Modern Blues Harmonica - Improvisation 2 (Gussow.040)

[robuzy]

hahahaha

[cplhebert]

this is the best insite anyone can acquire from any one other person. i can relate to the warrior metaphor, i have been in the army for twelve years. i can relate to the love metaphor, i get teared up when i watch sonny terry "hootin the blues". i love the sounds and the feelings that are made when he plays. i struggle with the "painting", i was never very artistic in any sense. i understand the metaphor, i just think i will have a hard time applying it. at any rate, another awesome lesson.

[apex1989]

What a beautiful use of metaphor. And so well thought out and presented. Adam, this was truly one of your best lessons so far. Technique is fundamental, but only half the challenge. Without the proper mindset, technique is just...technique.

I played obsessively as a teenager and was an excellent lip purser. Now I'm obsessed again, and through your videos am getting the answers to some of those nagging questions. In a month I'll be up on stage again for the first time in 30+ years. Thanks!

[jeikuman]

49? im 23 =) So here I am in Japan, I was feeling kinda lonesome and blue, the taste of rice gets old and there's nothing to do. When I remembered that I brought my graduation gift from my old man - a Marine Band in C, remembering I didnt know how to even pick up a harmonica I looked to the internet and found your videos, Maybe that was 3 months ago, but if it wasn't for my harmonica and your inspiring lessons to give me guidance, I dont think I would be sane. LOVE this lesson! arigatou!

[GraffitiRocks123]

happy birthday:P

[TenPukaMan]

adam, i don't know when your birthday is/was...so anyway... HARP-py Birthday from me in Hawaii. If you ever plan to come to Hawaii, let me know so maybe we can get some local harp players together to do some JAMS (an acronym i made up...Jamming to Advance Musical Skills). aloha

(FYI: "puka" (POOH-ka) means hole in the Hawaiian language)

[bbeddick]

You kick so much ass Mr. Gussow. Intuitive and intellectual, yet very spiritual.

"A drunken-hearted boy"

[eseaton99]

i really like these metaphors Adam, being a blues harmonica player & a painter as my job/passion, and having made love.. I see a cool thread between all of them adding abit onto what your saying that, you have to know when to attack as the warrior, be dominant in the sheets, having the very highly rendered detail area in a painting, but then also be receiving, be on the backstep, be in awe of the music. its a lot about letting all these activities to be the witness and the doer let it soak deep

[herbie232]

Adam you are the craziest guy i have ever seen and its incredibly refreshing, your lessons are amazingly helpful. These metaphors have helped me a great deal in furthering my own ability on the harp. Are there any books that you would recommend that could teach me more about improvisation or just blues harp in general.

cheers mate your a legend

Jim Herb, Australia

[KudzuRunner]

@herbie232 : The only book I'd recommend is IMPROVISING BLUES HARMONICA by David Barrett. He really knows what he's doing.

[ArtofDreaming1]

I work at colony and I turn people on to you every single week, I also make them promise that if they appreciate you they will send you money.

[KudzuRunner]

Do you mean Colony Music on Broadway in NYC? If so: I used to shop there during the 1908s and 1990s. It was one of the two or three places where I could find older blues stuff on vinyl. Without question it had the best-informed sales staff in the city.

[marrete1]

Thanx man, i´m a beginner with the harmonica, and your videos encouraged me to carry on and made me feel good. Thanx again. I´m from Mexico and here i met a great harmonica player, his name is José Cruz and he was the leader of a blues band called Real de Catorce, have you listened to them?

[bubryan]

Adam - been watching the youtube lessons for 9 mos & find you to be a great teacher. keep them coming! this lesson was very informative, cerebral, and helpful. hope i can catch you & mr satan on stage sometime

[motokouk]

willem dafoe!!!

[KudzuRunner]

If that's really all you have to say--that I look like somebody more famous--then buddy, you have no business on this channel. Bye bye.

[tarheel33]

I now feel like a Harp playing NINJA!

[ThLuckyOne]

DUDE! I could LEARN stuff from you! Man? Why aren't you world famous? What is so messed up about our society that we don't have you doin' REVIVALS and stuff? No disrespect intended but, HALLELUJAH! Yes, I'll be back for more! THANKS!

[KudzuRunner]

Well, heck: spread the word. Email your friends and tell them about me.  Go viral! I need all the friends & fans I can get.

[bapontus]

that is true even on yours videos I could notice that other Bluesharp players like guitar player sometimes they like to be just infront and the loudest. I think music is sharing and listening.

[Ky0uran]

I don't no why, but for some reason he reminds me of Daxflame.

[olseken]

You should really play more than you talk! You can't teach a musician how to feel music through words, he/gots to feel it through the music! I recogn you play guitar (can see it behind you on most of ur videos). I play blues-piano and blues-guitar. I'm considering learning some harmonica - do you thing i have an advantage playing guitar and all?

[happachu]

if you can't appreciate what he's giving out to people then it's too bad. either you got too big of an ego or you're just plain selfish. What he speaks of is extremely important. this is a lesson, a tutorial, a class, not a performance. he's not meant to play for you so GET OVER YOURSELF.

[happachu]

maybe i should get over myself. I guess SOME people just completely lack intellectual capacity to appreciate some of the most potent tips and secrets people give away. some people wouldn't know what's good for them if it bit them in the ass and you're one of those, olseken.

[LordAzus]

Oh crap, we're all gonna die!

:)

Very interesting lesson.

[ortonomics]

So many musicians try to talk about this but can't define the thought with words. Thanks for the eloquent description, your fluency in both the language of speech and the language of music is what makes you such a great teacher to those of us who are not yet multilingual.

[RobeeMan]

Adam!

I want to thank you for reassuring me that I'm walking the right path!Your approach of being both tough and tender, of listening attentively, your reference to Miles Davis all coincide with my experiences and conclusions!And I love the fact that your heroes are Coltrane and Sonny Rollins!

[rcpedersen01]

Cran and Elan!

[neoruan]

Nice talk. Thank you. Worrier -> Lover -> Painter. I like this idea.

[Wharty]

This has got to be the best and most profound definition of what mojo is ... THANKS ADAM!!! You are a wise man.

[JamCamp06]

Brilliant!

[harpdude2]

Happy belated birthday, yo. I am at the inbetwwen stage of beginner and intermediate, and this stuff you're teach us is really pushing me along. It's even given me an idea for a fundraiser.

Thanx, homie from Josh

[eugdvv]

Hi Adam! I'm portuguese and I want to thank you for the tips you give in this you tube videos! I just start now learning harmonica, and I have to do it all just by myself because in portugal we dont have almost anything about harmonicas, no oportunities to learn from someone or to listening someone who play as well.

[KudzuRunner]

I'm happy to know that I've got friends in Portugal.

[yaguarete167]

In Argentina too, thanks for the lessons man

[eugdvv]

Hi Adam! I'm portuguese and I want to thank you for the tips you give in this you tube videos! I just start now learning harmonica, and I have to do it all just by myself because in portugal we dont have almost anything about harmonicas, no oportunities to learn from someone or to listening someone who play as well.

[pefedido]

Pistoffness! Hahaha, that was funny!

[harpinholley]

happy belated bday!great lesson.sometimes you need to think about what your doing. i need more aggression,but i am good at painting and carressing.

[metalosaurio]

Happy Birthday man!! You're videos and stories have been a real inspiration to keep learning harmonica. I'm really glad that you mentioned Miles Davis "Kind of Blue", since that's what I've been listening these last weeks and it has been great to get some licks both for the diatonic and chromatic harp, by the way do you play chromatic too?

[KudzuRunner]

I play a little chromatic--a little third position, Chicago style. I was moved to finally buy a couple of chromatic harps by William Clarke's "Blowin' Like Hell." Download that, if you don't already have it.

[5m34907]

Two days late BUT: Happy birthday and a good harmonicayear wished. Next year i will be sooner..

Greetz from Holland,

Arjen

[olmen375]

This is gold! I think this does not only apply to improvisation on harmonica - it applies on ALL real musicism (is that a word??). Great stuff! (Laughed my guts out at your take on the "over enthusiastic" musician :D Happy birthday to you from Finland!

[burntpigg]

i think it was jimi hendrix who said "its not the notes you play, its the spaces you put between them"

[harpinbrett]

Thanks Adam, very good advice for the "showboaters" -think about the others around you.

[samblancato]

Undergird huh? Man I love that kind of talk.

[KudzuRunner]

It's not a word I've tended to use in casual conversation, but it was the right word here.  I'll try to steer clear of the showboat stuff though--monocoque, aardwolf, ptarmigan, antidisestablishmentarianism, etc.

[nomoboy]

Welcome back Adam. Wish I a great birthday with your family and thanks for the (intense) new lesson(s).

I'm also looking forward to your new website.

[ElvinFyre]

Happy Birthday, Adam, from user# 943

:-)

Mick

[sch700]

Im self learning this instrument in a country where there is no blues culture... Thank you.

[KarlPutt]

Gotta join : Happy Birthday.

This lesson is pure poetry.

Beautiful.

[BlueVooch]

Bono Fortuna... Coming from this 47 year old, man... somebody told me that Youtube makes you look 10 lbs heavier and 20 years older. Don't mind them Adam, you don't look a day over 62 :-)

[KarlPutt]

Gotta join: Happy Birthday.

That last lesson is pure poetry.

Beautiful.

[Kingleyharp]

Happy Birthday Adam!

Great stuff as always.

[zyxel2]

Happy birthday Adam, I`m going on blues gig tonight, i`m gonna drink one beer for you. CHEERS

-Toni

[harpsnake]

Happy birthday Adam! Wish you at least another 49 years of good health. Was a really nice lession, enjoyed it very much :)

BTW, I left a long comment on your last post, but it has never appeared :(

[MADFERESORTURI]

happy birthday Adam!

Great teacher!

[jimmyharp]

Happy Birthday Adam!!

Do you know I met your student Jake here in Hong Kong?!!

Looking forward to your website!!!

[KudzuRunner]

Jake Shaw! Please say Hi to him; get me his email address; and tell him he needs to come to this site and give me a testimonial. I started teaching him when he was 16; he's one of my great success stories.

[jimmyharp]

Yes, yes!

I have sent you his email. Please check it.

I am so lucky that I can know him, I like his style!

[greavsie29]

Many happy returns. thank you for helping me improve with something i enjoy already immensly. you are soon becoming a hero of mine

[brothergerr]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Another great lesson! Thank you so much for sharing your insights with us.

[thorvaldsen76]

Happy birthday,Adam! Great lessons! Looking forward to your homepage:)

[jgalicic]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADAM !! This lesson really hit home because it took me such a long time to learn how to leave space while playing at the jam sessions. I thought that I needed to fill up my solos. Not true. Less is more. Good lesson. --Joe