What key harp for the original version of Smokestack Lightning? I looked for some tabs but the ones I found are for the vocals not the harp parts. The guy I'm taking lessons from is trying to teach me to learn to play by ear. This seems like a simple one and I'd like to play it so I figured to try to figure it out myself. Bb for a guess?
ETA; no it's lower but A nor G seem right either? I suck at this.
---------- It's MUSIC, not just complicated noise.
Last Edited by on Mar 02, 2011 2:18 PM
For the original version grab your A harp and play around with the notes contained in the E minor pentatonic scale.
---------- "You will never get every possible thing out of an instrument, but the instrument will get every possible thing out of you" - Ray Charles.
Last Edited by on Mar 02, 2011 2:35 PM
@Greyowlphotoart I believe I said 'Usually" His Best (Chess 1997) -5. Smokestack Lightning - E, A Harp (2nd Position)
Howlin’ Wolf Box Set - Disc 2 (Chess, 1955 – 1962)-2. Smokestack Lightnin' – E, A Harp (2nd Position) The Real Folk Blues (Chess/MCA, 1995)-13. Smokestack Lightning [Mobile Fidelity Only] - E, A Harp (2nd Position) I am sure he also performed the song in other keys at times. As your you tube video testifies to. Actually I also prefer the key of D for the song. :)
I noticed when I tried to play along I sounded out of tune. It's almost as if he played with so much power he played slightly out of tune. Which, would make sense as if I played harder if sounded better.
@MJ - I don't think Greyowl was disagreeing with what you said. It looks like he merely took your quote and then found the original cut so that people could hear and play along with that version with an A harp.
---------- "You will never get every possible thing out of an instrument, but the instrument will get every possible thing out of you" - Ray Charles.
All diatonics back in the day were ALL tuned to 7 limit just intonation back then until 1974, when the Golden Melody came out as the first German made harp tuned to ET. 7LJI was used on all other Hohner models until 1985. If you're playing along with any of the stuff the old blues men did, here's where you'll want your harps tuned to 7LJI comes in and you'll notice the difference when chording. Playing harder won't make it sound better, but you'll have to work like hell to slow down the speed of the vibrato and that's THE biggest challenge in mastering Wolf's style. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
All diatonics back in the day were ALL tuned to 7 limit just intonation back then until 1974, when the Golden Melody came out as the first German made harp tuned to ET. 7LJI was used on all other Hohner models until 1985. If you're playing along with any of the stuff the old blues men did, here's where you'll want your harps tuned to 7LJI comes in and you'll notice the difference when chording. Playing harder won't make it sound better, but you'll have to work like hell to slow down the speed of the vibrato and that's THE biggest challenge in mastering Wolf's style. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
The Wolf vibrato requires you to think more like an opera singer and play with a much more relaxed and very open throat and inside shape of your mouth, something most harp players DON'T do, and the hardest part is slowing the speed down, which will also drop the pitch a tad in the process and it took me over 2-1/2 months of non stop practice EVERY DAY to achieve this and also you have to learn to use your diaphragm for it as well, just like an opera singer.
Once you've got this, the James Cotton slow vibrato, which has many similarities to this will fall right into place and for both players, the slow, deep vibrato is a big trademark of their respective sounds.
Wolf is a classic example of the less is more approach. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
