superchucker77
125 posts
Jan 18, 2009
12:50 PM
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Pretty much every harmonica forum seems to have a thread on this famous Norton Buffalo harmonica solo, so I decided to start one for the website. Here is a link to the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPzcZNgVfpA
This is a classic example of what had to be done before the advent of the overblow. It is also a masterful example of the "harp switching" technique.
It seemes that Buffalo is switching between four different harps, playing in second position on each one as the song changes key. I would love to see Jason Ricci play this song on one harp.
Any input Violin Cat (aka Jason Ricci)?
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Brandon Bailey
Superchucker77's Youtube
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Tuckster
82 posts
Jan 18, 2009
1:06 PM
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Heard about this video,but never saw it. Wow! That's some slick harp switching! I'd miss half a bar every time I switched. LOL
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oldwailer
454 posts
Jan 18, 2009
1:34 PM
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I love this performance! Personally, since I am overblow impaired, I would prefer to play it like Norton does. Of course--I can't do that either, so I guess I'll just have to listen!
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harmonicanick
113 posts
Jan 18, 2009
2:39 PM
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Fantastic performance!
I do not think we need people banging on about 'overblows'!
I do not think we need people banging on about custom harps to beginners!
In my humble aged opinion, o' ye harpers of the world..
Check this..There aint no bread in the bread box!!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2u9api6tQEA
Whooo woo...
Last Edited by on Jan 18, 2009 2:48 PM
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Philosofy
120 posts
Jan 18, 2009
3:23 PM
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I played Norton's solo on one harp. Of course, I can't seem to tell when the key changes. :)
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oldwailer
455 posts
Jan 18, 2009
9:02 PM
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Thanks, Nick!
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Preston
95 posts
Jan 19, 2009
2:01 PM
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That's awesome stuff, switching harps in the middle of an uptempo solo like that. I'm not sure if I know of anybody else that does that. I know playing in a certain position on one key of harp and then switching to another key and another position is a more common practice, but this is something I think only Buffalo has the market on.
Am I wrong? Do you guys know of any other players that do this?
Well I have to say that Buffalo certainly shows us that he doesn't have the need for overblows, but I'm gonna keep banging away on them. Please note the non-combative tone! I respect your opinon, Nick.
Preston
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oldwailer
459 posts
Jan 19, 2009
7:32 PM
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Yeah, Preston, I'm still trying them too--but I'm also buying clothes with more pockets!
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Philosofy
644 posts
Jan 15, 2015
3:24 PM
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Does anyone have tab for this song?
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Gnarly
1215 posts
Jan 15, 2015
3:42 PM
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I don't have tab--but here is the video embedded.
Rosemary Butler--and Freebo!
Last Edited by Gnarly on Jan 15, 2015 3:42 PM
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Martin
765 posts
Jan 15, 2015
3:45 PM
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Playing this on one harp, let´s say a Bb, is not terribly hard. Compared to N.B´s rather cumbersome stratagem I´d say it holds distinctive advantages. (And he messes it up a bit at the end of the solo.)
No OB´s/OD´s required, just knowing a bit about 3D, 1st, 11th and 4th positions -- if you´re riffing along similar lines as he -- and you´re there.
My personal guess is that Norton B only could play in 2pos so he deviced this scheme to get around that handicap.
Of course, the visual aspect of it is an addition.
Last Edited by Martin on Jan 15, 2015 3:46 PM
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timeistight
1675 posts
Jan 15, 2015
4:03 PM
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"Does anyone have tab for this song?"
You will, after you transcribe it!
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Philosofy
645 posts
Jan 15, 2015
4:26 PM
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timeistight: I don't have the ear for it, but I'll see if Joe Filisko has done it.
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timeistight
1676 posts
Jan 15, 2015
4:40 PM
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The more you do it, the better your ear will get.
The most important purpose of doing transcriptions is to train your ear. As you develop the ear to figure out solos quickly, the faster you’ll be able to translate a sound in your mind to a location on your instrument in performance.David Barrett
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JustFuya
702 posts
Jan 15, 2015
5:17 PM
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This link might help.
http://www.harmonicaclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5219
I favor 2nd position and I don't consider myself handicapped. This recording was made well before the internet became accessible. I think it's a work of art and showmanship. More flair than scheme. Perfection is theoretical.
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Martin
766 posts
Jan 16, 2015
5:53 AM
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@Justfuya: The original disc is from -77 or so. And his solo there is considerably more elegant.
The chord progression Cm-Bb-Ab-G is a tough one to handle in 2pos. And it´s really a common one. 3D frees most of the notes and they´re there, justfuya. Not a question of perfection, more optimizing your choices.
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6SN7
500 posts
Jan 16, 2015
6:51 AM
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Hah! I love this song and I remember seeing it the first time on TV, my eyes bugged out if my head. Great playing, very slick moves and a great hat, what's not to love?!
But alas, I have always hated when a band calls this song and always have deferred to the keyboardist to play the solo as I just can't bring myself imitating/emulating my hero Norton Buffalo. Some tunes are best left alone...like "Room to Move."
Last Edited by 6SN7 on Jan 16, 2015 6:52 AM
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Greg Heumann
2938 posts
Jan 16, 2015
9:36 AM
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"Playing this on one harp, let´s say a Bb, is not terribly hard"
I don't believe that.
In this case, we're talking about an entire melodic phrase in 4 different keys, not just a passing note here and there. I'm not anti-overblow but I have only HEARD a few people in the world who might be able to pull this off.
I challenge anyone to play that solo on one harp and not have it obviously sound like over blows.
Easy? Not. Prove it? Record it, post it here.
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***************************************************
/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
Bluestate on iTunes
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ted burke
48 posts
Jan 16, 2015
11:12 AM
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If anything, what Norton Buffalo does here is a breakthrough performance for diatonic blues harmonica in terms of a musician showing how the instrument can be pushed further . It's my opinion that Buffalo here, to a degree, extended what can be done with a diatonic instrument. Certainly, Charlie McCoy was blazing it brilliantly with 2 harmonicas on Orange Blossom Special , which is where Norton picked up the idea, but what NB does here is employ multiple keyes of harmonica upon which he plays essential and precise phrases of a compelling , dramatic solo he constructs that achieves what is so often advised to young players about building a solo part; tell a story that fits the mood , drama, humor of the vocal line. Individual parts might respectively be easy to figure out--over the years I've copped some of what he does here--but I that is besides the point. These phrases from each harmonica constitute a beautifully conceived and executed whole, a masterpiece of tone, phrasing, restrained use of flash. It is beautiful musician. What he created here was not easy to come up with and it is not easy to recreate succesfully. It can be done, but let me emphasise that it requires work.
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Ted Burke
__________________
ted-burke.com
tburke4@san.rr.com
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Mojokane
780 posts
Jan 16, 2015
11:15 AM
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Greetings!
I couldn't pull it off now, to prove it, sorry...
You'll just have to take my word on it.
..it's been a long time...I actually pulled it off.
having all of the harps on one hand, tucked tightly in the crack of your fingers, is the only way (for me).
AND hold your mic in the other.
It's simply too fast a tempo.
If you listen and watch closely, Norton ALMOST didn't make the last transition..infact...he didn't. But he was so amazing, and dazzled you with his theatrics, nobody really cares.
True, it is NOT EASY. I practiced and practiced...
The reason?
My sister sings like Bonnie Rait! And she loves this song. So I HAD to learn it! Ha!
It takes alot of concentration to hit each harp correctly. And, there's is no way I was able to do it from my tray, or pocketRIP! what a great player!
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Why is it that we all just can't get along?<
Last Edited by Mojokane on Jan 16, 2015 11:22 AM
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Harp2swing
174 posts
Jan 16, 2015
4:38 PM
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A spiral tuned harp sounds like the way to go.
Here's Robert Hale playing the Del Shannon version organ solo on a Low C spiral.
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walterharp
1580 posts
Jan 16, 2015
5:57 PM
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damn.. always loved the buffalo solo on this song and it plays in my mind note for note, but that video sure takes me back to some old raitt concerts. that woman knows how to sing..
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Todd Parrott
1290 posts
Jan 16, 2015
9:14 PM
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Well, I must agree that it is possible and much less cumbersome to play over that chord progression on 1 harp, and also possible to play over those changes without using overblows on an F harp. I'm not saying you can copy those exact licks Norton played, but you can find very useful things to play that sound very soulful and good over those changes. This is in no way saying anything against Norton Buffalo, as he is one of my favorite players.
The chord progression basically goes C, Bb, Ab, G... so, on an F harp, I would start in 2nd position for the C chord, then go to 12th for the Bb, then on the Ab chord, you can either think of it as 10th position, or simply use notes from the C blues scale and they work well over the Ab, and last there's G, which is 3rd position.
If I had an easy way to record and post an example I would. Maybe I can do that at a later time.
Last Edited by Todd Parrott on Jan 16, 2015 9:16 PM
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ted burke
50 posts
Jan 16, 2015
10:08 PM
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As Buffalo was fairly savvy with theory, I don't think it would far fetched to think that he had intially worked this solo out in one key , in different positions , and then transposed what he'd done to the different harp keys he wound up usually. Two reasons; the different keys supply a more colorful study in tonal contrast. What might be sacrificed in smooth transitions is made up in excellent sense of dynamics. Second, pure theatre. This is sort of his man-spinning-plates-long-wobbling-rods act; watching him grabbple for those harmonicas while he plays an essential lick according to plan is a double thrill! Musicians are after all performers.
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Ted Burke
__________________
ted-burke.com
tburke4@san.rr.com
Last Edited by ted burke on Jan 16, 2015 10:09 PM
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Martin
767 posts
Jan 17, 2015
8:33 AM
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@Greg Heumann:
Sorry, I meant "fixin´a decent solo" is not terribly hard on one harp -- copying NB´s licks exactly is another thing.
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Martin
768 posts
Jan 17, 2015
8:37 AM
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@ted burke: Do you have any instance where NB is NOT playing in 2pos?
I´m not in any way trying to be provocative, just curious.
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ted burke
51 posts
Jan 17, 2015
10:11 AM
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No, buy I would, though, be interested in any vids anyone showing NB playing outside his exact comfort zone.
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Ted Burke
__________________
ted-burke.com
tburke4@san.rr.com
Last Edited by ted burke on Jan 17, 2015 10:11 AM
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Bluestu18
1 post
Jan 19, 2015
3:30 PM
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Here's how I play it:
You have to practice switching harps along with playing the licks. When I was learning it, I numbered them 1-4 to help keep it all straight. Start out with the F harp ready to play and the Eb on deck in your right hand. Flip the Eb in to play, put down the F and then grab the next harp and get it ready, etc. You have to put each harp down in order as you pick up the next one so they are ready for the second time through. Playing it live, I've had the harps laid out on an O-tray attached to a mic stand.
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shakeylee
20 posts
Jan 19, 2015
4:00 PM
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^^^that was some nice playing!
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www.shakeylee.com
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Frank101
62 posts
Jan 19, 2015
4:40 PM
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Gee, these references to NB's handicaps and limitations and staying in his exact comfort zone...
Check out his discography some time.
Last Edited by Frank101 on Jan 19, 2015 7:56 PM
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chromaticblues
1658 posts
Jan 19, 2015
5:03 PM
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Anyone referring to what Norton played as handicapped or limited as wrong and looking at it from a different view point than he did. He played 2nd position and I'm sure he knew how to play 1st and 3rd, but he was set on perfecting the quick harp change technique I'm sure he got from Charlie McCoy.
I saw Snortin Nortin live a number of times and he has inspirational!
I'd also like to say I agree with Todd Parrot that it is absolutely possible to play this on one harp. Not necessarily note for note with the same intonation, but when you get to a certain level of playing it's not always about playing something note for note but being inspired to do something new and fresh that is very cool on it's own. After all that's how Norton played!
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Philosofy
647 posts
Jan 19, 2015
6:45 PM
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Bluestu 18, that was great! And it was your first post here! Welcome!
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MP
3279 posts
Jan 20, 2015
1:11 PM
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NBs solo is perfect just the way it is. Listen to the version on Bonnie Raitts album. Flawless!
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I'm out of the Biz for a while till I get over my burnout. You can try HarveyHarp or arzajac, or just look the page nacoran put together under Forum Search.
.
Last Edited by MP on Jan 20, 2015 1:12 PM
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dougharps
817 posts
Jan 20, 2015
3:42 PM
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I agree with Todd and chromaticblues about being able to play a good solo on one F harmonica over the changes. Ten years ago (or maybe more?) I was asked to back a female vocalist covering this song at a gig. I experimented with the 4 harp approach, but I was clumsy and sometimes my timing suffered when I fumbled when switching harps. I had no problem with finding Norton's notes with 4 harps, but it would have required hours and hours of practice switching harps to get smooth. Previously I found that managing 2 or 3 harps was not difficult, but I found cycling through 4 in this solo to be difficult. I played it on one harp at a rehearsal as a trial, and no one in the band could tell the difference. I knew it was a solo BASED on Norton's solo, but it was NOT Norton's solo. Since it was a one-off gig, and not a regular band performance that I would repeat, I just played it on the F harp at the gig, and no one in the band or audience (other than me) knew the difference.
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Doug S.
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