My El Pescadoro pre-amp/reverb effect pedal is plugged straight into my interface( Apogee Duet2), the mic is a JT30 with a vintage Brush crystal element. Backing track in the key of G, the harp is a BenBouman custom harp, key of C ( =- 2nd position). No effects, the harp sound comes from the mic+ El Pescadoro.
Information about the El Pescadoro on:
https://www.thenocturnebrain.com/products/el-pescadoro-reverberant-hot-preamp

The backing track lasts 7 min. 18 ...so, ENJOY !

El Pescadoro Slow Blues In G    C Harp

This is meant as a practice on how to turn a basis lick into a better sounding lick by repeating it 18 times, every time with minor variations. 
I use techniques like tongue-blocking, tongue-slaps, double note bending, chugging, changing the rhythm/groove, add 1 or 2 notes, skip 1 or 2 notes and many little things that are so helpful when you want to sound different/better. All techniques are also useful on any other lick/riff/melodies that you play.
First, try to focus on listening to the details.
Here are the single notes that I use to build the lick 
A harp: 
-3  -3  -3"  -2  2  -1   -3   -3   -3"   -2   2  -1  -2-2  22  -2-2  22  -2-2  22  -2
Enjoy!
For online lessons, you can contact me at ben@harmonicainstituut.nl

Have fun!! 
BenBoumanBlues

Lick Variations Practice - A Harp

1 Hole Draw -blow Bendings A Harp - holes 1 to 10 Practice

This is how I love to play/use my draw and blow bendings. I start on hole 1 and play a lick with bendings in it. Next, I repeat most of the lick on hole 2 and from there I work up to hole 10. I'm ending this with some random licks.
It is not about precise semitone bending, it is about the tone that you create with a bending and that's a personal thing. Think of it as finding your own "voice" on the harmonica.
Have fun!!
BenBoumanBlues

1 Hole Draw -blow Bendings A Harp - holes 1 to 10

Collaboration from Whiskey Bob Shaker ( guitar/vocals) and BenBoumanBlues ( harmonica) on a song from Nick Cave, called: Red Right Hand. 
For the harpplayers : Harmonica in the key of A, played in 3rd position.
Harmonica recording: JT30 mic with a vintage Brush crystal element, into the  pre-amp ( KingBee) straight into Apogee Duet2 interface/iMac.

Red Right Hand - Whiskey Bob Shaker and BenBoumanBlues

I love a bluesharp with a vintage amplified tone. This song is recorded with my El Pescadoro pre-amp ( = tone shaper) straight into my interface into my iMac. The pre-amp has a very cool sounding reverb section, based on the reverbs as used in the Chess studios. 
Backing track: key of A, mastered to a more vintage sound. 
Harmonica: key of A= 1st position.
Title: ET blues ( Eddy Taylor style blues).
DAW: Reaper

Enjoy,
BenBoumanBlues

ET Blues Key Of A - A Harmonica 1st Position

This is a recording, made for players who want to work on playing a simple theme, repeat it, make small changes and use a 2nd lick/theme to highlight the recording.
It is based on the lick that I play in the first 12 bars. Key of E, A harmonica ( = 2nd position). It starts with an amplified sound.
For the next part of the song, you will hear me moving up in small steps to use more of hole 3 ( draw bends), next based around hole 4, followed by 5 draw and (YES you can) 5 draw bend almost a semi-tone. It ends on hole 6 with the powerful use of the draw bend on that hole. 
The middle part of the song is again back to the basics but this time acoustic. To finish off the song I go back to how I started, amplified and finish the final bars with a bit more power and a different timing/groove.
During the whole song, I focused on playing relaxed/lazy, a little behind the beat to create tension and groove.
I also took care of having some breaks between the licks to keep it simple.
I'm calling this one: Beer and a snack Blues... you'll need that because this slow blues lasts almost 10 minutes.
 Please send me a PM to contact me for more information, for lessons ( online- Zoom or SKYPE) or whatever question you may have about harmonica playing, tone-building, breathing techniques,bending....and ..

Home-recording: 
My El Pescadoro pre-amp , straight into a Apogee Duet2 interface, into my iMac. 
Acoustic mic: upgraded Rode NT1A
Mic /amped: JT30 - vintage Brush crystal element
Harmonica: Custom Seydel Lightning - key of A.

Enjoy!
BenBoumanBlues

Slow Blues E Minor A Harp Amped And Acoustic

Here's a non-scientific test.. I used 3 customized ( by me) A harps, all with steel reeds, 3 different comb materials. I played the same lick/same volume/ same cupping technique. If anyone can let me know which comb materials I used, and you're correct, I'll give away a custom Seydel 1847 Lightning. So, let your ears be the judge!

3 Different Combs -harps - Key Of A - Same Lick

Here's a recording ( played on a A harp) that shows what chugging can do when you play..it gives more body, more rhythm, more groove, more variation= more structure. It is not about precisely played chords, it is all about using "sounds" to create a rhythm. Things like breathing noises, throat clicks, and more that make the chugging fuller/richer sounding.
I start with a foot stomp,  2x 4 beats and I start on the 4 ... to create a certain groove right from the beginning. I tried to stick to this groove by using mini-breaks, syncopated notes, and more. 
Questions? 
I offer online lessons ( Zoom or Skype).

have fun,
Ben

Steady

Here's an exercise in only using draw notes and bendings on a C harp. The purpose of this exercise is to disturb your coordination and therefore forcing you to use different licks/breathing patterns.

Only Draw Notes C Harp  Blues In G

This "walking blues "is played on a custom Seydel 1847 Lightning X-treme harp in the key of A, 2nd position, blues in the key E.
For 99% of the time, I only used the first 5 holes and only in the ending lick 2 notes on 6 blow, sorry for that :-)
Imagine what can be done when I use all 10 holes...

Stroll Through The Park

This recording was made to be study material for my harmonica students. But it turned to be that nice that I decided to have it on my 1st CD. Still, feel free to steal my licks, study my licks, recreate my groove, my melody.
The wonderful backing track van be found on: 
https://jimilee.com/jam-tracks, the title is: Two beat country in E.
I used one of my custom Seydel 1847 harps in the key of A 
Feel free to contact me online for lessons, custom harmonicas and more!
BenBoumanBlues

The Country Of The Blues

This week it is a lick that only is played on the draw holes 1, 2 and 3.
It is a fast shuffle based lick, here are the tabs:

-2"   -2  -3'   -2   -1   -2"(!!)  -1   -1'   -1   -2"(!!)  -1    -3'   -2  

Where you see -2"(!!) means that I play the -2" draw bend and 2 times release the bending very quick/short. This is done with a little jaw-movement, like chewing :-))
Also: the -3' is done very light, more like playing the -3' and almost immediately let it bend up to almost -3 unbent.

I play the lick twice, next you can hear the slow version, followed by a little freestyle jamming , using the lick as my basic lick/rhythm.

Have fun!!

For on-line lessons through SKYPE you can contact me by sending me a PM or an email to: ben  at  harmonicainstituut.nl

Lick Of The Week #5

Here is a lick on a harmonica in the key of A that shows how important a controlled bending on hole 5 draw can be. I use that a lot because it has that "magic" touch. 
The tabs are: -3"   -3  -4   -5   -5'  -4  (-4 -slide: -5 -4 -3   -3 ) 4  -4  -3   3/6 blow octave .
Be aware that on 5 draw it is not a semi-tone bend. It is "almost" a semi-tone bend so do not force to get the semi-tone. It is supposed to sound like a "blue note".

The track starts with a slowed down version of the lick, followed by me playing the lick on a backing track. I repeat the lick during 12 bars and next start a solo, based on the lick. As so often i use one of Jimi Lee's wonderful backingtracks!

When you try to play along with me please listen how I try to maintain "lazy" playing. Most of the notes that I play start a little behind the beat to create a relaxed feeling/groove.

Feel free to contact me about lessons, online lessons( SKYPE) etc.

have fun!!
Ben Bouman

Lick Of The Week # 6 + Backingtrack

Lick of the week #8

This time it is all about a 3 note lick, repeated all over the harmonica. With the lick in mind try to hear/feel that you are following the chord progression in a standard 12 bar blues. Because it is played using all 10 holes this will improve your understanding of the layout of the harp and for sure improve your coordination.
It is played on a A harp, the backing track in the key of E is as usual from Jimi Lee ( fabulous tracks!).

The lick has the same note distance no matter where you play it on the harp and creates a nice "mood" when repeated.
It is: starting note + 3 semitones + 2 semitones + starting note repeated.

The exercise is 3x12 bars, followed by a solo based on this lick.

Here are the tabs :
-1   -2"  -2   -1  (4x)
-2   -3'   4    -2 (2x)
-1   -2"  -2   -1  (2x)
-3"  4    -4   -3"
-2   -3'   4    -2 
-1   -2"  -2   -1 (2x)

-4   -5   6   -4 ( 4x)
6    6ob  7    6 (2x)
-4   -5   6   -4 ( 2x)
-6   7   -8    -6
6    6ob  7    6
-4   -5   6   -4 (2x)

-8   -9   10   -8 ( 4x)
9   10"   10    9 (2x)
-8   -9   10   -8 ( 2x)
-10   10   10 (!)  -10 ( ! because we miss hole 11 :-) . 
9   10"   10    9 
-8   -9   10   -8 ( 2x)

Have fun!!
Feel free to contact me about on-line lessons!
Ben Bouman

Lick Of The Week #8

This is still one of the best harmonica songs I've ever heard. I listened to it many times and it still amazes me. Beautiful tone and phrasing.  Dave Therault is ( as far as I know) a trombone player and that is what I hear right away.
Enjoy!
Ben Bouman

Harp L Four                  

The Deb- Dave Therault

13 x 12bar blues in E, A harmonica. I only used the holes 1-2 and 3 with all possible bendings, no overblow on hole 1. I recorded this to show how you can make more use of micro-bendings. Not the regular semi-tone bends but sometimes a bit more, sometimes less.  No tabs because it is so much better to listen and hear what happens. Try to hear what I do with different grooves/rhythm changes. Try to understand why I repeated some licks, why I played only the root note for 12 bars ( 2 draw and 3 blow!!). Since we all have to stay home I'm sure you can find time to listen/analyze and play along with this practice. And....have fun with it !

Lick of the week #15 -Holes 1-2-3   12 Bar Blues - Key Of E - A Harp

I created this track in the Ableton Live DAW. 
The harmonica part was recorded acoustic and fed into a vocal synthesizer to create a new sound. I used a bass and synth sample and worked on some drum samples to create a background/rhythm.

Haunted House

Restricted playing: while playing in 2nd position on an A harp ( backing track in the key of E) it is a good practice to learn to make use of all possible notes on hole 1.  Hole 4 is the same as hole 1 but 1 octave up. 
I didn't incorporate the overblows on holes 1 and 4.
Possible notes are 1 and 4 blow, 1 and 4 draw bend (semitone), and 1 and 4 draw.
But.. I also used so-called micro bendings.. not a semi-tone but bendings played in small steps. You can do that your likings.
Of course short breaks, vibrato, tremolo, different breathing techniques/embouchures, rhythmic patterns, timing changes... all things to practice.

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