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The Reedplate

Harmonica Fundamentals with Joe Filisko - Active Blues Breathing

Jun 20, 2020
Chicago based harmonica guru Joe Filisko discusses the second fundamental of playing harmonica called active blues breathing, while also having tangents about Paul Butterfield and Little Walter. They explore the distinctions between Sunnitary and Chicago blues styles. The playing style of Paul Butterfield is analyzed. The concept of active blues breathing and controlling airflow is discussed, along with understanding upper and lower range in breathing. The chapter concludes by looking ahead to chords and tongue blocking as the next topic.
35:06

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Proper breathing technique, specifically active blues breathing, is crucial for enhancing harmonica playing and should not be overlooked.
  • Little Walter's genius in harmonica playing was attributed to his skillful use of breathing techniques, emphasizing exhaling notes as a means to access more expressive areas of the harmonica.

Deep dives

The Importance of Active Blues Breathing

One of the main ideas discussed in this podcast episode is the significance of active blues breathing when playing the harmonica. The host and guest emphasize that proper breathing technique is often misunderstood and overlooked. They explain that there are different states of breathing, including relaxed, full, and empty. They highlight the importance of accessing and controlling the lower range of breathing to enhance harmonica playing. They also discuss the concept of exhale push and nose push, which involve expelling air before playing to maximize breath capacity and improve expression.

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