Adam, I was watching this video and it hit me...Ican't seem to get the same Wah sound when I hold the Harmonica like you do. It seems to be the most comfortable way to hold the harp for me, but I just can't get a good seal down around my chin. Any tips?
Thanks so much for all you do, Adam. This video is a great compliment to your MBH lessons ("Same Old Blues", ""Bending the 4 Draw", etc.) - I'm just a beginner but I'm having a blast...
But now there is something i dont understand. At the moment I try to find out, which note i can play over the chords, while im improvising.
you said the flat ninth has no need in the blues, but the flat ninth is the diminished fifth of the V chord, i think, and this is a blue note for the V chord.
Can i use this note, while im improvising in 2nd position over the V chord or not?
I watch your video's as soon as you they come out! I have been trying to play along to a few youtube videos of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee on the old Pat Seeger show. The songs "Easy Rider" and "Hootin' the Blues" the are faves. Any chance you could break those down in a future video, even though Sonny Terry isn't really your style? Thanks!
Overall, some very weird comments on this video.. Come on people! What's up with the bonzo vibe? The good Doc is still giving it all away to us, ain't he?
thanks for this vid Adam, it cleared a lot of stuff up for me!
I just wanted your readers to understand that that's what kills harps. Bending the note as hard as u can will fatigue the reed. For example, it's possible to bend past (lower than) the 3rd semitone on hole 3.
Ya don't want to bend a note "as hard as you can", that is, bend beyond the actual pitch of the note u want (refer to video @ 5:25). That is what kills reeds. Thanks for all the great lessons! I appreciate them.
Sometimes, in fact, you DO want to bend a note "as hard as you can." Sometimes I want a hard 4 draw bend that is lower than the semitone bend, and then I want the 4 blow. Sometimes I want the hard 4 draw bend as a lead-in to an un-bent 4 draw--very much like a blues guitarist bending the fourth all the way up to the fifth, which is Rock Cliche 101. Sometimes I want the 4 draw bend that is exactly on the semitone--as a melodic note, a passing tone, when I'm playing "Blue Monk," for example.
play "stormay monday" by T-bone walker and you'll be able to use that flat 9 :D
give it a go, just for me?
Totally hear what you're saying with the microtonal stuff by the way. Be careful now, you might just put B.B. king out of business, giving away his trade secrets :p
awesome, parallels with singing, all this subtleties. of cos they are not very useful for me now, but now i understand where there is "magic" in these blues tunes... all the best wishes to you mr.Gussow.
Middle Eastern Marry Had a little Lamb. Love how your eyes pop out. LOL!
Bob13Blues 1 year ago
Adam, I was watching this video and it hit me...Ican't seem to get the same Wah sound when I hold the Harmonica like you do. It seems to be the most comfortable way to hold the harp for me, but I just can't get a good seal down around my chin. Any tips?
LRSe7eN 1 year ago
Thanks so much for all you do, Adam. This video is a great compliment to your MBH lessons ("Same Old Blues", ""Bending the 4 Draw", etc.) - I'm just a beginner but I'm having a blast...
SurlyMac 2 years ago
great lesson! its very important to know about the blue third. Wonderful playing! looks like the custom harp really make the diffrent
AraguaJam 2 years ago
great info
cyberfan5 2 years ago
Hello, Mr. Gussow.
Thanks for all youre vids.
But now there is something i dont understand. At the moment I try to find out, which note i can play over the chords, while im improvising.
you said the flat ninth has no need in the blues, but the flat ninth is the diminished fifth of the V chord, i think, and this is a blue note for the V chord.
Can i use this note, while im improvising in 2nd position over the V chord or not?
Sorry for my bad englisch
Greetings from Germany
Rasta and the P.s
RastaandthePs 2 years ago
I watch your video's as soon as you they come out! I have been trying to play along to a few youtube videos of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee on the old Pat Seeger show. The songs "Easy Rider" and "Hootin' the Blues" the are faves. Any chance you could break those down in a future video, even though Sonny Terry isn't really your style? Thanks!
FijiGGG 2 years ago
Damn, i thought it is Clint Eastwood playing harmonica :)) By the way, thanks for your lessons, they're very helpfull for me,
greetings
marcinpako 2 years ago
Is sw2sw2sw2 really BBQbob in disguise?!?! :)
Overall, some very weird comments on this video.. Come on people! What's up with the bonzo vibe? The good Doc is still giving it all away to us, ain't he?
thanks for this vid Adam, it cleared a lot of stuff up for me!
Isaac
isaacullah 2 years ago
@isaacullah I could't agree with you more Isaac! Those of us from the forum know exactly what you're talking about.
LeonStagg 2 years ago
Thanks a lot adam.
Steph.
Tsutsomu 2 years ago
I just wanted your readers to understand that that's what kills harps. Bending the note as hard as u can will fatigue the reed. For example, it's possible to bend past (lower than) the 3rd semitone on hole 3.
ron
sw2sw2sw2 2 years ago
Actually, playing the harmonica will wear it out, eventually. But it does increase its life expectancy when you play it softly, true.
LongingCirkel 2 years ago
Ha Ha...Middle Eastern scales!! Good Adam!!"Mary had a little explosive vest"
corrindion 2 years ago
Ya don't want to bend a note "as hard as you can", that is, bend beyond the actual pitch of the note u want (refer to video @ 5:25). That is what kills reeds. Thanks for all the great lessons! I appreciate them.
ron
sw2sw2sw2 2 years ago
Sometimes, in fact, you DO want to bend a note "as hard as you can." Sometimes I want a hard 4 draw bend that is lower than the semitone bend, and then I want the 4 blow. Sometimes I want the hard 4 draw bend as a lead-in to an un-bent 4 draw--very much like a blues guitarist bending the fourth all the way up to the fifth, which is Rock Cliche 101. Sometimes I want the 4 draw bend that is exactly on the semitone--as a melodic note, a passing tone, when I'm playing "Blue Monk," for example.
KudzuRunner 2 years ago
Way Ta Go Bro. glad you put that out there. I hear lots of harp players that just wail away and do do the most important thing ever listen.
mikeaugust1 2 years ago
play "stormay monday" by T-bone walker and you'll be able to use that flat 9 :D
give it a go, just for me?
Totally hear what you're saying with the microtonal stuff by the way. Be careful now, you might just put B.B. king out of business, giving away his trade secrets :p
Muzikman127 2 years ago
Thanks for another great lesson, Adam!
One question: How often, if ever, do you tongue-block the three-hole bend?
TOEPICKLE 2 years ago
Never in this video. I only do it, occasionally, when I'm following the 14 tongue blocked octave.
KudzuRunner 2 years ago
great lesson adam,thanks. all the best from ireland home of the blues (blue with the cold that is )
rockerrolling 2 years ago
Comment removed
lightspacer 2 years ago
Nuances.. .
Very nice explanation of the blue 3rd Adam! Thanks for sharing & ...
Jam ON!
-BB
bobblunn 2 years ago
Great lesson Adam. This becomes one of my more favorite videos because of your playing at the end. Take care.
kevpinney 2 years ago
if you wanna know how to play the blues, get yourself a woman..
phatjesus008 2 years ago
so true/
The5kproject 2 years ago
Great video! +5
alexandereyev 2 years ago
Great video Adam!!! Totally agree with it.
Always thought that the blues is the only kind of music where the player, due to hardness of life, has become subtle but never docile.
cianuro86 2 years ago
i love you lessons, you put the harp in your mouth and out comes the best blues i know.
greetings icibizzi
icibizzi 2 years ago
awesome, parallels with singing, all this subtleties. of cos they are not very useful for me now, but now i understand where there is "magic" in these blues tunes... all the best wishes to you mr.Gussow.
Tpumapa3m 2 years ago
cool vid, man
Danny
DannyGrease 2 years ago