The Reedplate Podcast Episode 1 - Chords, Harmonica Fundamentals with Joe Filisko

[@johnnyh112]

This is what the people need ! thank you guys

[@leesankeygroup]

Glad you dig it John. This was a blast for me speaking to Joe on these topics. More to follow over probably another 3-4 episodes. Lee

[@herbieqkeys]

Thoughtful and deep. Although the foundations of good harmonica playing are the topic, it helps to have more than a beginner's knowledge of the instrument to truly understand what Joe and Lee are talking about. Great stuff!

[@leesankeygroup]

Thanks for listening. Joe and I are properly geeking out here so I agree some background knowledge of the harmonica would help you travel down the rabbit hole with us..

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

Great interview!!! Thanks 🙏

[@leesankeygroup]

Nice. Just two harp geeks have a chat I guess...

[@anthonybildhauser6412]

Wow! This is awesome!!! When I listened to this last week I immediately subscribed. Never have I subscribed to a KZbin channel and then daily checked to see if there are any new videos up. I've been watching for the next podcast since the day after you put this one up. I also am hoping this will be a parade of top harmonica greats, one after another talking about their own experiences, what they think is important in their play, their influences, how they developed their play, etc. Really, a fantastic idea Lee! I'm so glad Joe sent the link. Oh and, today is the 11th, one week after you posted the first! Hoping for the next podcast today!?!? Cheers and thanks!

[@leesankeygroup]

John, thank you so much for your enthusiasm. Much appreciated. 2nd episode is now live and probably another 3 episodes to follow from this conversation. To be honest I'm thinking about whether to continue the podcast. There are so many on the harmonica now I'm not sure can offer anything creative or different. I am not interested in repeating the conversations that have already been done else where. There's also no value for the listener either. This series works as there is a theme. Thanks again for listening and your interest is much appreciated. Lee

[@dirtworshiper2800]

Great podcast. Filisko is one of the greatest. That being said that Lee Sankey isn't too bad either. You are a great player and instructor. I've learned a ton from you. Thank you for all you share!

[@leesankeygroup]

Hey man, thanks for the support. It was a privilege to talk with Joe in such depth! Lee

[@BruceOfTheApes]

Thank you Lee and Joe for a fantastic podcast!!!

[@filiskosharmonicamethodins8177]

Thanx brutha Bruce! :-)

[@leesankeygroup]

Glad you enjoyed it Bruce. The next episode will be live in the week beginning the 15th of June

[@adamlark5513]

Great format, Lee, and of course Joe is the right guy for it! Wonderful dialogue. I can't wait for the other episodes... I think I'm going to play some train imitations, now 😁

[@leesankeygroup]

Hi Adam, I've never really worked on a train imitation before. It's hard! Getting that double breath with the throat, smooth and consistent and holding it for 2-3 minutes is not straightforward. Speaking to Joe inspired me to go and work on it too! Thanks for listening. The next episode will be released in the week of the 15th of June.

[@adamlark5513]

@@leesankeygroup I'm very surprised to read you never worked on a train imitation! What did Joe say to that? 😆 However after listening I realized I do the stops with the tongue (tip of the tongue and K-spot). Otherwise the breaks are too weak. Needs some time, I guess. And thanks for the info...

[@loloovertherainbow8951]

Really cool!!! Thanks for this great podcast!

[@leesankeygroup]

Joe and I had a blast putting this series together. Thanks for giving it some attention!

[@tallpaul14]

Great stuff! Looking forward to next episode

[@leesankeygroup]

Glad you enjoyed it. Episode 2 now live...it's on Active Blues Breathing.

[@ivansaric33]

100%! With time & practice the control that tongue blocking offers is undeniable and is where the deep magic lies

[@heiko6983]

Huge format Lee😊Thanxx. And a guest that is no doubt worth being listened to. Intellectually and musically. Like you. You are right, your and Joe‘s Tongue Block Harp playing is insanely good and I would be very happy to be half as good as you are somewhere in my future. But, I honestly think, that you sound even better (in my ears) when you pucker your bendings on holes two and three. I see there the huge advantage of pucker. As TB sounds fatter on single notes and allows all that fantastic rythmic stuff, bending sounds more sophisticated and thicker being puckered. This is no critique (as you surely know). Your are great players and I owe you very much of my harping, but I had the feeling having had to say this. Cheers

[@leesankeygroup]

Hey Heiko, what a brilliant comment. I appreciate the critique and where you are coming from. The approach you take is down to personal choice. It's certainly true that you don't have to tongue block everything and there are many players out there who predominately lip purse who sound amazing. Controlling bends with TB is hard and takes time, but if you persevere you can do it. LP and TB bends sound similar in the low end of the harp, but you notice a difference as you move up the register, to my ears anyway. When you combine bends in a riff there is also a big difference in tone. But the point Joe makes is that tongue blocking enables you to access more sounds than using LP only. It's not necessarily about bigger and better. If you can utilise both techniques in your own way, you'll be able to make more of the harmonica's potential. Thanks for listening and your thoughtful post, Lee

[@davidwest5396]

Wonderful episode. So much experience to share.

[@leesankeygroup]

Thanks for listening David, we are just getting started in this episode....

[@sethlindgren4499]

I can agree. I can overblow, because I spent time on it, and I wanted to get a good feel for tongue and throat movements. But I can only play Amazing grace and a few scales. I'm a beginner, advanced at best.

[@leesankeygroup]

Hey Seth, glad this part of the podcast resonated with you. Lots of people, myself included, when they first start playing are naturally attracted to flashy things, like overblows, but as Joe so eloquently puts it here, if a tree does not have good root foundations it can not grow very tall. By working on the fundamentals you will help your playing enormously. This is true of any instrument and the harmonica is no different. Thanks for listening, more coming soon. Lee

[@agustinfunesemma]

This is great for all of us harp geeks!! Suscribing right now. Cheers!

[@leesankeygroup]

Thanks for your interest. Joe and I are definitely geeking out here, and on the other episodes coming. Lee

[@HdhdHdhd-z2p]

So so interesting

[@taffbahia]

Very easy listening. Informative, relaxed and enjoyable. Thanks Lee

[@leesankeygroup]

My pleasure. There's many podcasts out there so thanks for giving this your attention. Lee

[@huckpippifinnlongstocking3529]

Absolutely stunning

[@leesankeygroup]

That's very kind praise, do give us a rating on iTunes if you listen there. Lee

[@enjoyharmonica]

Excellent podcast Lee, really enjoyed. 👏👏👏✅

[@leesankeygroup]

Thanks for listening. I hoped it sparked some interesting perspectives,

[@markthompson673]

My biggest mistake,when I bought my first Harp in 1971 was not to read the basic tongue blocking technic. As Dad always said,read the instructions twice.

[@leesankeygroup]

Hi Mark, you are not alone in this. Most players are not aware of tongue blocking when they first start. They begin lip pursing and then a few moths or years in realise there' something else going on or they hear about it. That was the case with me, and probably most people. The question is when a player does discover it whether they can persevere to learn a completely new way of playing. It's hard, takes time and involves taking two steps back. So many players are put off. Understandable. There is a lot more information about tongue blocking available now compared to when I started to play so it's getting easier. Joe and I are hoping to add more detail to the subject in this series over the next few episodes. Thanks for listening. Lee

[@BlackSmurfPunk]

Greetings from Frankfurt.😎👍

[@MuhammadFachrurroziUlya]

my god ...

[@leesankeygroup]

Meaning?

[@MuhammadFachrurroziUlya]

please do it again with others, like Paul Lamb, Dennis Gruenling etc ... . I like to hear you talk to someone, besides Like to hear you playin' hehhe