A very beautiful version of the song. The bends are so fine , controlled and clean that in learning to do bends , playing this version of moonriver is my example for success . When I get close to sounding so fine I will be happy with my skill!
Superbe chanson et superbe interprétation ! Bravo ! Très bon calage rythmique et un morceau difficile à faire sonner sur certains passages, le résultat est très beau !!! :-)
Just thought I'd say thank for the advice, your version went done wonderfully at the wedding - only bettered by a surprise rendition of Carly Simon's Nobody Does It Better, sung by the bride to the groom!!
Learning to play this for a friends wedding in October. Somewhat difficult to the standard tabs on line. Such fantastic version. Any tips how I can hit the -3"? I can't make my harpmaster do that note! Any thought appreciated.
Mr. Grey, besides your superlative technique, any piece which you play has so much feel that is wedded to a wonderful tone. Incidentally, what harp -- and key -- are you using here, sir?
Boy you never miss a bend! Perfect really nice. And then adding vibrato on the 3D" not easily done. Quick question about your equip. I'm interested in what you use to hold the mic or it might have been an H2 Zoom Recorder. Thanks for Sharing your music I never miss one.
Here is the Tab of how to play the main tune (not including the improvised phrases) +3-4+4,-3-3''-2-2''-2 +1-3-3''-2-2''-2+1-1 +2+1,+3+2,-1+1,+3+2, -1+1+2+3+4-3,-3''-3-3''-2-3'' +3-4+4,-3-3''-2-2''-2 +1-3-3''-2-2''-2+1-1 +2+1+2+3+4-4+4+3 +1-3-3''-2-2''-2 +1-3-3''-2-2''-2+4-5-4+5+4
Hi Grey Owl, Your version of Moon River is my favourite. I'm just starting out and try to play along with you which helps me a lot. I am wondering how you make that sound you do every now and again almost like a duck sound. Hope you know what I mean. Do you use something extra to make that sound or is this the 'bending' that people keep talking about?
Hi Jessica and thanks very much. There are some notes that require 'bending' and it may be these sounds you are talking about. They sound tonally different from normal blow and draw notes. The main tune after my short improvised start is as follows:- Moon = blow hole 3, riv- = draw hole 4, er = 4 blow, wid- = draw 3, -er = Double draw 3 bend etc., The bend note is the last note here (is that the sound you mean). Note bending is required on a diatonic harmonica to be able to play notes that are not normally found on this instrument. You will find free lessons on bending notes on RUclips. In this song I had to bend notes on draw holes 2 & 3. Bending a note is done by drawing in air normally, say on hole 3 (you can also bend on draw holes 1,2,4 and 6), and lowering the pitch by dropping the jaw to create a larger chamber in the mouth. To visualise this try whistling backwards and then attempt to lower the pitch of the whistle (you should notice your draw drop when doing this). Another method is vocalising eee on the normal draw then aaaw to get the bend. Bending can be learnt reasonably quickly (once you can play clean single notes well) the difficulty is hitting the correct pitch accurately. Bent notes always stand out a bit which is fine in blues songs but not always that pretty in nice melodies. By the way, sometimes I will shape a note by using a very short small bend sliding up to the note required together with some hand shaping to produce a wah sound so this maybe what you are referring to. Anyway have fun with the harmonica as it's a great and easy instrument to get some pleasant sounds right away and then you can focus on the more advanced techniques as your playing improves.
***** Thanks for replying so quickly to my question and for answering so thoroughly! :D You've certainly given me some things to work on which are helpful. I do spend some time when I get a chance on other people's 'how to' youtube sites. Some are more helpful than others. Yes, as you suggested, the sound I was talking about is the -er note in 'Moon River, wid -er'. There is also the 'wah' sound you do sometimes so I'll have to work on that. I am in Australia but I picked up the Hohner C Chromonica 270 when I was last in New York. Does playing with a Chromonica mean that I should be able to find notes more easily than with a diatonic? I am wondering if I need to also buy a diatonic and a range of smaller harmonicas in different keys to be able to play a range of songs. Sorry for asking more questions, but thought you might have some idea about this. Many thanks again, Jessica.
Ah you have a chromatic harmonica! A chromatic harmonica can play all the notes (including flats/sharps with the button press) so no need for bending. In fact you can't really perform bends on a chromatic though you can get a slight bend inflection for effect (watch Stevie Wonder). In that case I think the wah sound you are referring to is probably hand shaping where you cup your hands around the harmonica as you see me doing (easier on a small diatonic harmonica) and then open the cup as you play a note and it produces a wah type sound. Depends if you like the sound of the diatonic which is often used for blues playing and utilises the bend technique I mentioned to very good effect. If you intend playing nice melodies a lot then the Chromatic might be a better bet because bending to correct pitch on a diatonic is tricky and sometimes sounds a bit odd tonally against the clean sound of straight blow and draw notes. Although you could always buy something like a Hohner Special 20 diatonic in the key of C and see if you like it (lots of free YT lessons use this key so it makes it convenient to play along with the teacher) I rarely play the Chromatic although it is nice but different to the Diatonic. As a comparison listen to these couple of vids I did with a C Chromatic. Listening to these again I think I use that swooping effect occasionally, even on the chromatic I do a very short slight draw bend and release it to the draw note which gives a pleasant shape to the sound Jean De Florette Theme ruclips.net/video/xYOvQ93SqsQ/видео.html Band of Brothers Theme ruclips.net/video/fky74Ovw5Es/видео.html
***** Hi Grey Owl, Thanks for this advice also. I'll look at getting myself the Hohner Special 20 you suggested, as it is interesting to try different effects and as you say, I find the cupping effect hard to achieve with this big harmonica. My hands just aren't big enough. I'll stop trying to get bends out of the Chromonica, although as you say, there are still some cool effects it does do. I bought it after listening to a busker who was playing beautiful melodies to a crowd in a shopping centre, with his hat out for coins. It was such a pure magical sound, I couldn't leave and asked him what he used. He said the Chromonica in C which is why I bought this one and I love the pure notes one can achieve, but it is time to branch out. I still can't play quickly, but perhaps that is a practice thing. Really appreciate all your assistance. I've listened to your beautiful rendition of Jean de Florette before, but hadn't registered on the harmonica type. Will have a go at learning it. I'll continue to follow your playing and of course, play along, which always makes me feel a bit like I'm jamming with someone! :D Best wishes, Jessica.
A very beautiful version of the song. The bends are so fine , controlled and clean that in learning to do bends , playing this version of moonriver is my example for success . When I get close to sounding so fine I will be happy with my skill!
Thank you for your kind words! It's a lovely song to play on the diatonic and gives a good work out on the bent notes. I wish you every success.
Very emotional. Rich, gorgeous tone. Thanks for posting.
Thanks a lot!!
Lovely rendition....
Thanks!
Lovely. Nice vibrato and tone... Thank you.
Great! Thank you for sharing.
Simply beautiful! thank you for sharing
Very well done sir.......
Ten years? Today is February 10, 2023 @ 9-41 EST USA. Thanks for posting this, last decade ago!
You are amazing
Superbe chanson et superbe interprétation ! Bravo ! Très bon calage rythmique et un morceau difficile à faire sonner sur certains passages, le résultat est très beau !!! :-)
대단한 연주 입니다. 감상 잘했습니다. 감사합니다. ^^
simply amazing
I enjoy your version so much. i can only hope that some day I can play it as well as you.
Thanks! I wish you all the best, it's such a beautiful melody.
thank you very much, another one i will try to learn.
Beautifully played! :)
beautiful im trying this wonderful playing
Thanks so much! It's a wonderful song. I wish you well with it.
This is beautiful.
Beautifully played.:-)
WOW!! great stuff!
i really like this. thanks for sharing.
Just thought I'd say thank for the advice, your version went done wonderfully at the wedding - only bettered by a surprise rendition of Carly Simon's Nobody Does It Better, sung by the bride to the groom!!
awesome job well done Bravo
Great!
Thanks. Click on the down arrow on the right side just below the video and it will expand to show the tab.
Bravo!
Bravo Grey !
Very well played !
Christian.
very nice my friend.
Great job!
In fact, Grey, your video inspired me so much that I myself made a video of this "Moon River", 2 days ago. :-) ;-)
You are the best by far in second position,dirty old south blues could y noou please tell me where did you the accompanying music 1:56 5 no no 7C
I can't recall where I got the backing track but probably on RUclips. I have just searched but cannot find the version I used.
Learning to play this for a friends wedding in October. Somewhat difficult to the standard tabs on line. Such fantastic version. Any tips how I can hit the -3"? I can't make my harpmaster do that note! Any thought appreciated.
great again , i have been practicing that, onla a little faster. you are very talented.
Mr. Grey, besides your superlative technique, any piece which you play has so much feel that is wedded to a wonderful tone. Incidentally, what harp -- and key -- are you using here, sir?
Thank you so much! I am playing a Suzuki Harpmaster in the key of C.
Can YouPlease Post the Tabs.
Boy you never miss a bend! Perfect really nice. And then adding vibrato on the 3D"
not easily done.
Quick question about your equip. I'm interested in what you use to hold the mic or it might
have been an H2 Zoom Recorder.
Thanks for Sharing your music I never miss one.
You did it again Grey owl where do I get this tab,thank in advance
Here is the Tab of how to play the main tune (not including the improvised phrases)
+3-4+4,-3-3''-2-2''-2
+1-3-3''-2-2''-2+1-1
+2+1,+3+2,-1+1,+3+2,
-1+1+2+3+4-3,-3''-3-3''-2-3''
+3-4+4,-3-3''-2-2''-2
+1-3-3''-2-2''-2+1-1
+2+1+2+3+4-4+4+3
+1-3-3''-2-2''-2
+1-3-3''-2-2''-2+4-5-4+5+4
Hi Grey Owl, Your version of Moon River is my favourite. I'm just starting out and try to play along with you which helps me a lot. I am wondering how you make that sound you do every now and again almost like a duck sound. Hope you know what I mean. Do you use something extra to make that sound or is this the 'bending' that people keep talking about?
Hi Jessica and thanks very much. There are some notes that require 'bending' and it may be these sounds you are talking about. They sound tonally different from normal blow and draw notes. The main tune after my short improvised start is as follows:-
Moon = blow hole 3, riv- = draw hole 4, er = 4 blow, wid- = draw 3, -er = Double draw 3 bend etc., The bend note is the last note here (is that the sound you mean).
Note bending is required on a diatonic harmonica to be able to play notes that are not normally found on this instrument. You will find free lessons on bending notes on RUclips. In this song I had to bend notes on draw holes 2 & 3. Bending a note is done by drawing in air normally, say on hole 3 (you can also bend on draw holes 1,2,4 and 6), and lowering the pitch by dropping the jaw to create a larger chamber in the mouth. To visualise this try whistling backwards and then attempt to lower the pitch of the whistle (you should notice your draw drop when doing this). Another method is vocalising eee on the normal draw then aaaw to get the bend.
Bending can be learnt reasonably quickly (once you can play clean single notes well) the difficulty is hitting the correct pitch accurately. Bent notes always stand out a bit which is fine in blues songs but not always that pretty in nice melodies.
By the way, sometimes I will shape a note by using a very short small bend sliding up to the note required together with some hand shaping to produce a wah sound so this maybe what you are referring to. Anyway have fun with the harmonica as it's a great and easy instrument to get some pleasant sounds right away and then you can focus on the more advanced techniques as your playing improves.
*****
Thanks for replying so quickly to my question and for answering so thoroughly! :D You've certainly given me some things to work on which are helpful. I do spend some time when I get a chance on other people's 'how to' youtube sites. Some are more helpful than others. Yes, as you suggested, the sound I was talking about is the -er note in 'Moon River, wid -er'. There is also the 'wah' sound you do sometimes so I'll have to work on that. I am in Australia but I picked up the Hohner C Chromonica 270 when I was last in New York. Does playing with a Chromonica mean that I should be able to find notes more easily than with a diatonic? I am wondering if I need to also buy a diatonic and a range of smaller harmonicas in different keys to be able to play a range of songs. Sorry for asking more questions, but thought you might have some idea about this. Many thanks again, Jessica.
Ah you have a chromatic harmonica! A chromatic harmonica can play all the notes (including flats/sharps with the button press) so no need for bending. In fact you can't really perform bends on a chromatic though you can get a slight bend inflection for effect (watch Stevie Wonder).
In that case I think the wah sound you are referring to is probably hand shaping where you cup your hands around the harmonica as you see me doing (easier on a small diatonic harmonica) and then open the cup as you play a note and it produces a wah type sound.
Depends if you like the sound of the diatonic which is often used for blues playing and utilises the bend technique I mentioned to very good effect. If you intend playing nice melodies a lot then the Chromatic might be a better bet because bending to correct pitch on a diatonic is tricky and sometimes sounds a bit odd tonally against the clean sound of straight blow and draw notes. Although you could always buy something like a Hohner Special 20 diatonic in the key of C and see if you like it (lots of free YT lessons use this key so it makes it convenient to play along with the teacher)
I rarely play the Chromatic although it is nice but different to the Diatonic. As a comparison listen to these couple of vids I did with a C Chromatic. Listening to these again I think I use that swooping effect occasionally, even on the chromatic I do a very short slight draw bend and release it to the draw note which gives a pleasant shape to the sound
Jean De Florette Theme
ruclips.net/video/xYOvQ93SqsQ/видео.html
Band of Brothers Theme
ruclips.net/video/fky74Ovw5Es/видео.html
***** Hi Grey Owl, Thanks for this advice also. I'll look at getting myself the Hohner Special 20 you suggested, as it is interesting to try different effects and as you say, I find the cupping effect hard to achieve with this big harmonica. My hands just aren't big enough. I'll stop trying to get bends out of the Chromonica, although as you say, there are still some cool effects it does do. I bought it after listening to a busker who was playing beautiful melodies to a crowd in a shopping centre, with his hat out for coins. It was such a pure magical sound, I couldn't leave and asked him what he used. He said the Chromonica in C which is why I bought this one and I love the pure notes one can achieve, but it is time to branch out. I still can't play quickly, but perhaps that is a practice thing. Really appreciate all your assistance. I've listened to your beautiful rendition of Jean de Florette before, but hadn't registered on the harmonica type. Will have a go at learning it. I'll continue to follow your playing and of course, play along, which always makes me feel a bit like I'm jamming with someone! :D
Best wishes, Jessica.
what is the make of this harmonica and how many holes does it have?
Suzuki Harpmaster in C - 10 hole harmonica. They're good harmonicas and not too expensive.
sweeeet
I just simply can't make a bend :'(
Phenomenal! What key are you playing on?
Thanks! I'm playing a diatonic harmonica in the key of C.
Song is not my favorite but I like your playing some hard bends have a bit strange sound differing from the other sounds, Mara from the moon
real nice... would've been much nicer without the bended notes, but still real nice peice of work
No.......the river is drunk, or sick. Sorry.