The "essence" of picking the right harmonica

[joch230]

How you can remember all those scales for each position....you're like the Rain Man with numbers if you saw that movie. I guess you are the Rain Man of harp or something like that....in a good way of course!

[harpmonkey]

Chris,

Folks like you, Adam Gusso, Jason Ricci, Paul Lassy, Christelle, Hakan Ehn, Ronnie Shellist, John Gindick and many others, show us the short path of the long road.

Many people don't realize the time and effort that used to go into building the relationship with the masters before ever geting a nugget of gold to work with.

cont...

[harpmonkey]

Woodshedding is find, but if you spend hours learning a technique and bad habits, that can block effective progression, You guys bring us in and show us the real deal. If someone wants instant pretty and entertainmant, let them buy a shrink wrap CD, if they want your hear and your soul, they gotta meet you at the crossroads.

Thanks to you all, and all who have gone on.

[jasonricci]

Unbelievable! You fuckin' RULE!

[chrismichalek]

shut up dude! the playing and intonation is questionable at best. LOL

[baobazz]

a major demonstration of one of the many aspects of polytonality on a richter harmonica!

[eawid]

Hey chris, you need to upload another youtube video explaining what kind of lesson you offer, it would be better if you give some sneak peak to each curriculum. ;)

[chrismichalek]

lessons and curriculum are tailored to the student. What I usually do is listen to the student and examine the foundation of playing. How's the tone? Intonation? Technique? Phrasing etc.... we work on those things. My goal is to help the player be the best player he/she can be regardless of style.

[chromaticfarmer]

My mother always used to say: "never show a fool half finished work". So you must be hoping we aren't fools?

You sound good in all the keys/positions so i think this is more like choosing flavors of ice cream. But it's fun to hear you work through these different keys.

[chrismichalek]

that's something I subscribe to but this is about building a relationship with viewers, and like any great relationship you have to expose yourself for greater growth.

[chromaticfarmer]

i like to think i am not a fool, so don't worry on my account. i love your videos. Though not sure that proves my point?

[oxharp]

Hi Chris

What advice would you give to someone who has only been at it 16 months and cannot overblow yet but loves this track. I sort of can play along simply with the Eb trying to get a simple melody in 3 octaves but it is really hard. It has broadened my outlook on the harp and I love this groove the way it floats along makes me feel really relaxed and I get lost in the melody.

[chrismichalek]

Hi Oxharp,

practice scales and fundamental technique. As of yesterday, I'm set up to give online lessons via skype so that may be a good option for you too. Keep plugging away, the harmonica isn't easy to play but it sounds awesome!! Thank you for joining the rest of us in this craziness.

[chrismichalek]

WOW!!! I really can't stand the playing here. So many mistakes and intonation issues. Oh well. LOL

[johnnieharp]

Yet this sort of thing is invaluable for viewers. We gain perspective on the process. Many of us will spend most of our playing time in this quagmire. So to see videos of you, adam, and jason with mistakes left in, then getting to see examples of your work as you clean things up or when viewing at a gig, gives us both perspective and hope in being able to accomplish what we'd like to. Much better than a perfectly played piece in a lesson, I think.

Thanks so much for posting this. JH