Mike Caren

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Skippy's Dream Chords & Performance Feb 18, 2015

Hi Marc --- Great to have you a part of Sonic Junction.  The focus of Duke's lessons in on the Master's of Blues, Swing and Jazz --- and his tunes.  I doubt he will teach a Tab Benoit song --- but he will likely touch on Artists that inspried both Duke and Tab.   The lessons at Sonic Junction are more about "how" a Master Artist like Duke developed --- to understand all the sources and inspiration for his music.  As you learn over time, the goal is for you to find your own music --- that pulls from similar sources --- but is uniquely "Marc Miller."  I hope that helps and wish you all the best.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Lay My Burden Down Singing and Endings Feb 13, 2015

Awesome Ending.  That last riff is so cool.  Thanks.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Skippy's Dream Chords & Performance Feb 13, 2015

Thanks Bruce --- great catch --- we've update the chart.   Funny story on the middle finger.  Muscle memory works both ways.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Guitar Rag Chords and Main Section Feb 10, 2015

Hi Dave --- yes.  

That said, I think it's better to think of it (and practice it) as base rhythm with a melody over it.  I would suggest starting with just the base and sing the melody.  Corey suggests this method in several lessons on the site and it's very effective.   Jerry also teaches this way.

I hope that helps.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Guitar Rag Chords and Main Section Feb 09, 2015

Hi Dave --- we've updated the tab and chord chart.  We decided to keep it as 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and for the beats.  

The best way to learn it is to sing the tune / melody as Corey does in the video.  Eventually your fingers will start instinctively going to the melody when you sing or even think of the notes.  It's really cool (and powerful) if you can stick with it.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Jug Band Waltz Feb 06, 2015

Welcome to Sonic Junction.

Jerry believes that blues harmonica should be learned by ear --- very similar to how we learned to speak language --- so we don't tab any lessons by design.
 
We have integrated loop points and a video speed control (without changing pitch) so you can hear exactly what is being played.   You should loop each section over and over until it is in your mind --- and then try to play it on the harmonica.
 
Learning this way will help you immensely when it becomes time for you to improvise and/or learn songs by yourself.  It will also help you learn and better capture the tone, phrasing and timing which makes blues and the harmonica so powerful.
 
I hope that helps.
Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Same Old Blues Soloing in 2nd and 3rd Position Feb 01, 2015

Wowza !!  That is some tasty playing.  I really like those chords around 1:30 --- and then how you drop down.  Great stuff.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Lay My Burden Down Introduction, Dynamics and Chord Melody Jan 31, 2015

Hi Gus -- yes open E tuning.  I've updated the lesson notes to capture it.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Lay My Burden Down Bass and Melody Jan 24, 2015

Love it Corey.  There are so many cool versions of this tune.  As I was looking for the ways different people have approached playing it --- I found this.  Awesome.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Slow Blues in C Lesson 2 Jan 15, 2015

Hi Jim - good question.  When the sound cuts in and out, it's usually your computer's  "ambient noise reduction" at work.  It's optimized for speech --- and therefore tries to isolate the words.  For recording music on my MacBook -- I always turn it off (System Preference > Sound).  I hope that helps.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Too Tight Bass and Intro Jan 03, 2015

Hi George --- is this what you're looking for

http://www.sonicjunction.com/lessons/too-tight-middle-section

Under the bottom right corner of the video player you can find OTHER LESSONS IN THE SERIES >  If you click on it --- the other lessons will show in a drop down menu.

Enjoy!  It's a great tune.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Muddy Waters Basics Chicago Blues Riffs and Backing Track Dec 29, 2014

Sweet!!  Love the tone and phrasing of the solo.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Sitting On Top of the World Bass and Melody Dec 27, 2014

Great tune Corey!  I love how there is kind of a call a response between the slide lines and the drone notes on the high E string.  I appreciate you taking the time to break down the bass --- as I realize it gives life to the tune.

The melody is a bit like You Got to Move --- right?

 

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Jan 06, 2015

Thanks Mike...yes there are a few songs that are like this one.  Tampa Red wrote many songs that were similar to this one.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Muddy Waters Basics Chicago Blues Riffs and Backing Track Dec 26, 2014

Hi Mike --- welcome to Sonic Junction and sorry for the issue.  The video is up and streaming --- so the issue is likely an interaction between our service and your system.

Can you tell me a bit more about your system so we can isolate and fix your issue

1. what kind of computer do you have?

2. what browser are you using to view the website?

3. how do you connect to the internet?  --- we use HD video which requires a high speed connection

You can email me directly at --- mike@sonicjunction.com --- and we will get you up and running.

Thanks.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Sonnyboy's Groove Performance Dec 12, 2014

Awesome Rick !!  I can hear your feet tapping away when I listen to it through my headphones.

It's cool watching it at 75% speed --- I can even start figuring out some of the riffs.  Now I just need to learn how to play them.

Rick Estrin
Rick Estrin Dec 18, 2014

Stick with it, let the groove in and you'll get it! Trust me - if it was really difficult, I couldn't do it.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Sonnyboy's Groove Performance Dec 12, 2014

Hi Boyd --- thanks for the comment and I know learning can be frustrating at times.  Have you tried singing the songs as Jerry mentioned to try and separate the timing of the phrases from the mechanics of playing the harp?

Silent Night may be a nice tune to try as there are no bends and it has a familiar melody.  I hope that helps.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Lynch Blues Bass and Main Riff Nov 28, 2014

Powerful song.  I really like the pulsing rhythm with the riffs woven in.

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Dec 05, 2014

Thanks!

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Boxed Up Fourth Chorus Breakdown Nov 24, 2014

Hi Joe --- yes, Dave and Dennis created a track.  It's the floating play button in the upper right corner of the screen just under the webcam recorder.  Enjoy.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Preaching Blues Main Riff Nov 10, 2014

Hi Harry --- you make a great point and this one was a tricky one for us.  

Corey's actually playing a moving tone between the 3rd and 4th fret.  It's both the location and how he slides it that gets the right feel.  We tabbed in a /4 because he's beyond the 3rd fret --- but it's really a judgement call on how best to represent it.  I guess we can also use a 3/.  

For Corey's slide work, the best thing to do is to loop passages at either 50% or 75% speed and really listen to the pitch, tone and phrasing of the slide.  There's just so much that Corey's doing to make it sound so beautiful --- and careful listening, followed by linking what you hear in your mind to your slide is the best path to be on.

Thanks for bringing this up and I hope the explanation helps.

Mike Caren
Mike Caren commented on: Singing Dynamics, Conversational Tones and Phrasing Nov 08, 2014

Hi Corey --- what's in your mind when you're singing?  I'm asking as I tend to think about if I'm on pitch and/or singing right --- when it seems like I should be somewhere deeper and trying to tell or "be" the story / song.  I hope the question makes sense and thanks for these awesome lessons.

Corey Harris
Corey Harris Nov 11, 2014

greetings Mike -- I clear my mind when I sing and let it flow.  I FEEL whether or not it is right, but I don't analyze.  I just make sure that the words can be heard and understood and that I am breathing correctly so that I have enough wind to sing.  It's like speaking...we don't listen to what we say and analyze it in real time.  Once we learn how to speak, we just do naturally.

 
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