kudzurunner
4623 posts
Mar 22, 2014
7:26 PM
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It's possible that this clip has been posted here--and please let me know if it has--but it's an excellent lesson in how to play long, and how to groove. Enjoy it. And make time for it. Don't give it two-and-a-half minutes and then change the channel:
The thread title refers to likes vs. dislikes and the length of time it's been on YouTube.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Mar 22, 2014 7:27 PM
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wolfkristiansen
271 posts
Mar 23, 2014
1:06 AM
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I like this. Most probably know, but Rick Estrin is channelling Rice Miller, Charlie Baty is channelling Robert Jr. Lockwood in this song. I agree with Adam's statement that the song grooves (Rick and Charlie always do) and it's a good example of keeping a listener's interest while stretching out on the harmonica. Being able to play it in your mouth without touching it definitely helps keep the interest level up.
But I see a more important lesson here, for all the Little Walter clones. Rice Miller (Sonny Boy Williamson II) has not been studied or copied as much as Walter. But his music, his harmonica playing, is equally worthy. His harp, simple as it sounds, is to my ears rhythmically rich; complex, even.
Long ago, I resolved to learn his stuff (learn it note for note-- I will admit it), but, like many things in life, never got around to it. Rick Estrin did. I may yet try. Sonny Boy's rhythms and notes, especially in the turnaround, were like no one else's.
Cheers.
wolf kristiansen
Last Edited by wolfkristiansen on Mar 23, 2014 1:07 AM
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The Iceman
1550 posts
Mar 23, 2014
8:38 AM
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It is one thing to learn a transcription note for note.
It is quite another to make it your own...to groove it from the same place as Rice Miller. To sound convincing.
The leap from one to the other is that hard to define essence and is not learned from books or videos. It comes from one's heart.
As much as I personally don't like to recycle other's ideas, in this case I really enjoy the authenticity.
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The Iceman
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Frank
4062 posts
Mar 23, 2014
8:53 AM
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Yeah - Rick pours a lot of love into his work and it transfers rather easily to his audience :)
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DoubleJ
55 posts
Mar 23, 2014
10:27 AM
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The man is one with his instrument.
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BronzeWailer
1242 posts
Mar 23, 2014
2:22 PM
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I love it. Sometimes you want a song to finish and sometimes you want it to keep going....
BronzeWailer's YouTube
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Rubes
823 posts
Mar 23, 2014
4:47 PM
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Yeeahh I got right into that!
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Old Man Rubes at Reverbnation
Dads in Space at Reverbnation
Benny and Rubes at Reverbnation
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The Iceman
1557 posts
Mar 23, 2014
7:34 PM
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It's all about the groove...
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The Iceman
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Frank
4066 posts
Mar 24, 2014
5:10 AM
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Please yourself with your songs so that your audience will feel your pleasure.
Neil Sedaka
Last Edited by Frank on Mar 24, 2014 12:05 PM
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blueswannabe
450 posts
Mar 24, 2014
1:22 PM
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He's one of my favorite players. He's got great tone. There is definitely a sonny boy influence but as much as I was expecting him to and wanting him to launch into some sonny boy cliche's, he didn't. THat was surprising to me because the temptation would have been to play those familiar riffs. But he made it his own and he's got a great groove. He's quite an entertainer.
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Helix
61 posts
Mar 29, 2014
11:53 AM
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I don't recall ever seeing the topic discussed about how players like Rick Estren play the harp while inserted in the mouth long ways.
Anybody have information about how it is played...ie what is going on inside the mouth?
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Frank
4088 posts
Mar 29, 2014
11:59 AM
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No on knows how to do it - thus no discussion :(
The good news there is a clue in the riddle below...
361 to 4 in seven years
Last Edited by Frank on Mar 29, 2014 12:14 PM
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bigd
526 posts
Mar 29, 2014
7:36 PM
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Ten thumbs up!
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Facebook
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Slimharp
285 posts
Mar 29, 2014
7:45 PM
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Helix, I have been told he is tongue blocking and drawing in air through the side vents on the cover plates of the harp. Ya gotta have a harp with side vents. This trick is a major crowd pleaser and Rick is very good at it. He is for sure a master.
Last Edited by Slimharp on Mar 29, 2014 7:50 PM
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Frank
4094 posts
Mar 30, 2014
7:10 AM
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When I'm walking and playing harp, every now and then I'll stick the harp in my mouth so I don't have to hold it and the only thing I can get going so far are some nice chords and partial chord usage, still can't get my tongue set properly for single notes...Tried different angles etc - just gotta keep trying...
With side to side tounge warbles - I'm finally gettin them to where they are feeling and coming naturally, same thing with bent notes on the high end tongue blocked, they are becoming pretty easy... the 10 hole bends are still a work in progress but comin right along after a lot of practice, fun and interesting practice I must say :)
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Slimharp
286 posts
Mar 30, 2014
7:31 AM
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Frank, do you draw in from the sides of the mouth and exhaust through the vents and whatever you are playing ? Hell I am still working on normal tongue blocking let along trick stuff. It sure gets peoples attention when you it.
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Frank
4095 posts
Mar 30, 2014
8:02 AM
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Just breathing naturally- nothing different with the breathe - but can only get a chord thing going... don't think the side vents have anything to do with it though :)
Last Edited by Frank on Mar 30, 2014 8:04 AM
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jpmcbride
41 posts
Mar 30, 2014
11:53 AM
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Ya!! Sonny Boy II has always been my favorite harp player. I came to the blues through the harp. When I first started playing I went to a music store looking for something with harmonica on it to listen to. I found a CD with an old black man holding a harmonica and figured I'd give it a listen. It was Sonny Boy and I was totally blown away by it!
I heard plenty of Sonny Boy riffs and quotes from Sonny Boy solos in Rick's playing. But you can tell he's not just copying the stuff - he's internalized it and made it part of his own playing. Loved it. More players should work on this stuff. After hearing a whole set of heavy, compressed, amplified harp, I'm dying to hear something like this to change things up.
I've tried off and on for years to figure out the no-hands harp playing thing like Rick did. I'm a 100% tongue-blocker so I thought it was something I could figure out. But haven't managed it yet. I don't think end vents have anything to do with it. I can easily put a harp without end vents in my mouth and play. Its isolating single notes that is the challenge. When I play my tongue blocks the holes to the left of the note I want to isolate, and the side of my mouth blocks the hole to the right. When I put the harp in my mouth to play hands-free I can move my tongue around and get it to the left of the note I want to play. The problem is that the harp stays put and I get open notes to the right that sound that shouldn't.
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Jim McBride
www.bottleoblues.com
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Slimharp
295 posts
Mar 30, 2014
9:37 PM
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Frank , it seems they would have to. Players like Walter, Piazza and many many more have got to have ambidexterious tongues. I am still working on switches - fast left and right movement.Ive got trills, slaps and side blocks down. I didnt start doing a lot of tongue blocking until about ten years ago. I played a lot of country harp and I didnt use it much. Some of the tongue movements seem very unnatural. No jokes about "thats what she said " lol.
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SuperBee
1866 posts
Mar 31, 2014
1:04 AM
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helps to be missing a tooth or two
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Slimharp
297 posts
Mar 31, 2014
8:28 AM
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SuperBee - or like some of these crazies - have your tongue split in front. Part of my palate is missing and I have a hole that runs from my upper front palate into my nose. It don't help at all. believe me. Why I picked harmonica I dont know. Musta been the blues.
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Michael Rubin
864 posts
Apr 10, 2014
11:58 AM
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