Learn to play blues harmonica! (Gussow.007)

[chrisdavies23359]

clicked on your modernblues website, but all the downloads appear to be for MAC, are there no Windows versions?

[KudzuRunner]

@chrisdavies23359: Most of my customers actually download to Windows. RealPlayer will work. I create them on a Mac and they're Quicktime files (.mov), but most PCs can play them.

[Karpov1983]

Adam, you are a genius and this lessons are great, I have been playing the harmonica for 10 years now but I have just started to think about playing in a band so your videos have show me a lot of info that I needed to correct and thanks to you now I can think about going to the next level... next stop a flesh and blood teacher!

From Argentina! Thank you

[rmachayes]

I have never thought of the draw being more efficient than the blow, but after thinking about it, you are right!! What a difference it makes releasing those lips. thanks Adam.

[MrNavinRJohnson]

Do you ever return to this lick?

[MrMovieduck]

hy im playing for a like a year now but i play myself around the harp and back if i get the change ,but i release air true my nose insted of over and under the harp do people tell my there is no problem with my sound . is this a problem ore not?

[droverboy1]

Hay Adam, I think that my good friend Lee Sankey does this chord support he's got a great video on this for any one that's interested! Thanks Adam for alway's doing these great video's!

[thiagobonatto]

@diegosalesjp - na verdade tenho feito o download dos videos desde o primeiro, e apesar do meu ingles ser razoavel, sinto que sempre acaba se perdendo algum detalhe da explicação, alguma expressão gíria etc que não é corretamente interpretada..

[JetJockey87]

Playing in car makes sense, no angry wife or kids... Harmonica learning is gruesome, and the repetition can get on people's nerve, the car provides a near soundproof environment to play in!

Also, I know it's been said before but blues can't really be taught, they have to be felt, what we're learning here is the groundwork, the rest is up to us.

[thiagobonatto]

Any possibility to put on some subtittle in portuguese????...(i had to ask..)

[thiagobonatto]

that 2 hole draw is really a thing to master.....

[surferchen]

Hi Adam,

thanks for all your great tips. Could we hope the teacher will remember to finish this lesson? Would be great!

cheers!

[surferchen]

Hi Adam,

thanks for all your great tipps. Could we hope the teacher will remember to finish this lesson? Would be great!

cheers!

[highdesertbluesman]

I am a guitarist trying to learn harp. I must tell you that you are an awesome teacher!

[colemanbly]

Adam, thanks for the lessons I've purchased a couple of them. Hey, how about a "Roadhouse Blues" lesson.

[zardozica]

Nose needs to be pretty much closed on draw notes not so important on blow notes.

[nickblues71]

even though you were a litte upset at the end ofthe lesson it's a fantastic one. i'm 39, acoustic blues guitarist and singer from Italy and I just started my way into blues harmonica and your lessons are relly helpful as you can't get the feeling of playing from the books.

[EternallyRound]

Hi Adam, The 80-10-10 rule helps a lot!

I do have a question about breathing - I find myself breathing in & out of my nose a lot while playing.  Is this OK? Maybe its just because I'm outta shape! :) Seriously, if I was near a mic, you would hear me snuffing a lot. What can I do about this?

[sonnyboywannabe]

@EternallyRound breathing is good. you'll learn phrasing in time. mouth noises are an integral part of harping, so don't worry about the mic--can make it all the more interesting w/ some grunts, whoops, etc.

[yoncofi]

juajajauaj, eres grande Adam, y sí, que Dios te bendiga...

GRACIAS!!!

[ripramztein]

Men..... God bless you!!!! I was about to pass out cause I was running out of air. The subtle advice help big time. By the way I want to thank you because with your lessons I have improve a lot ... Again thanks for taking the time to explain and share this valuable knowledge... My best wishes

[triangle2U]

Thank you for this lesson. I'm OK with the ending of it because I had PLENTY to work with without the syncopation. I'm enjoying your series.  Thanks again!

[Soldonzo]

Adams so funny when he messes up. =p

[olinkour2121]

harmonica seems thats not a difficult instrument but thats not true :P

[TonyOnTheRise]

Playing the harmonica well is honestly one of the hardest things to do musically. It is one of the hardest of all instruments, maybe the hardest.

[MrDidjcripey]

Glad to hear that; its the only instrument I've ever tried and I thought I must be a slow learner or have no musical ability!

Twenty something years later I still love it and have learned more in the past couple of years than all the previous, due to the generosity and ability of Gussow and others on youtube.

[Smeddog1]

Holy **** this is a hard instrument to play. My alto sax was childs play compared to this.

[AceReid]

lol. I'm in the same situation. xD Went from Alto to harp. I asked my teacher if he knew how to play harmonica. He said, "Ah don't worry about that. Harmonica is easy." with that *psshaa* feel. Something tells me all he plays is campfire songs. xD

[jakestevens0]

I'm the other way round!!! Just picked up an alto sax and am hopeless! hoping to improve soon though!

[harmonicaPlz]

first of all id like to thank u for these lessons...ive just started playing and learning alot from your lessons

im able to play the rift your showing but was wondering wether u could explain or give tablatures for all the syncopations u play

[portovechios]

Hi Adam, this is great! I'm learning so much,would have taken me years to learn some of this......At present I'm paying someone £15 for an hour so you can imagine I'm ecstatic and he's out of pocket......Thankyou! PS, I feel like I know you already! you're very warming!

Stewart

Kent,UK

[613663]

amazing

[pantherpawed]

Is it true Butterfield's harp was upside down? I learned this way as a kid 'cos I didn't know any better.

[kpls72]

He studied flute for many years as a boy. In fact, the lead flutist for the chicago symphony taught him part of his knowledge. I believe this is why he played the harp flipped around. Believe me, if you started the RIGHT way, (low notes to your left) don't try and go back to the Paul Butterfield way. And if you learn that way, these lessons and many others are going to be harder to follow. Good luck!

[rockburnblues]

You're just what the doctor ordered. Pity it took so long to find you Adam. I'm in a blues band and with your expertise, I'm sure I can raise my "harp bar" a ton! Thanks for your patience, personality and skill.

[Ledvolta]

here, here.

[peacetoday]

Adam, love the videos. They are helping me a lot. One of my goals for 2009 is to learn -- really learn -- the harp. I love the fact that even you mess up. lol No one is perfect, eh and that's what the blues is all about, no?

[superkuman]

hello mr gussow.

do you keep the same draw twice and blow twice when you go faster ?

at 3:01 min (to be precise) I got no problem, I got the same as you but when you go faster at 3:18 it s look like a different rythm.

[etnoy69]

Is a "two hole draw" playing the second hole, or blowing two holes at the same time? (I'm a beginner)

[KudzuRunner]

It's the second hole, drawing in. You're right, it's certainly confusing, at least potentially.

[biaggiwins]

you make it look so easy, thank you for your videos

[vivi1900]

thank you so much for your teaching,as a beginner,i have learned a lot from your work,you brought the magic of harp to us and accompanyed me on the way to harp.thanks again~!!!

[TuviaGering]

love your playing. I've just picked the harmonica and i'm thanking god for every lesson you teach.

Thank you very much,

Tuvia

[KudzuRunner]

Thanks, Tuvia. If you're a beginner, you might also want to check out the lessons at my website, Modern Blues Harmonica.

[nathilion]

why are you doing this "lessons" in a car, man???

[KudzuRunner]

Because that's where I learned harp from all the great players in New York City: sitting in my car outside Dan Lynch's blues bar. I'm sure it works the same in Chicago.

[nathilion]

not in austria (vienna)

here its not even possible to find a harp teacher...

[CaguamaTom]

"shut up"

[harpman50]

Hello, does any one have the tabs for the syncopation that Adam is doing. I can not get it by myself. Thanks.

[luizzfar]

If you mean the articulation in the end of video, if I got it right he is basically mixing the riff from the previous video with draws and blows on the chords on holes 1, 2, 3.

[DarkestPower]

awesome. the fact that you give what you have been shown and the things you've discovered yourself about blues harp playing makes these clips so great to watch. because of you I've started playing my harp again, and enjoying every second of it.

[robbie8481]

buddy u spit straight fire

[bonachioli]

dude,you´re fuckin incredible! keep doing that!

[MarymonckiJohn]

Great job, Ive always admired people who really enjoy sharing what they do with others, Among musicians that kind of personalities can be found more often than in other groups, You are also a good teacher, You cared to show and explain everything that You perform, People like You make You Tube much more valuable so Ive decided that its my duty to leave that comment, I cannot call myself a musician but Your lessons made me want to become one, Keep up with what Youre doing! Marvelous job

[streetzac]

my grandfather has an old harmonica. i think im gonna pick it up and learn how to play it! thanks a lot. dont worry about the haters, keep doing your thing!

[captainsuperfly]

Brilliant video.Thank you!!

[transparent91]

good lesson dude ;) good thing someone's teaching this stuff

[JohnnyT68]

Hey Adam, did you ever made that follow up on expaining this riff in one of your next lessons ? I have a hard time getting it right, but like it very much.

Greetings.

[zipflick]

Love your videos from so many angles. The fact they are done in a car, lol, thats far out in itself! The quality of the video is good, and your dissection of the music you play and the way you explain it is wonderful. This is what youtube is all about! All the best:)

[PayoFyah]

hey adam,i'm a begginer,i need to know what cords are made in a song of jaqces brel called ''la valse á mille temps'',is in piano,but i want to play int in my harm,if you can help me great,if someone else can ehlp me,i'd aprecciate it

[mr911jyym]

thanks alot for these videos Adam, very interesting and helpful tips. i have just started playing the harmonica, and you help me out in ways no one else on youtube does.

[ostringer9]

thanks alot adam for these lessons , and a really big thankyou for the free tabsheets for lessons 07,08,17,32

[Dynastion]

@ostringer9 where did u get the tabsheets? I could use them aswell!

[patoska]

hahaha

don't worry adam.. we your students forgive you!

thanks adam, you're not only a great harp player, you're such a wonderful person for sharing all your knowledge with us.. thanks.

saludos from guatemala!

Sergio.

[LtMusicDude]

great lesson but at the beggining of ur lessons are u saying  "hi im adam gussow from satan and adam?" i cant tell

[KudzuRunner]

Yes.

[markadiculous]

great lesson man!

[patriciatess]

I Play the Harmonica also..hear me live.

[jazzsaxbluesharp]

he's workin on a Bb in this lesson

[ollyhock]

another great lesson adam,can you possibly state which key harp your playing at the start of a lesson

[limestick]

hey kudzurunner... help me out! i play guitar and banjo ..ive just found a harp that i bought many years ago and decided to have a play with the guitar its in the key of E when i play the base end of the harp it sonds great with the E chord on the guitar. the corresponding chords would be A and B7 but i cannot find these on the harp the harp has had little use so i think its in good order am i asking too much of the instrument? i would appreciate your views /advice on this one

[KudzuRunner]

You're playing the E harp in E. That's first position. In order to play a blues in E along with the guitar, you need an A harp, which you'll then be playing in second position or cross harp. Played that way, an A harp can play (or outline) the chords of E, A, and B7.

[limestick]

hi and thanks for your time and explanation ..i guess its an A harp ...and try again...much obliged

[bassinjasson]

you could just have the guitar play in the key of B

[dingleberry01]

I have been trying to figgure this out. Is it 123 cord in twice (dada) then 123 cord out (tata)then a sold 2 hole draw on the next in (dada)??? Please let me know, I am really tring hard to figgure it out.

[Vandal127]

It is: (123) draw, dada dada dada. blow, dada.

[amnesia01]

Thanks adam!

Gabriew was here ;)

[MisterPignose]

I'm sponging this stuff up. Thanks Professor!

[gilbohadana]

thank you and again thank you !

[dudasjoz]

I can not find as well the continuation of this, But I really would like to see how is it working exactly.These lessons are brilliant. Do you teach at some kind of school also?

ThankYou

[KudzuRunner]

I taught privately and at a music school in New York called the Guitar Study Center. I also teach at Jon Gindick's Blues Harmonica Jam Camps gindick dot com

[jayrodkc]

These lessons are an extremely generous gift to people trying to learn the harmonica. You rock!!!! THANK YOU!!!!

[Baloneyhum]

THANKS for being big enough and confident enough to give some back in such a large way. Your now a Master Harpster!

Dave

[HowlingWolf99]

Thanks nuropatico your tab was a great help, Ive got a long way to go, but I'm heading in the right direction. Brilliant set of videos are'nt they.

[substanse]

Thanks for helping me learn to play, im a 17 year old boy from Norway, and when I saw your videos I wanted to learn playing a blues harmonica, and we had an old hohner c harp at home so now I'm trying :) Those "story telling interuptions" are fun to hear, that makes it even more fun to play so keep telling your stories! Youre almost starting to feel like a real teacher :)

[sammyboy211v]

wow... sometimes you find bits of gold on the internet... Adam is one of those "bits".

He promises to show this lick again but i cannot find it.... ??

[bongalo12]

he's using a key of c!!

[killawombat]

B flat

[zimmy81]

its almost theraputical watching these lessons

[grnlghtr]

WOW....thanks for taking the ttime to share such a nice gift with us learners. please never stop.

[Souldaat]

hahahahah: "Take 2! Hi this is Adam Gussow we're gonna try this again" hahah :P

[DharmaBum333]

I like your recording studio! It looks like a car motif! Great stuff, well done lessons...

[KudzuRunner]

It's basically early '90s Honda, on the styling end, with jungle-print undertones.

[yaguarete167]

please let me tell you i admire you, i dont speak a lot of english as you see!, you are a great musician and teacher too, from argentina i send you my respect, very thank you

facundo

[KudzuRunner]

Thanks, YG, and SB. I'm happy to have contributed my bits of gold to your journey, both of you.

[HowlingWolf99]

Adam, Great videos, am I missing something on the syncopation exercise or do you come back to it later on. I'm still not getting it.

[neuropatico]

Hope this make's sense

[Dah-Dah Tuh-Tuh Dah-.. Daaha]

[Dah-Dah Tuh-Tuh Dah-.. Daaha]

Dah = 123 In

Tuh = 123 Out

Daaha= 2 draw or 3

[mattysco]

hey anyone know what key harmonica he is using?

[KudzuRunner]

I'm using a B-flat.

[graffjamie]

Thank you so much for these videos!! They are the greatest thing to happen to my harp playing ever!! I owe you a great debt. (Fantastic story by the way, really, really great stuff...that's what these videos are all about subtle knowledge!) Thanks again!

[sevsguy]

good thing you came out of college and found the blues... you sound great....next tim your playin the tri state area or whatever give me clue.... i would love to see you.... "in the short time you have been on you tube you've influenced my playing"

[plxx0r]

These lessons are great man. I found 'em about a week ago and practiced five hours straight the first day without getting frustrated once, and have practiced no less than 2 hours a day since, loving every moment of it I guess mainly because I love the blues(I could play hours on end, but my lips disagree). Although, I am having trouble getting good bends, I can do it np on my Trombone, but not on this. Any advice or does it just take practice? Thanks again for the lessons!

[KudzuRunner]

No particular advice about bending. It takes lots of practice. Google "harmonica" and "bending" or "bends" and you'll find a lot of free info on the web.

[ohweht]

ensure that you breathe good, from the diaphragm. then, after you're good at it, try shaping the tongue in different places, until you get the bent. then practice until the position becomes natural. try using a tuner to get the right pitch, and more than one bend on holes like 3 draw.

don't try to bend if you don't breathe good enough, you'll wear the harp really bad. sadly you won't find much about breathing on the net.

[39rc6cf]

Fantastic syncopation

[DangerousBastard]

Man thats awesome! Nice playing, and you met Butterfield! It doesnt get any cooler than that! I think I'll get out my harp. I got 3 of 'em and have been meaning to learn how to play them! lol

[germanharp]

Thanks for the video. You are a great source for someone such as myself that is just now learning to play the harmonica. I live in Germany (1/2hr away from Hohner) and can not find a harmonica teacher to save my life. Love all of your videos. Thanks again.

[Loschenkohl]

thanks for the lessons you provide, i am really taking advantage of them. I love the sound and style in part 24. (front-porch lesson), thats good blues!

just wanna say thanks for your broadcasts so far..

best regards

[chieftanzzz]

Keep it up this is great

[dwest1000]

I am laughing out loud at your human-ness of forgetting the technique. Truly golden humor. Thank you for great teaching and showing us that even the pros get hung up sometimes. :-) It's reassuring to a hack like me :-)

I'm from Georgia...I appreciate your roots.

Take care.

[KudzuRunner]

About my roots:  well, I'm actually a suburban (small town) New York state guy who lived in NYC for 22 years. But I love Oxford, MS. But I'll gratefully accept your praise for my willingness not to edit out the mistakes--you've understood exactly where I'm coming from. I never could pull "cool" off, but I was OK at "human."

[dwest1000]

I still appreciate your roots :-)

You came out fine after living in NYC for 22 years. Give yourself a huge slap on the back for that accomplishment!

You're not obnoxious...

You operate at a normal speed...

You don't believe everyone wants to listen to what you think and will be really lost if they don't...

I suspect you avoided the above traits because you were first a small town person.

[SouthBridgeBand]

That is some very very good harp playing. i love it.

[62petro]

Now that is cool. Thank you.

[pauloxaxb]

Thanks

[pauloxaxb]

Dear Mr. Gussow,

Hohner Marine Band is the instument of choice;

in which key are the lessons played in?

Thank you a lot.

You, Sir, are a great teacher.

[ilovecereal371]

He teaches a lot of his lessons with a B-flat harmonica. There's a few gems in here where he gets an A, C, and D harp.

[pauloxaxb]

Thanks

[KudzuRunner]

I basically did most of the lessons on a B-flat because I had a particularly good B-flat harp. Marine Bands are very individuated; each one is different. I had a great one. So I went with it. Also, I figured that since most harp lessons are given in plain vanilla C, I should be different

[philmin681]

hey adam, i'm a big fan from stony brook LI, i had a show at the cornelia street cafe, the same night you were at terra blues man!! i've been dying to shake your hand. but, i really like your exploration into the sonny terry rhythms, do you have any more of the country/piedmont rhythm harp tricks?

[Havraha]

I obviously need to start out on an earlier video. Would probably help if I was in the same key as you too. Grr.

[mrcyan]

Thank you so much you're great teacher. I have a question. The sound of some of my Hohner harps is too "dry" in the 3 and 4 holes. What could I do?

Thanx a lot

[LUIZMARQUEZ]

Muchas gracias por la ayuda , usted es un gran musico y un gran ser !

Luiz

[escottdidit]

Havn't read all the posted comments, so this may have already been mentioned. But, if you would consolodate all these video clips on a DVD and put a price tag on it, I for one would buy it from you. Wha-da-ya-say...?

[KudzuRunner]

I think we're going to do this down the line.

[shadowmyst88]

i didn't get yout message, sorry , i thought you sended me a message earlyer

[sashaharp]

yeah mr gussow!

[wbsouth]

Hey Man, at age almost 58 I have decided to pick up the blues harp. I'm doing it now because afer all these years I still remember Paul Butterfield and Born in Chicago! Loved your story about him. Got on you tube just browsing harp videos and saw yours... and plan on starting from the beginning of your vids. Thanks for putting them up.

[congamantony]

lol - The hardest rhythms to slow down, are the ones you dont have to think about. It just shows that we are all only human Great video - you are the tops !!!!

[creamofcards]

I like your video clip and have rated it as awesome. Please check out my clips of me playing my jaw harp.

[RonSunshine]

Hey Adam. Technology has come a long way since you used to give me lessons over the phone in the 80s. You sound great. Talk to you soon.

RS

[KudzuRunner]

Ron! Yes it has. Thanks. Does that cover all the bases? Let's talk soon.

[shadowmyst88]

hello, i am new to youtube, but also a harmonica singer, and i have some problems with choosing the right instrunemt, could you help me with some advice? thanx

[KudzuRunner]

I have used Hohner Marine Band (Model 1896) 10-hole diatonic harps since I began playing 33 years ago, in 1974. I guess that would have to be my recommended harp. I do think that Hohner Blues Harps are fine for the first year, when you're learning how to bend; after that, they're not ideal because the soft reeds flatten and get mushy too quickly.

[resoslideguitar]

Adam you are a great and patient teacher thanks for all your special video instructions. When are coming downunder?

all the best John

[KudzuRunner]

I've only been down under once--to Sydney, with Satan and Adam--and don't see how I'll get back. Loved it, though.

[12barz]

It's been a long time since I learned that much from somebody in a car. Great lessons!

[nomoboy]

I really enjoy the way you present your stuff, another fantastic lesson....hope you can do the slowdown version in a later video. Thanks again Adam.

[66rich66]

presenting yourself as not always perfect makes the rest of us feel human... thanks for not leaving the imperfections on the edit room floor...

[mxm190]

hahah take 3 LOL .... Its always harder to remember a rhythm when you slow it way down aint it :-) nice lesson Adam!

[princzesza]

Hi. I'm just a beginner, but I found these lessons not only very interesting but also helpful. Please continue, it is a great work:) Greetings to baby;)

[chuggydown]

Very stimulating and helpful. Particularly appreciate the pucker vs tongue block comparisions. Please continue!!!

BTW- great in-car accoustics! Those the stock mats?

[jimmyharp]

The best blues harp instruction videos!!!

Thanks a lot!!