This week we're starting to analyze and deconstruct Little Walter's great instrumental Off the Wall. This is a tune that exemplifies Walter's genius in both the sophistication of its construction and the virtuosic technique in its execution. We'll take it apart chorus by chorus. Be sure to have each chorus firmly fixed in your mind before starting each week's lesson.
Good luck!
Jerry
Topics and/or subjects covered in this lesson:
Blues
Jerry Portnoy
C Harp
Little Walter
Key of G
Off the Wall
Print Chords & Tab
C Harp in the Key of G
Loop 0:00 Jerry and Rick Playing the First Verse of Off the Wall
Loop 0:30 Introduction to Off The Wall
Loop 1:39 Breakdown of First Riff on the I Chord (Bars 1 - 4)
Loop 3:30 Practice Loop of Bars 1 - 8
Note: Bars 5 and 6 are 2 draw, 3 draw (2nd bend), 3 draw (1st bend), 2 draw, 3 draw (2nd bend), 2 draw
Loop 3:49 Breakdown of V Chord and IV Chord
Loop 5:57 Turnaround
Loop 6:08 First Chorus Practice Loop
Comments
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Sorry Jerry, got the mad cow disease going today. It's the timing riff on off the wall. My recall is something like a ta followed by 2 blow chords and and inhale, something like that. I just find his timing riffs MasterClass stuff.
sorry to bother,
lou
Don't know what you mean by "timing riff."
Hi Jerry,
Long time fan. In one of your videos you demonstrated a timing riff that little Walter used. Could you let me know if you recall where that is?
Thanks,
Lou
Don't know what riff you're referring to.
Hi Jerry - Are you doing any tongue blocking on the turnaround (5:55)? I'm hearing
some of the tongue-blocking things (ghost chords, percussive effect)
Dennis Gruenling was teaching in the "Horton Shuffle." Thanks!
Okay, on the Chess 50th Anniversary version of the song, listen at roughly 1.58 Anyone hear another harp, very faintly, in the background?
Sorry - listen at 1.28
Yes it is. Walter's artistry at its highest!
Jerry, Thank you for selecting Off the Wall for this lesson. I'm really looking forward to it. It's such a classic!