Ditto on Jed and what you wrote Chris. 

Hi Chris, I just signed up. I am a novic guitar player and very excited to what I am seeing and that you will be teaching singing.   I knew nothing about music when I got started;  I'm exploring.... so your teaching style is very exciting to me. 

I understand why it is a life time of learning... It may take me the whole year to learn White Dove; I would love to ask questions when needed.  Thank you Chris.

This is all very exciting to me

Chris wrote: 

[A lot of things that we'll be talking about will apply to music and musicianship in general, not just bluegrass. For what it's worth, I don't actually think of myself as a "bluegrass" musician. All music is built from the same building blocks: rhythm, melody, harmony, form, and soul. Fluency in those elements will equal fluency in music. Ultimately, that's what I'm interested in, and that's what I want to encourage people to pay attention to. But that's not to say we won't have fun getting inside some hardcore bluegrass on our way there!]

I was excited to see the fundamentals on scale degrees and melody.  It has been hard work as I worked at learning to use my ears to hear the "colors" of the notes as you describe it. This has been my main focus rather than just learning songs to play at a jam (getting my mind to see the intervals and notes, ear training and seeing if I can learn to sing, working on it). Still very new to it; and beginning to find some melodies on my own.  So very excited with the lessons for White Dove. 

I am learning about guitars; internet reading; thinking of buying a new one.  In the lessons for White Dove, what guitar to you have and what strings do you use?  You mentioned that you like Blue Chip for a guitar pick,  Which one?  http://shop.bluechippick.net/flatpicks/

Thank you.

Pamela

Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question. It is more of an advanced technique, but more importantly, it varies with the equipment you use (harmonica/mic/amp) and also has to do with how you breathe, play and hold them together, and how they all respond together. There is no clear-cut answer on how to do this....asdie from developing good harmonica technique (understanding how to get clean AND distorted notes), good cupping technique (being able to get a full grip of harmonica and microphone - able to get an airtight seal but not use it all the time), and using an amp/mic combination that responds well together. The way to do this is different with every combination, and even at volume differeneces.

Mr Gruenling, thank you for quickly answering me.

Now I understand that distortion is not only a question of amp but also (maybe firstly?) a question of technique. Like I have learned how to bend (and i'm still learning of course), I'm ready to pass time to learn the technic to create distortion. I have to count in months if it's the same difficulty! But it doesn't matter, I have time. 

After your answer, I looked again on youtube changing "words research", and I found details on the technic!

"TONE", that was the word missing to my knowledge. I thought Tone was about making a clear note, total mistake.

David Barrett (with a mic!), Lee sankey, and many others speak about it. Now I know the direction I have to look, cause you kindly showed it to me... Thank you very much. And I'll can keep my money for christmas presents, it's cool...

So these are some of the links if it can help someone and if it's permitted:

https://youtu.be/R6XrqsLHnLs

https://youtu.be/s08HUfIPIqE

Again, Thank you Master.

Thomas

I'm sure everyone will have their own opinion in this mater, however I never use any pedal or preamp to get distortion that any amp doesn’t naturally give on it's own. Your playing technique, microphone, and microphone gripping technique will also all help with getting distortion when you want it, but this is a developed skill that can be worked on. PLUS, playing without any added distortion helps you get a better handle on your own natural sound and tone, which enables to to work on it to always improve where your technique may be lacking.

Hello everybody,

I've just bought a fender super champ X2 and I use it with a green bullet. For the moment, I have a nice clear and amplified sound but there is no distorsion. Is it possible to obtain distorsion without using a pedal effect?

I know distorsion exists with a 5w amp and high volume (saturated). I play at house and I can't put volume to the max!

If pedal is required, what do you think about lone wolf harp break or octave?

Thank you for your advices,

Thomas

I'm sorry, but I can't seem to find the Backing Track of Why don't you do Right with Sunny singing.  Can someone point me to it?  

Thanks,

Slim

Jed,

Thanks so much for the kind words! Glad you're learning and feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

Cheers,

Chris

Hi Jerry, would love to see a video series on improvisation on the harp 

Thank You

Hi Frank --- that's your suggested practice list that is automatically populated based on the Artist you chose to follow.

You can add or subtract lessons by going to a lesson page and clicking on the "+" or "check" mark in the upper right corner of your screen.

All the lessons in your practice list will automatically sync to your iPhone / iPad / Android device if you use one of our Apps.  Works very similar to Dropbox.

Hi new here In the tool bar at the top You see your name nest to it there a drop down Profile Photo, Account ,Payment Info then Under what It all this ????

Profile Photo

Account

Payment Info

Chords
Jumpin' Blues Lesson 1
T-Bone Shuffle Rhythm & Head
Sweet Home Chicago Intro Breakdown
The Stumble Rhythm
That's Alright Intro & First Verse
Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You Chords
Romance in the Dark Chords

I appreciate Chris Eldridge's approach to Jimmy Martin's "Honey You Don't Know My Mind": First, demonstrate the rhythm pattern and suitable variations, then focus on bass runs to punctuate and ornament the rhythm. I am learning.

A great bonus to sonicjunction members would be to see advanced show schedules. 

Just found out about Duke's "Johnny D's" show and all the good seats are gone.

If the schedule was here I would have of seen it in time.

Just a suggestion from a disapponted member.

Hi All --- the new iOS 9 compatible App is released. 

Please let me know how it works for you.

Thanks.

Hi Daniel --- we have an updated Sonic Junction App for iOS 9 in review with Apple.  

I hope that it will be released this week by Apple.  I will post an update on this thread when we hear back.

Sorry for the inconvenience and thanks for your patience.

Any updates?

Thanks 

Sounds good Bruce...

Sounds great Tam. Duke

hi hugh i feel the same way. i have seydels suzukis oskies even golden cups that my son brought back from china. i never had any luck with hohners, they seem to have a short life span. i've been playing for two years now and i'm 77

I've never played one, so I really can't say.

hi jerry, i would like to know what you thik about the suzuki manji    ron king

hi jerry, i would like to know what you thik about the suzuki manji    ron king

This would be a good old one to learn the guitar parts to

Hound Dog Taylor - Freddie's Blues

.

i love it

very well done