Tip of the Day

Well that's it, these are all of the songs that students of School of the Blues first learn before they start to add their own song selections into the mix. I recommend you look at the listing I provided (https://www.facebook.com/bluesharmonica/) and make note of the different types of grooves that are represented... these are the grooves you'll most likely play in an average set. continue reading...

Some nice footage from Joe and Eric's tour of Australia. This was recorded at Humph Hall in Sydney, Australia in April 2015 https://youtu.be/sG2KhzJqJQg

Here's what I like to play. Reminder, Bar 9 is four beats on the V7 and then two beats for the bVI7 and then two beats back down to the V7.

#1 - 3" 3' 3"

#2 - 4+ 4' 4+

#3 - You can also play an arpeggio (notes of the chord played one after another). The V7 Chord being 1 2' 3" and then 4' for the bVI7 and back down to the 4+ for the V7.

As always, the key practice point is to loop that part of the song and play it hundreds of times until you come up with two to three combinations that you like and then memorize them so that they'll be waiting for you when you play this song.

My student (thanks Dan) came in with a new case yesterday. It was a RedHead 2-Pistol Aluminum Gun Case, and it was a real nice size and weight, and well built. $50 bucks at Bass Pro shop (http://www.basspro.com/RedHead-2Pistol-Aluminum-Gun-Case/product/1308281...). The foam is perforated so that any shape can be pinched out and it fit his harps really well. continue reading...

In the Bobby Bland version the V7 is followed by a bVI7, which is simply the same as the V7 with all of the notes up a half step. The V7 is D F# A C, so this up a half step is Eb G Bb Db. If you think in sharps better, then you get D# F## A# C#. The F## is the same note as G, so it may be easier for you to think D# G A# C#.

The V7 Chord is D F# A C and is found here: 1+ 1 2' 3" 4+ 4 6
The bVI7 chord is Eb G Bb Db and is found here: 1' 2 3' 4' 6+ continue reading...

With Root (G), 2nd (A), 3rd (B), flat-3rd (Bb), the descending chromatic movement of B to Bb is moving to A for Bar 9. The A could be the root note of the ii7 Chord as in the Allman Brothers version or to the 5th of the V7 Chord as in the Bobby Bland version.

Play to the Allman Brothers version starting with Bar 7 a root note progression of (two beats each) 2, 3", 3, 3', 3" and now that you're on the ii7 Chord play this 3" and the rest of the ii7 Chord for a line of 3" 4+ 5+ 6+ in eighth notes to hear the chord. continue reading...

The chord progression for Bars 7 and 8 went (two beats each): Root (G), 2nd (A), 3rd (B), flat-3rd (Bb). The B and Bb are moving downwards chromatically to A for Bar 9. What chord would you choose that has A in it? Think about this for tomorrow's tip.

Using the information below...

G7 = G B D F = 1 2" 2 3 4 5 6+ 7 8 9 9+
Am = A C E = 1+ 2+ 3" 4+ 5+ 6 7+ 8+ 10 10+
Bm = B D F# = 1 2' 3 4 7 8 9'+ 10'+
Bbm = Bb Db F = 1' 2" 3' 4' 5 9 10"+

These are the lines I like to play (one note per chord... two beats each)

Example #1 = 1 2+ 2' 2" (leads to 2+ in Bar 9)
Example #2 = 2 3" 3 3' (leads to 3" in Bar 9)
Example #3 = 3 4+ 4 4' (leads to 4+ in Bar 9)
Example #4 = 5 5+ 4 4' (leads to 4+ in Bar 9)
Example #5 = 6+ 6 7 9 (leads to 4+ in Bar 10) continue reading...

This is what I came up with for the note options...

G7 = G B D F = 1 2" 2 3 4 5 6+ 7 8 9 9+
Am = A C E = 1+ 2+ 3" 4+ 5+ 6 7+ 8+ 10 10+
Bm = B D F# = 1 2' 3 4 7 8 9'+ 10'+
Bbm = Bb Db F = 1' 2" 3' 4' 5 9 10"+

Now your goal is to loop that section of the song (bars 7 and 8), playing one note option for each chord as the chords go by until you've tried all of the note options. Delete the notes that don't sound good to you. Highlight the notes that do sound good to you.

The three most common versions of this song (T-Bone Walker, Bobby "Blue" Band and The Allman Brothers) all have different chord progressions. The T-Bone Walker version is pretty straight forward and most players can play this by ear without study. The Bobby "Blue" Band and Allman Brothers versions have more defined alterations to the 12 Bar Blues progression and study is needed to play them well.

Bars 7 and 8 are the same in both the Bobby "Blue" Band and Allman Brothers versions, so let's focus on those bars first.

Here's the chord progression, each chord lasting two beats... continue reading...