When I was 12, I heard the first Hot Tuna record, and it made me want to learn to play guitar. I did eventually learn Jorma's arrangement of Hesitation Blues but never really understood or, honestly, tried very hard to learn, the form of the song. Which meant that I never felt comfortable playing around with it (and so didn't). Your simple explanation of the form at the beginning of this video unlocks the tune and inspires me now to go back and see about making own arrangement. Thank you!
My uncle Bob had a David Hamburger CD back in the late 90s, It had a song on it called “the Laundromat of ill repute”, and to a 16 yr old aspiring blues enthusiast it was magic. Been a fan ever since. Great Lesson BTW.
Been working on this song for the better part of a month ( I’m retired), came up with some iterations my self, but you’ve taken me to the next level on this song. Thank you!
Yes, you are the only tutorial I have found on You Tube that understands the tune moves through a modulation from the key of Aminor to the key of C major (which is really a C mixolydian mode). Good for you. That's why that famous riff ends up on the Bb....right?
Hi Robert, yes, that's right - that's a pretty classic move in blues and swing as well, to land on the b7 (in this case, yes, Bb in the key of C) to telegraph that HEY! we're now going to the IV chord. In that moment, the C7 is acting as the V of F, and so the Bb is going to resolve to A, the third of F. Which may be more than you wanted to hear about it :-). But you're absolutely right, is the short answer.
Great job of deconstructing it. I learned the Gary Davis version in about 1967?? People should know their substitutions. Am for C Maj Em for G Maj etc. If you look ALL the notes in each chord are SHARED except one- hence it sounds great to switch form the minor or minor 7th to the related Major or major 7th. Gotta say- you do make Hamburger out of most other teachers and players. Great job as always.
I would love to see (and hear) David go to Fur Peace Ranch and do a session with Jorma, Jack, and the rest of Hot Tuna. It would be a mind-blowing jam!
Nice exposition, so enjoyable. Speaking of tunes that are 12 bar blues in sort of a masquerade, check out what you might call a backward blues progression, starting on the 4 chord, the late JJ Cale's "Lou-Easy-Ann".
The best version I know is the one on the first album by the English guitarist Ralph McTell. I heard that one early in my playing and the Jorma Kaukonen never appealed to me as much.
I can't begin to express my appreciation for your generosity in sharing your hard earned insights!
When I was 12, I heard the first Hot Tuna record, and it made me want to learn to play guitar. I did eventually learn Jorma's arrangement of Hesitation Blues but never really understood or, honestly, tried very hard to learn, the form of the song. Which meant that I never felt comfortable playing around with it (and so didn't). Your simple explanation of the form at the beginning of this video unlocks the tune and inspires me now to go back and see about making own arrangement. Thank you!
My uncle Bob had a David Hamburger CD back in the late 90s, It had a song on it called “the Laundromat of ill repute”, and to a 16 yr old aspiring blues enthusiast it was magic. Been a fan ever since. Great Lesson BTW.
Been working on this song for the better part of a month ( I’m retired), came up with some iterations my self, but you’ve taken me to the next level on this song. Thank you!
Thanks David - I also learned that one myself from the Hot Tuna album which I still love.
Cool, Cool with generosity of spirit man!
Yes, you are the only tutorial I have found on You Tube that understands the tune moves through a modulation from the key of Aminor to the key of C major (which is really a C mixolydian mode). Good for you. That's why that famous riff ends up on the Bb....right?
Hi Robert, yes, that's right - that's a pretty classic move in blues and swing as well, to land on the b7 (in this case, yes, Bb in the key of C) to telegraph that HEY! we're now going to the IV chord. In that moment, the C7 is acting as the V of F, and so the Bb is going to resolve to A, the third of F. Which may be more than you wanted to hear about it :-). But you're absolutely right, is the short answer.
Love Dave’s Playing...!
Wow, excellent lesson. You REALLY know the fretboard!
Great job of deconstructing it. I learned the Gary Davis version in about 1967?? People should know their substitutions.
Am for C Maj Em for G Maj etc. If you look ALL the notes in each chord are SHARED except one- hence it sounds great to switch form the minor or minor 7th to the related Major or major 7th. Gotta say- you do make Hamburger out of most other teachers and
players. Great job as always.
Thanks, I always liked that move to the C. Good info.
I love the way you play this song....very relaxed.....and I've learned a few new tricks from this video too. Thanks a lot.
I would love to see (and hear) David go to Fur Peace Ranch and do a session with Jorma, Jack, and the rest of Hot Tuna. It would be a mind-blowing jam!
Thanks a lot,added a few more licks to my playing.
You're welcome! Glad to hear it.
Nice, I always look forward to these. I always say inside every swing tune is a three chord trick hiding.
Yes indeed, that's a trick I find I've been working on solving too :-)
Nice exposition, so enjoyable. Speaking of tunes that are 12 bar blues in sort of a masquerade, check out what you might call a backward blues progression, starting on the 4 chord, the late JJ Cale's "Lou-Easy-Ann".
Nice, I'll check it out! Wasn't aware of that one.
What I would call it going from the relative minor to the major 7th to the four
3:35
Dast one observe that David’s blues picking is slippery and smooth yet so ‘salient’?
I have an old finger style basics book with a picture of a very young looking David with a bushy head of hair ..
Ha! I bet you do :-)
The best version I know is the one on the first album by the English guitarist Ralph McTell. I heard that one early in my playing and the Jorma Kaukonen never appealed to me as much.
That move is Jorma, not the Rev.
Mystery solved! Thanks, Paul.
I thought the am to E7 was lifted from the Disneyland Pirates of the Caribbean theme song
That's a sweet take on the song. Thank you.