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David's Tip of the Day: Messin’ with the Kid - Blues Standards

Posted Tue, 01/26/2016 - 09:18 by David Barrett Admin

The next tune on our standards list is Junior Wells' "Messin’ with the Kid." This is another rock beat with a strong guitar hook and thematic hook in the opening (played once) and ending (played three times). Here's the opening thematic lick played on the harp (assuming the band is in the key of C)...

2nd Position (F Harmonica)
6+ 5 4 4+ 3' 3" 2 2" 2 - Be careful to play the 3' in tune, it's a challenging note in this passage and it sounds bad if you don't play it in pitch.

3rd Position
4 4+ 3" 3+ 2" 2+ 1 1+ 1 or 8 7+ 6 6+ 5 5+ 4 4+ 4

What's New: Advanced Student Ryan Finley Walker Lesson #36

Posted Mon, 01/25/2016 - 18:17 by David Barrett Admin

In Ryan Walker’s latest lesson at BluesHarmonica.com we work on his half step bending control (Bending Study 5) and charting a John Garcia 8 bar blues song (Accompaniment Study 9, Duo Playing).

David's Tip of the Day: Baby Scratch My Back - Blues Standards

Posted Mon, 01/25/2016 - 09:36 by David Barrett Admin

The next song on the School of the Blues House Band Standards List is "Baby Scratch My Back" by Slim Harpo. The lazy groove of this song (commonly called a Swamp Groove) makes it a unique addition to a set. For the harmonica player this song offers two great thematic choruses that are playable at the intermediate skill level. It also offers a good rhythmic challenge due to the pickup nature of all of the licks. The vocals of the song are doable for anyone to sing due to their spoken nature (this is one of the main reasons this song is chosen by new bands).

What's New: Beginning Student Hob Bosold - Lesson 6

Posted Mon, 01/25/2016 - 00:12 by David Barrett Admin

In Beginning Student Hob Bosold's latest lesson he plays the Tongue Blocking Study 1 study song "Walk with Me" to the jam track, learns about the slap and lift technique in the study song "Temperature" and receives his LOA-L1 pin.

David's Tip of the Day: Born in Chicago - Blues Standards

Posted Fri, 01/22/2016 - 12:09 by David Barrett Admin

Another tune with a strong hook by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. The hook is presented below, but harp players don't commonly play the entire hook, just the last two notes (same pattern as the common Charleston rhythm, but with straight eighths for this rock beat).

I7 = 1 2" 2' 2 2

IV7 = 2 3' 3 4+ 4+

V7 = 3" 4+ 4' 4 4

David's Tip of the Day: Walkin’ Blues - Blues Standards

Posted Thu, 01/21/2016 - 10:00 by David Barrett Admin

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band's version of "Walkin’ Blues" provides another rock beat/straight eighth groove with a strong hook. Here's the hook on the harp...

I7 = 2 2 2 2 2" or 6+ 6+ 6+ 6+ 5 or Same with Octaves

IV7 = 4+ 4+ 4+ 4+ 3'

V7 = 4 4 4 4 4+ (it's common for players to improvise from Bar 9 onward)

David's Tip of the Day: Driving Wheel - Blues Standards

Posted Wed, 01/20/2016 - 09:21 by David Barrett Admin

It's always a good idea to include a Jr. Parker tune in a set... he was the man, both on vocals and harp. This song was chosen due to its hook-driven nature, which is the main reason why a song is chosen in a set. Hook-driven songs are unique, helping your set to not get old. The hook of this song is also very playable on the harmonica. Below is the hook on your G Harmonica in 2nd Position.

I7 = 2 2 3 4 5+ 5 5 5+ 4

IV7 = 1+ 1+ 2+ 2 3" 3' 3' 3" 2

V7 = 1 1 2' 3" 3 4+ 4+ 3 3" continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Rock This House - Blues Standards

Posted Tue, 01/19/2016 - 08:55 by David Barrett Admin

"Rock This House" was chosen as the swing to be on the list. It has the typical ii-V-I found at Bar 9 (replacing the V-IV-I) and guitar fills by Hollywood Fats that's so integral to the West Coast Blues sound. You can find this cut on the classic "Hollywood Fats Band" CD and has some great vocals and harp by Big Al Blake (there's an interview with Big Al on BluesHarmonica.com if you want to learn more about him and Hollywood Fats).

David's Tip of the Day: Quadrupedal your Jam Track Options

Posted Fri, 01/15/2016 - 11:28 by David Barrett Admin

If you like to work with jam tracks, but find that you're lacking in some keys, or find that a particular jam track is perfect for a song you're working on, but a little bit too fast and not in the correct key, there's a simple solution. Place the jam track into a program like the Amazing Slow Downer (www.ronimusic.com), change the key (and tempo if you want) and then save the file. Done, you now have another version of the jam track. continue reading...

David's Tip of the Day: Just Your Fool, Part 3 (Dropped 2 Beats) - Blues Standards

Posted Thu, 01/14/2016 - 10:34 by David Barrett Admin

To understand the two dropped beats at 1:44 you'll need to listen to one of the other verses for his vocal phrasing. Listen at 2:02 and you'll hear that he starts his vocals on the "and" of 3 leading into the next verse. Listen back to 1:44 and you'll notice that he starts his vocals on the "and" of 1 leading into the vocal verse after the bridge. The pickup to the vocal verse is two beats early. continue reading...

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