How to Play Riff-Based Bluesy Sax Licks on Harmonica
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- Опубликовано: 30 июн 2024
- Some of the early electrified blues players (like Little Walter) were emulating the popular R&B riff- oriented sax players of the 40s & 50s- Louis Jordan, Sam “The Man” Taylor, Earl Bostic, etc. The handheld-mic-through-an-amp harp tone greatly resembled the sax, and these sax players played swinging, riff- oriented music designed for dancers. People used to dance to Blues, Swing, Jazz, and R&B, which back then meant “Rhythm and Blues”- a more rhythmic, jazzier style than Blues, and the precursor to early rock and roll.
5th Position can be very Bluesy if you take a step back and “see” it. All the in/out breathing patterns are different, but it’s full of juicy bends, and opportunities to use Overblows and Overdraws to sound like a guitar or a sax.
I chose the G harp because it's a low key harmonica closer to the range of a sax, plus- most harp players have one. Otherwise, I would have used an Ab harp to play in C, a standard key for Boogie Woogie and R&B.
The harmonica I use in this video:
G Hohner Marine Band with Special 20 reed coverplates customized by Joe Filisko
Download “Boogie in B” backing track: levyland.com/teaching-videos-...
► Howard’s harmonica books- Rhythms of the Breath, Vol.1+Vol.2: levyland.com/book-rhythms-of-...
► My Harps and Gear: levyland.com/my-harps-and-gear
► Howard’s online harmonica school: artistworks.com/harmonica-les...
► Website: levyland.com/
► Facebook: / howardlevyfanpage
► Instagram: / howardlevyland
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0:00 Intro and explanation
5:50 "Boogie in B" 
Видеоклипы
This is exactly why Big Walter loved playing call and response with Sax players 😎
Possibly the greatest harp player ever. Def amongst the most knowledgeable.
I think “the best” would suffice. There are many others brilliant players as well though
Does anyone has the same feeling as do I? I started playing harmonica long time ago. And I had a strange feeling that I'm not a fully-fledged member of the band, because the harmonica is not that complex and sophisticated instrument as guitar, or piano, or fiddle and saxophone. And now, when I follow Mr. Levy, I'm discovering, that playing harmonica convincingly is almost harder than any of other instruments. And I can play almost every genre on it. Not only country, folk and blues. Playing overblows, overdraws, bends, and using it properly comes to me more complicated than learning the piano. But I hope I'm getting better in it. Thank to you Mr. Levy.
I know exactly what you mean! I think the charm of the harmonica comes from both how accessible it is to pick up and start playing, while also having these advanced techniques and so much to explore on the instrument. Can’t wait to have a go at fifth position, love that sounds
Once a person masters most of the techniques, whatever is in their heart and soul can be expressed on the harp. That's why it's one of the greatest of instruments
Absolutely Agree!
I've played acoustic guitar for the past 12 years,
When I need to change key.. I just simply change my hand position and the notes are immediately available. "Even when I'm playing blues and bending, I'm still just bending the pitch up to other "available notes on the fretboard"
Not so with the humble diatonic harmonica, your having to play notes that are just not there by design,
Absolute Kudos to all you guys.
Because the harp takes serious musicianship.
@@russellpenn375 You summed it up amazingly. This is why I tell people all the time how much I love it.
Keep playing, you will find the harmonica is both intricate and versatile, it took me a while, but it is very rewarding, I have even learned to play with my nose🤣👍rock on brother 👍😎🎶🎵🎶
Giving the Little Walter intro lick some nice spices and a new flavour
Fabulous ! And VERY discouraging!!! LOL
😂
Happy birthday Howard!
Brilliant.... I always had this feeling that a harmonica could imitate a sax but I never heard anyone do it so effectively until now. Thank you Howard.
I play along to the Herbie Hancock watermelon Man version, and play every single horn and trumpet perfectly on my B-flat harmonica
Feel so good as another one
Unbelievable. You knocked it out of the park Howard. That was soooo good!
Happy Birthday Howard!
A walking musical encyclopedia backed up by the most unbelievable playing. Or is it the other way around?🤣
Yom Huledet Sameach Howard.
How does this not have more views
Wow, I recently watched an interview with Stevie Wonder on Larry King show. Larry asked Stevie: "What is the deal with harmonica? Stevie pulled his chromatic harmonica out of pocket and said: "This is my small saxophone"... Now I don't think it's a coincidence. Thank you for your kind sharing.
just brilliant ❤
Just wonderful and amazing. I think you did a lot more than just a few sax and guitar riffs though - the solo part and arrangement really built in intensity and you blended in all those techniques to make the different musical statements, wow - so the tune itself was like a master class in 2 and a half minutes. The history and connection to music theory you always talk about in these videos make them even more special - plus your enthusiasm and way you continue to explore and push the envelop in what is possible is very admirable and inspiring. We celebrate your birthday and hope for many, many more. May your future birthday cakes make the fire department nervous.
I agree with you ! Howard Levi an outstanding musician !
You're The One Sir!! Oh my god! A normal human being can hardly do this!!
Love & great respect from Calcutta, India 🙏
Excellent video!
Thank you very much Howard, for generously sharing your gift,
For others to learn this incredible little instrument.
You are very much appreciated.
blessings to you my man.
Peace n love from the UK
Happy Birthday, Howard! 5th position is alien territory for me.
Wow
This so inspiring!
Thank’s
Awesome and Wow!! Magnificent!! Thank you Howard for sharing this!! Blessings!! 🙏🤗💜
Pure genius
Superb. Going to try and learn this. Thanks
In Essex, UK, the harmonica is also called 'the gob iron' 😁
😂
I had no idea!
So well showed, Howard. You are an inspiration. I love to play 5th.
This is fabulous stuff! Many thanks Howard. I’m definitely going to try 5th position now👌🎶🤘
Thank you, Howard, for sharing your insights and wonderful performance!
Great, beautiful and v. challenging. You look you are enjoying it and having a lot of fun and that’s why listening to your music is pure pleasure. Many thanks Howard.
This was an incredible lesson video! Thank you!
I’m gonna try this during practice tonite. That’s some amazing stuff.
this is amazing!
Brilliant playing .
That is really great. I'm going to start practicing. Can't wait to wake up tomorrow 😎👍
Very well done sir!
Wow! I've been thinking about the whole jump/boogie/R&B Sax Connection to Harp Playing the past few days and here you go laying down the challenge! Some related reflections for me has been how to incorporate those Sax type fills when other players are soloing and being able to join in/fit in with the horn section when I'm fortunate enough to have one. Thanks Howard
Amazing!
Brilliant 😎
Got my winter project now...great lesson
Howard just wanna say how impressed I was with that performance
I REALLY DIG everything about that performance. Thanks Howard for the motivation! I’ve been searching for some time, trying to find this very type of video, one that seeks to replicate the sound and feel of a groovin sax, on harmonica. G harp in 5th position… it’s a thing of beauty 😎
So inspiring!
Always high level, thanks
I'm a jazz horn player learning harp and that was an awesome lesson! More please!
gracias!!" eres increible,dominio total
Well played Sir
One of the first songs I learned at about 11 years old was In The Mood
on an echo harp
I started to learn harmonica about 25 years ago but wasn’t veer good and hadn’t payed much for about 20 years, before taking it up again in earnest about a year ago. I’ve learned more in the last year than in the last 25. But every time I think I’m starting to sound quite good I then watch one of Howard Levy’s videos and suddenly realise I have one heck of a long way to go!
On the one hand I feel wholly inadequate. On the other hand my ears and mind are blown wide open and inspired by all sorts of possibilities!
This is what my old teacher, Pierre Beauregard, called 3rd position. Everyone else uses the circle of 5ths to call it 5th position. Whatever, it’s a great position.
If there is a Himalayan peak for harmonica players, few ever get there. But for those few, when they do get there, they can shake Howard Levy’s hand.
Pierre's band Powerhouse were taking their cues from a lot of 40's and 50's era R&B bands. This is such fertile ground for harp! Also check out Dave Therault's "The Deb" for a cool 5th position instrumental in this context.
This is IT. Exactly - I wanted to play intuitive sax like I am just parping my lips but then so much better. And here it IS! Off we goooo! Thank you! I go croon my G harp now. 🌹🔥🥰
Every time that you talk I smile. You make me pause and think. Every time that you play I am amazed. You are awesome.
Tomorrow, I'll be jamming with some really fine musicians... And yes... I will try to entice them to move into this as a nice opening of the jam. Thanks for this, brother Howard!
Love it I can do some of those riffs. Didn’t know what position I was in
c'est magnifique ce qu'on faire avec un si petit instrument, bravo!!!!
great stuff Howard thanks
Every time I watch this cat play I get discouraged. Thought I knew how to play the harmonica. 😂Nice to know that this level of playing is achievable…..
You’re not alone.
Great thanks for sharing. Now i have homework to do. 😍😊
I've always said my favorite type of music is called Boogie Woogie Swing Blues .
I think so that saxophonists and guitarists imitated the diatonic harmonica
Awsome!
KLASSE--Dankeschön !!!!!
Wow the expression and possibilities of this are amazing. You really nailed it, incl. the Chuck lick and that sweet turnaround. Also that flat 2nd for the gypsy sound makes it extra interesting. Have you done a vid where you show gypsy minor or Klezmer sounds, on diatonic? Thanks.
Grazie maestro
Good info, I've been playing heavenly for the last 3 years, and love the blues style, however I find it's very interesting to imitate bagpipes and base fiddle on low G !!!!
Late to the game but Happy Birthday H! Very cool lesson :)
So fun thanks
A bad man. Incredible
Come on, Howard! I have work to do today. I don't need this right now. :)
Seriously, though, as a former sax player (though not a very good one), I really appreciate not only the history lesson but showcasing this style of riff. It's the type of stuff I played when I was a kid and is a lot of fun. Now, though, I clearly need to work my harp skills to get those overblows working not to mention figuring out other positions.
WOW! I will take up your challenge to play in in 5th. I been O/blowing for a while.. so no excuse. I remember trying to mimic Sax players in cross harp.. but still not sounding right; Just need to explore other positions! awsome ;-)
hey Howard, first I am a big fan of your music and your work in general and I love how you explain things, very interesting and informative. I was just hoping if the tabs exist other than actual solfege notes! this would be really helpful. I can easily see myself spending an hour everyday trying to learn this beautiful piece you out together. if the Tabs are not available, it's ok, keep it up and thank you for all the videos you're doing anyway
Just like to say thank you lost my will to play over lock down has I like going out and jamming. I play Golden Melody's has they sound better when playing pop songs at open mic's .in the last year before lock down got into over blows still need a bit more work on using them . you given me my mojo back thanks.
Sounds a litttle like T-Bone Walker!
Hello Howard,
i've seen a lot of your Videos yet and i'm astonished of your easy-looking and -sounding of overblows and overdraws.
How long did it take you to get those skills?
Very, very amazing!
Thank you,
Stefan (from Germany)
👉👍👌♥️👈!... harmonicalement Alain 🖐️
👉🙏!🙏!🙏!👈♥️ harmonicalement Alain 🖐️
I'm a big R & B, Jump Blues fan. I'm looking to expand into different positions. The 5th just makes sense. My concern is how much do I rely on upward and downward movement. Going to the 2 and 8 blow and how hard do I try to play them.
wow....if/when only...
Awesome stuff Howard. Do you find the overblows harder on a G than a C? Are you ever gonna do a second volume of the 'Out Of The Box' DVD? It's great!
Good questions! Yes, OBs have to be done further into the mouth and throat on a lower harp, and you can’t force them. And yes, I am thinking of putting out a follow up to that DVD- Stay tuned!
@@HowardLevyland Thanks Howard great info and great news about the follow up can't wait for that one. Yeah i notice the OB's have to be done like further back and with a kind of wider embouchure. A bit like the difference in bending between a lower pitch harp and a higher one.
❤️
生日快乐霍神=happy birthday
Lee Oskar with WAR
Dennis Gruenling says, "hey, leggo my Eggo!!!"
I am wondering what harp he played. Sounds so light.
Too true! Make it easy to dance to and they will! Club owners like customers who dance. Dancing makes them thirsty. Thirsty customers buy Booz!
I can't do overblows(yet). You mention that Little Walter was imitating sax players. He didn't overblow, so what was his approach?
I've been listening to Sam Butera lately. Check him out!
Hi Howard, I think I'd love to set up a session :) I'll write your site's email to see if you've any openings, Jan
Skip to 5min 45 sec for hearing the good stuff…
So when you say “b” do you mean Bm?
I thought he played Hohner Golden Melody exclusively,i guess not
Harpoon me, Howard- 8-2 th BAR. Drinksonme, teacherman....
10 pan sandwich
Other worldly as far as use of a harmonica goes.
Happy Birthday Howard!