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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Any suggestions for folk/harp songs
Any suggestions for folk/harp songs
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John M G
387 posts
Nov 27, 2020
10:19 PM
I get along to a folk club and sail close to the edge with some of the songs I do that are more blues than folk.
Any suggestions for folk vocal and harmonica solo songs? No accompanist instruments. We only get 2 songs per meeting, sometimes 4 if we go round again.
Cheers JG
jbone
3279 posts
Nov 28, 2020
3:02 AM
Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad may qualify. We play it in either A or D and I play a G harp on it, in 2nd or 3rd. No doubt it could be done as a 1st position song.

Perhaps a Christmas song?
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Sarge
812 posts
Nov 28, 2020
6:18 AM
Here's a folk harmonica forum. Check out the songs of the month. Two songs each month. There should be a couple in there that you would like,
https://folkharmonica.freeforums.net/

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Soap Music
2 posts
Nov 28, 2020
6:56 AM
Check out Honey Pot by Blues n Trouble (the Scottish band) other versions are probably available
dougharps
2212 posts
Nov 28, 2020
8:13 AM
I have an old compilation paperback book by Lomax called "Folk Song USA" from which I have chosen a number of songs to interpret at gigs.

You might find some of these and other folk songs online here:

American Folk Songs

or here:

Folk Song Index by Stephen Griffith

Many traditional American folk songs have many versions both lyrically and melodically since they were passed on by ear and adapted by players over the years.

If you find a song, check YouTube for versions. It is likely that in Oz there are versions already in use. Some of the USA songs are adaptations of British songs and some originated in America.

I personally am not a stickler for trying to always do a song in a set "correct" version.

Have fun!
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Doug S.

Last Edited by dougharps on Nov 28, 2020 8:15 AM
John M G
389 posts
Nov 28, 2020
9:57 PM
Thanks everyone, some great resources there, thank you.
The Folk club is very forgiving on content. We get a lot of Beatles numbers and a variety of other less folk orientated pieces. The other night I did Sonny Boy 2's Mighty Long Time and a very very slow version of I'm Ready with my C Chromatic that were both well received. I'd just like to show I can do something a little more folk orientated.
Cheers JG
John M G
390 posts
Nov 28, 2020
11:20 PM
I forgot to mention, our folk club is only Acoustic. No amplification at all!
Sarge, I found some of your facebook posts and really enjoyed your Grandfathers Clock, I've also subscribed to the harmonica folk pages too.
Doug , thank you, you always come up with some really helpful resources.
JBone that Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad sounds interesting too.
Gnarly
2933 posts
Nov 29, 2020
6:41 AM
Wildwood Flower
WinslowYerxa
1719 posts
Nov 29, 2020
1:34 PM
Woody Guthrie's Tom Joad, with melody borrowed from a 19th century murder ballad, plays nicely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dimhKln0KBg
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Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Nov 29, 2020 1:39 PM
WinslowYerxa
1720 posts
Nov 29, 2020
1:44 PM
Tom Dooley (the pop Kingston Trio version from the 1960s) plays nicely in second position.



That said, Doc Watson's version has some nice first position:


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jbone
3280 posts
Nov 29, 2020
1:49 PM
John, I wish we had a video of it! But here's one of Woody Guthrie doing it-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBso-UG8R_E
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GamblersHand
726 posts
Nov 30, 2020
2:06 AM
Old Dan Tucker
Jess James might work just vocals and harp
La La Blues - Pokey LaFarge
You Aint Goin Nowhere - Dylan

You might get some inspiration from Ed Hopwood's youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheHarmonicaBarge/featured

He skirts around the Americana genres - 9 Pound Hammer, Fox Chase, Cripple Creek - some great material

Last Edited by GamblersHand on Nov 30, 2020 2:08 AM
WinslowYerxa
1721 posts
Nov 30, 2020
8:40 AM
Will the Circle Be Unbroken is one that lies nicely in second position.



Also, I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes, which was also used as the melody for the Great Speckled Bird and It wasn't God who Made Honky Tonk Angels


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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

Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Nov 30, 2020 8:41 AM
Spderyak
369 posts
Dec 02, 2020
4:46 AM
Just to be clear are you looking for songs without guitar accompaniment ?

So no Doc Watson or Jonathan Edwards etc
Papa John Kolstad & Mike Turk ?


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