This week we'll be tackling the 3rd verse of the piece we've been calling "Cotton Blend". This verse starts out with some split tongue work and a little internal "call and response". The lesson also involves a lot of bending and what I call "note shaping" by making hand adjustments in conjunction with the bends.
Developing these techniques is going to provide you with a bigger sonic palette and adding more emotion and expression to your harp playing.
Rick
Topics and/or subjects covered in this lesson:
Blues
key of E
A Harp
Rick Estrin
James Cotton
Cotton Blend
Print Chords & Tab
A Harp in the Key of E.
Loop 0:45 Run-Through of 3rd Verse - Amplified
Loop 1:38 Breakdown of Call and Response Riff
Loop 4:36 Practice Loop of Main Riff
Loop 5:00 Worry Riff
Loop 7:35 Amplified Technique
Loop 8:47 Getting a Grip on the Reeds and Closing Thoughts
Comments
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hi Rick what mic/element are you using ?
Hi Antonio - I'm using an Astatic JT-30 with a 151 crystal element. It was chromed and customized with a volume pot by Dennis Gruenling.
Should I work without the mic first are do both
Hi Boyd - Either one will be benificial. I recommend doing both.
Hey Rick....Somewhere in Jerry's long list of lessons he mentions when he practices he just plays acoustically. Do you do the same or do you amp up? Jerry figures if it sounds right acoustically it will sound fine on stage....Any thoughts? Damn I'm having fun on this sight....oh, don't worry I know "ya gotta keep it in your mouth".........
Hi Robert - Jerry's absolutely correct in this way - if your tone doesn't sound good acoustically, it won't sound good amplified. I think that's probably the idea Jerry's trying to convey. Many relative beginners seem to think that the right amp or the right mic will be the answer to their tone problem. I hear a lot of guys who are in love with a super distorted sound probably because it masks their actual deficient sound.The only reason I demonstrate this piece both amplified and unamplified is because of the relative differences in the note-shaping hand techniques used.
I love this lesson, it has alot of stuff to work on, and that's great this is what I really need, thanks
Thanks Boyd - Real glad you're diggin' it!