pythonbeg
1 post
Aug 06, 2017
3:55 AM
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Hello, I've been lurking on this forum for a while and finally have something worth posting here (I think).
Konstantin Reinfeld recently posted a video for Nat Adderley's Work Song in second position on the main forum. I was trying to learn it, but it was full of bends and overblows and my playing has not yet advanced to that level. However, the tune was stuck in my head and while I was noodling around I discovered that it's actually quite easy to play it in third position. Later I discovered that the song itself is in Dorian mode, which is the major scale minus the tonic so it fits perfectly in third position. Anyway, here is the tab as I have got it by ear. As far as I can hear, it doesn't need any bends to be played faithfully to the original tune so it can make quite a good introductory song for beginners. To play it in the original key of F minor, I believe an Eb harp would be necessary ( I don't have one myself to verify).
4 4 5 +6 6 6 +6 6 +7
4 4 5 +6 4 4 +4 4 4
4 4 5 +6 6 6 +6 6 +7
6 +7 6 +7 6 +6 +6 6 6
8 +7 6 5 5 +6 5 5 4 5 6
4 4 5 +6 4 4 +4 4 4
4 5 +6 6
4 5 +6 +6
6 +6 5 +6 5 4 +4 4
Any feedback is welcome.
Last Edited by pythonbeg on Aug 06, 2017 4:14 AM
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SuperBee
4872 posts
Aug 06, 2017
4:20 AM
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Hi and thanks for the tab.
I'm curious about your statement that Dorian mode is the major scale minus the tonic. I've never seen it described that way and I'm still trying to think what it means.
To me, Dorian is a scale based on using the second note of a major scale as the tonic.
That would be:
re mi fa so la ti do re
Or if you like, D E F G A B C D
It's a minor mode: a minor 3rd and dominant 7th, which is why it fits perfectly on the middle of a diatonic harp.
I haven't previously thought specifically about the work song, but I see your tab makes use of just the tonic, minor third, 4th, 5th, dominant 7th and Octave. Oh, and the dom7 below.
All those notes should be readily available in 2nd position apart from the minor 3rd, which is a half step bend on the 3draw, or a 6overblow.
If you used 2 draw as the tonic, you wouldn't need to use the overblow to get what you've tabbed, but you would need the 3half step bend (3').
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pythonbeg
2 posts
Aug 06, 2017
4:53 AM
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Oh I was just (badly) quoting Wikipedia there. You are right of course about the Dorian mode, bad phrasing on my part.
Here's a link to the part I was referencing, I'm very new to this stuff so I could be well off base.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorian_mode#Modern_Dorian_mode
Regarding the notes that I have tabbed out, in the video that Konstantin posted, he uses a 5 overblow in the 4th line. Other than the overblow, he also uses a 3' as you say and also a 4'. Of course that wouldn't be hard to do for someone who's put in the practice, but I've only been playing for 6 months or so and I was excited by being able to play a proper tune without needing any bends. While I can bend in isolation, I still have to put in a lot of work in order to be able to use bends properly and in tune for a lick. Until then, it just sounds better to me when I play straight.
Here's the link to the original video and tab I'm referencing:
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/5496381.htm
Edit: Also the 2 draw whole step bend, which I struggle greatly to get in tune.
Last Edited by pythonbeg on Aug 06, 2017 4:55 AM
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SuperBee
4873 posts
Aug 06, 2017
5:56 AM
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The 5ob would be a major 7 in 2nd. The 3rd position equivalent would be 7 overdraw. Not a note I'll be playing anytime soon.
I can get 6 ob on many harps but 5 and 4 are more difficult for me. I've decided to leave them alone.
You are correct of course aboutbthe 2draw whole step bend, which would be the equivalent of your 4 blow.
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SuperBee
4874 posts
Aug 06, 2017
6:00 AM
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Oh the 4' in second is a flat 5th
In 3rd that is the 6'
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pythonbeg
3 posts
Aug 06, 2017
8:28 AM
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Right, I haven't even got my first overblow yet. Also, I should emphasize that I didn't try to transpose Konstantin's tabs. I just listened to the original and tried to play the same intervals on my own by ear. It just so happens that I could get the entire tune without needing any bends and thought it was a pretty cool tune to show raw beginners instead of Oh Susanna or whatever.
In any case, hope it helps someone.
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SuperBee
4876 posts
Aug 06, 2017
8:31 PM
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just for fun i transposed your tab into 2nd position:
2 2 3’ +4 4 4 +4 4 5
2 2 3’ +4 2 2 2” 2 2
2 2 3’ +4 4 4 +4 4 5
4 5 4 5 4 +4 +4 4 4
+6 5 4 3’ 3’ +4 3’ 3’ 2 3’ 4
2 2 3’ +4 2 2 2” 2 2
2 3’ +4 4
2 3’ +4 +4
4 +4 3’ +4 3’ 2 2” 2
i still haven't played it, but its good exercise.
there have been a couple of threads lately on the topic of knowing your way around the harmonica. over the years ive found this kind of transposition exercise a good way to develop my knowledge of the harp and the relative scales.
once i would have had to write out the scales and draw myself diagrams to do something like this. i'm clearly making (very slow) progress because i am now able to visualise the layout well enough to be able to do this without resort to visual aids. i'm still quite unskilled at actually playing improvised 3rd position licks. st james infirmary and minnie the moocher are about it. some comping on San HoZay, and maybe a lick of 'Blues Keep Falling'.
I wonder what Butterfield did with this song?
according to my spreadsheet, he played it in 2nd position, using a Bb harp. the recording is on the East-West album
i looked for other versions (on my sheet)and only found one by Gary Primich, from the Omar and The Howlers album, but according to the notes there is no harp on that one.
I'll have to check KR's tab.
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Sundancer
146 posts
Aug 06, 2017
9:15 PM
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I'm quite fond of Grey Owl's version. No OB required.
https://youtu.be/hPMGpAKBTzw
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pythonbeg
4 posts
Aug 06, 2017
10:29 PM
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Ah, great stuff all around.
I have to say I'm not fond of Paul Butterfield's version. Having listened to Nat Adderley's original, a lot of the nuances are lost in Butterfield's version, especially in the fast lick in the 5th bar. However, Grey Owl's video is great and it of course takes a lot of skill to even play like that that I don't yet have.
Here's Konstantin's version:
2 2 3' +4 4 4 +4 4 5
2 2 3' +4 2 2 2" 2 2
2 2 3' +4 4 4 +4 4 5
4 4 5 4 +5o 4 +4 4
+6 5 4’ 4 4’ 2 +4 3’ 3’ 2 3’ +4
2 2 3’ +4 2 2 2" 2 2" 2
4' 4 2
+4 4'
2 3' 4' +4 3' +4 3' 2 2" 2
As you can see it differs significantly from the version I put up, starting right from the 4th bar. I bet Konstantin's version is a lot closer to the original. The funny thing is, I can find the sheet music for the original but I can't read it yet. If anyone is curious and/or capable, here is the link:
http://freejazzinstitute.com/showposts.php?dept=transcriptions&topic=20091129120035_HalfNelson
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Killa_Hertz
2393 posts
Aug 20, 2017
4:08 PM
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Isn't William Clarke version on Chromatic basocially the same as 3rd on diatonic??
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