Peter757
20 posts
Dec 04, 2008
1:33 PM
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I have seen many lists of the "top ten" and "must listen" to blues harmonica players...very educational and inspiring to listen to...I continue to build my library.
As a beginner, I'm looking for your suggestion as to who many be suitable that fits the following crietria:
* Simple riffs
* Plays predominently acoustic (easier for my ear to match notes to)
* Would be easiest for a beginner to pick up licks and follow along to
As you can see, I'm not looking for the most talented, just a good solid player who keeps it simple and would be fun to learn to play along to.
Appreciate your suggestions.
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Anonymous
Guest
Dec 04, 2008
1:48 PM
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Little Hatch
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harper
12 posts
Dec 04, 2008
3:07 PM
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I would recommend that you get some Jimmy Reed. Because he's playing a neck rack harp (while playing guitar) his riffs aren't so difficult that you feel like throwing your harp away, but his playing is always tasteful. He plays with a very clear acoustic sound and with a strong emphasis on playing melodically; and, generally speaking, his rythms are pretty relaxed so if you get lost it's pretty easy to find your way back. Also, he often plays in first position so that may help you grapple with some of those blow bends. And, by the way, he uses the A harp quite a bit. You may want to get one if you don't have one already. Actually, it's a rather common harp no matter who you're listening to (provided it's not the style of blues with a lot of horns). Good luck and Godspeed on your path to harmonica enlightenment!
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Miles Dewar
105 posts
Dec 04, 2008
3:54 PM
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I love Jimmy. Your gonna need to practice high notes, he likes the high notes on the low harps. Huge on the high notes. But Jimmy is the way to go. Easy to copy.
"Big Boss man" "Boogie in the Dark" "Blue Carnegie"
---Be Positive---
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Casey V.
Guest
Dec 05, 2008
8:10 AM
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You should also check out Slim Harpo. Once you can TB for octaves his playing is fairly easy to decipher. His playing is rarely lightning fast and has a great groove to it.
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bluemoose
23 posts
Dec 05, 2008
9:07 AM
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Hey Pete!
I've always thought that every harp player as a rite of
passage should be forced into the woodshed for a month
with only 3 Jr Wells cd's. 'Hoodoo Man Blues',
'Blues Hit Big Town' and 'Alone and Acoustic'.
Everything you need to know is right there.
moose.
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Jeff
166 posts
Dec 05, 2008
11:11 AM
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Purchase this book and follow the simple Sonny Boy Williamson, Jimmy Reed and Howlin' Wolf songs:
http://www.amazon.com/Blues-Harmonica-Collection-Leonard-Corp/dp/0793516005/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228503839&sr=1-1
Once you see the tab in front of you, you realize that even the riffs that sound complicated really aren't that bad. Buying the Amazing Slow Downer would help a lot also.
I always thought Sonny Boy's material was great for beginners because his stuff relies heavily on timing more so than complex riffs. His playing is very simple and straightforward. This $7 book has virtually all of Little Walter and Sonny Boy's classics (40+) - it's worth its weight in gold.
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Peter757
21 posts
Dec 06, 2008
10:15 AM
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thank you for the suggestions, much appreciated!
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bdr
13 posts
Dec 07, 2008
3:26 AM
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Hi
I like playing along with Snooky Pryor when I'm in the car, he plays a lot of simple riffs that don't take too much concentration to follow which is a good thing whist driving. I would also recommend the book Jeff says, Sitting on top of the world is quite easy to play along with and probably a great place to start
regards
Bdr
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Peter757
27 posts
Jan 27, 2009
5:38 AM
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Well, I just got my VERY BEST OF JIMMY REED CD, and an A Harp! (Hopefully most of what he plays is on an A Harp here, although I also have a C, D, & Bb).
WOW, those low notes on an A harp are tough!
Jeff, I also ordered the book above you suggested.
Thanks again.
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JTThirty
15 posts
Jan 27, 2009
7:47 AM
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I think Slim Harpo would be a great place to begin listening to licks to copy. Most of his stuff is straight forward and he bends some notes that can be emulated pretty easy, once you get the hang of it. Anyway--
See ya--
Ricky B
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harpnoodler
22 posts
Jan 27, 2009
8:31 AM
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I found James Cotton was very easy to imitate when I was starting out.
He uses a limited repertoire of licks that he tends to repeat often. Many of these are based around the simple bent 4 draw, microbent draw3, draw2 slide. He does use TB octaves, and I learned that technique trying to imitate him. He is also a master of the draw3 with a bit of draw4 wail and he uses a lot of sustained shakes on 45 and 34. All of these apsects of his playing are easy to appoximate for the beginner.
Then, once you figure out what holes he's using and learn to listen more closely to what he's doing, a whole new world opens up: you begin to appreciate his monster tone and the incredible rhythmic subtleties he imposes on the simple riffs that are the backbone of his signature style, and you begin to realize just how far away you are from his funky, totally controlled mastery of the instrument.
Last Edited by on Jan 27, 2009 8:32 AM
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