‹ All episodes

Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast

Seth Shumate interview

June 29, 2024 Neil Warren Season 1 Episode 114

Chapters

Seth is originally from Arkansas, lived in Chicago and moved to Tennessee two years back, where there is a great Old Timey scene for Seth to join

Seth mainly plays Old Timey music, and also some pre-war harmonica

Similarities between old-timey and pre-war harmonica, which are both acoustic styles

First song Seth learned on harmonica was the ‘Simple Gifts’ folk song

Returned to harmonica when played in a folk/boogie/rock band, in which he played harmonica through a megaphone, and some keyboards

Learnt some harmonica from Adam Gussow’s YouTube videos

Friend introduced Seth to Bluegrass and Old Timey music

How well suited the harmonica is to play traditional forms of music

Doesn’t play the 3 hole draw bend, going up to the 6 draw using tongue switching

Old Time music is generally played in 1st position on the diatonic with very little improvisation

Neil plays some Old Time music due to availability of sessions near where he lives and the countries Seth has traveled to play Old Time music

Origins of Old Time music

Seth started learning Old Time music from the albums of people he heard playing the music

Mark Graham and Dave Rice are two Old Timey players who influenced Seth

Learns Old Time music by ear

How to control breathe with fiddle tunes and pre-war blues songs

Old Time music tunes are usually in 1st position with some songs in 2nd position

Dr Humphrey Bate

Great grandmother played the Quill, a reed instrument which is a precursor to the harmonica and the history of Quill playing

Quill is a reed plant

Seth’s pre-war harmonica playing was inspired by the Harmonica Masters album

Freeman Stowers Medley of Blues song and barnyard imitations

Seth has written the ‘Old Time Harmonica Booklet’

How harmonica became an accepted instrument in Old Time music

1924 was a breakout year for harmonica, including Henry Whitter and the Crook brothers

First harmonica recording by an African American is the unfortunately named ‘Dat Mouth Organ Coon’ by Pete Hampton

First reference Seth found to a fox chase was from 1880

Early recordings were mainly 1st position diatonic, with some chromatic and tremolo

Techniques used for Old Time harmonica style, including rhythmical accompaniments

Kyle Wooton was a great rhythmical harmonica player from the 1930s

Example of Seth playing rhythm behind a fiddle player

Example of machine gun rhythm by Bob Cranford of the Red Fox Chasers

Playing a drone note on one harmonica with the nose and the melody on a harmonica in the mouth and some of the players who have done this (including Seth)

Can use two draw / three blow in cross harp to also get a drone

Seth has also written an article called ‘One In Every Pocket’, where Seth looked at newspaper archives to find the early history of the harmonica from around 1850

First newspaper report of a harmonica concert in the US was in 1828

First harmonica recordings are probably on home wax cylinders from the late 1800s

Seth also writes how the first time African Americans appeared on screen, one of them was playing a harmonica

Seth joined an Old Time duo after he saw them, learned their songs and then asked to join the band

Also in a band called The Ozark Highballers, with a couple of albums released

Song Gastonia Gallop is an example of an early rag song on harmonica

Gwen Foster played ragtime with syncopated back-up, single note driven

Approach to playing solo on harmonica in these early styles

Seth works up his solo pieces so he plays them mostly the same each time, with some subtle differences

Plays the harmonica on a rack with a uke banjo

Also plays harmonica with the bones rhythm percussion instrument in one hand, piano in the other hand

Plays the harmonica through an Edison cylinder phonograph horn replica for acoustic amplification

DeFord Bailey also played with a metal megaphone device

Seth may make some videos on using the Edison horn with harmonica and may sell some of them

Changes tone of harmonica to make it sound ‘older’

Ten minute question focused on people interested in playing Old Time music

Good Facebook group: Bluegrass, Old Time and Country harmonica and books from Glenn Weiser

Popularity of playing tunes on the harmonica is because it suits the instrument well, and Seth thinks it works well if you’re lazy!

Seth uses standard tunings when he plays Old Time, moving up an octave to get the sixth note from the scale

Hasn’t tried a Paddy Richter, although that is the tuning Neil uses for tunes

Doesn’t play any chromatic harmonica

Seth has taught Old Time sessions at SPAH and other harmonica festivals

Seth Joe Filisko when he lived in Chicago

Joe Filisko, James Conway and Andrew Larson are the three people Seth knows who can do the rapid Gwen Foster tongue trill

Has just purchased the Masterharp USA tuning table company and is thinking of going into business using it

Is considering making the tuning tables commercially available

Cost of the tuning table could be around $400

Tuning table currently only takes diatonic reed plates but considering adding chromatic

Harmonica of choice is currently the Hohner Rocket Amp

Positions: mainly 1st, some 2nd, sometimes 3rd

Overblows: doesn’t use them

Amps: plays through a vocal mic, playing off it so can use hand vibrato

Has owned a Green Bullet in the past and a Fender Blues Junior amp, but it was too loud for practising

Doesn’t use any effects: can get reverb using hands and reverb would muddy sound when playing a lot of rhythm

Teaching plans at festivals and offers a free old time teaching lesson online

Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast

Seth Shumate interview

Jun 29, 2024 Season 1 Episode 114

Neil Warren

Seth Shumate joins me on episode 114.

Seth is an Old Timey and pre-war harmonica player originally from Arkansas, now living in Tennessee. Seth has deeply researched the early history of the harmonica and has written an Old Time Harmonica Handbook which contains lots of great information, as well as techniques on how to play authentic Old Timey harmonica using various tongue blocking techniques to add percussive rhythm and to provide self-accompaniment while also playing the melody of the tune. Seth likes to play acoustically, making use of an Edison phonograph cylinder for amplification, and accompanying himself using bones and other instruments, and he’s recently acquired the Masterharp USA tuning table company.

Seth plays with The Ozark Highballers band and releases regular videos to his YouTube channel of his playing.

Links:

Contact Seth:
seth.shumate@googlemail.com

Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/seth-shumate

Facebook group:
Harmonica Country, Bluegrass, Rock & Celtic

Videos:
YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrSFmT4zFksy1YRKGVJSfhg

Seth playing Turkey In The Straw with Edison Horn:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s9obWRYkEI

Tupelo Blues played with bones:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrSFmT4zFksy1YRKGVJSfhg

Dave Rice Old Timey album:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9g13kPvKhaMrGaHI8RdBYWvmWOHzeV75

Seth YouTube Interview and playing:
https://youtu.be/1As3CbgL9ug

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
--------------------------------
The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com
--------------------------------
Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.com

Support the Show.

Share Episode

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Download

Support Podcast

Support

Subscribe

Spotify RSS Feed More

Listen on

Spotify Amazon Music Podcast Addict Podchaser Deezer Listen Notes +

Share Episode

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn

Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast +

Become a supporter of the show!

Starting at $3/month

Seth Shumate joins me on episode 114.

Seth is an Old Timey and pre-war harmonica player originally from Arkansas, now living in Tennessee. Seth has deeply researched the early history of the harmonica and has written an Old Time Harmonica Handbook which contains lots of great information, as well as techniques on how to play authentic Old Timey harmonica using various tongue blocking techniques to add percussive rhythm and to provide self-accompaniment while also playing the melody of the tune. Seth likes to play acoustically, making use of an Edison phonograph cylinder for amplification, and accompanying himself using bones and other instruments, and he’s recently acquired the Masterharp USA tuning table company.

Seth plays with The Ozark Highballers band and releases regular videos to his YouTube channel of his playing.

Links:

Contact Seth:
seth.shumate@googlemail.com

Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/seth-shumate

Facebook group:
Harmonica Country, Bluegrass, Rock & Celtic

Videos:
YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrSFmT4zFksy1YRKGVJSfhg

Seth playing Turkey In The Straw with Edison Horn:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s9obWRYkEI

Tupelo Blues played with bones:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrSFmT4zFksy1YRKGVJSfhg

Dave Rice Old Timey album:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9g13kPvKhaMrGaHI8RdBYWvmWOHzeV75

Seth YouTube Interview and playing:
https://youtu.be/1As3CbgL9ug

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
--------------------------------
The Harmonica Company. Use promo code: 'happyhour7'.
Email Jonathan at: sales@theharmonicacompany.com
--------------------------------
Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.com

Support the Show.

Seth is originally from Arkansas, lived in Chicago and moved to Tennessee two years back, where there is a great Old Timey scene for Seth to join

Seth mainly plays Old Timey music, and also some pre-war harmonica

Similarities between old-timey and pre-war harmonica, which are both acoustic styles

First song Seth learned on harmonica was the ‘Simple Gifts’ folk song

Returned to harmonica when played in a folk/boogie/rock band, in which he played harmonica through a megaphone, and some keyboards

Learnt some harmonica from Adam Gussow’s YouTube videos

Friend introduced Seth to Bluegrass and Old Timey music

How well suited the harmonica is to play traditional forms of music

Doesn’t play the 3 hole draw bend, going up to the 6 draw using tongue switching

Old Time music is generally played in 1st position on the diatonic with very little improvisation

Neil plays some Old Time music due to availability of sessions near where he lives and the countries Seth has traveled to play Old Time music

Origins of Old Time music

Seth started learning Old Time music from the albums of people he heard playing the music

Mark Graham and Dave Rice are two Old Timey players who influenced Seth

Learns Old Time music by ear

How to control breathe with fiddle tunes and pre-war blues songs

Old Time music tunes are usually in 1st position with some songs in 2nd position

Dr Humphrey Bate

Great grandmother played the Quill, a reed instrument which is a precursor to the harmonica and the history of Quill playing

Quill is a reed plant

Seth’s pre-war harmonica playing was inspired by the Harmonica Masters album

Freeman Stowers Medley of Blues song and barnyard imitations

Seth has written the ‘Old Time Harmonica Booklet’

How harmonica became an accepted instrument in Old Time music

1924 was a breakout year for harmonica, including Henry Whitter and the Crook brothers

First harmonica recording by an African American is the unfortunately named ‘Dat Mouth Organ Coon’ by Pete Hampton

First reference Seth found to a fox chase was from 1880

Early recordings were mainly 1st position diatonic, with some chromatic and tremolo

Techniques used for Old Time harmonica style, including rhythmical accompaniments

Kyle Wooton was a great rhythmical harmonica player from the 1930s

Example of Seth playing rhythm behind a fiddle player

Example of machine gun rhythm by Bob Cranford of the Red Fox Chasers

Playing a drone note on one harmonica with the nose and the melody on a harmonica in the mouth and some of the players who have done this (including Seth)

Can use two draw / three blow in cross harp to also get a drone

Seth has also written an article called ‘One In Every Pocket’, where Seth looked at newspaper archives to find the early history of the harmonica from around 1850

First newspaper report of a harmonica concert in the US was in 1828

First harmonica recordings are probably on home wax cylinders from the late 1800s

Seth also writes how the first time African Americans appeared on screen, one of them was playing a harmonica

Seth joined an Old Time duo after he saw them, learned their songs and then asked to join the band

Also in a band called The Ozark Highballers, with a couple of albums released

Song Gastonia Gallop is an example of an early rag song on harmonica

Gwen Foster played ragtime with syncopated back-up, single note driven

Approach to playing solo on harmonica in these early styles

Seth works up his solo pieces so he plays them mostly the same each time, with some subtle differences

Plays the harmonica on a rack with a uke banjo

Also plays harmonica with the bones rhythm percussion instrument in one hand, piano in the other hand

Plays the harmonica through an Edison cylinder phonograph horn replica for acoustic amplification

DeFord Bailey also played with a metal megaphone device

Seth may make some videos on using the Edison horn with harmonica and may sell some of them

Changes tone of harmonica to make it sound ‘older’

Ten minute question focused on people interested in playing Old Time music

Good Facebook group: Bluegrass, Old Time and Country harmonica and books from Glenn Weiser

Popularity of playing tunes on the harmonica is because it suits the instrument well, and Seth thinks it works well if you’re lazy!

Seth uses standard tunings when he plays Old Time, moving up an octave to get the sixth note from the scale

Hasn’t tried a Paddy Richter, although that is the tuning Neil uses for tunes

Doesn’t play any chromatic harmonica

Seth has taught Old Time sessions at SPAH and other harmonica festivals

Seth Joe Filisko when he lived in Chicago

Joe Filisko, James Conway and Andrew Larson are the three people Seth knows who can do the rapid Gwen Foster tongue trill

Has just purchased the Masterharp USA tuning table company and is thinking of going into business using it

Is considering making the tuning tables commercially available

Cost of the tuning table could be around $400

Tuning table currently only takes diatonic reed plates but considering adding chromatic

Harmonica of choice is currently the Hohner Rocket Amp

Positions: mainly 1st, some 2nd, sometimes 3rd

Overblows: doesn’t use them

Embouchre

Amps: plays through a vocal mic, playing off it so can use hand vibrato

Has owned a Green Bullet in the past and a Fender Blues Junior amp, but it was too loud for practising

Doesn’t use any effects: can get reverb using hands and reverb would muddy sound when playing a lot of rhythm

Recording

Future plans

Teaching plans at festivals and offers a free old time teaching lesson online