PM42
18 posts
Aug 31, 2013
7:09 AM
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I'd love to use my G harp more often (other than with jam tracks and my own noodling) but can't seem to find any songs to learn that require it. Any suggestions of good blues harp tunes on which I can give my G harp a good workout?
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Kingley
3081 posts
Aug 31, 2013
7:14 AM
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Almost any blues song in D will be suitable. Also Am songs for practice in 3rd position. Also of course an song in G for 1st. Why restrict yourself just to blues songs though? If you open yourself up to other genres then the world's your oyster. Just put on music and hunt for the keys until you find some in those keys, then play away until your heart's content.
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CWinter
61 posts
Aug 31, 2013
7:27 AM
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PM42,
I love my G harp more than any other. To me it's the most versatile, the upper range isn't too high, and the lower range is nice and low.
I've been working on Blowin' The Family Jewels by William Clarke for a while now. Fantastic song to work out you and your G harp. It's in A, so it's a 3rd position endeavor.
There's a Youtube video out there with a harp tab for that one to get you started. It was put out in 2010 by a dude
named sQrin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm0-zdOZodk
Another one is Must Be Jelly by William Clarke. That one is in D, it starts with a G harp in 2nd position, then a C harp in 3rd, then back to the G harp.
Another terrific song in D is Rack 'Em Up by Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets featuring Sam Myers on harp.
Hope that helps!
Last Edited by CWinter on Aug 31, 2013 7:32 AM
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Pistolcat
514 posts
Aug 31, 2013
7:29 AM
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Too young to die and your funeral and my trial by sonny boy 2 is in D. G harp second pos.
The Boss' 'The river' is in Em. Fourth position on a G harp. Starts with a six hole bend...
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Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
Last Edited by Pistolcat on Aug 31, 2013 7:42 AM
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CWinter
62 posts
Aug 31, 2013
7:40 AM
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@Pistolcat,
Good call on those two!!!
"I called my baby, and I told her I would be late
'time my baby opened the door, I looked in the barrel of a .38"
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PropMan
7 posts
Aug 31, 2013
8:35 AM
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I also vote for Sonny Boy's "Too Young to Die." I spent weeks on that one as a vehicle to learn TB bending. Still play it all the time.
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hooktool
74 posts
Aug 31, 2013
9:48 AM
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Not blues, but some more to practice. If you like (real) country music, "I Can't Stop Loving You", "Today I Started Loving You Again" and lots more like that-you can use the blow bends in 1st position. 11 months and 29 days is bluesy. "Desperado" is a good one.
"House of the Rising Sun", "Wayfaring Stranger", "St. James Infirmary" and similar are 3rd position Am tunes and easy to play.
John
Last Edited by hooktool on Aug 31, 2013 9:50 AM
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Greg Heumann
2339 posts
Aug 31, 2013
10:16 AM
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Unsolicited advice:
I understand the attraction to the G harp. But keep in mind you will frequently encounter situations where you don't get to choose the key of the song. Rather than focus on songs that let you use the G harp, I'd recommend focusing on your tone to make the higher harps sound better. I DO carry a low F so I don't have to play the regular F harp every time someone calls a tune in C, however - and I use the Bb harp in 3rd position for the same reason. Learning your positions will help you choose a harp you like more often.....
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***************************************************
/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
Last Edited by Greg Heumann on Aug 31, 2013 10:17 AM
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NiteCrawler .
240 posts
Aug 31, 2013
10:31 AM
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Another good W.Clarke tune that we do,key D G harp is Greasy Gravy,as well as James Harmons Nite Ridin Daddy.I also play chrom. key of c on these two tunes.Its nice to mix the chrom. in combo with the diatonic.As C Winter mentioned Anson F. we also play one of his tunes I,m Tore Up, in the key of D.I,m sure there,s many others out there if you do your homework,Keep On Harpin !
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arnenym
184 posts
Aug 31, 2013
11:56 AM
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Gary Primich:
Queen of complication, 2 pos.
Turn your Damper down 2 pos. (Gary plays 1 pos LO-D)
Red Devils:
Devil Woman 2 pos.
Last Edited by arnenym on Aug 31, 2013 11:57 AM
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Chinn
94 posts
Aug 31, 2013
12:05 PM
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I believe Tin Pan Alley as played by Big Walter was in G (I like to play that tune...) Don't know of a jam track for it though, so I just play along with BW!
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KingoBad
1380 posts
Aug 31, 2013
3:17 PM
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Get yourself Deak's last album (Mississippi Bound) and go to town!!! Everything is in D.
...and it is awesome...
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Danny
Last Edited by KingoBad on Aug 31, 2013 3:20 PM
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FMWoodeye
787 posts
Aug 31, 2013
4:13 PM
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Does your voice range comport with the G harp?
If so, you can work up songs as solos. For instance, I do a version of one way out as a solo act. The Allman Brothers do it in A, but I do it in E because that's where my voice is.
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fred_gomez
190 posts
Aug 31, 2013
4:14 PM
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Slim Harpo
Big Boss Man "G" Harmonica First Position
Sonny Boy Williamson
Trust My Baby
G (First Position) 365 Marine Band
Little Walter
Last Night
D Second Position "G" Harmonica
I Got To Go
A Third Position "G" Harmonica
Carey Bell
As The Years Go Passing By
D 2nd Position "G" Diatonic Harmonica
George Smith
The Avalon Boogaloo
Milk That Cow
Got My Mojo Working
D "G" Harmonica 2nd Position
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nacoran
7087 posts
Aug 31, 2013
7:05 PM
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Like FM was getting at, once you know a song and aren't trying to play along with something you can switch songs to whatever key. I probably do that more than most people. I usually learn songs that I already 'know' in my head and adapt them to whatever key I have handy. When I was first starting out, one of the standards I worked out was 'When the Saints Go Marching In' which I played on a G harp mostly in 1st position. I moved it around all over the harp, including places that made it sound French. G is a good harp to practice the upper end on.
I like playing tough pieces, but sometimes taking really simple tunes like Saints or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and messing around with them can be fun to, because there is so much space to improvise around, over, and under what the basic melody calls for. (I've got a mean version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star that I've worked up). Sometime I'm going to actually record it out with some distortion and post it.
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Nate
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Pistolcat
516 posts
Sep 01, 2013
1:45 AM
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Twinkle, twinkle has very bluesy lyrics IMHO. A friend and I sat jamming the other day. I just had my a harp and he was on guitar at first but then switched to piano (he's a talented musician and very well grounded theoretically). He wanted to do something minor and I said: "ok, I can do Bm, F#m and Em". So we went with Em and I played in second. He played the melody to Imsey, whimsy spider on just the white keys, which put him in fifth position and I think Phrygian mode. It sounded wicked! Dopey dopey spider, we renamed it! :) next time I'll bring my C harp and play in fith, too.
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Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
Last Edited by Pistolcat on Sep 01, 2013 1:49 AM
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PM42
19 posts
Sep 01, 2013
5:46 AM
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Thanks for the suggestions and advice folks.
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Zadozica
262 posts
Sep 01, 2013
6:30 AM
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Tumblin in the Sea by Jerry McCain
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GamblersHand
453 posts
Sep 01, 2013
12:24 PM
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My Little Girl- James Harman
also try this from Steve Weston
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_giTJnJF95E
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Frank
2683 posts
Sep 01, 2013
12:34 PM
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"In The Mood" by Big Walter is a delight to use the "G" harp with...I'm attempting it here using Sho Blues jam track that is actually to be used for the song Juke...but it works for this song too :)
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hooktool
75 posts
Sep 01, 2013
12:38 PM
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Nicely done, Frank.
John
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Frank
2684 posts
Sep 01, 2013
1:04 PM
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Thanks brother John...here is the original with some photos of my garden :) Walters using a "G" harp...
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tmf714
1924 posts
Sep 01, 2013
1:20 PM
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tmf714
1925 posts
Sep 01, 2013
1:24 PM
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MP
2910 posts
Sep 01, 2013
1:35 PM
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" Sonny Boy Williamson
Trust My Baby
G (First Position) 365 Marine Band-"
Ummmm i believe it is first position on a low C 364/365, if i remember correctly.
MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name [MP] for info-
repair videos on YouTube.
you can reach me via Facebook. Mark Prados
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tmf714
1926 posts
Sep 01, 2013
2:09 PM
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"
Ummmm i believe it is first position on a low C 364/365, if i remember correctly"
Nope-its a regular marine band-and those bends and low notes are available on a regular G harp=
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Frank
2685 posts
Sep 01, 2013
3:29 PM
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These should work for a "G" harp and a few my be identifiable tunes :)
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tmf714
1927 posts
Sep 01, 2013
4:56 PM
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CWinter
66 posts
Sep 01, 2013
9:04 PM
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Thanks brother John...here is the original with some photos of my garden :) Walters using a "G" harp...
What a hilarious post....
Big Walter with some photos of Frank's garden!
Frank, it's a beautiful garden.
Great playing....you sound terrific.
Man, that really made me laugh.....
Happy Sunday Night, Harp Cats !!!!
Last Edited by CWinter on Sep 01, 2013 9:04 PM
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hooktool
76 posts
Sep 01, 2013
9:33 PM
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That is a great garden. Frank is an overachiever. :)
John
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jbone
1344 posts
Sep 01, 2013
9:40 PM
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I find G to be a great harp for 1st 2nd and 3rd all. I also have a Suzuki CSX in G which is great for 3rd swingy stuff.
These guys are right though, the more positions you learn the more options you have as far as what harp can fit where. A circle of 5ths chart was indispensable for me early on to find what key harp for what position.
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https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa7La7yYYeE
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nacoran
7091 posts
Sep 01, 2013
9:47 PM
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We should have a thread just for listing song keys. I know there can be issues with full out tab, but we'd probably be safe with just song keys. If people post them, I'll even try to get them into easy to search lists.
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Nate
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Silvertone
131 posts
Sep 03, 2013
8:04 AM
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Heres a few songs for a G harp;
01_D7_Funky_Vamp 3:30 G
03 D Burnt Steak Blues 6:57 G
Te Ni Nee Ni Nu (Single Version) 2:07 Slim Harpo G
Good Time Charlie 2:44 James Cotton G
Last Night 4:23 George "Harmonica" Smith and the Chicago Blues Band G
The great gig in the sky 4:40 Pink Floyd G
Cinnamon Girl 3:02 Neil Young & Crazy Horse G
Heart Of Gold 3:10 Neil Young With The Stray Gators G
Hey Hey My My (Into the Black) [Live] 5:02 Neil Young & Crazy Horse G
I Can't Be Satisfied 3:31 Muddy Waters G
Your Funeral And My Trial 2:33 Sonny Boy Williamson G
Checkin' Up On My Baby 1:59 Sonny Boy Williamson G
You Shook Me 2:45 Muddy Waters G
Good Morning Schoolgirl 3:56 Junior Wells G
Hound Dog 2:11 Junior Wells G
Devil Woman (Live) 6:52 Red Devils G
Good Lovin' 2:33 The Young Rascals G
Who's Been Talking? 3:05 Muddy Waters & Howlin' Wolf G
Highway 49 2:48 Muddy Waters & Howlin' Wolf G
I Got the Blues 3:55 The Rolling Stones G
Dead Flowers 4:05 The Rolling Stones G
Hangmans Jury 5:27 Arrowsmith G
Hangmans Jury 5:27 Arrowsmith G
Neil Young - My my, hey hey + lyrics 3:47 G
The Needle & The Damage Done 2:13 Neil Young G
Miss You 4:49 The Rolling Stones G 3RD
Harp To Harp 11:38 James Cotton, Billy Branch, Charlie Musselwhite, Sugar Ray Norcia G Harp (1st Position)
Oye Como Va 4:18 Santana G3RD
A Woman Named Trouble 4:29 Little Sonny G3RD
Blowin' The Family Jewels 2:36 William Clarke G3RD
You Don't Love Me Baby 2:26 Junior Wells G3RD
Miss You - OFFICIAL PROMO 4:00 The Rolling Stones - G3rd
Mr. Cat 6:27 Dennis Gruenling GCHROM
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