Header Graphic
Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Traditional 1st Position Tutorial
Traditional 1st Position Tutorial
Login  |  Register
Page: 1

Moon Cat
793 posts
Feb 24, 2020
9:47 PM
Hey Yall! This is a quick 18 minute kind of crash course on getting around first position with a traditional (Circa 50'/60's) feel. Just the bottom and top octave only. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for all of your support, I really have enjoyed meeting some of the members here on the road lately!
Grateful!
Jason





----------
www.mooncat.org
Moon Cat
794 posts
Feb 24, 2020
9:49 PM
Here's an older recording from more than a few years back using this basic approach:

----------
www.mooncat.org
Moon Cat
795 posts
Feb 24, 2020
10:03 PM
Here's another one using a bit more tongue blocking with JJ Appleton:

----------
www.mooncat.org
Moon Cat
796 posts
Feb 24, 2020
10:08 PM
But nothing beats this one where Big Walter navigates the middle octave so beautifully and carefully! "Trust my Baby" by Rice Miller and Kim Wilson's cover too is a really heavy, heavy 1st position standard for most of us too but this Big Walter here blows my mind still and is the song that really got me interested in playing the harmonica.

www.mooncat.org

Last Edited by Moon Cat on Feb 24, 2020 10:09 PM
BronzeWailer
2125 posts
Feb 24, 2020
10:26 PM
This "Coming underneath the notes" concept is a revelation. Many thanks Jason.


BronzeWailer's YouTube
Moon Cat
797 posts
Feb 24, 2020
11:31 PM
AWESOME BRONZE WAILER! SO GLAD THAT HELPED!
----------
www.mooncat.org
SuperBee
6510 posts
Feb 24, 2020
11:59 PM
That’s awesome Mooncat, I am excited to watch these. Thank you.

That cut of Trouble in Mind is something else. Bruce Iglaur wrote about it in his recent biography too. It’s one of those magic moments that was fortunately captured on tape.
Moon Cat
798 posts
Feb 25, 2020
1:33 AM
Super Bee: Thank you Sir! YES! That cut is absolute magic! I would love to read Bruce's words on that. I will have to get5 the book. The song literally changed the course of my life for better or for worse. Thanks for digging this stuff!
www.mooncat.org
SuperBee
6511 posts
Feb 25, 2020
3:56 AM
I think it’s probably ok to share this small quote from the book.
Bruce had this to say:
“The session’s most magical moment came during a break on the second night. Sitting together in a corner of the studio, Walter and Eddie began playing the old folk blues standard “Trouble in Mind,” performing it with beautiful delicacy. At Stu Black’s suggestion, we recorded the song just as they had played it, with only the two of them. In two takes we captured a magnificent musical love affair between two old friends. I ended the record with that performance because nothing else could follow it. It will stand as one of the most memorable recordings of Walter’s career and of Alligator’s legacy.”

— Bitten by the Blues: The Alligator Records Story (Chicago Visions and Revisions) by Bruce Iglauer, Patrick A. Roberts
http://amzn.asia/2p6UPYf
barbequebob
3640 posts
Feb 25, 2020
9:13 AM
Jason, I've always loved how Big Walter played Trouble In Mind in 1st position but being that I used to see and hang out with him a lot during the 70's, the ironic thing was that he never played in that way on any of the many gigs I saw him played and it was always in E with the A in 2nd position.

Jimmy Reed was also a hugely influential 1st position player.
----------
Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
Tuckster
1717 posts
Feb 25, 2020
9:38 AM
Big Walter's "Trouble in Mind" really grabbed me early in my journey. At the time,it drove me nuts because I only knew cross harp and couldn't figure out what the heck he was doing.Much to learn from that version.
Here's another SBW2 first position tune that's always been a favorite:
Stokes Bay Slim
103 posts
Feb 26, 2020
6:51 AM
Thankyou Jason, this is such a great tutorial and the subsequent examples too. I have the "Dirty Memory" cd, I play it often and love it! 1ST position stuff, particularly at the high end is the weakest of all my humble playing so this is just so great.
Thanks Tuckster that SBW11 track is cool as!

Last Edited by Stokes Bay Slim on Feb 27, 2020 2:55 AM
barbequebob
3641 posts
Feb 26, 2020
9:14 AM
Here's a great 1st position classic by Junior Wells:

----------
Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
The Iceman
4029 posts
Feb 26, 2020
10:02 AM
re: Junior Wells clip above....

How many of you here consider yourselves advanced intermediate or higher?

Can you hit that 3 hole inhale 1st bend repeatedly, on pitch, with good attack like Junior does? (around 0:13)

Separates the men from the boys, so to speak.....
----------
The Iceman

Last Edited by The Iceman on Feb 26, 2020 11:43 AM
Moon Cat
799 posts
Feb 26, 2020
6:28 PM
Thanks everyone and cool tunes! Iceman reminded me here that the 3 draw bent a 1/2 step, on the I chord, is a important note in traditional blues or blues in general being the b7. In my lesson I just give yall the 3 draw natural which is a major 7 on the I chord and not really the best note to play there. Of course, on the IV chord it's (3 draw) a bV so it works real good there but not so great on the first chord in a blues. Thanks Larry and all Yall!
Jason
----------
www.mooncat.org
Rgsccr
511 posts
Feb 26, 2020
10:45 PM
Great lesson Jason - thank you. As I said on your YouTube channel, I really needed this - especially the low end.
Harmonicatunes
285 posts
Feb 27, 2020
6:32 PM
A very cool and valuable video. Heartfelt thanks from all of us.

----------
Tony Eyers
Australia
www.HarmonicaAcademy.com
everyone plays...
SuperBee
6515 posts
Feb 27, 2020
9:25 PM
https://youtu.be/oNfKKVcM0-8


I don’t know how well Taj Mahal is regarded here for his harp, but I found his 1st position work on this was quite instructive when I started out playing 1st
indigo
588 posts
Feb 27, 2020
9:31 PM

Last Edited by indigo on Feb 27, 2020 9:33 PM
WinslowYerxa
1673 posts
Mar 06, 2020
10:19 AM
Big Walter's Draw 5 is so flat, though! I know this was recorded in the 1970s, and I guess either they were still tuning to 7-limit just or he was just using an old, out-of-tune harp.
----------
Harmonica lessons with one of the world's foremost experts
Check out my blog and other goodies at winslowyerxa.com
Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition with tons of new stuff
Harmonica Collective Spring Gathering March 19-21
SPAH 2020 convention in Saint Louis, August 11-15


Post a Message



(8192 Characters Left)


Modern Blues Harmonica supports

§The Jazz Foundation of America

and

§The Innocence Project

 

 

 

ADAM GUSSOW is an official endorser for HOHNER HARMONICAS