I agree Dan (Gage). Also to your points earlier...
To get Adam's licks and personal touches down when your habits would take you somewhere else is really hard.
In many ways, I have avoided working on Adam's stuff because it has such interesting twists that I find it much different than many straight ahead blues.
I am finding this very challenging, yet I am enjoying finally putting some of this style in my mix. Some of these licks are things I've never had come out of my harp before, and I'm lovin' it!
I'm working on it but not sure if I'll get enough to post. SteveLeigh said "But here's the thing. You've got to play all those licks all in a row for that length of time at full force." Yeah, that's an issue here too -although that's obvious and goes with the territory. I was making some decent progress last Saturday until my broken bottle of an MB cut my face. Such is getting enough attitude sometimes. I tend to play hard and that certainly fits Adams approach. My E MB is getting some shop work while my face repairs. Bastard. Nice challenge.
Last Edited by on Feb 22, 2012 8:34 AM
I decided to do a rough and ready acoustic version with my phone - there's no way I can match Adam's amped tone with my delay-less amp set to a neighbour-friendly .5 or 1. It took about a million takes (you'll notice I give the harp a look of contempt right at the start) and as for the overblow...again, you'll notice me convulse in an effort to make the damn thing come out, which it did, but only about once in every thousand takes - though it's strangled compared to Adam's. The tines on my Marine Band are now thoroughly warped and protruding.
But there's a good side to all this. I was moaning on another thread about struggling with the D harp in particular. Oldwailer suggested practising on a higher harp to make the D seem easier by comparision. Well, this competition has definitely helped with that. The D feels like an A after all that E-ing.
EDIT - second attempt, trying to iron out timing slips. Also, by this point, I've about killed my E harp, so I ended up playing maybe too harp just to stop it jamming up.
In my opinion, the most difficult thing about the 4OB isn't doing this OB. It's easy to do an overblow on the 4 hole just after the 4 draw. The most difficult thing for me was to move from a 4OB to a 5 blow without doing an overblow on the 5th hole... It's hard to release quickly the tongue and relax it to blow well on the 5th hole... You can hear my silly overblow in my video :).
Nice job, Jordan. I'm happy that there are three people in the running now! You are pretty much spot on for tempo as your clip runs in at 47 seconds with a few seconds of lead time before starting. Definitely a good submission!
Looking forward to all the late submissions at which point I'm prepared to make a second rebuttal submission (thanks Adam for clarifying that this is acceptable).
The 4OB thing is coming along, mostly because I think I'm finally hearing the first note of the first lick correctly.
It feels like a 6-OB on other harps, so firing it isn't too bad. More of the challenge for me comes from "finding" hole 4 for an OB note. It's like learning a totally new way to drive home. After so many years, you just go the route you've always taken.
This is a good exercise. Reminds me of how I got better on harp in the first place (practicing. . . duh. . .)
Dan, I made some feeble attempts at that 4ob...feeble being the operative word here. I'm glad this 'challenge' came to be, becuase it's forcing me to learn and incorporate OBs, where I can normally manage to work around them. It's a nifty solo, fun to play. I don't usually like to copy solos, preferring instead to come up with my own-but this is a great exercise in stylized playing. My only true hangup is that #$%@ing overblow.
Even if you have no intention of posting a video, give it a whirl. It's good fun.
I agree with Todd, it's really great fun. You can learn a lot from learning a song note by note; but usually I don't do it (anymore). But yeah, it's fun because it's a neat solo.
The guys who already uploaded their recording did very well!
@Adam: Do we have to record the solo amplified to nail the sound as good as possible? Or is acoustic recording OK?
Last Edited by on Feb 24, 2012 12:32 AM
So I'm watching Patrick's very strong entry and I think to myself, why'd he stop at only one chorus of the solo?". And that's why it pays to watch the challenge video. . . ---------- 12gagedan's YouTube Channel
I need to find something other than a phone to record with as the sound quality is a little off.
I figured I'd get something down in case the inevitable business happens.
Adam, that is an awesome solo! I still can't believe how big a sound you get out of that damn E harp. On the plus side, I hadn't played it in so long it was pretty much a brand new harp. This was a great way to get the high harp playing back in gear.
I learned a lot...
***** NOTE TO ADAM ******
I have posted another vid on page 3 so you can ignore this one...
If I can get a better recording device or just plain get a better take, I'll be posing again...
---------- Danny
Last Edited by on Mar 03, 2012 1:21 PM
Encouraged by Dan Gage's post re: "Does it really have to be about winning?", I humbly submit my "too-slow, no over-blow, key-too-low" version.
Hey Adam, are you giving out "Certificates of Participation"? You know, the type you give to the chubby kid at the track meet who's still working on his first lap while everyone else has finished their second?
@logansays and @Stevelegh: Thank you!! If I practiced it for a few more days I might be able to reach Adam's tempo, but I've actually grown to like it at this slightly slower pace.
Anyway, I've heard that one of the marks of great songwriting is when a song still works in a variety of arrangements--and I think this also holds true for the "composition" (for lack of a better word) of great solos.
Last Edited by on Feb 26, 2012 1:54 AM
@ToddAllenGates - is that your piano playing? That's some awesome and classy backing going on there. And nice playing too - despite the slow tempo, I think your note for note is very good
@ToddAllenGates: Nice recording, I like your piano playing there! Where did you record this, seems like a cellar tunnel or something?
Last Edited by on Feb 26, 2012 12:35 PM
is it possible to download the clip in MP3 or other audio so I can change the pitch with amazing slowdowner as I do not have a E harp - I need to get one
@Patrick: Thanks, and yes, I'm the one playing piano (the piano is my main instrument). As for my note for note accuracy, well, the slower tempo made it a lot easier! (I might have been able to play it cleanly at the right tempo if I practiced a few more days, but I'm going to be too busy all week with office work crap ... so I knew I had to record it this weekend, or not at all.)
@HarpKeyAl: Thanks! I recorded the piano in my house, and I recorded the harmonica part in a tunnel of a Brooklyn subway stop. I had to get to the station by 4:00 a.m., because that's the only way I can record without interruption from trains and commuters. (And the trains still ruined a few takes.)
@strawwoodclaw: I converted Adam's clip to an audio file using the website youtube-mp3.org. (And then I put the downloaded file through the Amazing Slowdowner to change the key from "B" to "A" so I could use my D harp, as I don't have an E harp either.)
Last Edited by on Feb 26, 2012 9:32 AM
Thanks Brian. RE10 are great dynamic mics ! The poor recording condition don't do it justice here but it stills sounds great. Very good entry from you !
One more week to hit the 4OB lick at speed. I hit it fine on its own, but when it comes up during the solo it just doesn't happen. Oh well. It's not about the money or the glory. I'm getting back into shape and remembering that this thing makes me happy. Happy and INSANE!!!!!!!! ---------- 12gagedan's YouTube Channel
This doesn't count as my entry since it's unfair, but a funky player that I've been subscribed to for a long time saw my entry and was inspired to jam along with it! Check it out- this guy is a pro!
@Patrick: Wow, sounds awesome! I know "groovewindow", by name Jonathon Wilson, he's a great funk/jazz pianist. Check out his youtube page, he's got a lot of funky stuff.
This has been quite interesting so far! I haven't the inclination, nor (more importantly) the time right now to try my own hand at this, but I'll be watching (and listening) with great interest.
In my opinion, it's neck and neck between Jodanchudan and Throttleskeezer right now.
Y'all just lucky i don't do vids or look out. No, seriously. There's some stuff here seriously out of my league. Looking forward to hearing the rest of the competitors.
---------- Ricky B http://bushdogblues.blogspot.com RIVER BOTTOM BLUES--crime novel for blues fans at Amazon, Barking Rain Press & the blog
Just did a last take on this. I was not happy with audio and video syncing in take 2. I find it a lot harder to play this with the track than on my accoustic take.
Adam sure know how to groove and it's not easy to duplicate !
YES.. after mashing the harmonica against my face yesterday trying to get an overblow on 4, I casually picked up a harp this morning and tried it and it came out. I can almost get it again. I'm still making that scary squeaky noise, makes a great train whistle. And the overblow just happened naturally in the solo once, it seems it be right at home in there.
@isaacullah, Interesting. . . I have Patrick and Brian leading based on "note-for-note". Although I "like" Todd Allen Gates' version the best. I'm impressed by all of the clips, for the record. The bar is indeed set very high.
I'm at the point now where I can "miss" the 4OB in time, so only the one note is missing from the run. It's comical, really, like a mental block or something. Talk about teaching an old dog new tricks (it's a good thing). ---------- 12gagedan's YouTube Channel
Greetings, I've been a follower of Adam's Youtube channel since it's inception but have never posted a video of any kind. Given the fun I'm having following this post, I'm entertaining the thought of actually submitting an attempt. I have one question for the advanced fella's out there. I cannot,for the life of me, 'hear' the 4OB. Would someone be kind enough to tell me at what point in Adam's video does he hit the 4OB? forgive my ignorance, but given that I've never tried one, I'm not sure what it's supposed to sound like... lol Thanks P.S. It's great to see all the other fine players posting here whom I've watched and admired on Youtube. It really lends to a sense of 'community'. I'd like to thank ALL of you for sharing your talents and your advice over the past few years. Peace
Last Edited by on Feb 28, 2012 1:49 PM
