Skip to main content
Blues Harmonica logo

User Account

Username:*
Password:*
Forgot Your Password?

Visitor Menu

  • Sign Up
  • Sample Lesson #1
  • Sample Lesson #2
  • Student Recordings
  • Forums

Sonny Boy Williamson II

Join me for an Artist Study of one of the four great post war Chicago blues fathers, Rice Miller (Sonny Boy Williamson II). In this study we dig into his hugely influential approach to chording. Almost all of the licks used in the study song "Sonny's Bird" are Rice Miller's, providing you with great vocabulary for you to study and draw upon for your own solo harmonica playing.

Artist Studies are not part of the formal lesson plans on the site... there are no jam tracks and you don't send in recordings for review... but you can of course ask me any questions you may have in the forum. I provide these Artist Studies as a bonus to you for your LOA accomplishment. The study of these songs will add insight into our great players of the past and present and of course will provide you with great lick vocabulary for your improvising. Due to this being based an artist's masterworks, there may be sections that are above your current skill level, but as you continue your studies within the LOA program, you'll no doubt be able to play everything within this great song some day.

You'll need the Low-F Harmonica for this study

Support Material

application/pdf iconSonny's Bird - Rice Miller Artist Study.pdf
audio/mpeg iconSonny's Bird - Rice Miller Artist Study.mp3
audio/mpeg iconSonny's Bird - Rice Miller Artist Study [20per Slow].mp3
audio/mpeg iconSonny's Bird, Chorus 1 - Rice Miller Artist Study.mp3
audio/mpeg iconSonny's Bird, Chorus 2 - Rice Miller Artist Study.mp3
audio/mpeg iconSonny's Bird, Chorus 3 - Rice Miller Artist Study.mp3
audio/mpeg iconSonny's Bird, Chorus 4 - Rice Miller Artist Study.mp3
audio/mpeg iconSonny's Bird, Chorus 5 - Rice Miller Artist Study.mp3
audio/mpeg iconSonny's Bird, Chorus 6 - Rice Miller Artist Study.mp3
audio/mpeg iconSonny's Bird, Chorus 7 - Rice Miller Artist Study.mp3
audio/mpeg iconSonny's Bird, Chorus 8 - Rice Miller Artist Study.mp3
audio/mpeg iconSonny's Bird, Chorus 9 - Rice Miller Artist Study.mp3
audio/mpeg iconSonny's Bird, Ending - Rice Miller Artist Study.mp3
application/pdf iconNotation Key.pdf

Video Instruction

Introduction

Technique (Pull-Slap)

Chorus 1 - Sonny's Bird

Chorus 2 - Sonny's Bird

Chorus 3 - Sonny's Bird

Chorus 4 - Sonny's Bird

Chorus 5 - Sonny's Bird

Chorus 6 - Sonny's Bird

Chorus 7 - Sonny's Bird

Chorus 8 - Sonny's Bird

Chorus 9 - Sonny's Bird

Choruses 10 and 11 - Sonny's Bird

Performance Thoughts for "Sonny's Bird"

Closing

New Interviews

Pat Missin
David Barrett
Jerry Portnoy
Dave Earl
Kim Field
view all interviews

Sign me up!

Full access to all lessons starts at $20/month! (with annual subscription)

Subscribe

Free Sample Lessons

After watching the BluesHarmonica.com overview video, try one of the lessons below to experience a lesson at BluesHarmonica.com.

  • Tongue Blocking Study 2 – This study is for the newer player or the player new to tongue blocking
  • Bending Study 5 – This is for the advanced player looking to improve their bending skills

Contributors

  • Aki Kumar
  • Joe Tartaglia
  • Gary Smith
  • Mark Hummel
  • Joe Filisko

Site Links

  • About David Barrett
  • Accredited Instructors
  • Links
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
Hohner
© 2009 - 2025 David Barrett and the Harmonica Masterclass Co. for Bluesharmonica.com