We're calling this tune "Blue Strollin'". The beat is what's commonly referred to as a stroll, so it has a triplet feel. Even though the groove is a little different from anything I've done previously on Sonic Junction, we'll be employing many of the same techniques and stategic devices we've already worked on in previous lessons. There are full step and half step bends, some time flexing, judicious use of 3 blow vs 2 draw and vice versa, some volume swells and, you'll have an opportunity to use some of the "trills" you've been working on with Dennis. One more time, the rhythmic feel or groove is of utmost importance - In constructing this piece, I left plenty of space where there's nothing for you to really do but feel that groove.
Have fun Blue Strollin' and I look forward to getting your comments and questions.
Rick Estrin
Topics and/or subjects covered in this lesson:
Groove
Rick Estrin
Blue Strollin
Rusty Zinn
Print Chords & Tab
A Harp in the Key of E.
Loop 0:00 Whole Song
Loop 0:00 First Chorus
Loop 0:27 Second Chorus
Loop 0:53 Third Chorus
Loop 1:18 Fourth Chorus
Loop 1:43 Fifth Chorus
Loop 2:09 Sixth Chorus
Loop 2:34 Seventh Chorus
Loop 2:58 Eighth Chorus
Comments
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Thanks again Nick !! I like the way you describe it ... with the train and the others going to the station !! anyways ... l ll let you know in the future what s gonna be my experiences ... I m still on !!
André
My pleasure.... to have kicked your butt Andre! 😄
It does take at least a little bit of nerve I guess, but I found even just basic comping a little, chugging chords along with the others playing in the jam, helped me to relax and feel the music more, and leave the thinking part of my brain out of it as much as possible. Maybe I'll let the thinking part come out and play later in my journey, but for the time being it seems to be going better without it. 🙂. Best of luck, and go for it! I mean, what's the worst that can happen? If you lose your way a bit, at a jam chances are that would have happened to most of the players there I reckon. So we can just laugh it off and trust the other players to bring the train back into the station. And we live to play again another day. Should we choose to of course! 😄
Just seen your vid Kosta. Like what you did there with the looping and using the voice and harp together. Takes great timing to do that I'm sure.
I'd just like to add to what Rick said about nerves. I'm quite early on in my journey with the harmonica (about 5 years now), and in that time have really noticed the effects of nerves on my playing. Practice has really helped I find, as has trying to learn more and more by ear and less by tab. For me though it's a bit like when I did a parachute jump. You can practice your drill all you want on the ground, but nothing much seemed to be able to prepare my body for the feeling of plummeting on jumping out of the plane. The drills definitely helped immensely (the shock of the drop led me to black out briefly and I came round at saying two thousand, so I guess my subconscious had taken over!).
Well, it was a great experience though I've not been jumping out of any planes since. :-) what I have done though over the past two years has been playing out in jams as regularly as I can, and at least once weekly. That has really helped my nerves I feel, as well as brought lots of pleasure and connection with wonderful people of course.
The key jams for me have been the all acoustic ones where we sit in a circle for a few hours, take turns to call songs, and join in as we feel. Low pressure and high support combo. Hope that's helpful.
All the best,
Nick
Hi Nick !! Wow ... 5 years playing and 2 years regularly jamming ... you got a lot of nerves Nick !! I m playing for let say 25 years ... and I can count on one hand how many jams I ve attended ... to shy ... and lately I took a lessons with Dennis and he sent me jams track ... and it s really "weird" to try to play something good on it ... but I realised that s the only way to get "there" .... so thank you Nick , you kicked my butt and it s Ok !!
André
Thank you, Nick! The Parachute jump is the good example ! Perfomances are realy like that for me.( though I never tryed the parashute jumps) I like jams and when got the opportunity try do not miss it. There are were so many of them in Moscow before I have to go from there in my native town in Belarus before summer. And here not so much oportunities but... recently I performedmy own looping short program on dancing party. So it was like MANY parashute jumps at once - when you and only deside rithm, garmony, vocal and harp solo. It was COOL! Whant more! BUT So.. it seems the perfomances and live jams got a breake for a while because of you know what((
BUT we have so many time to improve ourselfs by learning from the BEST masters and training to perform at list on video!!!
Hello guys! Hello Rick!
I think it's time to make the first student result video for this Blue Strolllin' lessons at last. Resently got a looper pedal, so it's the first loop thing I recorded.
It's nice strolling thing and easy lisening and I think it is kind different from 'So Long'. Not only by tempo. (+2 additional section) but other aspects too. Thank you Rick for lesson. I tryed hard to be close to the original ) Would be glad to hear from you how far am I;)
Come on guys, make your videos. It's cool Blue strollin' thing!
Great job of learning the song Kosta! Excellent. There're only two suggestions that came to mind as I was listening. Try relaxing a little more. Rhythmically it feels a little stiff. If you could relax into the groove more, it would improve the overall effect. The other thing I would ask you to do is to go back and listen to the way I use small bends to swoop and shape when drawing on the 3rd hole. Overall though, you're doing great! I'm impressed!
Rick, thank you for the fast and pleasant feedback! As for your suggestions
1. Relaxing . So it's a hard thing, when you in front of people perfoming or record video. Coud you give advises how you fight the nervousnes and try to relax when you intertain? Some tips? This theme is very important (Willy Dixon got a hole song about it;) but I am seriously.
2. I think you mean such moments like the ends of similar phrases in second section (chorus) . On your perfoming video it is 00:29 , 00:44 on timing. You play the ends of phrases like you say "Hey" (or "Hi") (is it ''swoop and shape'' you meant ?
1) The only method I know for dealing with nerves is to practice. When I know for sure that I'm thoroughly prepared, I'm not as nervous.
2) The "swoops" and "scoops" and "shaping" I'm talking about inthis case, mainly have to do with the 3 hole, draw and the way I use the bends on that hole. You have a really good ear - Go back and listen. Pay close attention to the way I'm using those bends.
Again, great job overall, AND, great job singing the bass line!
Hi Rick! Great lesson, thanks very much.
What would you call this groove? It's not a shuffle, is it?
Cheers
Glad you like it Stefan. I'd call this groove a stroll. I'm not formally schooled in music, so I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure the "triplet" rhythm that goes with a stroll is formally known as a 12/8 time signature.
Nice one! Just played it over some 12/8s and yes, that's the one! Thanks Rick!!
Thanks Mike!
Thanks for a great lesson. Will you be posting the backing track?
Thanks.
Joe
Hi Joe --- thanks for the reminder. Backing track is up. That's Rick grooving with the snaps and slaps.
It's the groove.
This tune really gets in your head,love it
Thanks for the feedback. It's the 5th chorus I was mostly referring to. It's happening pretty much the way you describe it. I'm getting it, only on certain holes and I can't completely sustain it, but enough for me to feel that it's possible.
I look forward to working on this lesson Quick question: What to you call the bass backing - is it a 6 bar (1-4-5) format? Thanks. Joe
It's a 12 bar 1-4-5 - It's normal blues changes, but with a slightly atypical rhythmic feel.
I'm fired up for this lesson!!!!! Thanks Rick
I'm glad to hear you're excited about it. I think it's a cool groove,
Yay Rick! Another Beaut! There's one chorus, (maybe 5 or 6) where there is some very pronounced vibrato. I hope you'll speak to how you developed such a clear, strong, beautiful one. I've been doing nothing else for a week and could use some tips, or at least encouragement :)
Bill
I'll have to listen to see which verse it is, but in general, my vibrato is generated from my throat. It's hard to describe how it occurs, but Jerry Portnoy says it's similar to a shallow, voluntary cough. This is probably falls under the category of encouragement more than help, but what happened with me when I developed my vibrato was, I just kept trying to produce that effect with my throat - practicing and practicing until finally, one morning I woke up and I could do it - and it was just automati. Good luck. If you're like me, there'll be some frustration along the way, but if you focus and don't give up, I promise you'll get it.
It's Friday evening, I just walked in the door from work, saw the email & you two gentlemen just put a big smile on my face! Really enjoyed it, thank you...& looking forward to the lesson...how many takes did it take?
I can't remember exactly - I think there were a couple aborted takes before this one.
That's really great lesson's coming up. Sounds great
Thanks Boyd - I think you're gonna dig it.