We're re-issuing one of Jerry's most popular lessons with re-mastered video and updated loop points. From Jerry:
This week a few thoughts on playing slow blues and some listening recommendations before we begin to learn Little Walter's great slow blues, "Blue Midnight," next week. Blue Midnight is played on a Bb harp in the key of F and my own Blues in a Dream is on an A harp in the key of E.
Jerry
Topics and/or subjects covered in this lesson:
Blues
Print Chords & Tab
Nature of the Blues - with Blues in A Dream (A Harp in the Key of E)
Little Walter's Blue Midnight (Bb Harp in the Key of F)
Comments
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Hi Nick,
A little better than last time. Continuity, flow, and expressiveness are the goals. You've obviously studied the song closely. When it's fully internalized, your conscious mind should shut off and the music should flow naturally. Sometimes you're a little ahead or behind the best. The lick that starts at 3:00 on the 5 draw should be 5d, 4d, 4b, 4d, 3d, 2d. You're not playing the 4b. When you glide through adjacent notes on the draw like the lick above where you finish 4d, 3d, 2d, try to make it smooth and even. Same thing on the opening lick that finishes 4,3,2,1 all on the draw. You can practice by just running up and down between the 1 and 4, trying to keep it smooth and even sounding. Keep at it. You're doing well!
Thanks very much for the insights, tips and encouragement Jerry. Really appreciate them. Hope you and yours are keeping well.
Thanks for the pointers earlier in the year Jerry. Have tried to take them on board in this next attempt. All the best, Nick
Hi Jerry. Thanks for this lesson. I've really loved getting into it. Laptop is pretty old so not sure how the video quality will be. Look forward to benefitting from your feedback. All the best, Nick
Good job on getting the right notes. Now, pay attention to making each one of them sound right and playing them with a continuity that makes the musical lines expressive. You want to play with emotion and conviction. You can hear it in Walters' playing . It should be your goal to make it come out in your own.
Yeh, on the Hate to See You Go CD it's definitely in F. Must be something funny about the YouTube version. Thanks. Looking forward to working on this again.
Hi Jerry,
The Little Walter recording sounds a little flat, like somewhere between E and F. Do you hear it that way?
Thanks,
Bill
I just listened to it. Must have been slowed down somew along the way because it seems to be in E here.