Tip of the Day: Help Me, Part 4 - Blues Standards

Now that you've studied the hook you can decide to play it or not. Though playing the hook is the standard way of playing a hook-based groove, another approach works better for this song. Listen to how Rice Miller plays a draw chord (holes 1, 2 and 3) on beat 2 and the "and" of 2. This aligns with the back-beat of the snare drum. This is a good sound... it's the way most players approach accompaniment for this song.

If the approach is to play the draw chord(s) for the i7 Chord, then it's a good idea to play the blow chord (1+, 2+ and 3+) for the iv7 Chord.

The question experienced players bring up is the possible dissonance of the major 3rd on the harmonica against the minor 3rd of the band (On the i7 Chord, 3 draw is B, the major 3rd... the band is playing Bb the minor 3rd. For the iv7 Chord, 2+ is E, the major 3rd... the band is playing Eb the minor 3rd). These harmonica chords are played articulate and quick... they're not heard long enough for the listener to hear this dissonance... the effect is a rhythmic one, like the snare drum on the back-beat.

For the v7 Chord most players will play a 4 draw/5 draw shake and then improvise into a turnaround.

Give this a try under his vocals.