Frank
4483 posts
Jun 07, 2014
11:10 AM
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Who is the main Harp Player that you have learned from the most over the years through exploring their musical approach to playing the harmonica?
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dougharps
636 posts
Jun 07, 2014
11:26 AM
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Frank, you are quite the thread-starting spark plug for this forum!
The Main Harp Player that I have learned from the most over the years through their musical approach to playing the harmonica was....
ME!
I have been influenced by guitar players, saxophone players, and harp masters. You learn a lot from your errors as you make your way and try to find your voice. You strive to add to what you hear from yourself to improve.
The Harp Player other than myself is:
William Clarke
His use of octaves on chromatic inspired me to pursue that style and also to apply octaves to diatonic harmonica. Clarke's playing inspired me to start playing octaves and splits, which resulted in improved tone overall, despite primarily lip blocking. Because of Clarke I discovered George "Harmonica" Smith and Rod Piazza.
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Doug S.
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Barley Nectar
411 posts
Jun 07, 2014
11:26 AM
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No one. I have never really listened to other harp players as a study. I play the way I feel the song requires. Don't use other folks licks, don't even know their licks. I just do what I do and people like it...BN
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Ted Burke
14 posts
Jun 07, 2014
12:43 PM
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Paul Butterfield, Charlie Musselwhite, Sonny Boy Williamson, Norton Buffalo, Mark Bosworth.
Last Edited by Ted Burke on Jun 07, 2014 7:19 PM
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CarlA
512 posts
Jun 07, 2014
1:00 PM
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I studied this guy for years, intensely! His phrasing, dynamics, chord structure and progression(and wow, his singing!) have really developed my playing to the level it is today. I am still trying to master some of his harmonica solo work, but it's no easy feat. I will keep pursuing thou!!
-Carl
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Last Edited by CarlA on Jun 07, 2014 1:04 PM
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Goldbrick
478 posts
Jun 07, 2014
1:23 PM
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I probably havent learned jack shit but influences would be jerry mccain, frank frost, slim harpo and james cotton
Truthfully - I usually play guitar licks first and then translate them to harp
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boris_plotnikov
973 posts
Jun 07, 2014
1:27 PM
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There was some big harmonica influences. First was Howard Levy, then Jason Ricci, then Chris Michalek, now my main harmonica hero is John Popper (although I knew his music almost from the very beginning of my playing, but it didn't touch me then as much as now), keeping interesting in all of them. Talking about information Howard Levy was most informative. Talking about expression and emotions first place I'd give to Jason. Talking about philosophy and conception I'd share the first place between Chris and John.
Talking about other instruments my greatest influences are Jaco Pastorious and Chet Baker.
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Excuse my bad English.
My videos.
Last Edited by boris_plotnikov on Jun 07, 2014 2:55 PM
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jnorem
255 posts
Jun 07, 2014
1:35 PM
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Little Walter. I learned all the harp parts on "Hate To See You Go" and "Chicago Bound" and that was my library of harp licks that led me to my own lines. Later Kim Wilson caught my ear, but It's almost all Little Walter, although I don't really play like him.
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Call me J
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harmonicanick
2169 posts
Jun 07, 2014
2:47 PM
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JJ Milteau and Gary Primich
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jbone
1647 posts
Jun 07, 2014
5:19 PM
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Probably LW, James Cotton, and Carey Bell are the 3 bigs. SBII is in there and so are some other of the old guard, but Lester Butler taught me a lot about being a real frontman by the way he worked out front. James Harman has been another one who grabbed my attention in the 90's, what a relaxed cut-up guy he is! William Clarke just not only showed real great chops, he showed a lot of love for both instrument and the people he played with and in front of.
There was a long time though that my main influence was guitarists, keyboard guys, and some brass as well.
I try and NOT play what whoever played on "that song"
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa7La7yYYeE
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2chops
265 posts
Jun 07, 2014
6:15 PM
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Combo of Rev. Dan Smith, Peg Leg Sam & Rice Miller. Oh, Sonny Terry too. Although a good part of what I do comes from B.B. King. I love his phrasing.
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I'm workin on it. I'm workin on it.
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harpdude61
2010 posts
Jun 07, 2014
6:30 PM
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That's easy. Cotton!
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www.facebook.com/catfishfryeband
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groyster1
2619 posts
Jun 07, 2014
6:46 PM
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adam gussow....youtube lessons.....which were free of charge
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mastercaster
36 posts
Jun 07, 2014
7:18 PM
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@ Frank - Who influenced your chops ?
For me - there is no 'Main' influence -
Butterfield to start in the late 60's , LW, JC , SBW II, ST ... later in the 80's - Mitch Kashmar (local at that time & good friends) ... William Clarke , Norton Buffalo ...
Newer generation - Jason Ricci ... this cat has 'got it' ...
The generosity Jason shares what he has studied, dedicated himself too and achieved , very special !
Adam Gussow , in the exactly the same light as JR .. level of achievement & the amount of dedication & generosity to share it !
There are no words that can show full appreciation for what these guy's .... and others are doing to help those who want to learn !
You young guy's should really feel blessed to have all these resources at your fingertips !
Last Edited by mastercaster on Jun 07, 2014 8:46 PM
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Michael Rubin
885 posts
Jun 07, 2014
7:28 PM
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From listening, Butter, Miller, Cotton, Clarke and Delay and of course everybody else.
But in terms of people who really took the time to talk to me about ideas, Eugene Huggins, Andy J. Forest, Rick Estrin and Gary Primich and of course everybody else. I did get to talk to Clarke 3 times, he was very serious.
Last Edited by Michael Rubin on Jun 07, 2014 7:29 PM
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JustFuya
260 posts
Jun 07, 2014
8:44 PM
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My first exposure was to Taj Majal.
Before coming to this site my influence was a muss of good sound from many sources.
I'll admit that Sonny Boy II's sound is what I aspire to (culled in the mid 90s). The vocals/harp/feeling grabs me. I can listen to it all night long. I'm working on playing and vocalizing without copying him but I would like to instill the same feeling in my audience that I get from his recordings. Purity.
Last Edited by JustFuya on Jun 11, 2014 1:11 PM
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nacoran
7804 posts
Jun 07, 2014
9:21 PM
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No single player. Adam, just by virtue of his videos and the community he's built here, and the way he works the one man band thing, Jason Ricci inspires me, Cotton, DeFord Bailey's Fox Chase took me to new places. I also steal a lot from other instruments. When I'm just playing by myself I love playing the vocal melody or keyboards. Other guys who just are curious about how harps work- when you are all blown out, thinking about new ways to approach everything from the nuts and bolts of how harps work to what weird genres you can use it for.
I don't think I could narrow it down to one.
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Nate
Facebook
Thread Organizer (A list of all sorts of useful threads)
First Post- May 8, 2009
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Mirco
175 posts
Jun 08, 2014
12:02 AM
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David Barrett. I've been playing just over a year, and I've been a member of his website for most of that time. The sheer number of videos and exercises that he offers has had a huge influence on me.
Secondary influences, I'd say Adam Gussow, JP Allen, and David Harp helped introduce me to it.
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florida-trader
498 posts
Jun 08, 2014
5:25 AM
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This is a great thread. It is giving some great ideas about some guys to pay more attention to.
My list:
Charlie Musselwhite really opened my ears to the harp being a lead instrument and not just an accompanying instrument. Mark Hummel has had a big impact on me. I have learned a lot from watching Adam’s videos. There are several more but right now I am working real hard on some Gary Smith songs. I could listen to him all day.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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Littoral
1095 posts
Jun 08, 2014
6:28 AM
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Pierre Beauregard. Jason Ricci
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GamblersHand
512 posts
Jun 08, 2014
6:36 AM
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I'm a fairly limited (and lazy) player, so I have tended to focus on harp players that use relatively simple riffs for maximum effect - more groove-based players I guess. Probably it's been James Harman and Hoodoo Man-era Junior Wells that I've actively studied the most.
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walterharp
1402 posts
Jun 08, 2014
6:45 AM
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Beginning to now- main ones
John Mayall- wow there is such thing as rock harp
Sonny Terry- so many sounds possible on harp
Madcat- jazz is possible
John Popper- upper registers are really there, re-ignited my interest in the instrument
Adam Gussow- Learned a bunch of fundamentals I skipped over the first 20 years or so, and got onto overblows
Jasson Ricci- overblows, using scales
many folks on this board who provide so much information
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The Iceman
1715 posts
Jun 08, 2014
7:07 AM
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chronologically:
1. Corky Siegel
2. Charlie Musselwhite
3. Lee Oskar
4. Paul deLay
5. Howard Levy
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The Iceman
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LSC
644 posts
Jun 08, 2014
4:08 PM
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Jerry Portnoy
James Cotton
Walter Horton
Charlie Musslewhite
Charlie McCoy
Richard "King Biscuit" Newell
and a truck load of others known and unknown.
Portnoy and Cotton have had the most influence as much from what they said to me as their playing style.
Very early on Cotton told me to "Play like you. Don't play like them."
Portnoy's comments regarding his philosophy on blues and in particular playing a slow blues. I've been very aware of the use of space almost from the beginning, though it still is something I'm constantly aware of. I've also been very aware of dynamics but Portnoy shows the supreme use of both. I had a chance to mention to him his impact on my playing in this regard. He said to the group of really great blues musician standing around him, "You know people come up to you and give you compliments and that is great. But once in a great while someone says something to you and you think, 'That guy gets it.' Then he points at me and says, "THIS guy gets it."
Now if I could just play it I'd be in great shape.
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LSC
Last Edited by LSC on Jun 08, 2014 4:10 PM
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manlio
12 posts
Jun 09, 2014
3:10 AM
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From time to time I changed and changed in style. At the very beginning Sonny Boy Williamson II was a huge influence as well as Carey Bell and Paul Butterfield (early years)
In more recent days, in no particular order:
- carlos del junco
- jason ricci
- paul delay
- gary primich
- howard levy
but I also love to listen to the very contemporary players to learn about new trends and ideas developing in the harmonica world.
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harmonicajoe
36 posts
Jun 09, 2014
4:32 AM
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Little Walter.
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isaacullah
2797 posts
Jun 09, 2014
5:08 AM
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In the order I first encountered them:
1) Adam Gussow
2) Chris Michalek
3) Dan Kaplan
Lot's of other influences too, of course, but these three gentlemen have each provided me with major transformational events that changed my playing in a major way. My sound would not be the same without having received their influence and training.
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YouTube! Soundcloud!
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Jim Rumbaugh
995 posts
Jun 09, 2014
5:47 AM
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1. John Gindick (I had his Robert Johnson lesson on cassette)
2. Adam Gussow (those youtube lessons)
3) Hvyj (I learned about positions from his postings on this forum)
4) Harp-l the email service (I learned more about positions )
5) Grant Dermody (had an important lesson about chording for songs at Augusta Blues week in Elkins, WV)
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theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
Last Edited by Jim Rumbaugh on Jun 09, 2014 5:49 AM
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Larrystick
76 posts
Jun 09, 2014
6:02 AM
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Bob Shatkin, NYC
I studied with Bob for two years at the New School in Manhattan back in the late 1980's. He pretty much introduced me to everyone in blues harp history. Even though I'd been playing for 15 years at the time, Bob taught me I knew absolutely nothing. He tended to teach the hard way, and wasn't shy about cutting your head when you were not getting what he was saying. Don't think I would have ever gotten the hang of the tongue block if it wasn't for Bob beating my ass. Wish I still had the tapes of our classes. Only lost them a few years ago.
And his knowledge of the blues history was amazing. More than I could ever comprehend really. I basically only knew of Little Walter. Bob let me know about the real roots with Sonny Boy Williamson, Sonny Terry, Junior Wells, Big Walter. Some of his favorites that stick out in my mind were George Smith, Rice Miller (Sonny Boy II), and Hammy Nixon. Bob truly hated John Popper's style, and said that h told that to John's face.
I'll pretty much always remember those nights in the basement of the New School, in a tiny windowless room listening to Bob, and watching him adjust his dentures between riffs.?
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Stickman from walkthatwalk.org
Last Edited by Larrystick on Jun 09, 2014 6:02 AM
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atty1chgo
961 posts
Jun 09, 2014
6:50 AM
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Carey Bell is my Number One influence, and has remained for several years. His tone, phrasing, and timing are tops for me. Billy Branch, Curtis Salgado, and Jerry Portnoy are also huge influences.
On a personal and well as musical level, Billy Branch. He is a good friend, as well as a teacher and mentor.
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HarpNinja
3892 posts
Jun 09, 2014
7:48 AM
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Clint Hoover
John Popper
Jason Ricci
Chris Michalek
...in that order with Clint being at least a light year moreso than the others.
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Mike
My Website
My Harmonica Effects Blog
Rock Harmonica Lessons
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Rgsccr
254 posts
Jun 09, 2014
8:35 AM
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Little and Big Walter, John Lee Williamson, Rice Miller, Paul Delay, Paul Butterfield, James Cotton.
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Diggsblues
1353 posts
Jun 09, 2014
10:53 AM
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Paul Butterfield, Charlie McCoy, Charlie Musselwhite,
Howard Levy, Robert Bonfiglio, Cham-ber Huang, TOOTS
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John95683
159 posts
Jun 09, 2014
1:48 PM
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Junior Wells, Adam Gussow, and lately, William Clarke. However, I'm still a long way from being a "good" blues harpist.
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colman
306 posts
Jun 09, 2014
2:12 PM
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When i started in late 60`s there were to me 3 blues styles that the rest branched out from,Sonny Terry,Sonny Boy 2,and Little Walter.i worked on the technical styles of these alot.and james Cotton and his honk grabed me too...
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Sarge
414 posts
Jun 09, 2014
2:20 PM
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My Dad and Grandad
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Wisdom does not always come with old age. Sometimes old age arrives alone.
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Ugly Bones Ryan
83 posts
Jun 09, 2014
2:35 PM
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Jason Ricci, Junior Wells, Little Walter, Howard Levy, Brendan Power and Adam Gussow taught me a lot.
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Frank
4497 posts
Jun 11, 2014
5:10 AM
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The main player to grab my life long attention is Little Walter - he puts a spell on players that is very spiritual and personal... like he is still alive and with you - watching you and wanting you to be the best you can be, and I sense he is happy when there is improvement - the pictures of him on the wall seem to smile when I play something fresh and real and meaningful.
I started with great books from Jon Gindick and David Harp and Dr. Midnight, David Mckelvy's COOL "transcription book"....and then found David Barret's teaching methods and began to learn more and more and more...
David Barrett's Transcription books were very helpful, particularly William Clarke's "serious intentions" book... and Carey Bells "Deep down" book.
Charlie Musselwhites teaching book was also fundamental to my learning curve too...And I began to transcribe tunes from players I admired on my own.
I've also learned many things that remain "instrumental" to my playing from whole lot of different harmonica players, players that are on this forum too of course.
But yeah...Little Walter is the MAIN source of wonderment for keeping me amazed and excited at the potential the harmonica has.
And again I must say that David Barrett's teaching materials have been nothing short of a god send,,,his stuff is truly exceptional and has been a beacon to guide me and encourage me to reach many of my goals.
Last Edited by Frank on Jun 11, 2014 5:14 AM
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2plankr
58 posts
Jun 11, 2014
6:29 PM
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George Harmonica Smith
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Harp Study
39 posts
Jun 11, 2014
8:01 PM
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In chronological order:
1. John Gindick got me started.
2. Adam gussow got me hooked and got me past the beginner phase when no one else could. ( both with the free lessons and with the paid ones - his paid lessons seem to work very well for my learning style.)
3. Sonny Boy II: he does some crazy hard stuff but what I like most is how he makes simple stuff sound SO SO good!
4. Little Walter: what's not to like and who could not learn something from this fountain of harp licks.
5. Mike Stevens (not a blues player per se but a fabulous player none the less.)
(Updated to fix some typos)
Last Edited by Harp Study on Jun 12, 2014 6:59 AM
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WillieReed
5 posts
Jun 11, 2014
8:53 PM
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My grandfather, who was a genius at folk songs from the old country. As a kid I thought he had 3 tongues and 4 sets of lungs. Though our styles differ, I still owe him for showing me how much can be done with such a limited amount.
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snowman
71 posts
Jun 12, 2014
7:47 AM
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in the begining--J Reed --Sonny boy--Ford brother-james cotton--butterfield--corky siegal --little walter---musclewhite--sonny terry and all the roots guys--i sold records back in late sixties and early 70's so i listened to a bunch of guys and gals--charlie mccoy as well---in the middle--ROD PIAZZA--kim wilson--john mayall--now gussow--still rod piazza--jason ricci--sugar blue--anyone who plays the entire harp [inc holes 7-10]--I play guitar and one day Irealised how weak i was in holes 7-10--that was 3-4 years ago--I've been on a quest to learn to play the thing as an instrument --hopeflly to play from one end of harp to the other end 'smoothly with no break'--sugar blue is great for that [Granted he's to busy alot]but the point is he can be-- i made abunch of pattern drills to learn to transition from holes 1-6 thru 7-10 'smoothly' got many from ricci-gussow popper -sugar blue and misc courses and sources--i now play the entire harp-sometimes ok somtimes not-- but it sure is nice to follow a lead guitarist,who just ran up and down the neck--with harp solo running up down the harp like he did on guitar--things don't drop of as much---im too dam wordy--- im a speck in the universe who cares--ANYWAy IF I HAD TO NARROW DOWN TO 1 GUY--FOR ME 'ROD PIAZZA' HE BLENDS ROOTS WITH 'DIFFICULT LICKS' WITH PLAYING THE ENTIRE HARP--
Last Edited by snowman on Jun 12, 2014 8:07 AM
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mr_so&so
834 posts
Jun 12, 2014
9:58 AM
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I'm going to start with the "most"
1) Gussow - those YTs got me out of a huge rut, and I have also got a lot from sampling his paid lessons. I'm still playing and enjoying my journey because of Adam.
2) Gindick - got started with one of his books which was aimed right at me, the raw beginner. Where he is light on theory, he is huge on "musicality".
3) Great YTs from Ronnie Shellist, Jason Ricci, and Lee Sankey.
4) Richard Sleigh - Richard's lessons are about the fundamentals: how to practice effectively; what you need to know to play lots of types of music.
5) Dave Barrett - I was a member of his site for a while and learned a lot from watching the vids there. Loved the interviews. So much to learn from the pros. Instruction videos are good, but that way of learning wasn't for me.
6) From this forum... Somebody already mentioned hvyj. His posts on the pentatonic scales opened my eyes. Andrew Larson (MAL) influenced me to give tongue blocking a serious effort. Also Barbeque Bob, Harpdude61, isaacullah, azajak, Dave Payne, Mooncat, kudzurunner, Greg Heumann, Buddha, and many other techies and non-techies alike for valuable information and thought-provoking discussion.
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Last Edited by mr_so&so on Jun 12, 2014 10:07 AM
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PHJim
4 posts
Jun 17, 2014
3:56 PM
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My first influence, circa 1960, was Sonny Terry. I have learned a lot from local harp players that I've had a chance to jam with (though I stick to guitar mandolin or banjo when I play with them.) These include Dave Mowatt, the late Willie P. Bennett, Carlos del Junco and my partner in the Maple Leaf Champions Jug Band, Ted Staunton.
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catochan
39 posts
Jun 17, 2014
7:12 PM
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Larry "The Bird" Mootham got me started, and I will always be grateful to him!!! My first big influences were Johnny Sansone and Sonny Boy Williamson. Out east, Rick Jeffries taught me how to file reeds, in an alley and Joe Murphy encouraged me there a lot too. Carlos del junco helped me to get back into harmonica after I had put it down for a number of years (and relearn how to do some things I had never quite got the hang of). Most thankful to Jason Ricci for his huge influence in opening up a whole harmonica world for me that I hadn't known about, and teaching me a TON. I got an amazing lesson from Annie Raines on vibrato. These days am working hard on tongue blocking, thanks to Deak Harp. And I'm learning a lot from my students now too :)
Last Edited by catochan on Jun 17, 2014 7:13 PM
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rockmonkeyguitars
104 posts
Jun 18, 2014
12:16 AM
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I'm a cheap ass bastard so the majority of what I have learned, and actually use, came from Jason and Adam. I got the basics from their youtube vids but most of what I know came from the school of hard knocks. I play guitar, drums, cittern, violin, bass, accordion, piano, mandolin, and more so once I had the basics of bending and overblows shown to me the rest was pretty natural.
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BronzeWailer
1315 posts
Jun 18, 2014
3:35 AM
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Been studying seriously for four years so still have much to learn: so far - Kudzurunner, Jason, Lee Sankey and Ronnie Shellist on the interwebs. I have Jerry Portnoy's CD lessons. In real life, my one-on-one teacher, Jim Conway. He taught me to STFU if I have can't add anything, and also (in a similar vein), not to solo all the time, because when it comes time for your solo, you will have nothing left to say. Also, the importance of locking into the groove. Finally, 100% commitment to every note you play.
BronzeWailer's YouTube
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