harps, but is really one harmonica playing both "rhythm guitar" as well as "lead guitar".
Tongue blocking has a lot to do with creating that impression of 2 harps. Just remember, if any of this was really difficult, I couldn't do it!
Some Good weeks are coming... yehaa! ,-)
Hi Dennis,
I play on a golden melody and I have a question about the first all draw, With G harp, the reed hits the cover plate if I don't draw very softly. So when I play, I hear a "bell" ringing at the same time (sound of the reed chocking the plate). Can you tell me something about it?
Thanks,
Tom
That is likely due to the fact it is a lower key harp (G is pretty low, and this means the reed is longer/heavier) and the cover plates on Golden Melody harps are set up maybe just a tad too close to avoid this when played with any force. Obviously, playing softer is the best solution, since it is the best technique anyway, regardless of any cover plate issues with the reeds you may or may not have. The excess force is making the reed vibrate harder than it needs to and going up that extra fraction of an inch and hitting the cover plate. It is common with any of the lower-range harps on most harmonicas. However, this can be good practice for you for your breath control (although maybe a bit frustrating)
If you go back to the comments about 1st chorus lesson, You'll see (in plus than hear!) I made efforts to use your advices as far as I can...
Good job Thomas! All the licks are correct and you're getting good definition and articulation on the 2 draw! The only thing I'd suggest would be to focus a little more on the time of the little chords in between the licks. You're putting them in the right place, but in order to help those chords groove a little better, you need to pay attention to how long each chord is, and how sharply to cut it off.
Yes! I listened to your new recording of the first chorus (or verse) - Much better. My suggestions would be, try to play the the 3 blow a little softer and more casually. It's really a ghost note, so it shouldn't be emphasized as much as the 2 draw. My other suggestion would be to listen closely to places where I'm leaving spaces between the notes. The spaces help to keep the groove. And yes! Overall, much better!