Must work on high end of harp a bit more in 3rd position. Sitting in with a couple of guys at a local blues fest. I hit a few notes I hadn't intended to (cringe) but thought the recording came out all right overall.
Thanks Barley. I squeaked a couple of times when I should have squawked. I know what I need to work on. Familarity with the high end of the harp. Cheers. BronzeWailer's YouTube
Hey Eric, cool! That song...is on the 'sliders album 'sitting on a million' I think, with Jim Conway on the harp...is it even the title track? I like that record a lot but I forget a lot of the song names... Or am I barking up the wrong tree?
@Killa I think Peggy Lee's version might be more famous? Anyway, those gals could sing!
David, you got it in one. Not sure if it's the title track.I ran through Jim's version when I was going to him regularly. Then I recently re-listened to see if/how much I was ripping off. Not too much, I think. (He said he often heard people playing his licks at festivals.)
BronzeWailer, I liked your playing very much. There are no "bad" notes in 3rd at the top of the harp, maybe some better choices in the moment, but I think what you did sounded good.
I first heard that song, BTW, on an album/CD called Mean Mothers. The song on there is called "Why Don't You Do Right?" and is sung by Lillian Green. Then I checked the great Dutch Web site, the Originals, and found The Weed Smoker's Dream if you want their detective work on it. ----------
Last Edited by mr_so&so on Jun 14, 2016 10:54 AM
----------Fancy Rubes being late to the weed smokers dream!!!! Great stuff Eric....that was a good night! ....and what did Miles say about unintended notes? Repeat as tho you meant Em' I believe....!?
Welcome back Rubes. It was a good night indeed. You guys were killing it! I am learning all about unintended notes and trying to just play a few cool ones. Cheers!
I've had this song in my head over the last week and have been playing the melody by ear in 2nd position. It seems to be a minor "blues". The melody notes used are very restricted: 1, 2, b3, 5, so a number of minor scales could work, e.g. Dorian or Aeolian modes, or the blues scale (if you stick to the minor third and not the blue third). Anyway, it's fun to play in 2nd position, and the melody can be played in three octaves, so it's a great workout on 1) Accuracy on the 3d' and 3d'' bends 2) 6 overblow 3) 10b'' blow bend
As a song it really unlocked for me the secret for getting that old-timey blues sound, with lots of wahs on the 3' and 3'' and going for a horn-like tone.
Thanks for posting this song, BronzeWailer! It was a big hit in its day, and launched Peggy Lee's career too, with her cover. ----------
Last Edited by mr_so&so on Jun 23, 2016 12:02 PM
Thanks for your analysis mr_so&so. Theory is one of my weaknesses, but your commentary illustrates why it is useful and practical. There is an underlying mathematical beauty to music. Gives me something to workshop as well!
I am also getting more into those singers who were maybe a generation before my time: Nat King Cole, Chet Baker, Ella, Julie London and I will look into Peggy Lee's stuff more too.
Bronzey...I haven't put much thought or research into it, so stream of consciousness post working with the so&so analysis...if you restrict your note choices to just those which so&so named...I just saw 1st position top end seems good here...+7 -8 +8' + 9 +10. But not much action down low with the missing flat 3rd...lessee...+1 -1 -2 +4 -4 +6. The 4ob would be good. So could be a good way to practice using that note.
I suppose the advantage of 3rd would be the range -1 +2 -2" -3" -4 +5 -5 -6 -8 -9 -10
So the low octave of 2nd looks great, the top end of 1st is awesome with its bendy 8, and 3rd covers all draw notes with the avoid 7...and full step 2 and 3...makes 3rd the winner I think...
How about 4th...+1 +2 -3" -3 +4 +5 -6 -7 +7 +8 -10 +10'+10"
More complicated than 3rd but it's all there
5th is not so good mainly because the 2nd degree of the scale is 2', 5ob, +10'. But 5th is a good position to know your way around so could be good as an exercise. +2 -2' -3 +5 +5ob +6 -8 +8 +9' +10'
But looking at that, 3rd position looks the best choice overall
I also want to mention that it's interesting that the melody can be played almost in its entirety on the 3 hole or the 6 hole in 2nd position.
Also I forgot to include the major 6th as a good addition to the notes, so that makes Aeolian mode (4th position) more awkward with a 5ob, and leaves Dorian (3rd position) looking good. Fifth position would be even more challenging, with 7od and 10od to get the (optional) 6th.
First position is indeed a good option to try, as SuperBee points out. However, I still prefer playing the melody in 2nd rather than 3rd because of the bending possibilities and being able to make full use of three octaves. ----------
Last Edited by mr_so&so on Jun 24, 2016 10:47 AM
