Hi all, I've been asked to play with a local folk/country group at a friends wedding, primarily to cover amazing grace in an 'upbeat country style'. Now.... Its an easy enough melody, in its standard version, but I was wondering if anyone has any experience in an uptempo version with a country twang? They have said we will have one practice session beforehand in order to get it down, but thats it. I have been given no other pointers. I'm much more comfortable in the blues scale, so it's a bit daunting. Any input would be appreciated!
Last Edited by Ian on Oct 22, 2015 3:49 PM
Well, uptempo is uptempo. I'd swing it some but that depends on the rest of the band.
Twelfth position gives a very "country" sound, imo. Starts on 4 blow and lays out like third position. No need to do that pesky double bend on hole three like in second. ---------- Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
@pistolcat - Thanks for sharing that video, the uptempo section is on point, ill be taking notes.
I'm feeling that if I can prepare a version that isn't far off the style of something like Charlie McCoy does in the video below, but a little faster that may be what they are planning to do.... I can rattle the song off easily in a 'standard' format, now just need to give it some swing and speed with a a bit of McCoy twang! Can anyone with a better ear than me pinpoint the position and harp key etc for this video? Its a good place to start if i can try to initially duplicate (as best i can!) then make it my own....
Ian, good find. Charlie McCoy is playing in second position there. I can't tell the key by ear, but probably C or D harp, so G, or A song key? You will hear him doing a lot of 3-hole bending between 3 unbent and 3 full step bend (the major second). That's the country twang to my ear. ----------
Last Edited by mr_so&so on Oct 23, 2015 10:37 AM
Depending on how comfortable you are on the harmonica, I´d say that one way to give a little new life to this rather worn out song (but now it´s a request, so I´ll let that rest) would be to move it up three (3) steps in the 2n or 3d chorus. Say from G to Bb: from 2nd to 11th pos. Not too hard, I think and one way to make it sound more ... professional.
Yep, F harp in second position. Key of C. Charlie is God but this version didn't do anything for me - compared with those other clips... ---------- Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
So everyone read iceman’s earlier post, I am willing to bet that it was glossed over by just about everyone as well. If it was glossed over because You understand what he said, that’s ok. It was not directed at you. If what he said mystifies you, Re-read his response,ask questions. This is one of the most important lesson you can learn, it will take your playing to an another level.
while not upbeat, no discussion of harmonica and amazing grace is complete without a suggestion to listen to buddy green. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcpYKvi-tIQ
then of course there's Harmonica masters Phil Duncan, Charlie McCoy, Buddy Greene, Steve Baker, Jimmy Lee and Todd Parrott all on one stage performing Amazing Grace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ityBhBX136s
but yeah,todd parrot is the man :) ---------- www.shakeylee.com
It occurs to me (even before reading Winslow's comment) that when I'm playing Amazing Grace (or listening to it) that I take a lot of liberties with the rhythm. I can make it sound jazzy by doing some slides and staccato single notes, or make it sound buggle like like Tapps by not sliding but still hitting things staccato. Country versions seem to be a-maaaaaaaaaa-zing graAaAaAaAaAace how sweeeet the sooound that saAaAved a wreeeeetch like meeeeee
(Like a bugle might be more a-mA-ziing grace, how sweet theah sound that sa ayved a wretch like me, I once, wa as lost, but now I'm found, was blind bu ut now I see)
(sorry for the improvised rhythmic notation. It was the only thing I could think of without downloading software since it's too late to record).
