What is Sonny Boy doing here? It's at around 1:19 in the following video. He plays a bunch of notes with wah first. Then, leading into the chord change, it sounds sort of like a tongue roll on the harmonica. That's the only thing I can imagine it being. Sonny Boy does this on a bunch of songs. What is it?
Ive heard a few people carry that off. Rick Estrin of course. I’m sure I’ve heard MBH member Kingley do it well, and also Steve Cocksedge in NSW impressed me with it. Not much of a tongue roller myself, in any way.
I first heard this on this recording, now on YouTube:
Around 58 seconds in, rolling r. Lots of other incredible old school stuff in the song, too!
I still occasionally will throw one of these in on high notes. I can do the rolling r, but man, some of those other techniques are beyond me. Only time I ever heard some of these other techniques live was when Joe Filisko was playing. ----------
Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Jun 23, 2018 8:40 PM
As people above have stated it is indeed just ' rolling your r's'. As with most things can be quite effective used in the right place, but can also be very easily overdone and then sound very naff (naff is an English term for rubbish).
Jim Conway (Oz) also does this on Kind Hearted Woman. I learned to do it (the tongue roll) from YouTube vids a few years ago. I do it about one a night.
Try this again. Put tongue on roof of mouth exhale while purring like a cat! Do this through the harp and you got yourself a attention grabbing note. Be careful not to use it to often. Just a hint... smilin
Grey Owl, how do you do it on the draw notes? I use it on at least one of my tunes on the exhale (although not as pronounced as this) but I've never been able to figure out a way to do it on draw notes.
Hi Nate. I lightly rest the top of the front part of my tongue at the roof of my mouth just back from the the top front teeth. This remains lightly anchored there throughout. Relax the tongue and draw to get the tongue fluttering. It feels like one side of my tongue is fluttering between the fixed root of the tongue and the anchored front of the tongue
Whereas on the blow technique the tip of the tongue is free to flutter.
ie the blow is like a flag fluttering at the free end but on the draw it's like a flag being loosely held at the free end and fluttering between the mast and the held flag if that makes any sense!
I forget which one of the Harmonica books it was in, but I once read you should not use that effect more than once per performance. Noah Lewis uses it in some Gus Cannon recordings.
"I once read you should not use that effect more than once per performance."
I'd say that's a great philosophy which should be applied to most techniques. Most people these days seem to overdo the side to side tongue warble thing and other types of 'shimmers'. To my mind techniques like this should only be used when they appropriately enhance a song and not simply for the 'look what I can do' factor. Which seems to more often than not be the case these days. Same goes for overblows, million notes a minute, warbles, wah-wahs and much more. Of course though that's just my opinion and we all know what they say about opinions.
Last Edited by Kingley on Jun 25, 2018 12:36 AM
I agree about using certain techniques sparingly. It is like adding a dash of seasoning as opposed to smothering everything in heavy spices. It sounds great as a one time or one song technique, and is annoying as an ongoing repeated harmonica sound.
I have a similar sentiment about the 9-10 blow bend ala Magic Dick. I use this riff at times, preferably once a night at most. However, sometimes I listen to a gig recording and realize I used it again, later in the night. Preferably I only use it once a night, and certainly not twice in a set. If a recording shows I used it more often, I am disappointed in my lack of awareness of what I am playing. Playing in the moment is great, but not if you overuse certain riffs/techniques. ----------
Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Jun 25, 2018 7:41 AM
I am a big fan of using this rolled R sound in my rhythm playing. Nice to discover it can be done inhaling!
Here is a clip from last year of our rendition of Take 5. My technique sounds a bit cleaner and tighter nowadays, but mostly the same.
@Greyowl - Is there any chance you could share a video of you doing the inward R? I am very interested.
Last Edited by woodnacho on Jun 28, 2018 6:17 AM
