You guys are great. Thanks. I know to keep learning by ear, but sometimes these kind of tabs help me get past a stumpbling point. Anybody want to tackle this riff @ 1:16- 1:25?
I like figuring this sort of thing out, but I'm no pro so take it as a rough guide only.
The pick up is 3/4D 4/5B 3/4D 4/5B
The rest: 4/5D (dip into it) 4/5B 3/4D 1D 1D 345B 345B (more of an air release generally around those holes rather than an exact chord) 2D (strong vibrato) 2D 2D" 1D 1B (can't hear this properly) 1D 2D 2D 2D (there's a whole series of 2Ds after this - I think he's using tongue blocking again to alternate between the 1D and 2D) .... and the last bit: 2D 2D" 1D 1D 1D
Tookatooka, Er, thanks for everything you have helped me with! As a very new player-1. If I could make it more than a one-sided game, I would. 2. I promise you that I work on the instrument every day. These just happen to be a favorite of mine that I would love to be able to play. Jodanchudan, THANK YOU, I'm glad that you like figuring this stuff out and I hope to get better at it myself. I wish you a very Happy Holiday. HOPEFULLY some day I can get to the point of helping and not just asking.
@Hondo I hate tabbing stuff out... when I do, its usually one of my own licks that I come up with, and I do it so that I won't forget it. But with modern technology, I usually record it and create an MP3 file of it, and file it away. Its hard (for me) to tab all the little nuiances, timing, effects, etc... I let my ears teach my brain by listening.
I like using the free software "Audacity" and "Best Practice". I know there's others available, but these are the two that I usually use.
I record sound from YouTube videos using Audacity, and make MP3 files of the whole thing, or just the bits and pieces I want, both in normal speed and/or slowed down.
Once I have MP3 files created, I often use BestPractice to re-play and slow down the pieces.
I usually put these in my iTunes Music library (so I can listen to them on my iPod) with a special "Grouping" called "Harmonica Exercises" so that I can create smart playlists to include or exclude this grouping (I do not want these in my normal song playlists).
I've used Audactiy a number of years now, before I discovered BestPractice. These are both great tools. Wish I had them way back when I first started playing, instead of studying vinyl records and cassette tapes.
Oh yeah... LOVE my iPod !!!
Last Edited by on Dec 22, 2010 8:00 AM
Hondo, as a player for 1 year off and on, I must say my recent experience has been that tabs are not very useful. You need to develop your ear. I am achieving this by playing progressively more and more difficult songs. The Howlin' Wolf licks you are asking for in the 2nd vid are simple but require tongue-blocking techniques. I strongly suggest you get to know the harp before moving into these techniques.
It may seem boring at first because you don't get to instantly work on cool songs but it's worth it. These are the types of songs I learned, in order: - Starting out using tabs: Any simple song like Oh Suzanna. - Adam's tutorial on a Sonny Terry lick /able to bend hole 4 - Easy Rider by Sonny Terry - Slim Harpo songs /able to bend holes 1-4 - Muddy Waters songs with simpler harp - Sonny Boy Williamson II but not tongue-blocked - Change My Ways by Joe Louis Walker but not TB /Start of TB use - Sonny Boy Williamson II - Big Walter Horton - James Cotton (including Change My Ways in TB) - Adam's Front Porch blues
You will start off needing tabs. By experimenting in listening to a song then playing it on harp you will start to get an ear, however transposing harp in one key to one you are playing in another key will take a little more experience.
*Edit: Start working on vibrato when you are ready and if you already haven't done so*
Last Edited by on Dec 22, 2010 10:50 AM
Thanks AirMojo and Philippe! Philippe-I have some skills (bending, split octaves, etc.)but I guess I have been stuck in riffs and licks and not working on particular songs. Thanks you for the list that looks like I should use as a guideline. AirMojo- Thanks-I have Audacity and an Ipod. Time to figure out how to record sound of Youtube vids with Audacity. Got a new little square Ipod I'll dedicate to what you are doing. Love it!
