Sounding good again mate. You from Northern Ireland ? 

Thanks Tam

Nice playing Ryan. 

Next time you see me.

Hi

kinda new to the site. Just wondering if they're any Scottish players here. I've been trying to get a blues band off the ground to no avail. Most the blues bands about  are really classic rock bands who throw an odd blues number in. I stay midway between Glasgow and Edinburgh. 

cheers 

Another non-Blues submission. My version of George Harrison's solo from "Old Brown Shoe" by The Beatles. 

Yes I've seen this many times. Skip James had not even played the guitar much for many years when he was re-discovered.  This was made in Newport at the Folk Festival where he made a big impression.  Yes, what he plays here is very complex, and he really mastered that tuning. But I don't think his version of Cypress Grove is as complicated as this.  I think your version is very close. But I agree, he is most unique. 

Vinny...thanks again...skip's song are too much complicated...I've tried to do my best. Above all the delta blues mucisians, he's my favorite. He was a genious..as far as I know, Mississipi John hurt, used to talk in this terms about Skip James...I like everything of his music...the voice, the way he picks the strings, composition...there's a video uploaded in youtube where skip james is playin devil got my woman...in the room all the greatest..mississippi john hurt,howlin wolf...I'm sure you already know this video...maybe the others...who knows...

If Skip james  died at 27 years old, it would have been a complete different story...

Thanks duke I love sitting down working out these solos they're great fun to play plus you learn a ton from them.  I've a wee question for you if you don't mind. I'm learning  the guitar parts on Kim Wilson's Baby please don't lie to me. just wondering if that's you playing on there. The guitars are superb on it  Sounds like your playing. 

great playing Tam! Duke

the fabulous thunderbirds - wait on time 

intro & solo 

love jimmie vaughans playing. 

This is “Jimmy Bell” by William “Cat Iron” Carradine.  I learned this version at a blues camp last summer from country blues harmonica player Phil Wiggins – of the duo Cephas and Wiggins (John Cephas passed away in 2009).  Working with Jerry’s instructional techniques most definitely helped me to learn this song. 

Either way - if you can lip it without sacrificing groove or tone, go for it. Sometimes on higher pitched harps, I lip that note too. There're are no actual rules - as long as it works!

Regarding easy vs difficult, that's what makes it so rewarding when you nail it! Almost nothing that engenders any kind of long-term gratification comes easy. Enjoy the process - It's ongoing - for me too!

Bruce -- "...I think I wrote. If I didn't actually write it, then I've forgotten where I learned it from" That sounds like Led Zeppelin - that was their defense when they got sued by Willie Dixon for millions of dollars.  Nice job anyway. 

Yes, Rick, thank you. These Sonic Junction harp lessons are great for ear training. It just ain't easy!  I'm trying to make tongue blocking my default embouchure, precisely for the sake of the groove, but I'm still more confident reaching for those bends on the low reeds with my lips.

Either way, its a blast to learn to play these tunes!

Thanks so much for your response.

I thought that was great.  You really have captured the flow of that song.  You are developing your own style and making it your own.  I'm very impressed you were  able  to pick up this song, I don't remember ever seeing a breakdown of it. Bravo. I might try and put a couple more things on this weekend. 

Hy Vinny and all,

this is my version of cypress grove. hope you like it. See you at the next open mic

Ciao

Alex (Italy)

Hey Harvey!!! Regarding that sequence of notes from the turnaround - You are absolutely right! Good job - Good ear! Developing your "aural detective" muscle like you're doing is going to turn out to be your best and biggest key to really getting an internal grasp on this stuff!

Regarding tongue-blocking the bend on the 3rd hole draw down to the II of the scale, that requires a different kind of muscles - embouchure muscles - In this case I'm tongue-blocking. It can be done either way. It's a tricky bend to get down whether you're tonguing or lipping but if you tongue-block it, you won't have to deal with making the transition from tongue to lips and back again. This piece features that bend throughout, so maybe try viewing it as a good opportunity to begin to own that note.

I'm working on my New Year's resolution to learn Sonny Boy's Groove.  Man, I hope I didn't reach too high.  This tune takes a lot of harmonica playing. Rick, would you comment on the turn around?  I'm trying to get that down before I take on each verse, since the turn around repeats pretty much the same way throughout.  First question: are you tongue blocking from the 5 chord on through the turn around?  Second question, does that Sonny Boy tag at the end of the turn around (3 blow, 2 blow, 1 draw x3) also appear-- but very quickly and without the repetitions on the 1 draw--right before the wah wahs and then the tag at the end?  

I heard what you said about how it takes all the little things working together to make the groove. I'm still trying to figure what all those little things are!

Do you think Sonny Boy would have shard all this?

Thanks!

Hey - definitely post your version.  I'm anxious to hear it.

Vinny..maybe you will not believe but yesterday I was about to post cypress grove.....:D......as usual, very nice version of yours