Lesson on Sonny Terry style - The Ben Hewlett Harmonica Course

[LackadaisicalE]

Dammit I keep comming back to this vid for some more whuppin'!

[HARMONICA252]

this is great. Sonny Terry was on of the best

[LackadaisicalE]

Wow thanks for the lesson, you really made me get the grasp of it right away, sweet! Sonny Terry is my absolute hero too!

Cheers from Denmark.

[BBHRalle]

cool

[punk25ist]

The beggining of the video. I felt like i was in the Carolina backroads. I can listen to the beggining all the way through 1:20 all day. The #G harp is my favorite harmonica key. Like you Ben since you gave a demo on Golden Melodies. Thanks for the lessons. You are a great harp player. From one great player, to another, you inspire me.

[hohner2010]

hi ben, i have been playing LOST JOHN over and over and cant get the dooo-a-deee-doo noise right can you help me out. i have just got your download book from your site but cant read it till christmas as its a prezzy to go onto a ebook reader.. please can you either tell me to wait till i read book or can you help me now.

thanks so much

[JeffPsalm23]

Thanks for this lesson Paul! I've only been playin 2 yrs. I'm goin to practice until I can get it thanks!

[sonnyboywannabe]

wow. thanks a ton--sonny terry is a giant. your harp is beautiful.

[gilus55]

super  thanks

[bertibecher]

Hi Ben,

thanks from the oldest harmonica factory in the world for this video played on the SEYDEL 1847!

Bertram

[benhewlettuk]

Hi Bertram

Glad you enjoyed seeing your harp! I had great time touring your factory (twice) at your festival, and spending time in Klingenthal. I couldn't believe you are all so open about how you make the harmonicas - some other large old German factories have a 'no photos or video policy.' And also that you make and customise to order - you must be the only manufacturer who is prepared to do this. Thanks for the great harps and keep on chugging!

[argsheep]

Hey Ben,Andy here. One of your first pupils(guinea pigs) from years ago. Glad to see you still have stuff to teach me. Just wish i had waited a while til all this free You Tube malarkey, could have saved meself a few quid. Keep up the good work!

[benhewlettuk]

Which Andy? The crazy one with whom I went to see Larry Adler? Did you know I played on the same bill as him a few years later. Then he died. Actually it was a real treat to meet him, he was a strong character. I asked him to endorse my first book 'Get Ghugging' he said it stinks so I printed the quote along with the other 20 endorsees who loved it!

Ben Hewlett

[argsheep]

Yes we saw Larry, no i'm not crazy (all those doctors were in on it). How can i find out more about your custom harps? I have one from Wes Weston which is cool, but i'd like to explore more, cheers Andy

[dixharp]

I've been trying to nail Sonny Terry rhythms since 1981, and through a combination of this and Adam Gussow's lesson on the same subject (his number 008) I reckon i've nailed it. All I have to do now is practise for another 27 years. Yes folks, follow this and you can sound like Saunders Terrell by the time you're 75!

[cravenmoorrrrrrrrr]

Great lesson, wish you would use a standard G harp instead of some fancy custom that makes us (me) feel like we cant hit the correct note.

[benhewlettuk]

Excelent point. I love my Richard Sleigh harps, and I don't play so well on standard harps it's true. The marine band deluxe is and excellent harp right out of the box and not expensive so you'll sound great on that. The notes are the same on the standard and custom instruments, it's the efficiency and ease of playing that changes. Easier to play=more fun to play!

Ben

[arthur1062]

fantastic lesson ben, i have been trying this style on my own, just listening to paul lamb and sonny of course, but you realy slow it down , and it helps greatly , and you explain it all very very well , love it , hope to see you in bristol again at the festival, thank you arthur .

[benhewlettuk]

Good man Arthur, your kind words go a long way! By the way Paul Lamb was my first teacher - or more accurately, he inspired me to start playing harp many years ago and he studies nothing but Sonny for 12 years!

[2doorblues]

Thanks for the lesson. Is this this lesson available in one of your teaching resources in further detail? I'm afraid I need more of the parts broken down in order to play it completely. Thanks again.

[benhewlettuk]

Yes, we are working on a Sonny Terry book right now - should be out around may 2009. Ben

[Chris777Jones]

Thanks for the lesson

[benhewlettuk]

You are welcome! More lessons coming...

[Chris777Jones]

Thanks for the lesson.

[toninhodezoete]

Thanks for the awesome lesson! I've been practising from time to time since december 28. It's coming together a bit.

I really like the guitar riff too. Can you tell me the title or where I can get it. I wanna play along with it.

I've also watched your lesson on tone. Really helpfull, the way you break stuff down.

So thanks, and more of Sonny Terry please :)

Greetings,

Toninho de Zoete

By the way. If you come to visit Holland for a harmonica-meetup or something. Let me know.

[PaulLennonUK]

Reply from Ben -

Glad you enjoyed it Toninho.

All the instruments on these videos are played by Paul Lennon - guitar, bass, violin, keys, drums etc. If you would like some of his music check out his website. Maybe he'll write some for you or let you have a copy of what you have heard here. Contact him via his website.

Keep on blowing!