Blues Harmonica Secrets Revealed (Gussow.006)

[beverlybradley210]

Your video is a favorite on Uzbekistan

[TheInsaneToast]

hey adam, i have a problem with my two hole draw. it sounds really flat and is harder to make than the other notes. i kind of have to strain to get the note out. any tips?

[MrBijwaard]

Hi Adam! I really want to thank you! your lessons are so helpful. But when i try to make this sound, you do in this lesson, i get a bit of a oo-ti-too-ti-too-ti sound. Can you of someone else who can actually do this help me?

[AndonMie]

All Night Boogie or something like that. It reminds me of Howlin Wolf.

[AnalGoblins]

Hey Adam these lessons are awesome.

Im having no troubles with articulation just getting winded quickly. Like you said harp is more affective on the draw, but I have been tryung the upper lip technique you talk of but im still getting winded or just not getting enough out. If you could help with any tips be great thanks!

[ChadJHachey]

i dont wanna sound liek a total noob, but when i play i allways blow. should i be sucking insted. i think i need to like start over the way you have been showing me in these vids

[CRunchy6614]

i love these videos and i love the lessons i love them so much when i sleep i dream them lol

[chriswoodman5]

Dude...You ARE the harmonica professor w/ a profound understanding of the instrument and an ability to explain so articulately, that almost any lamen (like myself), can wrap their brains around. You actually loose sleep over thoughts of our next lesson...A wise and dedicated mentor would usually charge for sharing their knowledge. But you happily distribute it for free! Thank you " DOCTOR HARP"- in addition to learning, i've been truly inspired. It "BLUEs" my mind! =D

[ZirusBlackheart]

I've been playing since jsut xmass and i've gotten that rytyhmn with the kick down, it's sick I love it man cheers! :-D

[Capeeqe]

Фак мой мозг...

[RidiculousFail]

Holy hell! When I first started practicing with my harmonica I was only able to play a few notes coherently, but it wasn't much more than just blowing into and out of the harmonica really fast. I wasn't really able to keep a sound rhythm. I watched this video once and I already started to get an idea on how to start playing melodies. Granted, I've got a load of sweating to do and much to learn, but I'm definitely on the right track now. Thank you so much, you're an excellent teacher!

[rocket881]

Sonny Terry used that tight single note draw & slight sloppy release combination a lot (~3:20), especially for train sounds. Being such a big fan of his, hearing your explanations of the techniques makes me go back and evaluate how I play and what I thought I was hearing over the last 8 years!

[rocket881]

Reading the comments I see something common with a lot of newer harp players, they're concerned about which hole, how much bend, etc. When I was first learning, I tried to internalize the sound of another player that I wanted to duplicate, by listening to it over and over. Then I'd get the harp and emulate it. Just, make it happen. Maybe not the first, second, or 20th time, but I'd keep trying until I could make that sound, and I'd get closer to my harp in the process.

[KudzuRunner]

That's exactly what I did. Great minds think alike!

[skoolsfun]

haha these lessons are great adam. Thanks so much for putting the time and effort into making them!! I'm learing so much!!

[tugggyboat]

Hi Adam, I have been working on this lesson for 2 weeks and I've watched this lesson many times and I have finally nailed it !!! what your doing before you slide off the 3 is a 123 draw, very subtle. It would be chi-chi (123 blow releasing air) then 123draw then slide off the 3. I cant even put into words how much your lessons are helping me. I have been playing for about 5 years and I feel I'm at the point where these lessons are really sinking in. Your teaching style is AWESOME. Thank you Sir.

[KudzuRunner]

You're quite welcome! It's very gratifying to hear that I've helped you crack the code. But you've also shown people that learning this stuff is about being pointed in the right direction and then putting in some hard sweat-equity time of your own.

[gosiawoodman]

Thanks for that top secret. Suddenly I am hugely more rhythmic than before.

Thanks again Adam.

woody

[FlurganOnTheSlurgan]

Hey Adam, great job on these lessons!

There is just one thing that is driving me crazy about this lesson in particular. What exactly are you doing to get that different sound from the blow chord? It's right before you hit the 3 draw back down to the 2 draw. It sounds like maybe you are drawing your tongue back into your mouth, but when I tried that it didn't sound like what you are doing here. Maybe it's one of those subtleties?

[KudzuRunner]

Figure it out. Sweat over it for six months. Then take another six months and keep sweating. Eventually, if you have any talent at all, you'll get it. That's how every player who ever got good on the harp got good.

[FlurganOnTheSlurgan]

Well put, haha. I'll get to sweatin.

[AceReid]

I was wondering about that too. Thing is, I don't like sweating. _-_ Are you bending the 2 a little bit before you slide to 3?

[cillahughes1]

Hey, this is absolutely brilliant, the best lesons i have found on youtube yet, thankyou so much for taking the time out to do this XD

[DiAL033]

It looks so easy when you do it and it sounds like shit when I try it :}

[Bluesguy2009]

Thanks for another great lesson.

I think i got it now.Only problem is my tong sometimes still goes up and messes up the tone.

But its getting better.

Thanks again.

markus

[redzombie2008]

Um, it may sound silly but it works for me, i try not to think to hard about, but to go into like a auto mode kinda, i tend to get it fairly down, but all the while i am recording myself with my web cam so i watch myself, re hear it, and see what i did wrong, hope this helps

[astrodaan]

Awesome!!!

[superkuman]

ok, no need to answer to my question. Sorry, i just understand my mistake today. I can now go to lesson 7.

thanks again for great lessons

[superkuman]

Mr Gussow, thanks a lot for those amazing lessons. Just a question for this one. I m ok with the beginning when I just have to draw but when it came to the blow and drow Dadada thing I m lost on the forth beat. What I m a supposed to do ?

I can't even believe that I have still one hundred of wonderful lessons or videos to spend with you ! thanks again, your lessons are priceless. (and excuse my english if mistakes..)

[lmerr]

...Hmm, I use tongue-blocking, by curling my tongue like a taco (but really tight). So how can I smack my tongue AND block off 1 and 3 holes? I basically HAVE to eventually learn to lip-purse? I guess this goes with bending as well, considering its hard for me to lower my jaw or do any other action with my tongue whilst still blocking notes.

[KudzuRunner]

That's not the way I tongue block. I hit the comb of the harp straight on. Players tongue block in several different ways. Sounds like you need to lay down some cash and get a teacher who can answer these questions in detail.

[rythemandthebeat]

When You Do The Goldfish Thing Are You Exhaling Or Inhaling And The Exhaling?

[Doggieman1111]

just inhaling

[Smeddog1]

dang good teacher!!!

[rizdraver]

Yeah, you can mimic 80-90% of the tongue-blocked sound through lip-pursing. Jason does a great job at this. I throw fakes tongue-slaps on most of my notes and I get players commenting on my good "tongue-blocking". They're always surprised to hear that I only tongue-block octaves.

[Zencyde]

Norfolk and Richmond? Is that Houston, by chance? :P Great videos, by the way! I bought a Hohner Marine Band because you suggested it. I'm quite pleased with it and it has a much warmer sound than the cheap one I was using before.

[superchucker77]

Thanks Mr. Gussow. I was just practicing this riff and started to feel light headed. Is ther anyway to pervent this. I am lossing to much oxygen.

[KudzuRunner]

This is common. It happens to me. Moderate the amount of breath you force through the harp; play with less intensity. Find an intensity level that lets you own the riff/rhythm, rather than it owning you. And mix it up with other stuff.

[equalfairness1]

I thought this lesson was going to be about the flat 3rd? what happend here? Your lessons are great though. Did you do the flat third later on in the future?

[ostringer9]

thanks again adam really enjoying your lessons please keep em coming

[wildbill8547]

Adam, picked up on your reference to tooling around Norfold/Richmond with your mentor, Nat Riddles. I'm from Norfolk and I'm interested to know when you were there and where I might have seen you play. I know you're not from there because you pronounce it wrong (should be Naw F**k), so I'm wondering -- why the heck would you tool around that city?

[ollyhock]

hi adam,ive just about mastered this lesson after many hours of hard work,you then go off on one and make a full tune of it and it sounds great,can you explain the next steps to complete this

many thanks

steve,(uk)

[pinkushn2]

Your videos are too much fun!  I discovered them tonight and blew all my practice time (and then some) watching. Thanks.

[KudzuRunner]

I don't know how to U block. The dada sound can be made easily when you lip purse and almost as easily when you tongue block. It's slightly harder when you TB because your tongue is already doing something else--blocking--and has to adapt to the second demand.

[yunage]

Adam, I have a serious question about that dadaing. Is the method of embrochure supposed to have a strong influence on how well you can hit the roof of your mouth with your tongue? I found out that I have a strong affinity for U-blocking. But I can't make that motion dadada motion very well unless I pucker or tongue block.

[yunage]

Ow, excuse my English. I can write better, but I was more worried about that 500 character limit. ;)

[MisterPignose]

Hey Adam, I shied away from tongue blocking because I'm an overblower and I seem to get tongue tied. Your lip pursing technique gives me some hope.  Apologize to Dennis for me!

[bnorthup3]

Thank you Adam. I am getting very close to mastering this lesson now.... I have been playing off and on for 20 years and I never could make that sound.. Now, I can. Thanks.

[concertguitarist]

Mr Adam,

I thank you for your lessons. But it will be much easier for all your internet students if you told what key of harmonica you usein every single lesson, so that we don't have to get confuse figuring out which harmonica should we use.

Again thank you, I love it!

[jtrouty]

I'm 18...played guitar for about 10 years now. I found an old harmonica. I must say you are an inspiration to me. Check out my vids. Truly broadened my mind about music. I'm learning so much in the first 6 lessons. Awesome

[KudzuRunner]

Thanks. Your video is fine, too. You've got that distortion-and-reverb thing happening--like Steve Vai in the movie CROSSROADS. Whatever pedal or box you're using is working well for you.

[unclevit]

Great lesson. Inspiring for beginner like me. Tks.

[UlyssesTheGreat]

Thanks for all your help!

[DennisGruenling]

Hey Adam - great playing! Teach me more about the tongue-blocking approach...it sounds awesome! Hope to see ya soon, man...

[KudzuRunner]

It IS awesome, especially when used in concert with lip pursing! We overblowers have lots of neat tricks up our sleeves. See you soon. Give Jon my best :)

[HowlingWolf99]

Adam, Great teaching, Great videos. I bought the Glover Book same time as you. Learnt a lot of stuff, listened to all the players you said, but still couldn,t put it together. Now 30years later you're my last hope.

[ienjoypowerslinkys]

hey adam, i'm new to blues harp but i think i've gotten rather good for one week of playing. anyways i have a cheap c harp and a hohner special twenty in A but i want to but i want to try a marine band to see if it's the one for me, i want to be able to play along with you well and i want to jam by myself and play some howlin' wolf type stuff, what do you think is the best all around harp for me. thanks adam

[KudzuRunner]

See the FAQ's page at my website, modernbluesharmonica dot com

[solbrand]

Like any other Youtube video, if you are stuck on the "Loading" screen you should try accessing the video through a proxy server. Such as.... avoidfilters DOT info

[malditaszorras]

One of the more funny lessons to play. Thanks man!

[piratesi]

Legend! Cheers

[eastyz]

I now have the other videos. But I still can't download this one. Funny.

[eastyz]

Why can't I download the video, anybody please? Has it been taken off? I am having the same problem with some of the earlier lessons.

[kaikayne]

You're my hero

[BMWWhitey]

Adam, you are a genius! I have picked up a Honer MS Harp in C I bought last year, and I found the confidence to play, the lessons are invaluable and you are an excellent teacher. Thank you for the music.

God Bless you, your family and Mr Satan! Keep up the good work..

[samzie67]

Hi adam and everyone, I'm having great fun trying to learn but, im playing with a C harp i bought for £3.00 so im going out to buy a bflat this weekend! many thanks for the lessons!!!

[wayne0987]

im learning alot from this youtube thing im geting better a Harmonica and making major inprovement you rule adam

[bulldawg35]

i think your teaching is great. you make it look really easy. im having a hard time going from the two hole to the cord on the draw

[RalphBoy1948]

I think you should make the cd !! I would like to be able to take it everywhere with me.

[Erikjr21]

this is somthing i could use work on and i think this will really help thank you

[jbe14]

Have started learning and this guy is ace. Thank you very much for your kind gift of information. A real gent. Cheers

Jay

[jnicholaides]

How do I save these to my hard drive?

[KudzuRunner]

I don't know. Maybe I should take Thaqib's suggestion and market the first 20 lessons as a CD-ROM. The thought has crossed my mind lately, as this madness continues.

[Thaqib]

You are my guru man!!! I have an idea, instead, sell our video and make some money man....

[KudzuRunner]

Well, I should make clear: I'm a lip-purser AND a tongue-blocker. Tongue blocking, when my teacher showed it to me, transformed my playing. But I continued to lip-purse--a technique better suited to overblows, I think.

[nordwest558]

Adam, it's great to have someone like you on here showing us 'lip pursers' how to get the effects that the tongue blockers get. Thanks a lot I really appreciate it.

[bpfishback]

great lesson

[tronbaby]

man your a frigen awesome teacher....i think i like you more than ronnie shellist

[mrtreve]

Thanks alot man. realy useful. thanks.

[66rich66]

real nice subtle use of percussive technique with tongue block / and air spill ... very usefull