Michael Rubin
951 posts
Sep 18, 2014
6:32 PM
|
I have received a request from a student to transcribe Last Night by George Smith, album unknown. It is on a compilation. Could be Tribute to Little Walter. In the version this student has shown me, it sounds like the song is in A and he is switching from chromatic to diatonic. I knew George played 1st and 3rd position chrome, but I did not think he played 4th position, the key of A on a C chromatic. Therefore I am assuming the chromatic lines are played in third on a G chrome. I suppose it is possible he is playing 1st on an A chrome, but it really sounds like third. I suppose the other possibility is both harps are diatonic and he is shifting between a G in 3rd, which I am fooled into thinking is chromatic, and switching to a D in second. Ideas? Thanks. Michael
|
Frank
5319 posts
Sep 18, 2014
6:41 PM
|
From Expert Winslow Yerxa on David Barretts site :)
It's Key of A.
But George is constantly switching harps, including G chromatic, G diatonic (both 3rd) and D diatonic (2nd position).
he'a playing 3rd position, all right, but doing something tricky.
In the intro, he starts out on a G chromatic.
When he goes to the IV chord he switches to a G diatonic.
He keeps switching back and forth phrase by phrase, sometimes even chord by chord.
The tipoff to the chromatic is partly the big, dark tone quality, and partly the fact that he's getting the note that would be a 2-semtone bend on Draw 2 without bending.
Harmonica behind the piano: D-harp (diatonic, then a sudden switch to chromatic on the IV chord, then back to D-harp.
Last Edited by Frank on Sep 18, 2014 6:43 PM
|
Little roger
22 posts
Sep 18, 2014
10:19 PM
|
One of my favourite albums. This is how to cover Little Walter IMO
And yes, Frank's expert is right. He switches from Chrom G to Dia G in the first verse and is also on a D Dia for a bit under the piano "solo." Nothing earth shattering but a lesson in how you can use different harps for different colours.
Last Edited by Little roger on Sep 18, 2014 10:19 PM
|
barbequebob
2708 posts
Sep 19, 2014
8:22 AM
|
That is from the Tribute To Little Walter LP, but it really isn't the Little Walter tune, but a tune known as All Last Night, which has been covered by a far wider variety of artists than the LW tune. BTW, Winslow has it right on the money and many harp players seem to be devaluating the idea of switching harps during a tune, and tons of country harp players do this and plenty of blues players have for a long time and it seems to my ears that ever since OB's became more popular, switching harps seems to get poopooed. It gives you not only a different approach because of the breathing patterns, but also great showmanship on the bandstand and crowds just eat that up. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
|
1847
2185 posts
Sep 19, 2014
8:32 AM
|
----------
money as debt
|
RyanMortos
1479 posts
Sep 19, 2014
3:04 PM
|
Cool stuff. I really never thought of switching harps in songs as negative as I seen it done at blues jams from the get go. I believe they do it for effect as well. Like switching from chrome to diatonic during solo to all of a sudden get dirty bluesy or switching between 3rd & 2nd between verses/solos. I really like the reaction from the guys who tell me what key I'm going to be using when I do this, haha.
----------

~Ryan
See My Profile for contact info, etc.
|
Michael Rubin
955 posts
Sep 19, 2014
3:59 PM
|
Thanks for putting up the song, I listened to it for 1 minute off of my student's phone, so I could not do much analysis.
I disagree with Winslow. The diatonic on the opening is a D diatonic. You can hear him bend to a flat 7th (2 draw double bend) and move left to an unbent 5th (1 draw). On a G diatonic in 3rd position you would be able to get most of the sounds, but the flat seventh would be 4 blow and the 5th would be 3 double bend. There is no mistaking the difference between 2 draw, 2 double, 1 draw and 4 draw, 4 blow, 3 double. It is clearly the former and thus a D harp in second. Notice this at 28 seconds, 40 seconds, 48 seconds, (where he continues with 1 bend and 1 blow, this would be 3 triple, 2 draw or 3 blow in third.) and 52 seconds. Also notice the shake between the fifth (4 draw) and the flat seventh (5 draw) at 37 seconds. In third, this would be impossible, needing 6 draw and 7 blow to make this sound, an impossible shake due to the rapidity of alternating between draw and blow.
Thanks everyone for the help. Once I had 5 minutes to really listen I could confirm that my original analysis was correct, even if my grammar explaining it was slightly muddled.
Last Edited by Michael Rubin on Sep 19, 2014 4:01 PM
|
1847
2189 posts
Sep 19, 2014
4:56 PM
|
i think it is a great idea to study the masters the more nuances you can play the better you will sound.
but at some point is it really necessary to get every single note?
i sat with that song for about 5 minutes "last night' HA HA and just jammed along with an A harp a G harp and a d harp.
george never played anything the same way twice. and i admit, it is fun if not a little neurotic to figure this stuff out but at some point you just need to play and make it your own.
nothing he is doing is really that hard. he does do it powerfully. ----------
|
Michael Rubin
957 posts
Sep 19, 2014
5:04 PM
|
I definitely believe studying solos note for note is very valuable. But I also enjoy putting on a record and jamming whether in the same harp or another. Both are valuable for different reasons.
How do you know George never played anything the same way twice?
|
1847
2190 posts
Sep 19, 2014
5:18 PM
|
something i heard or read bill clarke say once ----------
money as debt
|
Michael Rubin
958 posts
Sep 19, 2014
5:34 PM
|
I think it is more likely George had a stylistic approach to playing 1st, 2nd, third and 1st and third on chrome. The odds are high that permutations of his style would be repeated sooner or later. He may not have played an entire solo the same, but licks were repeated throughout his career. That's my belief.
|
1847
2191 posts
Sep 19, 2014
5:46 PM
|
we all play the same riffs?
unlike say whammer jammer which has a sequence of riffs and other songs of that ilk,
then there are songs you kinda start one way then just let nature take its course. ----------
money as debt
Last Edited by 1847 on Sep 19, 2014 5:47 PM
|
Michael Rubin
959 posts
Sep 19, 2014
5:52 PM
|
So if you are saying he never played a song the same way twice ala Whammer Jammer, that seems likely. It doesn't mean you cannot learn a boatload by learning his solos note for note. Legend has it Gruenling learned all of Smith's recordings note for note.
|
1847
2193 posts
Sep 19, 2014
6:00 PM
|
i think it is a great idea to study the masters the more nuances you can play the better you will sound.
that is what i said. direct qoute ----------
money as debt
|
1847
2194 posts
Sep 19, 2014
6:06 PM
|
i agree with you 100 per cent learn as much as you can note for note. i am jealous of people like paul oscher, i absolutely love his playing makes me want to quit. ----------
money as debt
|
1847
2195 posts
Sep 19, 2014
6:31 PM
|
part of what i am trying to say is,and, what i perceive,as what you are trying to teach....
give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day teach a man to fish.......
note for note playing is essential, but also
teach someone the scales,the chord tones, and how things interlock, and they can express their own voice. ----------
money as debt ----------
money as debt
|
Little roger
23 posts
Sep 20, 2014
10:12 AM
|
Having listened again, have to agree with Michael. It's a D harp in 2nd and not a G in 3rd. The licks are very similar, obviously, but there are a few telltales that Michael pointed out. Yep, 2nd position. In fact I now don't thing he plays 3rd diatonic at all in that song. Not that it matters, however. If he had wanted too, he would and could have played 3rd on a G harp. Depends on the day and mood I guess. That's how it is with me anyhow. Thx R Ps Michael, have we met? Were you at a Bill Clarke concert in Austin in 94 when we jammed outside the club with Guy Forsythe??
Last Edited by Little roger on Sep 20, 2014 10:13 AM
|