The first time I saw this, I was still in that early stage of wanting to run when I hadn't yet learned to walk. Now, a few years later, I can truly appreciate the idea of milking just a few holes for all their rhythmic possibilities. Ronnie Shellist calls this approach "playing in the pocket", and any time I do this, I think of him. Now, imagine how foolish I feel, coming back to your lessons only to find out I YOU tried to teach me this concept years ago, but I was in too big a hurry.
This is my first time going through the Gussow gauntlet and it takes me a couplenof weeks to digest each lesson. The bar is high and busking is in the syllabus. Porbably the best teacher off or online. He even explains the "why."
Thanks, BW/BB. I'm really glad to hear that the material I'm putting out there is something you can run with and make your own. I'll check out that video when I'm able to.
That bend is the flat seventh--one octave below the 5 draw (we're talking cross harp now) and very much a key note in the blues scale. You've got good ears.
What I missed in Mr. Gussow's excellent playing is how good he plays. He hits bent notes hard. I couldn't do it no matter what I tried. Then, I watched other players and noticed nobody hits that hard. It is a talent.
Hi Adam, thank you very much for this lesson, ive been practising like crazy doing scales out the wazzoo and am finding I was not getting any closer to improvising, im sure I saw this lesson ages ago back when I first started and didnt realise at the time how important this particular lesson would be to my harpin growth, sometimes less is more more, THANK YOU
Digging deep is what it's all about. Many players don't realize just how much physical force you need to learn to apply to those reeds. Sore lips are what you get for it, but also a much better sound.
To answer the other question: B-flat gives you all the low-end power of an A, but it's brighter, chirpier, bluesier. I did almost all my playing with Satan and Adam on A and C harps; only recorded a couple of tunes on a B-flat. This particular instrument is a beaut, right off the shelf.
I don't use them all the time. As with most things musical, it's a judgment call. So your last sentence gets it exactly right: I use tongue articulations whenever I want that type of sound.
Adam on this video the penny has finally dropped lol. I tried to play around with the harp to soon. Had a few things learnt and would let rip. Didnt sound to good. For the last week or so all I have done is play around with the blues scale. That together with your lessons on the 12 bar blues progression I am finally starting to piece everything together. Thank you for all you do and keep up the good work.
Any harp lick or set of licks theoretically works in every key of harp. Some licks, especially high note bends, get increasingly hard to do as the harp key moves up. I've never heard anybody work the 8-10 hole bends on an E harp, for example.
Adam I recently found (right after I posted this) this website that lays out the harp notes in any key. You punch in the key and what position and it gives you all the notes and the notes when you bend em. THIS WAS HUGE FOR ME... hey all you harp nerds... google "diatonic layout generator". This was amazing for me! See you in San Diego Dr. Gussow.
Great question. Actually, I am an official endorser of Hohner Harmonicas--they're the only brand and model I've used for 32 years--but they haven't given me so much as a free t-shirt in the 15-odd years that I've been an endorser, nor answered an email. Hmmm. Hey guys, how about a call?
adam I have a question. any of those notes of the scale can be played anywhere in a progrecion blues? I mean that in the note to play I, IV, or V. thanks.
I have a question. I just got a D harp (Hohner blues harp) and whenever I do a 4 draw with a bend, I get this very high pitched, shrill, whistling that hurts my ears. Is this a problem with the harp, or am I just bending incorrectly? Thanks, your videos are great, and I've grown as a player a ridiculous amount since I've been watching them.
do you use the "ta's" and "da's" all the time or only when you need to do consecutive notes in the same hole? or just whenever you want that type of sound?
Haha lesson 14 and 15 are my birtday presents from 3 years ago aren´t they Adam? ´Cause they sure do count as presents for me :D, and you uploaded them on my birthday :D
You're welcome. Actually, my camera ran out of juice as I was dumping "footage" into my MacBook. So I made a virtue of necessity--improvised--and decided to let the forceful last statement end the thing. Different flavors of How-To....
Adam, I taught myself the blues scale a month ago and practiced it all the time not noticing that I was playing the wrong one. It sounds the same, it's just a couple steps lower than if you start on 2d. Does only inferior music come out if you play blues based on a scale that starts on 1d?
Question: I just bought a Blues Harp (G). Did I buy the wrong sound? Yours sounds higher than mine so its hard for me to hit your notes. Its probably me but I'm curious if I should have bought a different model.
Adam...can't get enough...my "woodshed" time has become fun again! Great to hear new slant on the basics.(Just a bit scary...I'm now checking RUclips before my E-mail, can you say "harp crack addict"?
Adam why does the 2 hole deep bend sound so good in blues? Shouldn't that be on the blues scale somewhere? lol. All i know is when I'm playing and I hit the 2 hole draw on the deepest bend it feels good.
Hey man your lessons are inspiring, you flat jam bro. Blue soul to the core. Thanks for these lessons. I sent you a video response last lesson (14) That was me after 6months. ...your lessons I have been cranking out some funky "almost blues" check out the short rhythm on my last video. This was inspired by the lesson on "letting" you body tell you when it needs to let out. If you are ever down in Raleigh, NC and you need any help call me!! BamBam owes you one! :)
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The first time I saw this, I was still in that early stage of wanting to run when I hadn't yet learned to walk. Now, a few years later, I can truly appreciate the idea of milking just a few holes for all their rhythmic possibilities. Ronnie Shellist calls this approach "playing in the pocket", and any time I do this, I think of him. Now, imagine how foolish I feel, coming back to your lessons only to find out I YOU tried to teach me this concept years ago, but I was in too big a hurry.
another great one. Thanks for being so giving. It seems you got cut off at the very end?
That's a great way to work with them. Just pause, practice hard every day, and give things a chance to sink in and transform your playing.
This is my first time going through the Gussow gauntlet and it takes me a couplenof weeks to digest each lesson. The bar is high and busking is in the syllabus.
Porbably the best teacher off or online.
He even explains the "why."
Wolf Jay haha.. " gusso gaunlet" I like that.
The Gussow gauntlet. I like it. Busking is definitely on the syllabus. Thanks for your kind words.
Thanks, BW/BB. I'm really glad to hear that the material I'm putting out there is something you can run with and make your own. I'll check out that video when I'm able to.
#1, I explain this in a previous video. #2, it's the perfect place for harmonica lessons.
That bend is the flat seventh--one octave below the 5 draw (we're talking cross harp now) and very much a key note in the blues scale. You've got good ears.
What I missed in Mr. Gussow's excellent playing is how good he plays. He hits bent notes hard. I couldn't do it no matter what I tried. Then, I watched other players and noticed nobody hits that hard. It is a talent.
Hi Adam, thank you very much for this lesson, ive been practising like crazy doing scales out the wazzoo and am finding I was not getting any closer to improvising, im sure I saw this lesson ages ago back when I first started and didnt realise at the time how important this particular lesson would be to my harpin growth, sometimes less is more more, THANK YOU
Digging deep is what it's all about. Many players don't realize just how much physical force you need to learn to apply to those reeds. Sore lips are what you get for it, but also a much better sound.
To answer the other question: B-flat gives you all the low-end power of an A, but it's brighter, chirpier, bluesier. I did almost all my playing with Satan and Adam on A and C harps; only recorded a couple of tunes on a B-flat. This particular instrument is a beaut, right off the shelf.
I appreciate your time. Very logical and informative. Thanks
Good stuff Adam! Thanks for the help.
Thank you mr.Adam!
I don't use them all the time. As with most things musical, it's a judgment call. So your last sentence gets it exactly right: I use tongue articulations whenever I want that type of sound.
Gussow,you rock!
very informative. thanks for this!
Words of wisdom... as usual.
Excellent, thank you a much!
Adam on this video the penny has finally dropped lol. I tried to play around with the harp to soon. Had a few things learnt and would let rip. Didnt sound to good. For the last week or so all I have done is play around with the blues scale. That together with your lessons on the 12 bar blues progression I am finally starting to piece everything together. Thank you for all you do and keep up the good work.
Any harp lick or set of licks theoretically works in every key of harp. Some licks, especially high note bends, get increasingly hard to do as the harp key moves up. I've never heard anybody work the 8-10 hole bends on an E harp, for example.
Adam I recently found (right after I posted this) this website that lays out the harp notes in any key. You punch in the key and what position and it gives you all the notes and the notes when you bend em. THIS WAS HUGE FOR ME... hey all you harp nerds... google "diatonic layout generator". This was amazing for me! See you in San Diego Dr. Gussow.
That was a good harmonica video too.
Great question. Actually, I am an official endorser of Hohner Harmonicas--they're the only brand and model I've used for 32 years--but they haven't given me so much as a free t-shirt in the 15-odd years that I've been an endorser, nor answered an email. Hmmm. Hey guys, how about a call?
Got to overblow dot com, there is a scalefinder from which you can get the blues scale for any key on any key harp. I use it all the time.
thanks, Adam. This is priceless stuff! does it work in every key?
Mitch
adam I have a question. any of those notes of the scale can be played anywhere in a progrecion blues? I mean that in the note to play I, IV, or V.
thanks.
I have a question. I just got a D harp (Hohner blues harp) and whenever I do a 4 draw with a bend, I get this very high pitched, shrill, whistling that hurts my ears. Is this a problem with the harp, or am I just bending incorrectly? Thanks, your videos are great, and I've grown as a player a ridiculous amount since I've been watching them.
do you use the "ta's" and "da's" all the time or only when you need to do consecutive notes in the same hole? or just whenever you want that type of sound?
Haha lesson 14 and 15 are my birtday presents from 3 years ago aren´t they Adam? ´Cause they sure do count as presents for me :D, and you uploaded them on my birthday :D
Ty foe this video
You're welcome. Actually, my camera ran out of juice as I was dumping "footage" into my MacBook. So I made a virtue of necessity--improvised--and decided to let the forceful last statement end the thing. Different flavors of How-To....
Adam, I taught myself the blues scale a month ago and practiced it all the time not noticing that I was playing the wrong one. It sounds the same, it's just a couple steps lower than if you start on 2d. Does only inferior music come out if you play blues based on a scale that starts on 1d?
can you say what harp you are using when you play.thanks for all the tipssss
Question: I just bought a Blues Harp (G). Did I buy the wrong sound? Yours sounds higher than mine so its hard for me to hit your notes. Its probably me but I'm curious if I should have bought a different model.
What key is the harmonica in on this lesson? Not the crossharp key, but the straighharp key...thanks...
Adam...can't get enough...my "woodshed" time has become fun again! Great to hear new slant on the basics.(Just a bit scary...I'm now checking RUclips before my E-mail, can you say "harp crack addict"?
Thank you soooooooooo much. Dang this was useful!
Adam why does the 2 hole deep bend sound so good in blues? Shouldn't that be on the blues scale somewhere? lol. All i know is when I'm playing and I hit the 2 hole draw on the deepest bend it feels good.
Thank you =D
Of course you can... I follow this lesson on a G harp, im not in the right tone but the distance between the note is the same, so.
01:09 that's great melody
I've never had this particular problem. I think it's something wrong with the way you're bending. But I can't diagnose at long distance.
Hey man your lessons are inspiring, you flat jam bro. Blue soul to the core. Thanks for these lessons. I sent you a video response last lesson (14) That was me after 6months. ...your lessons I have been cranking out some funky "almost blues" check out the short rhythm on my last video. This was inspired by the lesson on "letting" you body tell you when it needs to let out.
If you are ever down in Raleigh, NC and you need any help call me!! BamBam owes you one! :)
Why not?
@LeeTchate Turns out I was playing in third position... and yes those are indeed the bends!
what is a 3 blue?
You're too cool for school Adam Gussow.
great billards metaphor.better lesson.
Thanks, all. Make harp your drug and leave the bad stuff alone!
why do you play in your car
tooshay
why are you in a car?