Complete Country Harp Techniques with Charlie McCoy (NTSC, VHS)

This is a digital backup of the Complete Country Harp Techniques with Charlie McCoy for VHS Home Video.

For archival purposes.

From the back of the VHS Cover:

Seventeen techniques demonstrated, plus solos...

Note bending, Grace notes, Hand vibrato, Rolls, Tone control, Note splitting, Fast bluegrass riffs, Cajun accordion effect, Hammer-on effect, Octave splits, Alternate tongue blocking, High-speed tongue playing, 'Country tuning', Throat vibrato, Long breath control, The train whistle, "The Orange Blossom Special" train rhythm.

Super-session musician Charlie McCoy has released over 20 albums since his recording career began in the 1960s, when he enjoyed enormous success in Nashville, completing upwards of 400 sessions a year. He was a mainstay on Elvis Presley's recordings, both in Nashville and Los Angeles, and was one of the few Nashville session players to attend Bob Dylan's recordings of 'Blonde On Blonde', 'Nashville Skyline' and 'John Wesley Harding'.

Formerly a member of legendary Nashville bands Area Code 615 and Barefoot Jerry, Charlie currently tours with his own band and has a long-running TV series in the United States. His many music awards include a Grammy, and while predominantly known as a harmonica player, his musical prowess encompasses a variety of other instruments.

[simon]

This has inspired me to try another way of playing. Like the tongue blocking. I ve now started to incorporate these technics into my gospel music

[IMBrute-irgz]

Charlie McCoy was one of my idols when I was coming up in the early 1970s. My favorite harp in those days was the Hohner Golden Melody until the quality went down in the early 1980s. For the last forty years, it's been the Lee Oskar, the most durable of them all! I can't believe I just paid $50 for my last Lee Oskar diatonic harp on Amazon! When I started out in 1972, the Marine Band listed for $3.75 and the Blues Harp was $4.25.

[scottmclean]

God Lord Charlie is so good at teaching this stuff.

[jonassalk]

Most complete harmonica teaching video—covers more in 40 minutes (including actual physical alteration of harp for tuning!) than hours of other training videos—-and he shows how his techniques sound when played with an actual band. This is the Real McCoy!

[peco_de_guile]

I'm so pleased that archiving this video has been enjoyable for so many of you! I'm on the lookout for other videos of his to preserve, so here's hoping for more!

[MeteCanKarahasan]

Sir, I have never learned as much from a single master, let alone a single clip! I feel much more confident to try out these new techniques.

[rolfr]

Much appreciation Charlie! Harp in’ the Blues… all-time greatest album.

[GhostScout]

i had no idea i needed this. this guy is concise

[medicineinyourkitchen]

Been playin with you for years...Thanks Charlie!

[z]

The amazing longevity of McCoy, as a consummate session musician, accompanist, full-time musical coordinator for the Hee Haw series, and more, is so underappreciated. His country roots usually display a more major key tone, but he even recorded an album of blues classics, in homage to the legendary Little Walter. His contribution to the Ken Burns Country Music series is so matter-of-fact, but eye opening, and his advice serves well to any musician - play in service to the song, and the needs of the whole, rather than try to showcase your technical flash and skills.
This I believe is a fatal flaw in far too many less successful musicians, but particularly harmonica players. There are so many technically brilliant guitarists, that most learn it is wise to give up pretending you're going to be the next Hendrix or SRV, and just get on with making music that moves you - the only genuine quality that sensitive listeners will pick up on.
The deceptive simplicity of the harp seems to lend itself to overcompensation, and especially blues players work way too hard to impress, when the song may need only a few well-timed notes to fill in and accent. Charlie's staccato licks are famous, but never blurred or sloppy, as he comes from a tradition where bluegrass pickers might be fiery, but knew enough to play clean and sharp. The back and forth give and take in accompanying singers especially requires restraint; flash was always reserved for a few signature "showstopper" numbers, but was never the main menu, which soon becomes tedious, and less, not more impressive.

[ChromaticHarp]

Wow I’ve never seen this before! Priceless! Thanks for posting!!!

[junenriquez]

Wow! I love it! ❤️ And i learned a lot! Great! Thank you!
More please... 😃

[CPerreault]

Just what I needed to expand my harp playing abilities. Thanks for posting!

[Harpmaniak]

Charlie is the Master, period. Also, he is a humble gentleman, I think he should run for president.

[jonwaters]

I wish I could meet him in person? Charlie McCoy

[michaelcarlisle]

Really helpful to slow down the demonstration.

[michaelmagicwand]

Wow! Thanks for posting the excellent video! I have been a blues harp player for 20+ years and still learned a lot from the techniques Charlie described. Great cross-over lesson!

[jessebeckley]

Fuck yea this was exactly the type of video I was looking for to practice.

[AdamGraf-le]

Man! Listen to him bend that 3 draw! Four very distinct notes! I've been listening to and (trying to) playing a long time and I've never heard that level of precise control. Amazing!

[dennismorgan]

Very generous of You … thanks for clearness. Keepin explanations simple