Danny Starwars
34 posts
Jan 25, 2015
6:43 PM
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBUnDSjGKxo
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My YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ2_8CnjaiNLcPke4gWQ65A
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Sherwin
193 posts
Jan 25, 2015
6:56 PM
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I could only manage to watch about ten minutes of it......I think if I were to snort some angel dust and drink a fifth of vodka I might be wrecked enough to be on the same wavelength as Junior is in the video WHOA, I do remember superbee saying there were some funny moments, but the poor guy has a really hard time explaining anything about harp playing, from what I watched, will try again some time to watch the whole thing.......without the angel dust & vodka, vodka doesn't agree with me.
Michael
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Joe_L
2561 posts
Jan 25, 2015
7:07 PM
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You are either going to get this video or you aren't. He comes from a generation of players that are largely self taught. When the took "lessons", it meant you sat down, paid attention and listen. When you left, you tried to recreate what you heard. If you wanted to get good, you worked at it.
The Billy Boy Arnold instructional video is a lot like this one. Personally, I find these videos helpful. I'm not likely to see Jr Wells anytime soon. Having an opportunity to see him execute some of his signature licks would seem to me to be invaluable.
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The Blues Photo Gallery
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Danny Starwars
35 posts
Jan 25, 2015
7:09 PM
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He came to my country years ago and I saw him - was absolutely chuffed to see one of my heroes.
It was strange that whenever he stopped to talk a bit, no one understood a single sentence.
It is nice just to see him talking though.
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My YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ2_8CnjaiNLcPke4gWQ65A
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arzajac
1570 posts
Jan 25, 2015
7:38 PM
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I found the video a while back and made a point of watching it the whole way through. This is the real deal.
I think it's safe to say Gussow has the leading share of instructional harmonica videos on YouTube. We are spoiled by the fact we have access to authentic blues knowledge broken down by a University professor. It doesn't get any better that that!
In Gussow's very fist video he mentions YouTube is (was) filled with videos of guys who teach but can't play.
In Junior Wells' video - 20 years before YouTube - we have a guy who can play but is not an effective teacher.
If you recalibrate your expectations around that, this video is a must-see. Through the whole thing, he just can't stay away from being a showman. Maybe that was the secret to Junior Wells' success?
If anything, you'll probably look at a High-G in a different light after watching!
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
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arzajac
1571 posts
Jan 25, 2015
7:41 PM
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And, yes, this video goes well with a strong beverage...
(embedded for convenience)
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
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Goldbrick
831 posts
Jan 25, 2015
9:28 PM
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If you open your ears -he teaches just fine.
I suppose tho- it all depends how you learn and every instrument is different.
I know drums I need to see demonstrated- guitar I do better hearing first and then emulating.
Harp I havent really come up with a method yet- but Junior at least makes it interesting. And when you are interested you just naturally wanna play
Angel dust- i believe they now call Special K-- we used to get it from the local animal shelter back in the 70's when paraquat was killing everything else--But as tony Joe White said that was another place, another time
Last Edited by Goldbrick on Jan 25, 2015 9:33 PM
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SuperBee
2363 posts
Jan 25, 2015
10:09 PM
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i agree its not the easiest harp video to watch, but i bought my own copy and i'm glad to have it. i have the BBA video mentioned also. its not in the same league of difficulty as Jr Wells' video imho. but i take Joe's point in regard to the style of teaching, which is really quite similiar in principle.
yeah, i really think there are some gems in this video, but it is often derided.
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MindTheGap
514 posts
Jan 26, 2015
4:55 AM
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I've watched this before and - aside from all the other good reasons you might want to watch it - I've found it helpful as a learner as it's a reminder of the kind of brutal energy you need to put in to give the music some life.
There are plenty of excellent, technical instruction books and videos, which are quite different. But I find that after studying something technical, I often end up with a rather straight, clean, dull result. And watching things like this reminds me to knock the corners off.
Same thing with that Paul Butterfield tuition book/CD. And Adam's videos in a similar way - recorded in a car not all smooth in a studio.
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waltertore
2796 posts
Jan 26, 2015
5:51 AM
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Having learned from guys like Junior Wells, Sonny Terry, Louisiana Red, Lightning Hopkins, and such, I find people who learn in the isolation of their home and with mathematical instruction approaches almost always lack the x factor that is only going to be learned hanging in the scene with such people and being onstage night after night. The x factor is not able to be learned technically. It is the fluid natural groove that is effortless that only comes from being around a master and then spending decades developing it. It has to develop naturally and free of thoughts. I can always spot a thinking player before they play a note and one can lay 90-10 odds most all player operate this way.
I feel sorry for the new generation because there are so few players to tap into for this. I was blessed to have learned early on in total musical isolation. My parents wouldn't let me play an instrument and none of my friends had any. I built 1 string guitars by hammering nails in the garage wall and stringing wire, used garbage cans and paint stirrers for drums when my parents were at work. I created these things out of imagination and when I finally got a guitar I had no idea it had to be tuned so I just played it as it was because the 1 time I turned the tuners I popped a string. I had no idea there was even music stores believe it or not. When I got a harp I figured out tones that meshed with the guitar notes. It was a total ear thing and when someone finally tuned the guitar for me I was lost for a good while. They also told me the strings were not suppose to be 1/2" off the neck but I didn't know any better. I discovered reverb in burnt out buildings from the Newark NJ riots. I had a circuit of different buildings and their stairways that gave different reverbs. I called my first band The stairway blues band. By the time I figured things out the first players I connected with were the old blues guys. They were a natural fit for me because we learned the same way. My peers were all about gear and math of music and I lasted about an hour with them. The blues guys talked about cars, women, jewelry, life, and never about gear and technical stuff. That was great because none of that interested me and still doesn't. I prefer the life talk and just make music. I taught myself to record my music the same way. I turn dials till it sounds right. I am so glad I never learned the conventional way. Walter
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year in the Tunnel of Dreams Studio.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
my videos
Last Edited by waltertore on Jan 26, 2015 7:56 AM
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Joe_L
2562 posts
Jan 27, 2015
2:40 AM
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I think developing that natural groove that most players lack comes from being around blues music a great deal. You have to like the music. You've got to hear it, listen to it, feel it and move to it. That's the reason why I suggest listening to jimmy Reed and Magic Slim. The groove is so deep and pronounced, a person would have to be dead to not feel it.
Most players that don't understand the above tend to be very stiff and lack feeling in their playing. The concept of doing a lot of listening is lost on most people, but if you want to play blues, listening is essential. That is why most people don't dig the Junior Wells instructional video. It requires listening and thought.
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The Blues Photo Gallery
Last Edited by Joe_L on Jan 27, 2015 2:41 AM
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Harmonicatunes
5 posts
Jan 27, 2015
5:37 AM
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Junior Wells has always been one of my heroes. Just hearing and watching him speak is mesmerising.
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Tony Eyers
Australia
www.HarmonicaAcademy.com
everyone plays...
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Rontana
32 posts
Jan 27, 2015
6:02 AM
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If nothing else (I've only watched about half so far) there's value in this. For instance, early on in the vid (about 1:32) watch him when he plays a warble. Junior holds the harp in traditional manner (with left hand) until he gets to the warble. At that point he quickly switches grip and his right hand takes over almost completely
I was messin' with that the other day, as being a strong rightie, my left hand has little control; it's the slack-jawed yokel of appendages. Just nice to know have it reaffirmed that there are myriad ways of accomplishing this or that technique.
Beyond that . . . Junior just seems like a cool guy.
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Marr's Guitars
Offering custom-built Cigar Box Guitars for the discriminating player of obscure musical unstruments
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CarlA
660 posts
Jan 27, 2015
10:55 AM
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groyster1
2740 posts
Jan 28, 2015
8:12 AM
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as Joe L says....you have to like the music....you have to work at it......and don't give up
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