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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Butterfield's Walkin' Blues
Butterfield's Walkin' Blues
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Rgsccr
411 posts
Apr 27, 2016
3:53 PM
Hi,
My band plays this tune in this style. Can someone help me with the notes that Buterfield is playing in the solo starting at around 1:40? I can something that sounds okay is somewhat along the lines of what he's doing, but definitely not right. Even when I use the Amazing Slowdowner I still have trouble nailing the early part of the solo.




WinslowYerxa
1133 posts
Apr 27, 2016
4:11 PM
I'll narrow it down for you. He uses these notes (but not in this order):

Blow 1
Draw 1
Draw 2, 2-semitone bend
Draw 2
Blow 3 (maybe once)
Draw 3, 1-semitone bend
Draw 3, 2-semitone bend
Blow 4
Draw 4 (sometimes bent)
Draw 5

In other words, no Blow 2 and no Blow 5. And nothing higher than Draw 5.

Try playing this series of notes in both ascending order from Blow 1 up and in descending order from Draw 5 down. You'll start to hear a lot of what he's playing just by following that pathway.
===========
Winslow

Check out my blog and other goodies at winslowyerxa.com
Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition with tons of new stuff
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Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Apr 27, 2016 4:14 PM
Rgsccr
412 posts
Apr 27, 2016
5:09 PM
Thanks so much Winslow. I may be a little closer than I thought as I think I've been doing something like that. I really appreciate the help.
slaphappy
187 posts
Apr 27, 2016
7:16 PM
one of my least favorite blues standards, the plodding straight quarter note versions anyway.

don't mind me though Rgsccr, just can't stand this tune most of the time and you gave me a chance to get that off my chest :D


----------
4' 4+ 3' 2~~~
-Mike Ziemba
Harmonica is Life!
Thievin' Heathen
744 posts
Apr 28, 2016
4:34 AM
I can respect your Slaphappy's point of view, but if Rgsccr and his band can get a close arrangement of this working, I think it will be a big crowd pleaser.

There is a lot to know & learn in Winslow's reply. I think I will take that to heart. I wonder if Paul Butterfield was consciously telling himself to stay off 2&5 blow on that riff?
Martin
1007 posts
Apr 28, 2016
6:17 AM
If one follows the link that presents itself after that version of "Walking blues" one comes to a much subtler and more interesting version of the tune, "New walking blues", barely a decade later in Butterfield´s discography.
chromaticblues
1757 posts
Apr 28, 2016
9:47 AM
I do like the version on The "Better Days" recording. That is my favorite version of the many variations of the song.
WinslowYerxa
1134 posts
Apr 28, 2016
12:05 PM
I don't think Butterfield was thinking of what *not* to play (2 and 5 blow).

But I do think he was going for a particular sound color and flow that comes from using mostly draw notes and getting that darker sound of bent Draw 2 and Draw 5, and doesn't include the choppier sound of going to blow notes much or using the sunnier sound of those particular blow notes.
===========
Winslow

Check out my blog and other goodies at winslowyerxa.com
Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition with tons of new stuff
Join us in 2016 for SPAH on the San Antonio River Walk!

Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Apr 28, 2016 12:37 PM


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