Author Topic: New Members - Introduce yourselves! (Read 328162 times)

S.o.S. · « **on:** June 30, 2007, 11:21:27 PM »

Hello new members! Welcome to SlideMeister! Here is a good place to say hello and maybe tell us a little something about yourself. Don't fret, we really are a pretty friendly mob.

Granville · « **Reply #1 on:** July 27, 2007, 11:58:42 AM »

I’ve asked a few questions before introducing myself, sorry about that. I’m just starting to understand music and I chose to learn the chromatic harmonica because I like its special way of going from melancholic to comic in the middle of a phrase. Thanks for setting up this forum. I’ve already received some good advice from the old hands. I play on a wood comb in Canada, so I’m probably in for a lot of trouble…..

SlideMeister · « **Reply #2 on:** October 16, 2007, 12:16:08 AM »

Always good to see the "newbies" both showing up and getting "vocal." For the record, there are no dumb questions.
There's an old saying that says something like: "It's better ask questions and feel like a fool for a minute, than to never ask questions and be a fool for life."

Looking back, the one thing I regret is having to figure everything out myself. (Which is probably why I still do so many things wrong) I've been playing for over fifty years, and I'm sure having someone around with an instruction here and there over the years would have made a big difference in how I play today.

We're all here to help!

Age

Eugene Ryan · « **Reply #3 on:** October 16, 2007, 07:56:12 AM »

Hey 'mesiters,

I've just checked out the meistermaps - hadn't spotted it before. That's a really nice feature, putting "places with the faces".

Actually, the whole forum is pretty resilient and nifty in general, isn't it? Well done, fellas.

Eugene

SlideMeister · « **Reply #4 on:** October 16, 2007, 11:38:51 PM »

Eugene and others,

Thanx! Here's a good place to add this: If any of you folks think of a feature you'd like to see here on SlideMeister, drop me a note at: site@SlideMeister.com and we'll consider incorporating it, IF:
1. It can actually be done - and
2. It's a feature we can find for nothin' - and
3. If we can figure how how to make it work !

Hey the worst that can happen is we won't be able to do it (and even that can change, as new modules and plug-ins become available all the time) We're not all that good, but we're learning all the time

Age

Gnarly He Man · « **Reply #5 on:** November 22, 2007, 03:20:15 PM »

Boy, my best advice is to find a mentor, 'cause nothing beats experience. My second piece of advice is to play as much as you can, for the same reason!
Gary

Gnarly He Man · « **Reply #6 on:** November 24, 2007, 01:23:13 PM »

Campfire songs are cool on the harp, but because short harp has missing notes, can be frustrating. I have taken to retuning harps because of this--something you obviously are not ready to do!
Chromatic is an acceptable substitute for your purpose--but then you miss the chords, so what can you do?
Maybe try a Melody Maker by Lee Oskar--that reverses the draw/blow pattern, but gives you missing notes. It makes a C harp into a G harp, so if you have a C already, getting a MM G (which is truly mostly a C harmonica, with a few notes retuned) would give you another key to play in. The MM is played like crossharp, but because of the retuning, puts you in a major key. And the chords are great!
Gary

Scotty · « **Reply #7 on:** November 24, 2007, 05:49:15 PM »

Quote from: Yoshi on October 14, 2007, 03:16:49 AM

Hi My Name is Yoshi; I live in Stockton, California. I am a programmer by profession but always kept music playing as my hobby ever since I was 12. I play some piano, guitar, and trumpet. But, about 2 years ago, I heard Toots and his music, and moved me to start playing the Chromatic.

Ever since then, I mostly only listen to Toots CD. I saw him once in a concert. And, next week, I am excited that I will see him again when he comes to San Francisco.

Unlike those days I kept trying to purchase new synthesizer every time new one comes out (but cannot afford), I am glad that harmonica costs lot less. I kept buying all that I wanted to try so far. Mostly Hohner (MellowTone, Hardbopper, Super-64 (silver, gold, 64x), 270-Delux), and some of the others (Suzuki and Sydel). But, after trying various instruments, I realized what Dick Gardner from Harmonicats once said was in fact true. It is basically the player and the technique that make it unique, not the harmonica. Of course, the tones on different instruments do sound little different. But, majority is in the playing.

I am only a novice but I really love the harmonica. I carry it around all the time. I play it every little time I can find (in the car, in the elevator....etc) I wish I met Toots' music and knew harmonica when I was younger. Having busy job and the family, it is hard to find enough time to practice.

I am half Chinese and half Japanese, and was born in Japan. I met one Chromatic Harmonica teacher in Japan twice when I visited there. And, seeing from other Japanese Web Pages, I see that there are more interests, Instructors, Festival, web pages, seminar, association about Chromatic than in U.S. Also, there are many Jazz Club type places where amateur musician gather and just jam around freely. I once played at place like that and it was very enjoyable. I do not see that around here.

I was very happy to discover Slidemaester.com last year. But, I see that most activities are in East Coast. Is there anything like this in West Coast?

In a meantime, I will be enjoying going through your pages and forums.

Thanks for hosting web site like this, and for many enthusiastic contributors.

Yoshi

Hi Yoshi: I only just now saw your post..don't know why, but i don't always see the posts when they're first onlist

...you're right about Asia having far more chromatic players than here. However..the gathering in groups to play spontaneously, is something that occurs at our several Conventions..I just got back from the Garden State Harmonica Convention in New Jersey (I live in NY), and this is the most appealing part of it for many of the attendees. The Buckeye Convention in April (in Ohio), and the Annual SPAH Convention (2008 will be in St. Louis, Missouri), are all similar. I haven't been to the other conventions: Virginia hosts an annual one, and SPAH was held in Denver in 2006, Milwaukee in 2007. I don't have a close enough harmonica club in my area either, but amn't particularly interested in the rules and regulations of a club...most of them seem as though they're run a tad too rigidly for my taste...I like the idea of people gathering in groups and playing whatever comes to mind, such as you describe. Or the guitarist/other accompanist suggests songs and the rest of us go along...that's such fun. Garden State is the first Convention I've been able to drive to...for all the rest I've had to fly - and this was my 7th in 3 years...so they really aren't all convenient for us East Coast players. If you'd like, I'll put an inquiry onto harp-l to see if there are any chromatic players who know of places to go in Stockton/San Francisco and get back to you if I hear from any.

P.S. Did you get to see Toots?
Elizabeth (a/k/a Scotty)

chuck f · « **Reply #8 on:** November 28, 2007, 12:03:25 AM »

Hi, My name is Chuck Fehl and I live in Montello, Wisconsin. I am retired from Verizon Telephone, and I teach Economics at a local college during the Fall semester. For the rest of the winter, my wife and I go down to Aransas Pass, Texas with our fifth wheel. I bought my first harmoniica about a year ago just to fool around with some other retirees in Texas. And now I am addicted to the tin sandwich. I play chess on-line and practice the harmonica at the same time. My harmonica playing is improving but my chess game isn't. It won't be long before I will be asking all kinds of dumb questions about chromatics......Regards, chuck

Scotty · « **Reply #9 on:** November 28, 2007, 02:52:26 PM »

Quote from: Chuck F on November 28, 2007, 12:03:25 AM

Hi, My name is Chuck Fehl and I live in Montello, Wisconsin. I am retired from Verizon Telephone, and I teach Economics at a local college during the Fall semester. For the rest of the winter, my wife and I go down to Aransas Pass, Texas with our fifth wheel. I bought my first harmoniica about a year ago just to fool around with some other retirees in Texas. And now I am addicted to the tin sandwich. I play chess on-line and practice the harmonica at the same time. My harmonica playing is improving but my chess game isn't. It won't be long before I will be asking all kinds of dumb questions about chromatics......Regards, chuck

Hi Chuck...nice to 'meet' you, and ...there ARE no dumb questions about chromatics

Elizabeth (a/k/a Scotty)

Gnarly He Man · « **Reply #10 on:** December 24, 2007, 07:32:02 PM »

I believe, as do others here, that the car is a great place to make harmonica music, especially when getting started. Welcome!
Gary

Gene D · « **Reply #11 on:** January 16, 2008, 05:00:34 PM »

You should do well with your instructor. Frank Halovanic is an excellent chromatic player. If he can teach anyway near as well as he plays, you should do very well.

Regards, Gene Dodson

jazmaan · « **Reply #12 on:** February 10, 2008, 10:26:34 PM »

Hello everyone! This is my very first post on SlideMeister! I'm sure many of you know me from Harp-L. Recently I've been trying to wrap my little pea brain around the standard solo tuned chromatic, having experimented in the past with exotic tunings hoping they might be "easier" than solo-tuned chromatic. But I've found that there is no perfect tuning - every tuning has its plusses and minuses, so I figured I might as well stop avoiding the work and dig into standard solo tuning.

I'm lucky enough to live just 5 minutes away from a truly underrated MASTER of jazz chromatic - Michael Polesky. Maybe someday I'll be 1/100th the player he is! But as Confucious say: A journey of 1000 miles begins with one step. So here I am, and any starter tips will be appreciated.

I know where the notes are, and I can read sheet music well enough to get started. Today I sat down and diagrammed out the midrange major pentatonic scale in all 12 keys. Just six notes per octave in the middle of the harp. In the key of C its just C, D, E, G, A, C. Sounds simple right? And yet I find there are so many different ways to play those 12 little pentatonics because of enharmonics on the chromatic. D and G were blessedly simple, just one way to play D pentatonic and one way to play G. Two ways each for A, B, Eb, Gb, and E pentatonics. Three ways for Bb and Ab. Four ways for C# pentatonic. Six ways to play F pentatonic. And NINE ways to play C pentatonic scale!

Add them all together and you get the intimidating prime number 37! Lord what have I got myself into? Do I have to learn every scale, major, minor, dominant, bebop, altered, etc. thirty-seven different ways?

Gnarly He Man · « **Reply #13 on:** February 10, 2008, 11:21:41 PM »

Hey man, welcome aboard--
I must strongly disagree that standard is better--I made the switch to bebop about a year ago, and it rules. Surely you must have tried that one?
It sure makes it easier for me to play in all 12 keys.
Look forward to exchanging ideas about things harmonic!
Gary

jazmaan · « **Reply #14 on:** February 10, 2008, 11:44:48 PM »

Actually bebop tuning is one I haven't had the opportunity to try yet. Bill Barrett is a great local player who swears by it. But Mike Polesky plays standard solo tuning and he is actually more of a "bebop" jazz player than Bill is!

Gnarly He Man · « **Reply #15 on:** February 10, 2008, 11:51:27 PM »

Yeah, it was hearing Bill that convinced me, but after trying it, I have converted most of mine to that tuning--it replaces the redundant C with a series of enharmonics that really make the harp more chromatic--gotta watch out for that C7 chord tho :'(
Gary
PS What I mean is, draw 3 with button is Bb, but so is blow 4--blow 4 with the button is B, but so is draw 4--draw 4 with button is C, but so is blow 5.

jazmaan · « **Reply #16 on:** February 11, 2008, 12:31:34 PM »

Quote from: A.J.Fedor on February 10, 2008, 11:56:52 PM

Hi Jazzman!
This is a cool subject. I'm gunna move it over (as "Tunings") to the "General" board. See ya there!

age

PS
that's a baaad hat ya got there!

Umm, that's not me in the blue hat - that's Bootsy Collins! I'm on the left in the black beret blowing a harmonica!

Gnarly He Man · « **Reply #17 on:** February 11, 2008, 12:59:00 PM »

Hat still bad--just more conservative

I am trying to wear hats everywhere now as my hair has become unattractive--and hats are cheaper than haircuts

Gary

SlideMeister · « **Reply #18 on:** February 11, 2008, 07:11:44 PM »

Umm, that's not me in the blue hat - that's Bootsy Collins! I'm on the left in the black beret blowing a harmonica!

In that case we both got baaad hats! I got one just like that!

Age

smojoe · « **Reply #19 on:** February 14, 2008, 09:28:20 PM »

Damp Sneaker...you could try practicing sax on a bridge. That's how I did my trumpet.
Big Mike...Frank Halovanic is practically family. He worked in My grandfather's mill alongside my mother's brother.
Jazzman...You should pick Mike Polesky's brain. He knows stuff even HE doesn't know he knows.

smo-joe

S.o.S. · « **Reply #20 on:** February 14, 2008, 11:20:36 PM »

Quote from: smojoe on February 14, 2008, 09:28:20 PM

He knows stuff even HE doesn't know he knows.

That's hilarious!!

Scotty · « **Reply #21 on:** February 16, 2008, 06:40:18 PM »

Quote from: jazmaan on February 10, 2008, 10:26:34 PM

Hello everyone! This is my very first post on SlideMeister! I'm sure many of you know me from Harp-L. Recently I've been trying to wrap my little pea brain around the standard solo tuned chromatic, having experimented in the past with exotic tunings hoping they might be "easier" than solo-tuned chromatic. But I've found that there is no perfect tuning - every tuning has its plusses and minuses, so I figured I might as well stop avoiding the work and dig into standard solo tuning.

I'm lucky enough to live just 5 minutes away from a truly underrated MASTER of jazz chromatic - Michael Polesky. Maybe someday I'll be 1/100th the player he is! But as Confucious say: A journey of 1000 miles begins with one step. So here I am, and any starter tips will be appreciated.

I know where the notes are, and I can read sheet music well enough to get started. Today I sat down and diagrammed out the midrange major pentatonic scale in all 12 keys. Just six notes per octave in the middle of the harp. In the key of C its just C, D, E, G, A, C. Sounds simple right? And yet I find there are so many different ways to play those 12 little pentatonics because of enharmonics on the chromatic. D and G were blessedly simple, just one way to play D pentatonic and one way to play G. Two ways each for A, B, Eb, Gb, and E pentatonics. Three ways for Bb and Ab. Four ways for C# pentatonic. Six ways to play F pentatonic. And NINE ways to play C pentatonic scale!

Add them all together and you get the intimidating prime number 37! Lord what have I got myself into? Do I have to learn every scale, major, minor, dominant, bebop, altered, etc. thirty-seven different ways?

Hey...I've been missing in action for a while..how cool to come back and find the "Jazzmaan" from Harp-l joining the chromatic ranks here! Great to see you here D!

I believe it was Denver SPAH where I got to hear this guy sing (and swing) some Jazz up on stage with SmoJoe, Tom Stryker, Chris Michalek, George Brooks, Ron Kalina...(and yes, he was wearing the same beret, Age)

Elizabeth (a/k/a Scotty)

SlideMeister · « **Reply #22 on:** April 06, 2008, 11:28:59 PM »

SlideMeister welcomes:
szetov and phobos0413

Besides introducing yourselves as members number 542 and 543 respectively, we suggest you consider personalizing your accounts with a picture / "mugshot" or choose an avatar and just for fun. You can even include yourself on our MeisterMaps page: http://SlideMeister.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=map.ShowMap

Again, Welcome Home Pilgrims!

SlideMeister

SlideMeister · « **Reply #23 on:** April 09, 2008, 12:52:07 AM »

SlideMeister welcomes:
jammercat

Welcome Sandy! I got you covered with a mugshot. You can also include yourself on our MeisterMaps page: http://SlideMeister.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=map.ShowMap

Again, Welcome Home Pilgrim!

(took ya long enough

)

A.J.

SlideMeister · « **Reply #24 on:** April 10, 2008, 07:19:11 PM »

SlideMeister also welcomes:
Nobby Long

Besides introducing yourself, we suggest you consider personalizing your account with a picture / "mugshot" or choose an avatar and just for fun. You can even include yourself on our MeisterMaps page: http://SlideMeister.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=map.ShowMap

Again, Welcome Home Pilgrim!

Age

phobos0413 · « **Reply #25 on:** April 12, 2008, 02:48:41 PM »

Hi,everyone

I am Phobos and I am from Taiwan. I play chromatic harmonica for about 9 years since I joined the harmonica club in my high school.
I mostly play classical music on 270c. This is a video of my performance on Youtube, welcome and please feel free to comment:

Very glad to become a member of the forum.

Hello again

Phobos

Grizzly · « **Reply #26 on:** April 12, 2008, 03:36:11 PM »

Bravo, Phobos! That's mastery.

Tom

SlideMeister · « **Reply #27 on:** April 12, 2008, 04:03:59 PM »

Nicely done Phobos!

Thanks for sharing the youtube video.

It's really good to have you with us!

Age

SlideMeister · « **Reply #28 on:** April 14, 2008, 04:39:59 PM »

SlideMeister also welcomes:
bigbazoo

Besides introducing yourself, we suggest you consider personalizing your account with a picture / "mugshot" or choose an avatar and just for fun. You can even include yourself on our MeisterMaps page: http://SlideMeister.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=map.ShowMap

Again, Welcome Home Pilgrim!

Age

SlideMeister · « **Reply #29 on:** April 16, 2008, 09:04:31 PM »

Yeah Bob,
But we'll take it over to the General Board, okay?
Age

Author Topic: New Members - Introduce yourselves! (Read 328162 times)

Granville

chuck f

jazmaan

jazmaan

jazmaan

phobos0413