Chordal Vamping on Harmonica...

I have seen this video (and others like it) so many times! I would really like some help with vamping and comping on harmonica. You know, rhythmic self accompaniment? Players like Sonny Terry, James Cotton, Little Walter, Jason Ricci, Rice Miller, Adam Gussow, Jon Gindick... they can do it wonderfully.

I would really like to learn.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Comping
• vamp
• harmonica
• rhythmic
• accompaniment
• how
• to
• blues
• harp
• tips
• James
• Cotton
• Little
• Walter
• chords
• Sonny
• Boy
• ledvolta
• chugging
• Jon
• Gindick

[JustAFeelin]

Last suggestion. Get David Barrett's CD "Serious Fun" and the accompanying transcriptions. The song "Quiet World" is full of chordal playing and fun to play. Both are available at David's harmonica masterclass website. Good luck!

[Ledvolta]

okay, cheers. :)

[Ledvolta]

Thanks for the tips.

[JamCamp06]

Mitch--I think you are talking about tongue-blocking, and the techniques of tongue-slapping, vamping, etc. As you breathe slowly in and out through holes 1234 put your tongue on the instrument to block, say, holes

123 (4 plays) and then take your tongue off.

Try covering holes 23, so 1 and 4 plays. YOUR dancing tongue blocks and unblocks single notes, and lets you effortlessly create chords, octaves and single notes. Side to side sweeps give you amazing warbles.

[Ledvolta]

Thanks, Jon. I don't necessarily mean tongue-blocking, in the style of Walter or Cotton; only a better chord/chugging thing. I have your workshop on that and I'm working on it. Thanks.

[kokoro86]

Similar to bentnote99, I am also more of a single not melody player.

I'm sorry I am not more helpful.

[Ledvolta]

no, thanks for commenting at all. I like your playing.

[gleegirloz]

Wish I could help.So good to know you're a Blues enthusiast,the real music!:)

[JustAFeelin]

Here's another idea. Get the back issue of the Oct/Nov 2007 "Blues Revue" magazine. In that issue David Barrett has an article on Little Walter's rhythmic playing. You can hear the examples and get back issues at the Blues Revue website.

[JustAFeelin]

Check out David Barrett's "Harmonica Session's" on the internet. His June 2008 issue has an article on chording.

[harpfelt]

hi ledvolta,its hard to know how to help you,without knowing how you can play,maybe im reading it rong but i think you need to get a tune you can play,then fill in with some vamping,and then go back to the tune,and so on.vamping is a rithmic draw blow on the bottom end of the harp,hope this is of some help,peace and love allways,ony

[1000You2b0001]

I'm not a prolific harp player so I'm not sure what vamping and comping are.

[hairylarry]

continued ...

I'll never forget the time I first heard a harp player play a Polka. He would play three parts on the harp just like a guitarist does. Bass, rhythm and melody. I'm not a big Polka fan but I loved what he was doing on the harp.

Thanks,

Hairy Larry

[hairylarry]

Ledvolta,

Learn that train talk as an intro to comping. Make the sound of the wheels by blowing in and out on the lower notes. Start slow and speed up like a train. Then add the train whistle by bending some draw notes always coming back to the rhythm of the wheels.

If you have a song that you like to play single notes on do the same thing but wet your lips and put more of the harp in your mouth. This will give you chords instead of just notes and is another good intro to comping.

Hairy Larry