Hey, Rick Estrin, back here at Sonic Junction with the first lesson of this Crawlin' Kingsnake. This week I'm gonna help get you prepared for the meat of the song by showing you a couple of the recurring chordal and rhythmic devices that keep coming up in various ways throughout the song. There'll be tongue slapping, some "dirty" or distorted notes, and some probably new, breathing and rhythmic patterns. This will probably turn out to be the most important lesson in the series because we'll be using these patterns and devices throughout the song.
So relax, have fun and feel that groove!
Rick
Topics and/or subjects covered in this lesson:
Chicago Blues
Print Chords & Tab
G Harp in the Key of D.
Loop 0:00 Intro Verse
Loop 0:37 First Vocal Verse
Loop 1:10 Second Vocal Verse
Loop 1:41 Solo Verse
Loop 2:14 Third Vocal Verse
Loop 2:46 Solo Outro and Ending
Comments
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Hi everybody and Happy Birthday to you Rick!!!
Wish you all the best and many cool perfomances ahead!
And it's my small present as your student - my version of your Crawling King Snake;) on russian lang.
From Belarus with love and regards! Thank you for your cool lessons on Sonic Junction!
Cool!!! Thank you Kosta! Great job! I like the Russian translation too!
Thanks Rick and Kosta !! you re making my day ... you re giving me "Fuel" for more !!
Hi Rick !! That is One of the first time that I was able to play it from the beginning till the end ... I m not able yet to know exactly where I am during the song , counting the beats and the chords progression , but now I have a better Idea ... I m sure with practice , I ll be able to get more in the "groove" ,It s really funny to try to sing !! anyway Kosta always putting video on line , I wanted to Thanks Him to kepping the Site "alive" and wanted to put a little of Me !! loll I will for sure play it with a Metronome soon ....any comments Rick and others ??
WOW! Very cool Andre!! Rhythmically and the sound very cool. (maybe the room gives such effect and reverberating) Your voice has a bluesy sound and manner . And it's all "in the pocket'' as one bluesman loves to say;)
I certanly should do this song) someday.
Real good job, Andre! Good job on keeping the groove too!
Hey Man !! playing with the F..." word" metronome !! so hard ... trying to count the beat and play with it ... I think my brain doesn t work well !! the beat it s so the structure and play with the way you do Rick ...Now I know why I love so much what you do !! it will be and hard road !! like you said in a lesson " If it d be easy , everybody would do it !!" anyway I had to say it !!
Can t wait to ear it !!!
Hi Rick !! I tried to play and sing at the same speed as you .... It s a real workout , I really need to control my breath !! anyway ... it s really fun and Yeah , like you said everything is on you the groove , the sound , the mastery of the Harp technique etc... it s really complete !! I love it !!
Great! Glad you're diggin it, Andre! I think you'll really enjoy my next series too! It's more John Lee Williamson style stuff.
This lesson has been transformative for me. Please play in New York soon.
Wow - Thanks Alex! I'm glad it's helping you. No telling when we'll be in NY again. We did a couple NY dates last month. You can always check rickestrin.com to see where we are.
Hello Rick,
Are your hands smaller than before or is it a bigger harp than you usually use? ;) Some tears are coming when I listen to your harp calling mama... very nice one, Tks.
Good eye, Tomi! It's a bigger harp. It's just like a regular Marine Band, but a little bigger. Next week I'll switch to a normal size, key of G, Marine Band.
Nice!
1952 was Tony Hollins' second recording of the song. He cut it on Okeh in '41.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Hollins
Your version sounds a lot like the Tony Hollins version from 1952.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJZt4qIFFF8
Big Joe Williams recorded a version, different but sounds to me like the same song, in 1941.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDoeZa50Z8g
For what it's worth, some sources site Joe Williams as the composer, others just as the first to record it. I've been taught to learn as much as possible about the origins of my repertoire and I like to see whatever it is I'm doing as part of a tradition. You are a strong link in the chain for me!
composer. 😉
I think maybe the first recorded version was by Tony Hollins, so maybe it originated with him - but, maybe not
So much to love: the groove is so strong. I love all the space and how you keep the groove going. I love that you're singing and playing in that groove (because I'm a singer and the blues is so much about the poetry.) I love that this is a much recorded tune but it's origin is unclear - it's a bit like a spiritual in that way: no known
Love it
Thanks Boyd! once you really get into it, it'll be a lot of fun!
I'm hearing some Sonny Boy I licks! I haven't thought about him in quite a while. When I first started I didn't listen to almost anything else. I'm looking forward to revisiting that and all the other stuff you've packed into this tune. Thanks.
If one wants to play blues, SBW1 is THE best place to get a foundation!
Yeahhhhhhh !!! looking forward to play it !!
Cool! I predict a good time!
looking forward to honing this one Rick .. thanks a million!
Thank you, Gordi - Let m know how you're liking it as the series goes along.
Very good. I like it but my singing sucks. Maybe I should give it a try on singing
Give it a shot, Boyd. Just get into it and relax! Even if you end up focusing mainly on the harp, there's a ton of real good stuff to work with - Relax and have fun!