Here's some feedback I've received from harmonica players around the world about my video tutorials at YouTube and Modern Blues Harmonica:

Adam you rock!!!

I am a beginner and have learned and progressed more in two weeks after discovering you on you tube than in the last year trying to figure things out on my own.

The info you provide is priceless and I will defintely be purchasing a online lessons and DVD.

Keep it up you are making a difference to all us wannabes!

Thank You!!!

Martin J.
New York City

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Hi Adam!

I just wanted you to know that me and my friend just won the "Troubadours: Finnish Championship in Multicultural Streetplaying". It was held in Faces Etnofestival at Billnäs, Southern Finland last weekend.

That's right, we also have a blues duo and I also play the blues harp, although our music has a kind of anatolian/orient twist in it. But without your lessons I wouldn't have played that good and we wouldn't be the national champions today.

I want to thank you for being the best teacher I've ever had. Right now I'm feeling so grand it seems unreal. We both are barely 21 years old, and yet we are some sort of champions. I can't believe it. All hail the Blues Harmonica Anarchism!

But! The first prize included that we must perform in the Faces Festival next summer, as a "real" artist. So keep on posting those brilliantly insane lessons, and we are guaranteed to rock the festival next year too. Hope I see you in Finland someday, or at least somewhere in Scandinavia. Or let’s just say somewhere, as I think we both prefer life on the road.
Take care.

--Jantso, Finland

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Hey Adam:

Just wanted to tell you that your lessons are amazing and once my friend and I have come across your youtube lessons our lives really changed.  We are playing blues harmonica for many years now and we always felt like we are walking in the dark when it came to the real blues riffs and articulation.  We are both Israeli musicians working in Israel and Blues harmonica teachers are impossible to find anywhere around.  We started by watching your videos from the start, taking it very slow and progressing one lesson after another according to our own progress.  It is a great pleasure watching these videos over and over again.  You are the first teacher we really feel connected to and we treat your tutorials with great admiration.
 
P.S.:  'Hi this is Adam Gussow from Satan and Adam' phrase became our new way of saying hello.

--Doron B. and Doron K., Israel
 
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Adam:

It is a pleasure to find you.  I live in Santiago, Chile.  A lot of time ago, I was playing harp but everything stop because I was learning alone. Nobody helps me. So, my own limits stop myself.  But now, I can say “Thanks!”, I find you and your lessons too!. All my life I admire the “Blues men” and their rhythm, now I think I can be one more.  I hope you are well, and please, continue with your useful help.  Today, I start with your lessons… My own lessons now.

--Cristian J,  Chile

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Dear Adam,

I am a 54-year old corporate lawyer up here in New York.  About four or five
years ago I had the fortune to attend a Buddy Guy performance.  Since then I
have been drawn incessantly into the blues like the member of a virtual
particle pair that forms on the inner side of the event horizon of a black
hole and thereupon gets inescapably sucked into the hole at ever increasing
speed.

Sometime in the past two years, as the blues were continuing to draw me in,
I quickly came to realize the importance to this genre of the diatonic harp
and I set out to explore its secrets.  In the course of my painfully slow
exploration - almost as slow as ancient humans exploring the art of language
many millennia ago - I stumbled sometime last week into your presence on the
Internet.  In the wake of discovering you, I quickly sampled several of the
videos that you have made available on the 'net.  Of these videos I must
mention in particular the one in which you explain the basic 12-bar A-A-B
blues progression.  At the speed of light modulated by the speed of sound
this video re-ionized some long lost neuronal pathways in my hippocampus that
formed decades ago when, as a kid, I played an okay clarinet and dabbled on
the guitar.  By Friday of last week, I was armed with a James Cotton album
and the Howlin' Wolf London Sessions.  As I drove back and forth from Long
Island to Princeton this weekend to spectate at a high school lacrosse
tournament, I spent considerable time counting the 12-bar A-A-B progressions
on both albums.

Your wonderfully lucid description of this fundamental rhythmic template
came against the backdrop of Larry King's recent interview of Paul, Ringo,
John's widow Yoko, George's widow Olivia, and the originator/producer of
Cirque de Soleil to celebrate the first anniversary of Cirque de Soleil's
"Love".  During the interview, Ringo spoke about the concept of keeping
time.  Having spent the weekend tapping out 12-bar A-A-B patterns - and in
doing so being constantly reminded by a point you make about songs not
always beginning in bar 1 or ending in bar 12 - I have begun what I sense is
a very important transformation that will speed my journey into the center
of the black hole.  I gratefully owe this epiphany to you.

--Alan

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Greetings Adam,

I recently came across your youtube videos…. I must say I am totally impressed with your teaching techniques both on youtube and in your lessons for download. I have learned so much since dloading some lessons and also from your youtube videos. You have a way of clearing up things and in demonstrating those unique techniques I’'ve wondered about in such a clear and concise manner.  Thank you for all your work in providing these lessons. All I have to do now is practice, follow your advice and buy a few more harps!

--Alan H., San Antonio,Texas.

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Hello Adam,

My name is Yohan and I live in Quebec, Canada, in a small city calles Ste-Sophie not to far from Montreal. I am writing this e-mail to say thank you for all the time you are taking and all the videos you are making for Youtube. I have a little story for you if you have the time to read it because my harmonica maybe saved a man’s life.

I am a paramedic here in Quebec and have been for 4 year now. I love my job and love to help people the best I can. Once in a while I even save a life. A few months ago I was looking an instrument to play. I’m not rich so I thought the harp would be nice and not to expensive. Not only that I can prictice on the job when I’m not on a call. I bought a C harp and started to listen to your videos on Youtube. The minute I started I loved playing and now the harp is always on me whereever I go. After a few months of playing I can say that I am an ADVANCED BEGINNER to INTERMEDIATE player. Now here is the story. A few weeks ago I was on the job and it was a boring day. It was raining and we had no calls. Me and my partner are just sitting in the ambulance on the verge of falling asleep. Finally the dispatch calls us for a man wanting to end his life and we are called to help the police who are already there. We get to the man’s house and all we hear is yelling. The police and man are almost fighting. The man who is in his late 50's does not want to go to the hospital and all he wants to do is die. As the man sees me and my partner walk in he is even more pissed off. The man is not armed he is just sitting in his couch and he dose not want to leave his house but he said he want to commit suicide. (I don’t know how it works in the states but here in Canada it is illegal do commit suicide and I can’t leave the man there knowing what he will do when I leave.)  After 10 minutes of yelling between the police and the man, I reach in my pocket and pull out my harp. I look at it, bring it to my mouth and start playing... I started with Oh Suzanna and then other song that I learned by ear. When I started playing everyone stopped yelling. My partner was looking at me with this big question mark on his face saying what the hell are you doing?

After a minute or so the police and the man had big smiles on their faces. Then I stopped playing put the harp away and everyone was looking at me. The man looks up at me and said that he had not smiled like that in years. I then tell him that music always dose that to me too and if he wants to talk about it on our way to the hospital I would love too. I did not think i would work but the man got up took his jacket kissed his wife and told her he would be back later. Everyone had the same question on their mind including me, what in the world just happed. All this yelling just few minutes ago, a little harp, and now everything is calm and the man is coming without a fight.  As I sat with the man in the back of the Ambulance the man told me he use to play in a small band years back and me playing brought back lots of memories. We talk about other things for we had 45 minutes ride to the closed hospital. I told him he was not alone and dieing was not the only way out. When we got to the hospital the man thanked me. It was probably the most sincere thank you I ever got in my life. I will never forget the way that man looked and smiled at me. Did i really save his life? I dont know. Did he get help? I dont know. The only thing I know is that he did not do it on that day.

Well that is pretty much the story. I am not much of a storyteller so I told it the best that I could. From what I learned from you helped another man. I want to thank you again and keep up the good work!

--Yohan, Quebec

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Hi Adam,

I just wanted to say that I really have enjoyed your lessons with the Crossroads Band CD. I think it is a very unique thing you have offered on YouTube. An infinite amount of riffs can be shown and practiced and techniques can be sharpened, but you have shown us how to take it beyond that. It really is a case of "give a man a fish feed him for a day, teach him how to fish and feed him for life". Today I was able to listen to your latest lesson and find the correct key and play the riffs on the first listen stopping after the music was played and then checking back with what you had played. Yet another little moment of triumph.

Your lessons have filled a massive gap in the blues harmonica lesson market and I for one thank you very much. The lessons that you provide on the website are great case studies to tear apart and study and apply the things you have taught in other lessons and while you are charging for them you are practically giving them away! haha Not that I am complaining mind you!

Gerard, Ireland

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Dear Mr. Gussow,

I couldn't resist the urge to write to you to thank you for the 57 wonderful blues harp lessons you posted on YouTube.  I have been trying to learn how to play the diatonic 10 hole harp for the last 25 years and always ran into the lack of good audio-visual training; this frustration made me drop the studies many times. The books that are available in the market are no good in terms of technique and what you termed the Blues Harp Machine Language. Now, thanks to your wonderful work, I feel like I have a reasonable chance of becoming a good Blues Harp performer. As soon as I feel confident enough with my playing technique I will mail you a sample of my progress.

My most sincere appreciation to you and your loved ones.
Ernesto L., Berlin, Germany

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Hello Adam:

A great big thank you so much for all your time and effort on putting the harmonica lessons on Youtube. I came across you purely by accident as I had seen all different lessons other people put up and thought harmonica techniques and low and behold there you were. That was 3 months ago. In that time I have learned so much from you and my playing has improved greatly. Before I was trying to play along to records looking at harp tabs and I was in a bit of a rut to say the least. Now I have renewed confidence all the little things you have mentioned I have taken note.

I play every Sunday with a pal of mine at a local pub at a busker’s night. Since taking your lessons now I get asked by other players to get up and join them, its a great feeling . I know I still have a long way to go but where I am now is all down to you. The utube lessons are great and I like the location videos as well I hope you continue with them.. your other web site modern blues harmonica is great to. I am also looking forward to your book, Journeyman’s Road. Thank you again Adam for sharing your knowledge and your time. I am looking forward to more lessons on Youtube and your other site.
all the best

Jan, United Kingdom

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Adam:

I've been playing harp for a bit over a year now (picked it up while laying on
the couch for 11 weeks after breaking my leg skiing).  At that time I ordered
David Barrett's books and have been working through them.  He is big on using
tongue slaps especially once you get up to hole 4 and above.  As I mentioned
before I just have a real hard time doing it.

There are many things I have really appreciated from your lessons.  One is the
fact that you talk about different techniques and where your strengths lay
(pucker and triplets) as opposed to others (I've heard Jason Ricci twice now in
Pgh, he is amazing!).  I especially liked the lessons on the type of performer -
warrior, lover, painter, trickster.  It has made me feel more comfortable with
where my fledgling talents lie..and being more of a lover with the harp rather than a warrior, for example, as I really love the slow playing by Big Walter and Junior Wells.  I
also appreciate that you stress learning from others yet developing your own
technique.  I love the fact that your lessons are not "perfect" or staged, and
that you are willing to put yourself out there making "mistakes" and that you
show us how you work through issues.  It makes me feel hopeful that I can work
through my issues and eventually be able to perform in front of more than my dog.

Deb, USA

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Dear Mr. Gussow,

A couple weeks ago, a friend of mine who’s a devout Stevie Ray Vaughan fanatic sent me a video link and said "Hey, check this out, it's pretty cool." The video showed two guys on stage playing a song I'd never heard, and while the guitarist was, indeed, brilliant, it was the harmonica player that blew me away. I'd never really listened to any harp blues before, but I fell in love with the sound on the spot. The video was Adam and Satan playing "Mother Mojo," and I think it's safe to assume you don't have to guess who the musicians were.

Well, in a fit of musical inspiration, I ran down to the local music store, picked up a harp and an instruction book, and immediately thought "Okay, here are the basics. I've got these down alright with a couple problems, but how do I fix the problems and, more importantly, how do I get more?" I discovered your set of videos, sir, and they answered every question I had and more. I've been watching them religiously, and playing my harps fanatically. My father, a jazz musician of thirty years, compliments me on my tone and rhythm daily now, something I don't take lightly and something he doesn't give out freely.

I've been playing seriously for a little over a week. I've downloaded all the Paul Butterfield, Little Walter, and Muddy Waters I could get my hands on. Yet I keep returning to "Mother Mojo" (I bought the album the day I heard the song) and these videos, and there seems to always be something more. I've got a long road ahead, I know, but I would just like to take the time out to thank you for giving me and countless other harp players a good place to start from. Your videos have been absolutely invaluable, and the sincerety with which you teach is not only helpful, but also encouraging, almost as if you're saying to me personally: "Just keep at it, you'll get the hang of it!" Thank you, sir, and may there always be music in your life and heart.

Sincerely,
Barron van D., aka The Scrybe

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Adam:

I just wanted to send an email to thenk you for all the wonderful instructional videos you have posted on youtube. I have watched about 1/2 of them so far, and my playing ability has drastically increased. I have played the electric guitar for about 16 years, but purchased my first harp 6 weeks ago. I got a couple of books, but I really didn’t get the feel of the harp until I watched what you were doing.

I can now hold the harp properly, create the wha wha sound, get a decent train going, get clear single notes (including the 2 draw) and I can even bend notes already (although not as consistantly as I would like). I can also do decent warbles. Oh, and I ever so slightly increased the gap on the draw reeds for my Hohner special 20 in the key of A, as well as my Hohner MS Blues Harp in C.

I am working on purchasing a mic, so I can plug it into my Fender Pro Jr. and get amplified, for that amazing dirty sound.

Anyway, keep up the awesome work…….

ALSO

When I first got the idea to pick up a harp, I thought, "well, it only has 10 holes, how hard can it be?" After about the first 10 minutes of playing, I was really discouraged, because I could not make any sounds which resembled what I was hearing in the music that inspired me to engage with this instrument.  I went online, and purchased [a well-known instruction book], and it actually pointed me in the right direction. The CD was helpful in that I could hear what the text was directing me to do. So I picked up a piece here and there, but really couldn’t put things together.

I found your videos on YouTube about 5 weeks after I bought my harp. I was playing about 1 hour per week, just messing around with it, but not really playing music, just blowing and drawing some notes.

The very first video I watched was the one where you explained how to hold the harp. About the only thing I was doing right was that I held the harp in my left hand. I could never get that wha sound, no matter what I did. Then I tried the traditional grip that you showed, and a clear, almost vocal wha emitted from the harp.

After that, I had to have more. I moved to the next video where you show the position with your thumbs up. Oh, that is so much better for me. It just feels right. Then I kept moving on to your other videos. I probably watched about 15 more that very day. I sat there with my harp in front of the screen, studying. Your descriptions and explanations helped me to understand what I needed to do to get the sound that was in my head to come out of this new and exciting instrument.

As I practiced for a few days, and reviewed the things I was exposed to in your videos, I actually put some things together. I played a little tune for my wife, and she was like "oh, that sounds so much better than when you first bought it, is that the same harmonica?"

--Tony A.

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