- Dave Gage, Founder and Author- Dave has made his living playing and teaching diatonic and chromatic harmonica in the Los Angeles area for 29 years. In that time period, he has logged over 10,000 hours of private and group instruction. He is the chief author, programmer, photographer, and designer at HarmonicaLessons.com. He constructed it in 1999 as an off-shoot of the ever growing popularity of the instruction and information found on his homesite, Dave Gage.com.
Dave grew up in the Los Angeles area, became an Eagle Scout, swam and played waterpolo in high school, worked as a semi-pro photographer, and went on to college. At UC Davis, he was a dual major in Philosophy and Music. At this point, he also began teaching harmonica and playing in local bands. After college, he returned to Los Angeles and put together the first Dave Gage Band while training in Shotokan Karate, playing tennis and volleyball, and studying jazz improv on the chromatic harmonica.
In the recording studios, he has done numerous session jobs including all the harmonica on the mid '80s network TV show "Davis Rules". He has also written, produced, and played the music for various radio and TV commercials. He has played or recorded with artists such as Andy Summer (Police), Mark Mothersbaugh and Bob Casale (Devo), Rick Springfield, Bill Ward (Black Sabbath), Jack Bruce, Lee Oskar and others. He also was one of the songwriters and lyricists for the Disney Channel show "Adventures in Wonderland." He has worked with the Hohner and Lee Oskar Harmonica Companies over the years as a pro endorsee and new product consultant. And he has written articles about the harmonica or aspects of its playing for Guitar Player Magazine and the Alesis quarterly "Reflections".
His influences on harmonica include not only the greats of his instrument like James Cotton and Paul Butterfield, but guitar players such as Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, and Stevie Ray Vaughn (Dave uses a technique called tongue-switching which gives an effect much like tapping on the guitar -- -- audio samples below). Besides playing the diatonic and chromatic harmonicas and singing lead vocals, he also plays guitar, keyboards, and does sequencing and digital recording in his home studio.
His first album, "Well You Can't, Now Can You", was released on CD and cassette and was reviewed in 1995 by the Music Connection Magazine and rated a 9 out of 10. In early 2001, Dave and the GAGE Band released a new album on CD, "Love You Just The Same". This album includes a total of 12 songs, both original and cover tunes, done in the unique GAGE Band "alternative blues" style.
Click here if you'd like information on private/group harmonica lessons in the Los Angeles area with Dave. 30-Minute Phone or Video Lessons are also available. Dave personally responds to many of the posted questions in our Discussion Forums, so be sure to drop by with your playing questions.
- AYM Music- AYM Music is owned and run by Dave Gage and is the parent company for HarmonicaLessons.com, HarmonicaStore.com, Harmonica4kids.com and other harmonica websites. When you become a Member at HarmonicaLessons.com or purchase one of our instruction products, you will see "AYM Music" as the company on your credit card bill.
- Marc Silverstein, Contributing Editor- Dermatologist by day, Marc has been playing diatonic harmonicas, as well as piano, clarinet, and saxophone for many decades. Although he has mastered many musical styles, he is perhaps best known for his diatonic renditions of Ragtime music. Marc's input has been invaluable to Harmonica Lessons.com. He's contributed some of the more interesting and unique tabs found in our Tabs Section.
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