(LESSON 2) Sonny Terry Basic Rhythm - Country Blues Harmonica
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- Here is a step by step explanation of a basic country blues harmonica rhythm in the style of Sonny Terry. A great entry point to start learning this style of harp. This rhythm provides the basis for more advanced techniques covered next. You need an A diatonic harmonica to play a long.
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Thank you for watching my RUclips Channel. My name is Lee Sankey and here I post videos of my music, provide tips, tutorials and courses for playing blues harmonica. My content is mainly aimed at intermediate and advanced players. I hope you find my channel fun, informative and useful. 
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No worries, I've set up a playlist for this series now as well. Lee
Great stuff Lee. I've been playing harp for over 20 years and never managed to get my rhythm playing sounding right. This video has really helped. Thanks for taking the time to share your hard earned knowledge!
Your tutorials are also very appreciated. It is taking me forever to get Juke down completely but I hope to be able to play the whole thing one day!
Thanks for your interest and support Colin. I've mentioned in a couple of posts here that I'm moving to a pay per view model for the rest of this series. Hopefully people will appreciate the value and quality of information and support the move. More details to follow soon. Lee
Hi there, yes without using certain techniques to expel air. I cover this in video 4 in relation to this rhythm. Basically by using an extended out breath you should be able to play for many cycles. Lee
Great instructional Lee ! I consider myself atleast fairly advanced,but was lacking in rhythm,and I knew it.Yours was the easiest to follow !
Modi fy - an A harp sounds better for this kind of thing becuase of the lower pitch. But you can play exactly the same patterns on a C harp. Or indeed on any key of a standard tuned diatonic harp. Lee
Hi Colin, my new lessons on this Country Blues Harmonica series are now available to on Vimeo. Just search Country Blues Harmonica, thanks, Lee
That's reassuring feedback Mike. Rhythm is central to the blues genre, irrespective of style, so sharpening your sense of groove will do wonders for your playing even if you have great chops. Lee
The expaination of breathing is a huge help here.. really enjoying it now,, though i know i have a long ways to go ....thanks
Michael Marston Hi Michael, it's certainly a journey. That's the point right? If you could play like Sonny Terry after a couple of days it would be strange and less of a valuable pursuit. It's the fact it's hard that makes it rewarding when you progress. And progress you will with practise. This series extends to 15 videos by the way on my Vimeo channel. Thanks, Lee
It makes total sense.. As a total newbie, I sure appriciate you taking time to explaim it to the rest of us...!
Kenneth Kjær no problem. These lessons continue on Vimeo as 15 lesson course available to rent. Thanks for watching, Lee
Chugging is starting to click for me! Thank you so much!
Oh yeah
You have teaching tallent and Im startin to gain ground. Thank you brother
Stephen Scott glad to hear it.
Hi Lee, I think I've done it got it sorted. My PC I mean
Thanks Lee. Nice lesson.... also love "...This is the basic kinda Vanilla Entry Point." Added repertoire!
Sweet. Parts 3 and 4 are live now. Onwards gentlemen...
Wonderful rhythm I’m slowly getting it started playing 8 months excellent teaching
I don.t believe it , got up this morning started my practice.. just blew it out straight off.. felt like good rythum good timing and not gasping for breath, , its like magic..haha i.m over the moon .. cheers Lee..
Michael Marston Hi Michael, ha ha a great feeling hey. Such a buzz when something clicks and we move forward. Great stuff. Glad the lesson helped. Onwards...
Great to hear all that. Thanks for posting such nice feedback! Lee
That 'bounce' is so important, and subtle. Thanks for another great lesson
Cool, one of the best aspects of the blues harp in my opinion. Probably the best style to play unaccompanied. Lee
Cool feedback. We'll start dialing up the complexity soon.
Well hopefully I point people in the right direction. I wouldn't say I can play Sonny Terry style that well. Still lots to learn. This is nibbling at the edges. Lee
Thanks for this tutorial. I have long searched for how to learn to play this rhythm.
I'm glad it helped you.
Lee I have watched your four videos on this style of playing. after a week of slow practice to fast .the rhythmic pattern kicked in.,now I am doing. different. patterns that have. cool dance beats to this
Ricketyrawd Lewis That\s great. Good you've built up the pace gradually, that will help. If you're ready for the next step there are 11 more videos to rent on Vimeo. Just $3 each, watch as many times as you like for 1 year. Cheers, Lee
Around two months now and getting very frustrated with myself for not being able to sound right but is makeing me more determined to do it thanks lee
Ha ha ha, there's your answer my friend! You can't expect to nail this kind of stuff after 2 months. Yes have a go, yes enjoy the challenge but understand that you need to practise for a while to get all the nuances. Think of it this way, I could give a book with all the information you need to play a piano concerto. However, you still wouldn't be able to play it straightaway, right? I.e. the information is only one part of the equation. It's not the same as understanding or being able to execute the knowledge. That's down to practise. I would say it took me 2-3 years at least to play this kind of rhythm at an o.k level, but another 5 or so before it started to come together. From there I've been refining it ever since i.e. 20+ years. So don't expect to get these things straightaway. Just when you think you've got it, you'll realise ah it's not quite there. I feel the same about Sonny Terry, Little Walter, Kim Wilson, all those players we admire. So don't get disheartened. Hold on to that determination and 'hunger' to get it and with time it will come. Enjoy the playing mean time! Lee
I had eureka moment 4 years ago when I first came across this lesson but unfortunately it was too tough and I went off in a different direction. Now I'm back for another go and I will definitely purchase the full course once I get the basic rhythm down. I think I've nearly got it but not quite. Today I purchased an A Marine Band which sounds a lot better than any of my old harps. Thanks for all your hard work at teaching this wonderful little instrument and have a great Christmas and New Year.
Hey Jack, thanks for posting a comment after returning to this lesson. Glad to hear it's starting to click now. That makes perfect sense if you were trying to take it on too early perhaps. This lesson is part of a 15 lesson course on Vimeo which is available to buy if you are interested in learning more about this style of harp. You can't go wrong with an A Marine Band, lovely key, great harp. Happy New Year to you too! Lee
Hello Lee. I have been playing for a year now and learning different techniques along the way. Plus: I'm keeping a video diary to help me keep track of my learning progress. I have heard lots and lots of great sounding licks and wonderful techniques, but this lick and throat technique together, makes this particular lick, the best sounding lick that I've heard in my one year's learning period! It truly sounds fantastic and as you've explained, it's actually quite basic in its structure. I am looking forward to learning this technique; thank you very much for sharing your wisdom mate.
Hi Darren, you sound very thorough and organised! Thanks for the kind words and interest in my videos. I hope they help your playing progress over the coming weeks and months. Cheers, Lee
Thanks fir your kind words lee am gonna practice practice practice to get it right ur videos are amazing by the way exellent for beginners like myself thanks
Craig Bell I don't think of my material as aimed at beginners. More intermediate and above. Good to hear it's helping you. Keep practising, keep the 'fire', have fun, the rest will follow. Lee
Thanks lee really appreciate you kind words
Loved your breath articulation and the way your explained it. It is a simple but a 'must have' understanding that has always kept me from continuing. I'm stoked and look forward to the next vid@
Nice one, this is series has progressed quite a bit since this lesson was posted. There are 2 more free ones on my RUclips Channel the rest of the series continues on my Vimeo channel. 14 lessons, $3 each. vimeo.com/ondemand/countrybluesharmonica
. . .and a bargain at twice the price Lee!
Thanks very kind. Let me know how you get on. Which video are you up to now?
Cheers Mike, glad the information comes across well.
Great lesson. Thanks Lee.
Thanks John, there's 3 other lessons in this series on RUclips, the rest of the course is on Vimeo. Cheers, Lee
loving these lessons. never done this style.
Lee , you are outstanding ! I finally understand Terry's technique .You have a new fan !!
Patricia Smith Hi Patricia, that's very kind. This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of Sonny Terry's playing. Check out Joe Filisko and Paul Lamb who play this style of harp way better than me. Lee
Que genio. Felicitaciones por su capacidad!!
Hi Russ, yep, it's very hard to get the timing just right. Much, much, much more than 'the right notes'. The notes are the easy bit. Probably will help with vibrato control, interesting, never thought about it like that. Nice. Well, let me know if it does. Lee
Wow. Just stumbled across you. Very inspirational, and I love your explanation of technique. You've got me playing again. Thanks so much.
Chas Watkins that's very flattering, high praise indeed to have inspired to you to play again. Very cool. Lee
I know Im asking the wrong place but does anybody know a method to log back into an Instagram account??
I stupidly lost my password. I would love any tricks you can offer me.
@Andrew Alvaro Instablaster =)
Great lessons for me. New to playing. You explain everything very well. Feel like I am playing music. Thank you 🙏
This is such a great video, so helpful and easy to understand. Thanks Lee.
Cheers Ras! There's 15 lessons in this course. I hope to make a series 2 at some point. Lee
As last, I can play Sonny Terry style. You make this so easy to get a grip of.
Good stuff.
Very nice tone, keep on harping! ! Greetings from Genoa Italy.
Thanks man, it's all about the tone!
I know, I improved with the country harmonica sound thanks to your videos!
Thanks forr sharing this, always wondered how Sonny pulled this rythm, off to the woodshed I go...
Stephen Scott I'm using an A harmonica. It's in the video notes. Lee
Sweet, part 3 and 4 live now too. Lee
thank you very much Lee !
As always you made a great job.
See you my friend
Steph.
cool the second part...i looked every day for it, thx
Really good stuff. I'm currently struggling with understanding what Sonny did in "Diggin in my potatoes". This video is really helpful!! Great stuff. Thanks!!
Thanks Lee. The breathing exercise in your 1st video was very useful, by the way. I can hear the reeds singing out now. I still have to learn to isolate my throat properly. This looks very helpful in that respect. Cheers, Eric
Thank you very much Lee.
Top notch lesson!
Thanks Greg, if you like this one there are 3 more on RUclips which form part of a 15 lesson course available on Vimeo. Lee
I can do it at 1/2 speed….sort of….I’ll spend the next week on this and hopefully I’ll gradually bring it up to speed, and hopefully get that bounce feel that makes it groove..
Thanks Adam (?), high praise indeed. It would be cool to post a video of your progress. Always a buzz to see people having things fall into place. Lee
Thank you Lee..
Nice!
This is my doc of this for what it is worth to others:
Draw-Tuh ta ta Tongue
Blow- Huh fast
Draw- Huck Huck Huck Throat (Huh,Huh,Huh)
Draw- Tuh ta ta
Blow- Huh
Draw- Huh
Repeat
Great. Thanks. How does this fit in with the beats for timing?
+Julian Kochanowicz Hmmm, I don't know how to break it down more than I have already done so in the video. How long have you been playing for? How long have you tried to learn this rhythm?
If this video is not working for you, try looking at Ben Hewlitt's channel. He's a much better teacher than I am and had has lots of content on country blues. Lee
Lee you took the time to give me some good advice and I feel like a douche for not responding sooner. your advice helps more than others. Because of that advice Im still working on things from 1 to 3 hours a day. I use each hand, flip the harp over, tongue block, lip purse and u purse. (still working on developing my style) im getting good tone and developing some riffs. So much to know so little time. My tongue awareness and strength is getting better. Could I be wearing out the harp, ive got several dead notes (2 and 4)? One doesnt want to bend either. Any advice? Thanks for your video time.
Dennis Prevost Hi Dennis, seriously don't worry, we all have so many messages these days it's impossible to keep up. Thanks for the endorsement, really appreciated. You'll make quick progress with those kinds of practise hours. Fantastic! Harps don't last forever. You can service them yourself which can extend the lifespan. But certainly early on you'll blow reeds out as you develop your technique. Check out Richard Sliegh's channel and website for courses on harp repair. Might be time for another harp though. Once again thanks for your interest. Lee
will practice this. I will get back to you. Thank you soo much!
Please do....
Thank you for responding! I have put in about 6- 8 hours on this song and have the basics mastered (more or less). How do you add those little nuggets like you were playing at the beginning? Where do I go from here professor
No worries. Mastered in 6-8 hours, wow. In terms of the nuggets, maybe another 2000-5000 hours to go. Where next? Perhaps video 3 in this course? There's 15 in total.
Sorry! Did not mean to be dismissive I meant to say 6 to 8 hours a day over the last month or two. Again I just want to say how thankful IM for your videos I play hours a day and am using you as my primary instructor so thank you once again! I just saw your 12 bar blues tongue blocking series and am excited about studying that. Peace be with you brother
Hey no worries. I salute you and any one else putting 6-8 hours a day practise in. That's going to pay off for you. You must have the 'fever' for the harmonica if you are playing that much. It was like that for me too. Let me know how you get on. Lee
This is a frigging excellent series Lee!! Thank you!! Your mastery of all things blues on the harmonica is breathtaking!! Really looking forward to the next post.
Great lesson Lee. I just wanted to add my vote for the longer lessons. I like that you spend 10-12 minutes going slowly over the points you're covering. I wanted to mention one other thing. I haven't seen all your videos, so I don't know if you've told your students that you play in the Sonny Terry way, with the harp upside-down (playing from your right to left) Not to say that its wrong or right, just that some new students might be a little confused by this. I really enjoy learning from you, keep up the good work.
David Dollar Hi Dave, thanks for posting and for your kind words. Yes Sonny Terry did play upside like me. I do get asked occasionally if there's something wrong with my camera or posted the video in mirror. I've posted a video on this subject. I also frequently reference the fact that I play upside down. Anyway, if you are interested in learning more about this style of harmonica this series builds out to a 15 lesson course on Vimeo. The first 4 lessons are free. You can check it out here. vimeo.com/ondemand/countrybluesharmonica
i like your educative videos keep it .up. would appreciate if you can suggest additional excercises for breathing...look forward to more thanks buddy '
Hi Sudhir, thanks for your kind words and suggestion. I haven't had much time to post any lessons this year so it's good to see my older lessons and series still reaching people. When I post something new I will certainly consider tackling rhythm as a subject. Cheers, Lee
Thanks Lee. Good exercice....it help a lot :)....can't wait for the next one!
Great job
The content in part 1 is overlooked by players as it's perhaps considered too easy. But without that 'connection' and understanding you won't achieve your potential in this style of harp. Lee
Awesome video!!! 👌 I hit that subscribe button fast!!! 🤪
Hi Lee. Thanks man! Great lesson again.
Hi Lee, I´m following your video series with great excitement and i just wanted to say, that your lessons helps a lot. Since I found your Video series I played on my own. So you are my first "teacher" an you are doing very well. As far as I am able to judge about this :) So I just want to say thank´s a lot. Greets from Germany
Hi lee i purchaced a special 20 a harp and i still dont sound right on the rapud outbreath any techniques i could do to help thanks again best harp teacher on the net helped me loads to progress
Craig Bell Hi Craig, o.k cool move buying the A. How long have you been playing by the way?
Your videos have inspired me to give this worthwhile instrument another chance, so thanks for that! One of my problems I'm having with this rhythm is getting enough oxygen, therefore my question is do you suck in any air apart from what you get from breathing through the instrument?
Jack Harris hi there, your comment made my day. Glad you are playing again. There are so many lessons on RUclips now, never a better time to start learning. I see you found the answer to your breath question in video 4. Lee
so glad ive found this... ive been doing this naturally for a while but its been rough, and never found a video that explains it....
Hi Gary, missed this comment, thanks. This series has 14 videos on Vimeo, covering more rhythmic details, combining riffs and melody. Lee
Ah Ron...the legend....
Don't forget to let some air slip to the sides when breathing out. Otherwise you'll get far too much air in your lungs for playing comfortably.
Hi lee, first of all I love your tutorials...any tabs of when to inhale/exhale would help...even as a guideline, cos I really want to learn this style of playing
Hi, thanks for watching. I try to break things down clearly verbally rather than providing tabs. I appreciate this won't work for everyone. I take this approach partly due to a lack of time to tab things out but also because it encourages people to use their ears rather than have everything laid out for them. RUclips can make things too easy sometimes. There are 15 lessons in this course let me know how you get on if you decide to do the whole thing on Vimeo. Thanks, Lee
Well it's been a couple of weeks since I posted that and I do understand what you mean about learning organically, I've since bought a tuition book on Sonny Terry with CD examples, but I do have a bit of problem with breathing...And yea I'll probably buy those lessons you have on Vimeo once I get a few of these under my belt, cos I love those country rhythms..
Ehm , Lee. This might be a stupid question but I can't seem to find lesson 1back on any of your playlists?
Sorry Lee DUH! It sounds different to mind. I can play tunes so I'm breaking into this kind of music ( country blues)
Working on this. I get my lungs filled after three or four reps, though. Are your lungs always balanced, Lee, or do they eventually fill up as well?
I'm wondering if you are left handed, cuz you are holding the harp upside down with the low notes on the right. Opposite to the way I hold the harp. I hold it with the hole numbers (if any) on the top plate facing me, and I am right handed. Just curious. Thanks, nice video.
Hi, thanks for watching. Yes I hold the harmonica upside down - low notes to my right. I've aways played that way. Lee
I just can't get it. Can you tell me how many times you breath in and out? It seems different every time to me. Thank you
Why do I keep it of breath ??? What is the trick ?
Hi lee i have been trying to learn this rhythm on a bflat and just cant figure out the rapid outbreath any help would be kindly appreciated
Craig Bell Hi Craig, not sure I have a great deal to add than what's already covered in the video. One thing you could do which would help is to buy an A harp. This would allow you to play along with the video. Try that and come back to me. Lee
This is a missing component for a vast majority of harp players. Rhythm is everything!
True
which is the letter this instrument?
Hi Lee thanks for the videos they're fantastic. For a beginner like myself they're really inspiring. I had a question about powering from the throat. (@4.36) 'three beats powered by the throat inwards.' I understand it's the hardest of the three techniques to get and takes a lot of practice, but I don't know if I'm practicing it right. I'm keeping my throat open but using my diaphragm to distinguish the three beats from each other. This seems to interrupt the constant relaxed breathing that you taught in the first video. How is it meant to feel? Are there muscles in my throat that I'm supposed to be using for it?
+Catherine O'Toole Hi Catherine, thanks for your question. In short, I don't think there's a right or wrong way to achieve the bounce. I personally focus more on the throat for the articulation in the video, but the diaphragm will be involved as we're talking breathing here. Difficult to explain here, but email me at info@leesankey.com if you'd like to arrange a Skype lesson some time. Thanks, Lee
1:19. 4:02. 4:15. 4:30. 8:08
супер
Loved you in Whiplash
flexharder hmmm, that's a fantastic film, don't you think?
Lee Sankey Brilliant film.
I can do everything but getting rid of enough air on the blow, I end up with too much air inside me, so to speak.
That's a challenge for everyone starting out. With practise you will develop strategies for letting the air out.
so you only breath out ONE time in each cycle? :O
***** pretty much.
We'll dial up the complexity in a couple of weeks...
So here I am back at it 2 years after first watching this tutorial. I've practiced some basic chugging and learned tongue blocking in the meantime. I had to give up back then but I now finally got it. I've been gaining an interest in Bluegrass and Country blues this past little while so this is just what I needed. Would you consider mapping the song by Wayne Raney called Lost John Boogie? It is a great chugging song but also sounds deceptively simple: ruclips.net/video/0pNQFCn6WZQ/видео.html
Нет, чтобы табы написать, чем пальцы гнуть?! А вообщем - Thanks!
Разучивая эту композицию с произношением звуков ТА и КА, уловил, что из этого сочетания можно сделать композицию "Паровоз"... А добавив линию этого урока можно соединить две композиции в одну, назвав её - "Кантри блюз в кабине паровоза"!
+Анапест Матюков sorry I don't understand this language
Спасибо, Lee Sankey, что заметили мой комментарий!
1. Вы настоящий маэстро губной Гармоники, истинный блюзмен .
2. Как я сам любитель ГГ - то хотел бы выучить Ваш кантри-блюз.
С табами в конце урока было бы понятнее и мне и другим любителям харпа и кантри-блюза!
О чём и написал в 1-ом комментарии.
3. Приступая работать на звуками ТА и КА ( 2 раза выдох-вход), понял, что получается композиция "Паровоз" (перестук колёс паровоза). А перейдя на верхние ноты ( 2 раза вдох) - то получаются свистки паровоза...
4. Две эти композиции, чередуя игру, я думаю соединить!
Этакая видится картинка: машинист паровоза даёт понять слушателю, что он вот сейчас под перестук колёс в будке бегущего паровоза играет свой кантри-блюз!
Что я и осмелился назвать "Кантри-блюз в кабине паровоза"!
Удачи Вам, здоровья и творческих успехов в музыке!
С приветом из России!
О. Вы говорите по-русски. Попробуем сделать это через Google translate .... Я отвечу немного.
O. Vy govorite po-russki. Poprobuyem sdelat' eto cherez Google translate .... YA otvechu nemnogo.
1. Большое спасибо!
2. У меня нет времени писать вкладки для моих уроков. Сожалею. Я просто стараюсь объяснить слова как можно лучше. Это также хорошая практика для людей использовать свои уши для работы, а не лениться.
3. Перевод Google вашего третьего пункта не имел смысла
4. Да, есть параллели с паровыми двигателями и шумами поездов. Игроки Harmonica с 1920-х и 30-х годов специализировались на выдаче роликов
Спасибо, что посмотрели мои видео, и я надеюсь, что они полезны. С наилучшими пожеланиями Lee
Stupid question, just found it ;-)
The second part ... so frustrating ... That seems simple, I can do it if I focus, but doing it in the rythm is not so easy !! Training training training ...
You said it, practise. Keep going, you'll get it.
Oops, breath covered in video number 4. I'm an impatient old fool, sorry!
Better than Gussow
No bounce, no point
Stop to speak!!! play it