In a five-part how-to series on the classic blues harmonica instrumental by Magic Dick and the J. Geils Band. Your guide, Adam Gussow, has been wood shedding the tune for 33 years and is happy to share what he's learned, so you to can play this legendary piece.
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4 Comments
Awesome blowin'! Thanks!
great lesson. took me a whole six months to pick this up myself !
I just picked up my Harp after what seem to be an eternity. I smoked for so long I couldn't play because of running out of air. All I own are some Special 20s that are 30 years old or more. Whammer Jammer was the reason I bought my first Harmonica. I am having a lot of trouble trying to tong. Also would the wood comb of a Marine Band give it a richer sound and are the reed easier to bend a note? They have become so expensive from when I bought the Special 20. I think they were 12 dollars back when got them.
Nice blowin', and yeah, you're right it's a hard song to teach...because to play good blues takes more than just knowing the notes, blues is of course, and foremost is a FEELING. No amount of lessons will capture it, I've played harp for ions now, though I seldom touch it now and my fist inspiration was my mom's father, just folk stuff and lot's of "Choo-Choo" honking, well that's where ninety percent of blues harp comes from...RURAL AMERICA, TRAINS, PLOWS, GETTING CAUGHT IN THE RAIN almost like the "perfect Country and Western Song". I must say I was not introduced to Magic Dicks' playing until my 20' s while in the navy, but I soon picked up tapes of Muddy Waters with Little Walter, and just tons of blues, old R&B, 60's folk rock (tons of Dylan of course, Rolling Stones, etc.) Then there's the jazz side like Stevie Wonder, Toots (any harp player that doesn't know that name, lay down your harp now), etc., and yes my mother even introduced me to classic harmonica playing, what a hoot to hear a whole harmonica symphony! Thanks for posting, and reviving my interest in all things HARP! May the list of harmonica legends continue to grow and be past on, KEEP BLOWING!
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