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Sankeys Country Lesson
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Killa_Hertz
1663 posts
Jul 03, 2016
8:10 PM
Lee Sankey has a cool country harp lesson out. It's been out for quite a while. But the Sonny Terry style just really isn't my thing so i never paid it much attention.

However i got to watching them and just really got into it. The first 4 are free on youtube. The other 11 you have to buy on vimeo, but it's pretty cool. Ive been stuck on this rythm for a few days now. Just playing it slow and trying to get it down. (Harder than it looks) Im just now actually getting to play it at any speed while still sounding somewhat decent. There's a triplet inbreath that's kinda tricky to do fast.

Anyhow in the lesson he teaches you how to breathe. How to add outbreath "pushes" to the rythm. Tongue Block effects to the rythm. All kinds of cool stuff. Which makes it much easier to learn and do correctly, having someone break it down to the core for you. It's really very cool. Just thought id share. I think some of you would really enjoy it.


Heres the link to the first one.

https://youtu.be/wd93LOuxJeU

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Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on Jul 03, 2016 8:13 PM
Glass Harp Full
139 posts
Jul 04, 2016
4:45 AM
I've been working on this for awhile too. Like you say, it's harder than it looks. I can do it slowly but doing it fast and getting it to sound like Lee plays it are a different story. Lots of fun though. I also found the breathing one useful.

Ben Hewlett also has a video on basic Sonny Terry style rhythms, from memory it's called something like "5 basic Sonny Terry licks". It's worth a look if you want a simple starting point in this style.
Killa_Hertz
1664 posts
Jul 04, 2016
7:22 AM
Im not sure how far i will delve into this style, but this one really got me hooked. And i felt like i should know atleast one sonny terry-ish rythm well.

And with all the things sankey teaches here it doesn't seem like it would be hard to transform this into a number of other rythms.

But that's cool that your doing it aswell. Exactly getting it to sound like sankey is real tough. Im trying to keep it slow for a while until i can really bring out all the nuances he uses.
But its tough to not want to take it faster.

Anyways its a ton of fun.
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Truth2012
52 posts
Jul 05, 2016
4:41 AM
You guys got me hooked on this as well now!
Gotta agree it's great fun. Gets a bit hypnotic!
Killa_Hertz
1665 posts
Jul 05, 2016
5:32 AM
Hahaha ... GREAT!

It's soo much fun right? Its sankey that does it. He makes it seem possible to play. I'm coming along ok. I think the secret is to really stay slow with it along as possible. Get every little nuance down. Down to how you shape the notes. Because i notice that the sounds sankey is getting ... is largely coming from how he shapes his notes. Aswell as the punctuation? Is that the right word. But it's attack without the attack. Very subtle. Really cool. Alot of useful techniques in here that can transfer over to all areas of playing.

Sorry im blabbing. Glad to get you hooked truth.

Maybe we can share our progress in a week or two.
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Truth2012
53 posts
Jul 05, 2016
11:00 AM
Sounds like a plan KH.
I've been looking at the 3rd one now, where you give the rhythm a push. Tough to get that in without messing it all up!
Glass Harp Full
140 posts
Jul 05, 2016
3:54 PM
KH - I think punctuation is exactly the right word. What I'm having difficulty with at the moment is the transitions between the different parts of the rhythm and tying it all together smoothly. It's like there's a comma or a semicolon in there somewhere that I'm missing - it's a small thing but makes a big difference to the overall sound.

I think you're right about keeping it slow until you've got everything down.

I'll update you guys on my progress too. Hope it goes well for you.
Killa_Hertz
1668 posts
Jul 07, 2016
2:31 AM
Yea Truth. Once you get the push it will be hard NOT to do. Lol. Messing wuth the time as he does (while simple in normal blues) is really tough in these rythms. If your on the youtube videos still i suggest you get the paid videos. Your head will explode .. lol.

I watched them all, but i then went back to paid video 1 and have been still working on the basic rythm. Its too much to add any more at this point.

Anyhow, i can't wait to get it down. It sounds so hypnotic when he does it. Very cool. And with the Sonny Terry estate harps for sale, just feels like the time to learn it. 8^)


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