Blues Harmonica Secrets Revealed (Gussow.008)

[ustavobarr25g]

Your video went viral on Windhoek

[deathoxy]

THANK YOU ADAM. For the first time when i tried to copy your playing at the end of the lesson, i was a bit lost, but after numerous tries i downloaded this video on my computer, played it 2x slower, and found what i was looking for. Basically you're maintaining the rhythm by timed sequences of double-chords at offbeats, either blown of drawn, everything else is single notes. Knowing what is happening made this a lot easier. Anyway, all this felt sort of a good puzzle with the reward in the end )

[bladesaint21]

*LOL* EXCELLANT!!!!!!..Love this!

[kikyyyyy]

hy,you are awsome!

is that marine band harp?

[sjeter61]

great vid!!!!!!! 

[25rsboy]

thanks adam for all you do for us! keep up the good work

[EternallyRound]

I got it! I got it! Awright, thanks for the lesson!

[Buzzman1949]

Is the 123 tuca after the initial 2 hole draw a blow or draw?

[Rouxloubac]

I would love to meet you and t have as a friend but the world is well done and thank you to some free videos on the internet and you tube ... Thank you thank you thank you. Good teacher ...

Brice

[Rouxloubac]

I love this technical vidéo.... I often listen it..

[Treefrogs2]

this was so helpful thank you

[digitbit1]

sei un grande ciao dall'italia !!!

[chingpow2]

i can't believe youre in oxford! me and my buds drove down old sardis every day to go to the lake, very weird but i love your lessons, maybe we'll run into eachother next time im down there

[pe003]

Look kind of like home in the weald during the summer

[xraylax]

this man is making me almost break my jaw.

but it was defenatly worth it

got this one nailed

now for refining

thanx mr Gussow

[slangbuster]

What a great job you do. I wish someone told me this stuff when I was first learning to play. You NEVER stop leaning. Thanks.

Steve Lang

[ckpyron]

WOW! Awesome lesson, Adam. I've watched this one at least a dozen times now, beat the tab to death, and then WHAM! It clicked in tonight about midnight (which thrilled my wife none BTW). Thanks soooo much for all this great info out here. Sorry I missed your clinic in OK last month. Hopefully I'll catch another one soon.

[yoncofi]

No puedo parar de sonreir... eres un grande Adam, muchas gracias por compartir tus conocimientos, haré lo mejor que pueda.

GRACIAS!!!

[CRunchy6614]

if u play that rythem with diffrent notes u can play a cumbia ... el oh el

[Phillyblunt74]

This is a great lesson for creating rhythm under lying a simple melody. This alone can make your playing sound full & complex based on a very simple technique.

[jjbeggs]

Id love to know what the cops thought you were doing lol. great lesson thanks!

[Kesava1975]

lol course the cops gotta show up

[ceerijjay]

you're the best ...nice lesson...loved it

[shortattentionspan1]

.... wow I threw my harmonica away 35 years ago ... in total frustration ... now ... you have given me hope to try and learn again

[captainzerb]

@shortattentionspan1 well if you have a short attention span no wonder lol

[gosiawoodman]

Once again, great lesson. Thanks Adam.

[patrikasLTL]

i've learned to play that shuffle riff fast in 4 days. the problem is my harp is dystuned, i'll buy a good Marine Band G harp.

[HaraldAxelHeymans]

This is great work that you do, Mr. Gussow, I have to say. There is an element though, the energies that are around that place. I'm from Holland, yet I have been to the Mississippi for quite a while. There's this vibe, man, it's unreal sometimes.

[tewright77]

I am getting this down, but i need to put ALOT of time in to speed it up. MAN!!! Certain things come to me easy...this rythem is going to take some work :)

[clumster123]

Haha thanks for that =)

[clumster123]

Hey have you got tabs for this?

[KudzuRunner]

See the "more info" tab, above R.

[moviesandmusicBE]

haha your video's are so natural. Great man thanks! btw. If you have time. Check out our channel. Peace!

[HSSIW]

Whats name of this song ?

[KudzuRunner]

It doesn't have a name. It's something I made up on the spot.

[kpls72]

Also, Adam (off topic): you wrote a terrific article for The New Yorker some years back...about Satan & Adam, the road, your gear, Mr. Satan and all. Is that piece on the web anywhere? I'm sure you're many harp honkin friends would love to read it. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge with all us tin sandwich fans. Tom

[KudzuRunner]

It's called "Winter Blues" and it was published in Harper's in April 1995. It's the leadoff piece in my new-ish book, JOURNEYMAN'S ROAD: MODERN BLUES LIVES FROM FAULKNER'S MISSISSIPPI TO POST-9/11 NEW YORK, which I've linked on my website, Modern Blues Harmonica. ("Adam's books" page)

[kpls72]

Adam, thanks for the book info. I'll pick it up for sure. That Winter Blues piece was awesome, and somehow I let it get away. BTW, I found that footage of you and Mr Satan on the street in ARkansas on youtube, and was happy to see Sterling back in action. You sure play some great rhythmic harp. Thanks for the inspiration. Tom

[kpls72]

Adam, I can play all the parts but doing the syncopation right is making me nuts. Got to walk away cuz after 40 mins my head spins. I have been playing too much of the "shortnin bread" lick for months in this same 123 hole area. MUSCLE MEMORY is not my friend tonight. 2nd time back at this lesson, trying to take it in short periods. I'll be back tomorrow night. Tom

[KudzuRunner]

You've got the right approach.

[MusicMan20061210]

It's truly amazing what potential that little instrument has.But very hard to discover for the uninitialized!

[smaxwell1966]

Alright Adam, I'm chuggina along and souding real good but every four bars or so I pass out and the wife has to give me CPR before I can start again. Even with letting the air out around my lips as much as I can on the 2blow I cant seem to exhale enough. I can do it if I put an extra blow chord at the end but then I'm not staying true to the rythm. How can I get rid of some excess air!

[KudzuRunner]

Good question. If you keep struggling to find the answer, your body will slowly reveal it to you.

[newbeharp]

Did you ever figure out how to release the excessive amount of air and stay in synch. Im there and cant relesade enough without blowing out the tune and a reed

[smaxwell1966]

newbeharp - Yes, I finally figured out I wasn't doing the rhythm right, I was 123 hole drawing when I should have been doing 123 hole blowing, make sure your not making that mistake too, otherwise your lungs fill up after running through two or three bars. But with the 123 blow (as Adam taught but somehow I missed it) it was a lot easier. Also try breathing out through both your nose and mouth together on the blow notes. Good luck - dont give up!

[k0vert]

haha "well well well, mista state troopa"

[k0vert]

i like this guy; very well-spoken yet still feelin it...

[billman2112]

good stuff. Thanks!

[Doggieman1111]

how cool is this vid

[fields2grand]

i would've kept my camera on. in case the cop had some sort of complex. bastard cops.

[KudzuRunner]

You need an A harp to jam with a guitarist playing in E.

[jmaehill]

Adam amazing wow Iv been practicing and been getting better as practice will often do. is this a song by Tony Glover or Sonny Terry? I thaught it was Sonny Terry but have been unable to find the song whats it called??? Also you mentioned earlier that you were gonna post the Tab for it where could I find it??? thanks a ton for all youve done for all of us out here.

[KudzuRunner]

It's a rhythm by Sonny Terry, more or less. It's called "Sonny's Squall." Try iTunes.

[jmaehill]

Thanks Adam really appreciate it. Im new to the harp but Im catchin on quick. Iv got a C and a Bb harp but it is hard. Iv got the blues and wanna let them out. With a guitar tuned in open E 8 or 12 bar blues should be played with what key of harp??? I was thinkin of gettin another one but was wondering if you would be able to recomend a key I should get?love to get a hold of that tab Iv been. wish I coulda responded sooner but I havnt a computer. Thanks again and U rock!!!

[odelay12v]

Great da tucka lesson! the trooper part cracked me up too by the way lol..

[ikeano29]

you make a good teacher man, cheers

[eawid]

Hey gussow, May I know in which sonny therry's song the rythm is played?

Thanks

[captainsuperfly]

Hi Adam

Just wanted to thank you.You are a great teacher.Brilliant music, keep up the videos-they are fantastic.

[myuhlz]

Thanks for the vid

[imgooley]

Ha, the police. Bet you were sweatin a bit.

But then again, you were a street musician in New York, so I doubt it would phase you considerably.

[stuck2myleash]

Hi Adam

I've been playing guitar for over ten years now and I really thought I new alot about blues. Since I came across your lessons my gibson's just collecting dust on the shelf.

You are a wonderful teacher and a great inspiration.

Thanking you

[metubeyousuck]

Adam, you should've gotten a little lippy with the officer. I mean how perfect would a harmonica lesson from jail have been?

Ah well. Thanks a bunch for these lessons, they are outstanding!

Keep it up.

[xhinomorux]

"Adam, you should've gotten a little lippy with the officer. I mean how perfect would a harmonica lesson from jail have been?"

LOL!!!!

[pabloto]

Hi Adam, you are really a philanthropist helping everybody to play harmonica!. i had been stuck since i finished my begginers books and now there is a new world for me. hope i can do it step by step. here is spain is very difficult to find a proper blues harp teacher. So, thanks a lot.

[genemir]

can you play this on a C harp?

[bassinjasson]

Yeah you can. you should be able to play this in any key of harp

[genemir]

thank you very much..

will any 10hole diatonic harp do?

and do i still need to adjust the reeds like he said?

thanks

[clrn2mt]

Adam, do you tongue the exhales? My exhales do not sound good. I would say they suck, but that would be rather confusing.

[KudzuRunner]

It really varies. In this particular rhythm, I don't believe I'm tonguing. You need to try it both ways and see which feels and sounds right to your ears.

[jonathaneguy]

Man this is a cool concept. . . Like the Endless Summer for blues harp. I've really enjoyed the last couple of videos.

Jonathan

[Vanderheiden13]

i love ur videos it is make a much better harp player thank so much

[skatman7777]

wow, Adam You instill the sperit of blues when you take me out on the seanic missippi cross roads as well as rythem. I am trying to learn the harp to express my deep pains and pleasure in a productive way and your guideance as a mentor in blues is a god given gift to me for christmass. Merry Christmass to you and the family...

[KudzuRunner]

Thanks, SK. I'm glad you let me know--and I'm glad my year's work has helped give you something new and useful to play with.

[MisterPignose]

Adam, This is the post I listened to about six months ago when I posted my first comment. I got sidetracked a bit until I saw you live. Thanks for the inspiration!

GT

[strawwoodclaw]

Hi Mr Pignose. Why are you called Mr Pignose is it to do with the Amps. I bought a pignose G40V as i heard they was good harp amps but it was unusable nothing but feedback & sounded poor - sounded good with my friends guitar.

[MisterPignose]

It was a quick handle I picked up when I registered because I really love my Pignose 7-100, the lunch box amp. The G40 has too much power for a harp with a mic. I have a Fender Princeton Reverb which I believe is 12 watts and it great with a loud band.

[strawwoodclaw]

I have seen the original pignose amps on you tube they sound great with Harmonica -

[MisterPignose]

Something went awry with my last post as it was a response to strawwoodclaw.

[strawwoodclaw]

whats awry is that an American thing?

[metubeyousuck]

"Awry" (pronounced, uh-rai) means to goof up or go wrong, as in "something has gone awry."

I don't think its strictly an American thing, either. I'm pretty sure that it is standard English.

[gaminemome]

hi there - i've been playing for about six months and without any real instruction at all, so i was trying to play along to Dylan songs and learned a bit that way but it doesn't sound smooth like you... im playing a hohner C - help!!!

[KudzuRunner]

Sounds like you need to visit my website, Modern Blues Harmonica dot com

[gaminemome]

wow, hey, thanks! Will definitely go there -- likely daily. I need to get this thing down because i enjoy it so much, but am not there yet - not awful, but not good.... can't sort out some things, but you are most helpful... will be in touch...

thanks,

gamine (sadi) ; )

[strawwoodclaw]

Dylan mainly plays Straight Harp. Blues players play in Cross position so you would be bending the notes on your C harp to G unlike Bob. I would try bending notes & practice simple tunes like Jingle bells or when the saints . until you know your way around the harp.

[MuriloHarmonica]

Hi Adam i need ur help if u watch buddy greene the first 2 video he plays if u type Buddy greene called "Classical Medley" By Buddy Greene (HARMONICA)this is beautiful i guess ur pupils would love to learn these 2 songs too,just wonder if u have the break down of them?

big hello from london

thanks a lot

[lizzysg1]

oh no i just woke everyone up practising....oops....think ive got it now tho yayy....ok so my 2-hole draw sounds awful but apart from that...

[iceberg63871]

Charlie Hilbert

[armeniandan]

I really like it,great,I can't quite get it yet,im looking forward to the tab.Its a very good teaching video ,most other videos just want to show off how fast and good they are,how anyone is supposed to learn at that kind of speed I don't know,I know it's not helping me.Anyway your lessons have been helpful thank you!!!.

[evanstheframe]

Hi Adam, so pleased to have found your lessons. After giving up hope of playing I now want to play every day thanks to you. Is there any chance you could put up the tab for the turn around you play on this lesson? I cant get it, I think it starts 1D 4D 5B 6B but I then lose it. If you could find the time to put that up I would be very grateful. Keep up the great work.

[KudzuRunner]

A subscriber has created a tab for the Sonny Terry rhythm in this lesson and I'll be uploading and making it available for free, soon.

[lizzysg1]

that wud be great Adam, thanks!!

[lizzysg1]

still practising...im gonna post a video response to this wen i get it...hopefully!!

[lizzysg1]

great lesson thanks adam!!! i can just about manage this now if I do it really slow...! gonna keep practising though...

[skoami]

..oh man, at the end he is almost trough the roof!

nice rythm Adam.

[LordAzus]

I really like this rhythm.

Old-school stuff is great.

Thank you for this great lesson.

[2HoleDraw]

Yeah, it's not even like you're sneaking it in there either, it's like the vibrato just goes quietly along for the ride as you play. Wonderful stuff. Good tone is my holy grail and good vibrato like yours just takes the goal to an even higher level. I find throat vibrato sounds more subtle than diaphragm vibrato, but it doesn't yet come naturally to me. Thanks for the inspiration. You are really driving me forward Adam.

[2HoleDraw]

Am I detecting a slight bit of vibrato on your 2 draw? You seem to almost automatically apply a touch of "wavering" to many of your draw notes even though there doesn't seem to be enough time to add vibrato. It's a subtle thing but it really adds character to your playing. Back to practicing I go.

[KudzuRunner]

You've got great ears. Yes, I do do that. It's the fruit of practice, but it's not something I consciously do anymore. And it does make a difference.

[donnylama]

dear sir,,,, dylan convinced me to pick up the harmonica...but you really taught me how to play it.... Ok i admit i'm propably the worst harmonica player in the world but you knw what?? your lessons make me enjoy wat i play...(even tho it sounds really bad)..... i jst try and visualise your classes and jst kinda play it out loud....

thanks for the best classes

[megagnathos]

you didnt go over the syncapation :(

[kathannon]

Yep, a "WOW" moment.  I wish I had one~!

[MuriloHarmonica]

Gussow i find you the harmonica man...you really know how to teach,you have the skills,i think you can teach you past idols now..i've been playing harmonica for 3 months and your videos made me improve 500% my harmonica play,you are keeping the blues up...is there anyway to send you a contribution as a post or something as a thank for the really good tips...hope u have time to reply to this...keep the blues alive.

take care

[KudzuRunner]

Well, if you go to my website, modernbluesharmonica dot com, and scroll to the bottom, you'll find a PayPal "donate" icon. Five months ago people who wanted to throw tips at me convinced me to do this. And people have been generous. If you feel moved to tip me for my free lessons, be my guest!

[Jabeslee]

Adam, I am having trouble getting this rhythm, although I call follow along as you describe it on the tape...any suggestions

[KudzuRunner]

Ahhh: because it's tricky. There really aren't any shortcuts. It took me a good long time to have the several breakthroughs necessary to be able to feel and play it.

[joeystinkbutt]

that -tucka- why cant i get that ? been trying that for months.l.o.l.

[BrotherBrit]

Hi Adam, you and I, and my voice coach, have the same method of teaching(I'm a ballroom dance teacher). Needless to say, I enjoy your instruction. Question: How do I tell a band what key to play their song in if I have only one harp with me? I carry a C with me all the time and have been invited up to play a few times and have, so far, been lucky enough to have someone in the bands that knows, but I would like to know. Help? Namaste.

[KudzuRunner]

Well, cross harp on a C harp would put the band in G. If you're skilled, you can also play that C harp in D--good for funk and minor blues--and C. But G is the obvious place to start.

[Qwante]

this is the best! thank you soooo much!

best regards from Sweden

[danieldrumsfreites]

you are an xcellent teacher and a good man. thanks a lot from caracas,venezuela.

[FattyOwl]

Hey Adam, this is just the sort of thing I've been looking for. Thanks for sharing this stuff with us. I'm gonna practice 'til the cops come home! :)

[billy218]

Thx man,

ive been to alot a websites that offer free harmonica lessons, but you absolutely rise above them all.

Grtz from belgium

[KudzuRunner]

Billy and Sopleto:

Thanks! I appreciate the kind words, and I don't take them for granted.

[sopleto]

Thanks Adam, i saw 1-8 lessons and you answer so many questions! You are very clare, and i love your thinking about the harp like a machine to explain the differences between the sounds that you made. thannks!!!!!

[sevsguy]

hey i left you some email type thing before so maybe you would be around here i guess not.... post something....

[edwinamorfy]

soon we will see ourselves in the competition in BOSTON ...edwin amorfy

[clausbonne]

Super lessons keep em coming :) from Denmark :-)

[colecut]

thank you so much

[tarob111]

These lessons are priceless!

Greetings from Luxembourg.

[malditaszorras]

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeettttt­tttt!!!!!

Cheers!! Youre great man. Thank you!

Alex from Spain.

[JeanRebo]

Hi from uruguay!

I´m a big fun of Sonny Terry and now i´m a fun of yours :)

Thank´s for the sharing, Awesom lessons!

[MisterPignose]

Finally found an online blues player that inspires me to learn some REAL blues!

[KudzuRunner]

Thanks guys, all of you.  I'm just doing my best to spread the word. Please check out MrHilbert, which is the new channel for my good buddy and guitar-man, Charlie Hilbert.

[DangerousBastard]

Dude, you're the best teacher EVER! And thats coming from a guitar player :P

[pafisher188]

This is wonderful. Thank you so much for these lessons! I just started a day or two ago, and already have picked up so much from these lessons. I really appreciate your work!

[chieftanzzz]

This stuff is Gold Keep it up

[s4t1v4]

thx you very very very much man, i play blues guitar for a while now, and you have that feeling that makes that every note have his own soul...i'm learning armonica now, you videos are priceless...thx from Chile

[KudzuRunner]

I'm glad to know I've got friends in Chile. Thanks for letting me know.

[dwest1000]

Visited by a trooper! Hah! Priceless. Probably thought you were...well, who knows what he was thinking eh?

Thanks for the great lesson. I'm a subscriber now. :-)

[Rags1737]

Damn pigs!! I was wondering what key of harmonica you were using on this lesson. Keep up the good work.

[macdaddie55]

Great stuff bro... hope the hammy heals. I ran the knoxville half marathon last Sun... running is great for the lungs.. harp on dood

peace, mc

[KudzuRunner]

Hasn't healed yet. Good thing I've got a harp in my hand.

[N62KNM]

So, in your part of the world playing harmonica attracts police attention. Here in London, U.K., there are people who think that possesion of a harp should be an arrestable offence. Mind you, to a man, they are all guitarists.

[KudzuRunner]

Yes. This is why I'm spreading the gospel. Bad harp players are a threat to civilization--as least as guitarists understand it.

[N62KNM]

Hi Boss. I don't know if you realise what a great lesson this is. To me it has taken me out of a rut I didn't know I was in regarding was in regarding breathing patterns while playing rhythm. Everyone of your lessons open new vistas for me. Many thanks, please keep 'em coming

[KudzuRunner]

Good. My hope was that the information I'm sharing would have just this effect.  Stay tuned.

[Teddypo]

Adam, I was working the rift you taught in with some other stuff while practicing on my deck this past weekend. The neighbors are all accustomed to my playing. You are a great teacher, I have tried many lessons and this is the one that has helped my playing the most. Thanks again,

Ted

[KudzuRunner]

You are too generous, but I'm glad to know the Gussow method of harp-attack teaching is getting through.

[12barz]

Sooooooo useful. Yes!

[hansbaank]

Heee Adam !!! You are a devil on the harp! You get me out of my harp dip. I was stuck, but coming out of it now. Thanks . Hans from The Netherlands

[jrhorowitz]

Adam, that was incredibly helpful. I've been trying to figure out how Sonny played that lick. Very eye-opening! Let me know if you're playing in NYC anytime.

[N1LLe]

THANKS A LOT!!

[Teddypo]

great stuff, thanks

[nomoboy]

Great having somebody breaking down Sonny Terry's stuff for us mortals. (I'm a big fan of Sonny) And again all very understandable...

ps I'm watching from Japan....

[ginanddiatonic]

Thanks Adam,

To explain without complicating is the sign of a great teacher. Kudos

[akywong]

That's cool Adam!!! It is a very useful lesson for every blues harp players especially for a Hong Kong guy like me!!! It is hardly to meet a harp player over here!! Thanks very much for your great effort!!! Andy from Hong Kong

[KudzuRunner]

I'm happy to know that I've got some viewers in Hong Kong. YouTube is a great thing.

[josephmaw]

Cheers Adam. wish every teacher was as in depth as you, I think most players forget that they too were once beginers.not you though. keep the vids coming, plz try pik up where u left vid 7.thanx.Joseph.England

[mxm190]

HAHAHA the cop .... and your in the passanger seat, he must have thought you was a quack!

I wish you woulda let the film run when you was talking to the fuzz :-) Keep up the great stuff Adam!