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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 25, 2023 23:12:41 GMT
He finally realised how old and decrepid I am! An electrically heated hot water bottle. And an extra long hot water bottle. A sort of padded memory foam cushion to put between my knees in bed to keep my back and knees in line when lying on my side. And 7 different tins of shortbread biscuits. (I think I might have said sometime ago that you can't go wrong with shortbread biscuits ... ). Only music thingy is a double CD of Merry Hell who ww really enjoyed when we saw them in October in Portugal. Oh and a nice fleecy jumper with a guitar on the front. Next year I guess it will be a mobility scooter, raised toilet seat, walking frame and other mobility aids. Hey ho!! FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 21, 2023 8:50:36 GMT
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 20, 2023 16:47:08 GMT
Hi, Saw this image at the top of a Facebook Group (Fingerstyle Acoustic Guitar) and it brought a smile. I think in guitar terms I'm about second on the left ... FFJ Attachments:
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 18, 2023 13:01:52 GMT
Yes but I haven't inflicted on anyone yet! I'll need the 400 metre version if I do!
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 17, 2023 23:11:07 GMT
I'm informed that Dyson do a set of 'Noise cancelling Earphones' which are supplied at no extra cost to anyone buying the new Dyson Banjo. Best used by anyone who is unlucky enough to be within 200 metres of the player.
FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 6, 2023 13:34:47 GMT
Great to see such a variety of replies, not just some excellent songs, most of which were new to me, but some performers who I didn't know and will enjoy seeing more of.
Here's another from me; the song may be a bit familiar to some but not the singer who does his own take on it and has a really distinctive voice.
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 4, 2023 8:21:41 GMT
Lucinda Williams has a great voice doesn't she. I posted one up a short while ago on the Acoustic Cafe thread - Choctaw Bingo written by Ray Wylie Hubbard and sung by James McMurtry. To me the words have what I call resonance i.e their meaning seems to be fathomless. This Clay Pigeonsknocks me sideways every time I hear it. I deliberately don't play it much because what happens is that I keep on playing it and never tire of it. I first heard it sung by Ged Darby on here. Same thing as above really, one line gets me and then I realise that the song is full of lines with endless meaning. No matter how many times I listen to these there always seems to be another subtle meaning that encompasses something. A lot of Dylan and John Prine's stuff I could say the same about - but most people know about those I think. This is a great song and I remember Ged playing it as well, brilliant in his own inimatable way. For me it fulfills so many of the gret song ciriteria of which simplicity is key; nthng fancy, just a great lyric and melody. Thanks for reminding me of this. FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Dec 3, 2023 17:42:41 GMT
Isn't it great when you stumble across a less well known song/performance and it just grabs you. Here's one I found a couple of weeks ago which I can't stop listening to. OK, so the subject is a bit dark, but its sung as a sort of love song to someone who lost their way. MCC's (one of my favorite singers) harmony is just spot on as is the whole performance , including the non-flashy guitar interlude.
What are your 'lesser known' songs/performances that you think are just great?
FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Nov 23, 2023 8:23:56 GMT
I've dabbled on and off with harmonica over the years, but I find the diatonic a bit limiting (I'm too used to fully chromatic instruments). I looked to getting a chromatic but they are very expensive! At one point I shelled out on a Seydel, quite expensive and I found it didn't sound any better than my cheap and cheerful House of Marbles I bought from a gift shop. I think its actually a Hohner special 20 in disguise! I might just pick up that cheap harp again sometime ... This may sound the most naive question/observation ever posed here, but as a total newbie I came to the conclusion that if I ONLY want to play harmonica at the same time as playing guitar (i.e. as part of the accompaniment of the song) then a chromatic guitar is not a consideration as you need ne hand to press the button if you are paying in a different key to the chromatic instrument you have bought. Thus, the only option is diatonic, and that means buying quite a few of them. If I've totally missed the point on this please tell me and I may then sell the diatonics I've bought and settle for one chromatic. (But I do need both hands to play guitar and also need to play in numerous different keys). And of course I've now found out there are minor key diatonics as well; and loads of others. Luckily I need to just learn the basics at this stage. FLJ aka FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Nov 18, 2023 13:56:28 GMT
Visually a 1,000% improvement on Martin; but a banjo is still a banjo.
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Nov 14, 2023 18:28:38 GMT
I've been playing harp ( diatonic & chromatic) for over 50 years in various musical genres, so feel qualified to add some pointers..do not give up, this instrument is so versatile & portable & great fun once you master a few basics.. 1.Not sure if you read music (the dots) if you do, then stick with vamping along to simple chord sequences & melodies of your favourite songs in straight harp..i.e. the harp is in the same key you're playing the guitar in..this is what Springsteen/Dylan/N.Young have done & none of them are particularly great harp players... 2. if you're not a sight reader, then you must use your ears, they are your best friends... 3. ditch the guitar (initially) to practice harp exclusively alongside your favourite songs/melodies perhaps on a CD player/internet videos or similar...start slowly, repeat/practice/repeat/practice... 4.assuming you have the 10 hole diatonic style, practice the simple blow/suck chords covering holes 1.2.3 without effort, having no tension in your breathing/throat or tongue...the relaxed breathing should come from your diaphragm not your lungs;that way you will not run short of air! 5.ditch the guitar 6.once you can successfully played a simple melody on any keyed harp like "when the saints go marching in" or even "silent night" very popular next month, then go online & research/look at Adam Gussow's videos where you will learn more advanced techniques ( playing in 2nd or blues position/tongue blocking/chordal & single note runs) 7.ditch the guitar 8.once you have mastered & really learned the basics, you may then start to expand by playing along with your favourite stringed instrument... thousands of really good guitarists out there.....very few versatile harp players playing in all the styles... Bonne chance Thanks very much for your comprehensive reply and I must say that, after a few days, there is little in it I could disagree with. I suppose I hoped that I could learn to play the harp at a basic level alongside the guitar together but have already abandoned that to a large extent. I will try the odd obvious ones just to keep me interested but your 'ditch the guitar' message is loud and clear (that is whilst playing the harp). I suppose the only thing which I would point out is that I have no real intention of becoming an 'advanced' player; I feel at age 77 it is much too late for that. Learning something totally new at this age is pretty daunting anyway. I envy your 50 years though. I'm using YouTube quite a bit so far, looking at backing tracks etc so that I can concentrate purely on the harp. Early days, will give it 3 months and hope it sinks in in gradually. I know regular practice is key. Once again, thanks very much for taking the time. FFJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Nov 13, 2023 19:05:25 GMT
Thanks for all your help and useful comments. I guess Bernd's suggestions are very sound; learn to play the damn thing without the neck thingie before you try to do them both. After a few goes I think he's right; getting single notes without being hands-on is tough. But at the same time I want to play something with Harp as filler rather than solo, at which point perhaps getting a perfect single note may be less vital. So I think a compromise will be the best plan; practice a bit of both and see what wins. If its neither then there's some cheap harmonica stuff coming up for sale.... FLJ
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Nov 10, 2023 17:27:43 GMT
When I first started playing the harmonica back in the 80s, I found it extremely helpful to walk around the house doing housework or whatever while playing the harmonica in the rack. It helped me get very comfortable with it and was instrumental in my skill development. I can only play the harmonica in a rack though, take it out and I have no idea what to do... What a clever idea; I'd never have thought of that. To me its the biggest barrier to get over as its so unusual to do anything where your hands aren't in control. I think I'd have to do it whilst Jill is out as I'd feel a bit of a prat and hope no-one comes to the door but I'll give it a go. J
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Nov 10, 2023 12:01:50 GMT
I don't play harmonica much any more but when I learnt I got to a place where I was pleased - I could play music. I had a C Hohner and back then there was only a book by Tony Glover on Blues Harp. I learnt a couple of tunes/licks from records: an intro at the beginning of a song from the Woody Guthrie tribute concert at Carnegie Hall LP - I learnt to bend notes, and Oh Suzanna. Along with a prescribed 12 bar I played those two tunes an awful lot and learnt that - it's a musical instrument, it's not the instrument that is complicated/difficult/tricky, it's the music. i.e. you can play Oh Suzanna with a different emphasis or different pace every time. For the last few years I've been playing in a duo and have found it quite easy to put in a little fill between verses on a song. You don't have to tune them or change strings and it's probably good for the brain cells, what's not to like as they say. I found it very pleasing when I got a little success with it. Thanks. I think you have to be careful not to get lost in all the nuances at first; e.g. playing in 2nd and 3rd position, overblowing, tonguing (there I go again, not rude comments) etc. Naively I just thought you blew and sucked but its a wee bit more complicated than that. I'll see how it goes; you never know there may be a full set of stuff for sale on this forum in about 3 months!
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Nov 10, 2023 11:58:06 GMT
I'm a very infrequent harmonica player. I know where the three blues chords are, and I know a couple of vague licks, but generally I just use the harmonica as another colour in my songs. Back in the day I used to play it on a rack - still just as an extra colour, rather than as a proper instrument - and the two things that I did that made the world of difference to me were (a) use a vice to bend the main legs of the harmonica rack up a bit, and (b) wraps lots of electrical tape around the bit where the harp sits. The former was because whenever I leaned forward to blow into the harp it always moved away from me... bending the legs meant I can more easily reach the darn thing. And (b) because even when I could reach it the harp would slip and slide around in the metal jaws. This all depends on the rack you've bought, of course. Back when I bought mine this was about all that was on offer: View AttachmentThanks for the advice; Re the rack, that's exactly what I found, the cheap one I bought first just wasn't long or flexible enough. So, having read some reviews I invested in a Hohner FlexRack which is brilliant; very adjustable, much better round the neck and you can alter the angle of the Harmonica in the holder as well. The adjustment has a ratchet which, once you've tightened it, won't move. Pretty expensive new but got a good 2nd hand one on ebay; worth every penny. Attachments:
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