Blues Harmonica Secrets Revealed (Gussow.023)

Finishing up a three-part lesson on "Mother Mojo," Gussow touches on a number of subjects: finding the "space" for your harp within a song, letting your body help you attack the upbeat; throwing repatead riffs across the beat in unexpected ways; tongue-blocked chords/octaves in the upper register; the Magic Dick note (10 blow bend).

If you'd like to purchase a copy of my new solo album, KICK AND STOMP (2010), please hit the following link. Only $10 for 14 tracks of harp-powered one-man band music, all for instant download. Liner notes included!:

http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/kick_and_stomp.html


For a series of skill-graded video tutorials and tabs focusing on classic blues harmonica repertoire by Sonny Terry, Little Walter, Paul Butterfield, and others, please visit:

http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• blues
• harmonica
• harp
• lessons
• Satan
• Adam
• Gussow

[m00chman]

Where are the sunglasses? You look like Carrouso on CSI maimi!! Hopefully your not that dramactic and hope the h#ll Carrouso doesnt learn how to play the harmoninca..Thanks for the lesson, you seem like a good guy. Been watching Dgage videos, he is excellant also. Any opinion?

[KudzuRunner]

Since you ask: if your first response to my video is how I look, rather than what you might have to learn from the sounds I'm making, you're definitely not somebody destined to play this instrument well.

[rizdraver]

This is my favorite song of yours by far, Adam. Mr. Satan's growl is breathtaking on that recording. I would love to see more videos on syncopation. Studying Jason's material and digging into Little Walter, Dennis, Rick Estrin.... it seems "that thing" about their music is how they treat the upbeat. And it seems it's always the most important thing lacking in intermediate players.

[KudzuRunner]

I think you're right. A lot of players want a powerful sound, and assume that amps, technique, embouchure, and playing HARD are the way. Those things are all part of the way, but syncopation is another crucial part of the way--whamming it on the upbeat, or on all available micro-upbeats, depending on how you divide up the beat. Nat Riddles had that. Kim Wilson and Rod Piazza have it. Little Walter had a lot of it; he didn't actually play as hard as many (like Rice Miller) but he had upbeats

[rockytheharp]

I want to comment on each of these lesson as I watch them...I don't want to bore you but this guy is exactly what we the harmonica players need...

Pay close attention and practice every chance you get ... this is a great opportunity for all of us to learn and improve.

God Bless You Adam !

Rocky "The Harp" Perryman 56Deluxe / Tucson, Az.

[KudzuRunner]

Thanks, Rocky. I'm simply doing what I hope some of my fellow pros will do when they get the chance: explaining, as clearly as I possibly can, what I do on the harp and what path I followed to get where I finally got. Since playing the harp properly is a complex thing--a soul-journey as well as a nerd's occupation--I'm trying to hit it from about ten directions at once. I'm giving you the full disaster, as Zorba the Greek put it.

[Boondire]

Hey Adam, first off I'd like to thank you for sharing trade secrets of this elusive instrument. Im a drummer in a blues rock band so this form of amped harp and focused on more rough swingin sound suits me perfectly! I wanted to learn harp to be able to understand our harmonica player better and be able to follow him back beat marks and up beat hits for a tighter sound aswell as I do with the guitarrs.

Thank you!

[FrankSavages]

How can i get that distorted sound man? are you using an amp with a distorted tone?

Thankyou for your videos they are so good!

[GetReide]

oh my god that 10 hole blow with the bend is insane! awesome!! I got myself a bluesharp 2 days ago after dreaming of playing one hehe I know thats kind of a stupid reason but anyways I really enjoy that instrument! Hope I can get as good as you some day - your playing is really powerful and thats what its all about! thanks for the video and cheers from austria

[notme98]

dont worry youre not the only one. ive seen this guy jump on others (including me) for things just as trivial

geez is right

[detroitbluesguy]

Great run.Make sure you come to Detroit 3rd sat in aug for a Blues Brothers appreciation party at the Detroit Dream Cruise on Woodward ave..hat and glasses required.JC

[detroitbluesguy]

You're a cool guy in my books and a wonderful harp player..blues comes from the soul and the good lord gave you a whole bunch..thanks for sharing some.JC

[LoLLeRoFanTTi]

you're awesome.

[m00chman]

Very sorry, it was an attempt at humor.You do look like the dude. I enjoy your lessons, but am sorry your so senstitive. I give you my apology. Geez!