Get my free backing track: levyland.com/teaching-videos-free-backing-tracks Join my online harmonica school: artistworks.com/harmonica-lessons-howard-levy
Thank you I'm 58 I've been playing the harp since I was 15 in 1978 but it's always good to keep your mind open to learn all the time, you Mr are a bad ass on the harp, thanks again!
I love that these clips are filmed in a car-it re-emphasises Howard Levy’s relaxed mastery of the harmonica however I hope he isn’t living in his car. in it
Great video to illustrate a generally advisable approach of learning basslines. I would have killed to have been able to have this advice about ten years earlier! Very nice examples of 4th and 5th position playing - definitely makes me want to work on 4th more. There's one brief moment at 5:46-5:48 where your tongue switching matches up with the piano perfectly that really got me.
Got hip to 3rd position version of this tune from Charlie Musselwhite's version on his first Vanguard lp Stand Back where he plays Help Me IIRC in A minor with a G harp. Now lets see I bought that lp in 1968! Wow....55 years ago for me! Great tutorials Howard!
you are the greatest player of our time! you should write a book about music theory but focused on harmonica (or sell a course about it - I would take it!)...remember that there are a lot of people (including myself) that is not only new to the instrument but new to music theory so when you say something like play this harmonica in this song tune I am pretty much lost 😂
Wonderful video, love the sound and the education. It seems like a decoding process- aligning the sweet spots in the song with bendable, expressive 🎶 holes on the harp. It would be interesting to compare these with 2nd position with overblows - but until many of us learn to do it, these examples can open many possibilities. Thanks Mr. Levy
I feel so sorry for the would-be harmonica players, who must feel so discouraged because they don't understand this. I have played harmonic for 60 years and can play all that stuff, but I have not the foggiest notion what Howard is talking about. I couldn't even tell you precisely what "cross harp position" means. I am not even sure what "overblow" means. To explain it, you'd have to point it out to me when I am doing it, because I probably do it all the time. I guess I must do, or I wouldn't have been playing "Help me" more or less note for note the same as Sonny Boy since I heard him play it when I was 17. If I had to think about such things, I wouldn't be able to play at all. Just as if I had to think about which leg muscles I needed to activate, I wouldn't be able to walk, let alone dance like I still do at age 75. I enjoy these videos because I can play along, but I'll have to stop watching them, or Howard will convince me that I know nothing about harmonica playing and I won't be able to play any more. By the way, on the label of the vinyl copy I've had since Moses was in short pants, the song is called "Help me", not "Help me baby".
Thank you Howard, but only for I understand. If the key of the Green Onion is in Cm, why the Bb Harmonica is in the 4th position instead of 3rd one? Since in 3rd position it will be in Cm Whyle in the 4th it will be in Gm?
Great tutorial! I always love 2 things about these, which make your tuts stand out. One is the editing, that keeps on improving as the videos come out. And the second is the chord annotations, as they progress. I have realized how much I suck at hearing the chord progressions, and I find the text thing really helps out. Especially for the tutorials that arent blues focused. I would love to hear your opinion on how sax/trumpet players are taught to play over chord changes. Mainly because these instruments cant play chords(2 or 3 notes at a time).
Hey Suyash- thanks! As for your question, check out the new video I put up; also, most Jazz horn players play piano and work things out there as well as on their horns.
Is there any chance you'd be interested in doing a little show and tell comparing some harp brands/models?
3 года назад
Thanks for the great video, Howard. I'm intrigued by that percussive effect you play in 4th position, the one you attribute to Sonny Boy Williamson and Junior Wells. Can you please share how your achieve that? Thanks!
@@HowardLevyland Thanks! After asking you I saw other videos where people teach this and some mentioned the harmonica kiss while others articulate differently. It seems to me the kiss articulation is indeed the one closest to Sony Boy Williamson's sound.
If you don't understand this, don't worry about it. I have been playing blues on the harmonica for 60 years, and I could play this song in my sleep. I can play everything this gent plays in the video, but I have not the vaguest clue what he is talking about. I don't doubt a word of it, and I think it is very clever to be able to analyse it to such an extent, but it is completely over my head. Just as it would be if you told me which muscles I must activate to walk across the room. I don't even know what is meant by cross harp, overblowing, or second, third, or fourth position, and yet I can play it exactly how he plays it. (While also walking across the room) How is that possible? I met Sonny Boy Williamson (aka Rice Miller) twice in the 1960s and I can tell you that he would not have understood a word of it either. I recommend you just sing the notes you want to play, and then just pick up the harmonica, and try to play them. It is not rocket science. Just play it and have fun getting it wrong until you get it right. And use whichever harmonica seems to work best. In whichever "position" works best. That was Sonny Boy Williamsons advice, and it worked for me. I am quite sure that such videos are a great help to some people, but if I had seen a video like this or any other harmonica tuition video when I was trying to learn, I would have been completely discouraged. I would have found it mind-boggling and would have given up trying to play it. Don't give up. Don't be discouraged. Just listen to the original recording and try to play along. By the way, the song is simply called Help Me. Not Help me Baby. If you have any success with that, you will find that you can also play the Hammond Organ part of Green Onions by Booker T and the MGs as well as the Donald (Duck) Dunn bassline.
Get my free backing track: levyland.com/teaching-videos-free-backing-tracks
Join my online harmonica school: artistworks.com/harmonica-lessons-howard-levy
Thank you I'm 58 I've been playing the harp since I was 15 in 1978 but it's always good to keep your mind open to learn all the time, you Mr are a bad ass on the harp, thanks again!
Mr. Levy I consider you the Master of Masters! You have reinvented the harmonica! Thanks for your great contribution to the world of harmonica!
Thank you- Practice never ends.…
Yes, love this! 🎶🙏🎶
I love that these clips are filmed in a car-it re-emphasises Howard Levy’s relaxed mastery of the harmonica however I hope he isn’t living in his car.
in it
Pure Genius! Harmonica/musical talent unmatched.
When Howard Plays Blues.... it makes me want to chuck all my harps off a bridge. Because I'll never be that good. Lol.
This was a great vid.
Great video to illustrate a generally advisable approach of learning basslines. I would have killed to have been able to have this advice about ten years earlier! Very nice examples of 4th and 5th position playing - definitely makes me want to work on 4th more. There's one brief moment at 5:46-5:48 where your tongue switching matches up with the piano perfectly that really got me.
The Bb harp is the most pleasing to my ear.
Howard - You play clear and have kind eyes.... 👍
Simply demonstrating position possibilities for basic tunes is all a passionate player like myself needs to explore a new chapter of musical magic!
Got hip to 3rd position version of this tune from Charlie Musselwhite's version on his first Vanguard lp Stand Back where he plays Help Me IIRC in A minor with a G harp. Now lets see I bought that lp in 1968! Wow....55 years ago for me! Great tutorials Howard!
This man must be from another planet , a genius
you are the greatest player of our time! you should write a book about music theory but focused on harmonica (or sell a course about it - I would take it!)...remember that there are a lot of people (including myself) that is not only new to the instrument but new to music theory so when you say something like play this harmonica in this song tune I am pretty much lost 😂
Thank you Howard.I appreciate your efforts 🎶❤️👍
Just Great..trying the first one cos I love the low F...but it’s not easy...but it IS fun ! But - “We’re having a lot of fun -trying to win !”
HARPOON HOWARD. SO GOOOD. SOS. SEND MORE!
That's great everyone have access to such awesome videos! Thanks!! 👌
I get the goosebumps everytime I hear you play 🔥
Watching from Ireland
yep, nicely done. not that I would expect anything less. ;)
It’s great Howard’s uploading regularly
Wonderful video, love the sound and the education. It seems like a decoding process- aligning the sweet spots in the song with bendable, expressive 🎶 holes on the harp. It would be interesting to compare these with 2nd position with overblows - but until many of us learn to do it, these examples can open many possibilities. Thanks Mr. Levy
The acoustics of that car is outstanding!!
I feel so sorry for the would-be harmonica players, who must feel so discouraged because they don't understand this. I have played harmonic for 60 years and can play all that stuff, but I have not the foggiest notion what Howard is talking about. I couldn't even tell you precisely what "cross harp position" means. I am not even sure what "overblow" means. To explain it, you'd have to point it out to me when I am doing it, because I probably do it all the time. I guess I must do, or I wouldn't have been playing "Help me" more or less note for note the same as Sonny Boy since I heard him play it when I was 17. If I had to think about such things, I wouldn't be able to play at all. Just as if I had to think about which leg muscles I needed to activate, I wouldn't be able to walk, let alone dance like I still do at age 75. I enjoy these videos because I can play along, but I'll have to stop watching them, or Howard will convince me that I know nothing about harmonica playing and I won't be able to play any more. By the way, on the label of the vinyl copy I've had since Moses was in short pants, the song is called "Help me", not "Help me baby".
Thank-you Howard.
Very Cool Howard!
Really beautiful playing, thanks so much for sharing these videos!
Thanks Howard
One of my favourites
Very classy
Thanks MASTER !🙏
Howard playing the blues...oh yea✅
So inspiring!
Absolutely - a great enlightening lesson!
Glad you enjoyed it
Learning at Source is always the best. Thank you so much for these great seeds !
Great Lesson! Thanks Howard
I like this videos in the format of Adam Gussow!
Amazing perfect i love it
Thanks!
Un plaisir à tous les coups!
Merci!
Thanks howard!!awesome
Wow .... I love this video😍❤️
Fantastic!!!!!! Thank You Howard!!!
Perfect !!!❤️🎶
Fabulous
This rocks!
Bravo, maestro
Thanks Howard good lesson. 🎼
A new Podcast???:
Harp Players do Stuff in Cars...
Nice 👍
Wow! I’m totally impressed! 3 thumbs up
Thank you! Glad you liked it!
That was beautiful, thanks
You're welcome.
Love it!
Thank you Howard, but only for I understand. If the key of the Green Onion is in Cm, why the Bb Harmonica is in the 4th position instead of 3rd one? Since in 3rd position it will be in Cm Whyle in the 4th it will be in Gm?
😂Love the horn sounds. Market it Howard! They have much better texture than the standard air horn.
😂
Showww. Gracias! Grato!👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
Asome
Great demonstration , thanks
Sounds great ! - is the solo in third position ?
BLUES IN THE CAR....
спасибо,круто,душевно.
Questa musica mi piace ( blues ),👍
Aplausos
...cuz we can play in the car (and do I need to get a roadster for that tone, or should I stick w/ the reverb I get in my truck?).
🤣
Consider “beyond the sea” Bobby Darin ?
Great tutorial! I always love 2 things about these, which make your tuts stand out. One is the editing, that keeps on improving as the videos come out. And the second is the chord annotations, as they progress. I have realized how much I suck at hearing the chord progressions, and I find the text thing really helps out. Especially for the tutorials that arent blues focused.
I would love to hear your opinion on how sax/trumpet players are taught to play over chord changes. Mainly because these instruments cant play chords(2 or 3 notes at a time).
Hey Suyash- thanks! As for your question, check out the new video I put up; also, most Jazz horn players play piano and work things out there as well as on their horns.
Is there any chance you'd be interested in doing a little show and tell comparing some harp brands/models?
Thanks for the great video, Howard. I'm intrigued by that percussive effect you play in 4th position, the one you attribute to Sonny Boy Williamson and Junior Wells. Can you please share how your achieve that? Thanks!
Basically, I kiss the harmonica.
@@HowardLevyland Thanks! After asking you I saw other videos where people teach this and some mentioned the harmonica kiss while others articulate differently. It seems to me the kiss articulation is indeed the one closest to Sony Boy Williamson's sound.
Dude: slightly sharp minor thirds are the bees knees. When I tune my harps to a minor key I always make the third slightly sharp for a bit of tension
which of the versions do you like best???
1. LOW F
2. Bb
3. Eb
Question... what is going on in your head while playing? Do you hear the song while playing?
😍😍
geez your hair's getting long mate - oh and great tutorial too.
cheers,
iano
If you don't understand this, don't worry about it. I have been playing blues on the harmonica for 60 years, and I could play this song in my sleep. I can play everything this gent plays in the video, but I have not the vaguest clue what he is talking about. I don't doubt a word of it, and I think it is very clever to be able to analyse it to such an extent, but it is completely over my head. Just as it would be if you told me which muscles I must activate to walk across the room. I don't even know what is meant by cross harp, overblowing, or second, third, or fourth position, and yet I can play it exactly how he plays it. (While also walking across the room) How is that possible? I met Sonny Boy Williamson (aka Rice Miller) twice in the 1960s and I can tell you that he would not have understood a word of it either. I recommend you just sing the notes you want to play, and then just pick up the harmonica, and try to play them. It is not rocket science. Just play it and have fun getting it wrong until you get it right. And use whichever harmonica seems to work best. In whichever "position" works best. That was Sonny Boy Williamsons advice, and it worked for me. I am quite sure that such videos are a great help to some people, but if I had seen a video like this or any other harmonica tuition video when I was trying to learn, I would have been completely discouraged. I would have found it mind-boggling and would have given up trying to play it. Don't give up. Don't be discouraged. Just listen to the original recording and try to play along. By the way, the song is simply called Help Me. Not Help me Baby. If you have any success with that, you will find that you can also play the Hammond Organ part of Green Onions by Booker T and the MGs as well as the Donald (Duck) Dunn bassline.
Номер Один на Планете)
Nice to see that even the best harmonica players can be chucked out of their homes by their wives for making a racket....
😂
I am back playing harmonica with my band after my stroke