Basic Blues Slide Exercise For Chromatic Harmonica

[MrSimonizo]

You are a genius!

[Levatron]

come back Jason. Where are you? I want to play blues on my G48W. However the high end notes don't work, out of the box new! How do I fix them without putting it out of tune. It was shipped to me from Japan via their new agent in Bangkok. 'Dont want to send it back to Japan. (I live in Pattaya Thailand). I love the dark tone of the Gregoire Maret and I am delighted to find that there are other guys out there like me. You are an inspiration. Keep up your YouTube presence. Thanks mate.

[banakula]

Love the last minute... nice

[MrNunotrindade]

Can you explain one thing? Can i play any kind of music with these Harmonica? All keys?

[MrNunotrindade]

Thanks... It's something like stevie wonder style. Right? The slide thing?

ps - G-48 Grégoire Maret Signature Model $769.95

[railandsea48]

Great....Just one thing..Is there any way to get rid of the clicks made by slide hitting stop?

[MrDacioss]

cool, i didn´t know a slide harmonica...nice to meet you....

[miloesskater]

You CANNOT sound like that on diatonic. I guaruntee you.

[mytlemeboy]

@miloesskater try Howard Levy. He doesn't need any button on the end of his iron . . .

[Savaril]

@miloesskater That's why real harmonica fans have both!

[miloesskater]

I was lucky. Got my first chromatic from a buddy for $30.00 The chromatic has a HUGE sound. Listen to "Five Long Years" by Kim Wilson. Or "Leavin Chicago" by George Harmonica Smith.

[kazhilly]

Thank You for your reply Elizabeth. I don't go through many harmonicas and I have no "junkers" laying about, and going to the manufacturer of my harmonica, Suzuki, it's virtually impossible to purchase the reeds Only, and I find it a total waste to spend a small fortune on spare reed-plates when I might only need the odd reed or two occasionally. Still, Thank You for Your ideas, I will keep hunting.

[ElizabethGS]

@kazhilly I hear you. But 'junkers' can be had for very little on EBay and if you try some of the websites and youtubes put up by harmonica repair people, they might suggest a good substitute reed for those you need. A mutual friend of ours is known for having once made a reed out of a razor blade (not that I would ever suggest it to others, lol). It's thinking outside the box. If you play chromatic, you might check out slidemeister's website for these kinds of discussions. Good info there. :)

[robblac]

loved that peice at the end, sound mate..

[silvermediastudio]

G48.. $700 instrument. Ouch. I'll stick with my Hohner Super Chromonica. A relative bargain at $150 haha.

Great tut.

[jckracing2]

@silvermediastudio $150 Ouch, I'll stick with my Hohner Blues Harp C, relative bargain at $30 haha.

[ElizabethGS]

@jckracing2 you're comparing apples to oranges. There IS no 'cheap' chromatic made by the major manufacturers. Even the chrometta (probably considered the cheapest) will cost far more than $30. So you stick to your diatonic, since that's not what this video is all about. Those who play chromatics use the slide to get the 'missing notes', and for the most part play full melodies on the instrument. You might give a listen to some chromatic players' vids. Many of them are good friends of Jason's.

[jckracing2]

@ElizabethGS Haha, I wasn't really comparing them. I just don't like the idea of shelling out 150 for a more symphonic sounding instrument. I can do just fine with a diatonic.

[kazhilly]

You are just a World Class Blues artist, Blues is just in Your blood... Amazing how You get "the feeling"...

Blues is not in my blood, I'm Not a fan of blues but... I'm VERY Impressed!!!

A Practical question, if You're answering; You simply Must go through some reeds the way You play "to the Max"... Any idea where Earthlings like me could get some spare reeds (not reed-plates, just the little metal strips themselves..)

Thanks for reading, Success with your Tours and stuff!!!!

[ElizabethGS]

@kazhilly actually, most people who replace reeds take them off 'junkers', or order extra reeds directly from the manufacturers. There are lots of YouTube vids and other info out there on how to make a reed fit (how to gap and tune them, etc).

[bjkaboom]

Hi!

You're really 'honkin' on that harp!

It appears to be 'very tight'......Is it box stock or 'touched(tightened-up) up' by you?

Nice presentation and learning tool!

Thanks!

[tuantank]

it's my appreciation

[62rome]

thanks boss cool sound...

[zapayeros]

Graeat Jason like ussually. Cheers from Asturias in the north of Spain. You are a Big musician. Thank you for the lessons.

Manuel

[chrishump1]

LOVE YOUR SLIDE FLUTTERS!

[chrishump1]

NICE PLAYING !

[thedebtsettler]

This guy's taken TOO many drugs.

[BobDeesh]

@thedebtsettler so what? u can get high TOO

[lightninrick]

@thedebtsettler

I try not to worry about how many drugs someone else is taking.

And anyway, what you hear when Jason plays is hard work and inspiration, not dope.

[silvermediastudio]

Man, I've been playing diatonic for a good 12 years, I'd like to think I'm decent, but guys who can jam across chords on the chromatic always impress. Thank you for these educational videos and all your fabulous music.

[patrickhazell]

@silvermediastudio

nothing to it--just base the chords on the bottom group of draw notes and then push in the slide and do the same thing--you'll automatically be in the 2nd key which will be 1/2 step higher. Playing Dm (dorian mode) blues on a chromatic harp is probably the easiest blues style to play on any type of harmonica. You simply push in the slide and you'll be playing in Ebm (again--the Dorian Mode).

[5280GadgetDoc]

Great Harp sound!!! Thanks for the tips. 

[BennoBlue]

awsome stuff! thing i like about the chromatic is its easier to do a tonic/dominant chord. cover 3 holes and toung block the center. you get the same 'big sound' effect as the tonic/octav, but with a slight variation.

[MAD4HARP]

Hey Jason, Is that Suzuki tweaked, or is it still stock? It sounds really loud and strong, very "horn like" .

[Hoopermazing]

This is a very interesting and informative video... but I think that I'm going to stick with the diatonic harp for blues. The chromatic harp doesn't seem to have as much "stank" on it as a diatonic one.

[MAD4HARP]

THANK YOU SO MUCH for all you videos. You are a great musician, and an excellent teacher!! These vids help immensely. Good luck at the B.M.A.s

[MUSIQUABOUCHE]

Salut Jason ,

here it's Greg from Montréal , Québec

Is it a C chromatic you practice on this video?

And how much do you buy it ? , and where , have you got or do you know a good plan for buying suzuki harmonica ?

Eh you like blues , go and see Mr Johny Maxime with his Saint louis jazzy quick blues?

Ciao from Canada

Thanks for you video and GR48 is really , really good?

[PistachioMoustachio]

@MUSIQUABOUCHE

"And how much do you buy it ? , and where , have you got or do you know a good plan for buying suzuki harmonica ?"

you know the little site called "google"??

[elfbeard]

"Broken Toy" is the most moving song. It's the centerpiece of "Done With The Devel." Moves me to tears. Thanks for all the great music!

[Bluefinger]

Hi,

I'm a bit confused ... you talk about octaves and covering two holes in the middle but apart from the c note blow all octaves on the cromatic are 5 holes apart. So do you play real octaves or the 5ths and 6ths you get with the two covered holes? I can't seem to open my mouth wide enough to put it over 5 holes but on my crappy PC speakers it sounds like you do ... hmmm

great playing and very helpful videos ...THANKS A LOT!

[kidwave1]

You are a satanist! FU

[ElizabethGS]

He is not a 'Satanist'...you are clueless. Take time to do a little research about what his background and philosophy is about before judging or STFU and go away.

[adeelies]

@ElizabethGS He may not be a satonist but he still has a satanic symbol on his profile

[ElizabethGS]

@adeelies..wrong again. It is NOT a 'satanic' symbol. (What's a satonist btw?) Again..READ what he writes on the subject before sounding off about a subject you don't understand. He discusses this on his blogs and website. J is very intelligent and well read. Perhaps you might become a bit more so?

IF you're talking about the pentacle or pentagram, why don't you look up the difference between what it means when it's upright (as in his case) or upside down. :)

[dcwinds]

I can see some guy in a fedora and trenchcoat walking by a streetlight in the rain....

[harmonicajazzcm]

Hi Jason !

I didn't that you play also chromatic !!!

[ElizabethGS]

on I think his first self-produced album he had one tune 'Cuttin' with the Button'...a chromatic number. Of course he didn't think it was good enough. That's Jason for you. Now he also plays a chord harmonica..and is doing amazing things on it, backing up other diatonic players at SPAH... extremely cool. He has an amazing ear and will probably eventually play every type of harmonica out of curiosity ...or sheer stubbornness. I'm waiting for him to take up the violin one of these days ;)

[barberof1965]

Kid, You are OFF THE HOOK! Great playing!!! Play diatonic........soon to be learning chromatic. Thanks!

[albertbox07]

Don't you dare rest in peace as well like the others you mention at the beginnning. This world needs you.

[captbw]

Always enjoy your stuff Jason....and now I'm really inspired to work, work on the chrom I"ve been toting around in my kit for years. Thanks so much

[harpmaniak]

Jason, love the tats! They fit well. Great video lesson but I wouldn't advise playing that way on an expensive chromatic. The reeds are delicate and will get damaged easily by over-blowing or over-sucking. At $600-700, keep it for jazz, classical, or blow/suck gently and fluidly. Best to you!

[rollychair]

Suzuki chroms are surprisingly good for the diatonic player unlike Super hohner chrom series. You're right on the reed issue, but the japs are good at their stuff, it should last.

[hillspring13]

Great vid, as usual from J. I learnt more in these 10 minutes on a G chrom than in the previous 2 years.

[timmy47]

cool vid. i hope to hear more chromatic playing from you.

[kevincanwait]

I have been messin with an old Chromonika III, 16 hole, and find you very helpful. I always have enjoyed your attention to detail and visual antics, too. Great drills and repetitive runs! I am a big believer in repetition, and commiting to cellular memory.

[SavantSvant]

Did he say "Swed" when she walked by?

[ElizabethGS]

he said 'Weed'...as Buckweed (Todd's nickname) walked by.

[SavantSvant]

@ElizabethGS Ok, thx for clearing that up! :D

[ElizabethGS]

SavantSvant: yvw ;)

[SavantSvant]

What does the akronym yvw mean, im sorry but i don't know!?

[ElizabethGS]

@SavantSvant: it means 'you're very welcome' :)

yw would be just: 'you're welcome'.

And I should clarify: He actually said 'that's Weed' ...but quickly, which is why you thought you heard 'Swede'.

[SavantSvant]

I guess you learn something new every day! :)

Thanks for the clarifycation! :)

Have a nice day, week, month, year, decade, life! :)

[ElizabethGS]

Thx :)

[Brunoaz2000]

Ricci, thank you so much once again. Miss hanging out with you and your band, you guys are great period!!! keep on inovating my friend!!!

[HarmonicaWeirdo]

What 93 93/93 means?

[hessonr]

To dumb it way down, he is offering a friendly hello/goodbye but more meaningful.

[neesnio]

i want to make a trade i have a suszuki 16 hole i think its missing a piece of its slide i threw it out of the wash basin on the boat/its like new i have good shit u should b able to fix it u can go to special horn places with chroms the way u like sax I cant go 4 that Hall&Oats listen 2 the horn part break it down now play it

[neesnio]

i PREFER THE long1S

U CAN VAMP MORE NOTES

CUT IT 2 THE BUTTON

gOOD jOB!

gOOD

[neesnio]

try "BandStand "

I have some other keys like f

"SummerTime"

just 4 the Hay

and with age u can add a beat with

pRACTICE

DO THAT cIRCUS sTUFF

gO joE mOE JOE

[jquint67]

Hey Jason, when r u coming to Oz ?

[Wharty]

Thanks Jason. I am just getting into Chrom as well and this helps trainloads. This harp has a very unique sound and you cannot hear the slide at all - nice action. I saw Clint Hoover in the mid 80's playing a CX which has a very unique sound as well. This is the neat thing about Chroms they all have their own sound where as the Diatonics all sound nearly the same with a few exceptions of coarse. Much of the tone has to do with the player as well. Peace and thanks again.

[dgrebin]

I played that model at SPAH... One of the nicest chroms out there...

[hachamacha]

Beautiful. You'll have chromatic wired by the time I type this. Great tone as always.

Thanks,

Hashi

[ajfedor]

Nice stuf Jason!!

A.J.

(SlideMeister)

[elkriverharmonicas]

You rule

[GenghisKhanOrmsby]

Thanks alot Jas. Gonna get a Chromatic

this xmas.

[moonshadow1970]

Thanks for the video I have an old hohner super chromatic. I have a blast playing it. Thanks for everything..

[captbw]

Very nice..thanks dude

[OptimusSkiver]

I think I'll start on one of those when I finally get the diatonic style down. I've seen chromatics used for really good classical music stuffs, so that has my interest. O.o

[trottleskeeze]

Cool! It makes me want to start chromatic harp!

[DannyGrease]

awesome video, thx, started chromatic too.....its alot harder to me, then my diatonics......

liked your red n black hair better, lol...dont mind...

Danny