bernmurd
14 posts
May 03, 2009
6:06 PM
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being fairly new to the harp. I was wondering what are the all time top ten must learn harp songs? I know it's subjective, but what's your top ten?
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Jim Rumbaugh
34 posts
May 03, 2009
7:02 PM
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Amazing Grace, starting on 1 draw.
It's a beginner's way to learn cross harp, and a crowd pleaser.
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jonsparrow
238 posts
May 03, 2009
7:03 PM
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thats a weird question. you should listen to music an decide for yourself. but alot of people say you gotta learn the train song, an fox chase.
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bernmurd
15 posts
May 03, 2009
7:41 PM
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how is that a weird question? Just looking for people's opinion on their top ten. I have my own list of songs I've learned, but just looking to expand.
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Patrick Barker
264 posts
May 03, 2009
8:12 PM
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In no particular order:
Juke- Little Walter
Whammer Jammer- Magic Dick (J Geils Band)
The Creeper- James Cotton
Steady- Jerry McCain
Easy- Big Walter
Christo Redemptor- Charlie Musselwhite
Summertime- Mark Hummel
The Blow Zone Layer- Jason Ricci
Bye Bye Birdie- Sonny Boy Williamson II
Down at Antone's- Kim Wilson
Edit: these are not must learn (especially for beginners), they are just top ten fun to listen to.
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"Without music, life would be a mistake" -Nietzsche
Last Edited by on May 03, 2009 8:15 PM
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Aussiesucker
260 posts
May 03, 2009
8:13 PM
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Its not a weird question at all. You can play anything you want to play on the harmonica.
Personally I would find it difficult to narrow down to 10 top favourites. Also the more proficient you become your favourites will change.
Remember this is a site for blues harp. If you just want to select some tunes to play other than blues there are sites like Harptabs.com which offer thousands of tabbed songs and they have a listing of the most requested tabs in order of popularity.
Also this subject has come up before on this forum and if you do a search "Haunting Melodies You May Know" I think you will get some answers.
Re 'must learn' there is no such thing in regards to tunes. What you must learn and practice is scales, plus Adam has a video covering the top 10 must know tips. When armed with the basics you pick and choose what tunes you want to learn.
Last Edited by on May 03, 2009 10:01 PM
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jonsparrow
239 posts
May 03, 2009
9:18 PM
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ya i agree you can play anything you want to play. but then it sounds weird as a "top ten MUST LEARN"
Last Edited by on May 03, 2009 9:18 PM
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Andrew
266 posts
May 04, 2009
1:55 AM
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I think it's a fair question, and I've asked it before and been similarly brushed aside.
Put it this way. Say you go to a jam and you get up on stage. The guitarist isn't going to say "Tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree in C sharp" he's more likely to say "Sweet Home Chicago in E"
So, what if we rephrase the question to "What are the 10 most important songs to know if you want to go to a jam session?"
OK, no-one's going to answer Summertime, which is a must learn, but at least maybe people will understand the question better!
Last Edited by on May 04, 2009 1:56 AM
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The Gloth
7 posts
May 04, 2009
2:45 AM
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I think it's good to know some blues classics, even if there's no harmonica on it : you can always add your own accompaniement. In fact, playing with a fellow guitarist who is, like me, very fond of old blues, I found that I don't need to know the song to be able to play on it ; and we never rehearse as well. He tells me wich tone is the song in, and we play. Most of the time I fill the spaces, and he gives me a sign when he wants me to play a solo. This works very well.
Of course, there are particular songs where the harmonica is more important, then it's better to know what to do : I would mention Canned Heat's "On the Road again" and "Goin'up the Country" (you can play the flute's part on that one), Sonny Boy Williamson's "Good Mornin' little schoolgirl", Sleepy John Estes "Drop down Mama"... But generally, improvising on the blues scale works as well.
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belfast_harper
44 posts
May 04, 2009
3:59 AM
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In David Barrett's book, Improvising Blues Harmonica he lists 52 blues standards that he says are worth learning, I have heard Adam reffering to songs as blues standards aswell.
A few of the songs that have been mentioned are -
Born in Chicago, Stormy Monday, Dust my Broom, Key to the Highway, Little Red Rooster, Walking Blues ect.
Adam's jam tracks cover a lot of these songs.
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sonvolt13
15 posts
May 04, 2009
5:20 AM
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"Sugar Sweet" by Muddy Waters has one of my favorite harp solos of all time. Great use of octaves. It also has great harp that backs the vocals without overpowering them.
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jawbone
19 posts
May 04, 2009
6:09 AM
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Knowing the "Mannish Boy" and "Hoochie Coochie Man" riffs as well as "I Got My Mojo Workin'" would be a good idea. I generally improvise but some songs do have a "standard" riff. Keys to the Highway and Trouble in Mind are 8 bar blues so you have to watch for the different timing and chord changes.
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If it ain't got harp - it ain't really blues!!!!
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Buddha
351 posts
May 04, 2009
6:32 AM
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good one Jawbone.
I was gonna chime in and say knowing certain riff is more important that knowing songs for a beginner.
Hoochie Coochie (Remember it was played in 1st pos not 2nd - but learn it both ways)
I always want to add messing with the kid.
Miss You riff is a good one to know as well.
belfast suggested stormy monday but I think you should stay away from that. Nobody I have heard on YouTube has it right (except me)
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chromaticblues
46 posts
May 04, 2009
6:52 AM
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I like patrick baker's list. I also agree that it's more important to learn riffs than songs and its easier. As a beginner try to learn riffs, scales(in the first 5 positions) and as many techniques as you can.
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jaymcc28
39 posts
May 04, 2009
7:24 AM
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I have found that learning some of the lessons from Adams store has helped me tremendously when jamming. It has given me a sort of 'database' (sorry computer geek here) to pick from when it comes to riffs. I don't get to jam with a live musician much but when the opportunity arises I have something other than play root chords to fall back on.
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bernmurd
16 posts
May 04, 2009
8:06 AM
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Andrew, you hit the nail on the head. Obviously I didn't articulate my thoughts to words well enough.
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sopwithcamels266
19 posts
May 04, 2009
1:51 PM
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Jonsparrow: I am with you man for sure.They have just misunderstood you, by your use of the word weird. I know what you meant to say man,
The discovery should be your own no one elses. Its about intrinsic motivation.
Its about making your own decisions.
In my record collection I have over 2500 albums and thats just Jazz, Blues roots all the way through with its derivaties up to contemporary a shed load.
I'm a modern jazz Sax player that plays blues, and plays blues Harp at times.
If I had a student come round to my house and ask me to suggest to him or her a top 10 of this or that, I wouldn't be doing them any favours by obliging them.
First you have to tap into their soul to find out why they want to do something.
Initially for example if there into blues then find your self a slot and start digging. Initially exposed to as much as possible on EVERY instrument, before being selective.
Otherwise what happens is for example the new harp player listens to exactly the same as everyone else. being selective merely by instruction.
If they stick to the task yea man one good you get pretty good.
Only one major flaw.Everyone sounds and plays like everyone else.And So the cycle continues,and folk wonder why music isn't progressing that much.
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Preston
317 posts
May 04, 2009
1:59 PM
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I've only sat in with 3 guitarist in my short journey on the harp, but all 3 of them played a 12 bar boogie woogie.
I originally thought it was the bassists job.
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Andrew
276 posts
May 05, 2009
3:56 AM
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I totally disagree with sopwith.
In classical music for example, I'm sure you are aware that symphonies and concertos and operas contain famous solos
for oboe or flute or clarinet (e.g. the oboe solos in Swan Lake or Beethoven's 5th symphony).
What you may not know is that you can buy books of these solos out of context,
so that you can practise them before coming across them in your orchestra.
All the oboe solos in Classical music can be fitted into two slim volumes
(as far as I can remember - I haven't owned a copy for 25 years).
It's not a case of restricting yourself, it's a case of being prepared.
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sopwithcamels266
20 posts
May 05, 2009
4:51 AM
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burnmurd:I'm sure the guys will post lots more suggestions for you, that said your original post could turn out to be a facinating topic.
Andrew:I have to say although I enjoy Classical music I am ignorant to a lot of it.
I can certainly draw some parrallels with most forms of music.
However the approach to the whole way of playing including culturaly in (Jazz,blues)I see as fundermentally different.
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