Hey Sonic Junction -
I'm back again and this time I put together a piece of music with a latin, afro/cuban type flavor. If you've been with me at Sonic Junction before, you know that "feel" and "groove" are always a big part of the focus. Developing a deeper groove continues to be a lifetime quest for me and this lesson is all about the groove. I'm not really sure this piece is technically a legitimate, official mambo, but in various bands I've played with over the years, that's what these type of rhythms have always been called. With this series of lessons we're going to sharpen up your inner metronome and get you feeling comfortable with a latin type groove.
Rick Estrin
Topics and/or subjects covered in this lesson:
Groove
key of E
A Harp
Rick Estrin
Mr. Lee's Mambo
Mambo
Print Chords & Tab
A Harp in the Key of E.
Loop 0:00 Whole Performance
Loop 0:00 First Chorus
Loop 0:24 Second Chorus
Loop 0:47 Third Chorus
Loop 1:11 Fourth Chorus
Loop 1:35 Fifth Chorus
Loop 1:58 Sixth Chorus
Loop 2:21 Seventh Chorus
Loop 2:45 Eighth Chorus
Comments
Log in to leave a comment
You mentioned a technique called a tongue flutter where the tongue moves side to side. I haven't been able to find much info on this. Most of what I found when searching "tongue flutter" refers to rapidly touching and lifting the tongue on and off the harp, covering then uncovering one to three holes.
Could you describe what you're doing in a little more detail?
It's possible that I'm using "flutter" as a kind of blanket term. I don't think there're any universally accepted terms for many common harmonica techniques. Rapidly moving the tongue on and off the harmonica as you describe is referred to as a flutter. I probably should've called what I was describing a "side to side" or "sideways" flutter. That side to side technique is produced by blocking one or two holes and moving the tongue rapidly, back and forth, sideways, never removing it from the comb's surface. I hope that description provides the clarification you're looking for. PS. I should add that it'll likely take some practice time to build up enough speed and control to produce the desired resul.
I'm having trouble finding the link to the breakdown videos when using my iPhone.
Sorry about that Paul - I bet Mike will be able to help you. Mike?
Very good Kosta !! always a pleasure to hear you play Man !! sorry for the Politic matter ... what is the problem ?? I don t know .. but I m sure that you have good reasons to do so !! to me Politic ... heuh ?!! forget Politic !! loll ... and yes , I will put on line Mr Lee s Mamboo version ... I love that song Man !! the only advice that I can say ... when you Groove ... Groove Harder , like Rick Says !! to me you re a good player and I only encourage you to Play like you do Kosta ... each time you improve your playing !! André
Thank you, Andre! Trying groove harder but can't relax fully like Rick;) But I work on it. Hope it would not take a decades)
Matters are sad and all we can do its peasceful and creative protests (you can read the matter on my video discription in youtube, or just google Belarus news)
Hello Rick and Hi to everybody!
Very cool Mambo groove! I have been working on the lessons hard and honestly I so much in love with salsa NY as a dancer (it's modern Mambo dance style) that those latin themes realy hooked me. And at last here is my version.
Sorry for some renaming of my loop cover of this Mr. Lee Mambo , and a little bit of politic matters and joke in video. But I could not help myself. I asked Rick about this matter.
Thank you Rick a lot for this mambo lessons! Will be glad to your technical comments for improvements;) And the opinions of others !
Hope to see and hear another students versions! Come on guys and girls! it's nice mambo thing, and sticks diply in the head ;P! Andre?
P.S. The bass line (and the guy) in backing track is very cool and artful! But it is realy missing one verse;) as Andre mention below.
Your 3 hole inhale bends are right on and you understand the difference in that hole between a I chord and a IV chord. Also, that early on V chord idea on the lower end was right on as well. I call that "Fearless Playing". Good job.
Great job on the song, Kosta - and I love that you're using it to make a political statement.
Thank you Rick and Larry!
About 3 hole bends - Rick has a very very good lessons ''Half stepping''. Just after couple of verses this issue make itself "Fearless''
I always appreciate your advice and insight Larry. If I'm working on a solo I usually start with some approximation of the vocal melody and see where that takes me. Thinking about how you would play it if the backing was low and quiet, or if it's building up to a big splash, or maybe one chorus stays down on the first three holes and another moves up. Then use the groove to experiment. Sometimes a lick you've learned or heard somewhere just suggests itself. The repetition, elaboration and then departure that Rick talked about in one of these series is a helpful framework for me also. After a while, you start doing things without thinking about it, but at this stage trying to doing things deliberately when they don't happen naturally or automatically is helping me make them part of my blues vocabulary. It helps me to have frameworks and devices, as Rick calls them, rather than licks, as a way to "create them yourself from within." Rick always says he doesn't know much theory but I think he's got the theory that matters for playing this kind of music. Hey Rick! Didn't mean to be talking about you like you're not in the room :)-
Bill
From what you describe, Bill, I think you need "Miles Davis".....everything you need to learn about music and soloing you can learn by listening to how he deals with melodies/soloing. Believe it or not, Miles was totally a blues player in his orientation.
When asked how is it that he solos so imaginatively and wondering how he starts this process, he responded by saying "I think of a (starting) note, and then don't play it".
If you can understand this "Zen" statement after meditating on it, it may open a few doors in your imagination!
🤣
"Rick you kind of always start at the last beat of each chorus for the next 4 bars and not always on the first beat ,"
Musically, starting ideas on the first beat is not a good idea. It is good to end an idea on the first beat, though.
"playing "licks" after a period of time gets boring"
Lick based playing is like being addicted to heroin.....you learn a few new licks, get all excited and high. After a while, that high wears off and you are not happy, so you go looking for more licks. This repeats endlessly. Best to start to understand how to create your own ideas, or take those licks and change a few notes here and there and make them sound new. Don't look outside yourself for others to feed you ideas - begin to create them yourself from within!
Hi Larry !! I really appreciated your comments like usual and thank you !! for the moments only counting the beats while i m playing and trying to not miss a beat and know where I am in the 12 Bars ... my "plate" is full !! but I want to thank you because I don t know when you gave me that advice to walk at a pace that I needed to keep a beat while I m playing ... I started to do it yesterday and guess what ?!! It worked Man !! thanks
André
thanks Rick !! yes for trois Rivieres ... and maybe before ,
André
HI Rick , Larry and others !! Am I wrong ?!! I don t think so . Right now , I m trying to sing the song that I learned by heart and count the beat with my feet with the Backing track ... man , What an exercise , I miss alot of beat and sometime start in the wrong place ... and loose myself !! Rick you kind of always start at the last beat of each chorus for the next 4 bars and not always on the first beat ,
I think I will improve my Groove with that ?!! because I was always trying to play "licks" on kind of "nothing" ... I remember once Rick you said in I don t remember the lesson ; that playing "licks" after a period of time gets boring , and I think that you said to add chords and ghost notes gonna make the bed of Groove ... i m not sure if my explaination is right ?!! but ... In the end I m sure it will help !!
Thanks André
Hey Andre - Getting it in your head is an important key. See you at Trois-Rivières?
Hi Rick !! thank you for the gratulation , I m I wright ?? English is like music " Details everywhere !!
Hi Rick !! I m I wrong ?? I don t think so , on the backing track there s missing the Sixth Chorus ?? say Hi to Ronnie , Have a good one !!
Thank s again for everything !!
André
Hey Andre - If it's missing, it's my fault. I must've been counting wrong. Sorry. Regardless, you've done a great job learning this piece! I keep hearing you get better and better all the time!
Thanks for taking us along on your quest for the deeper groove. Putting the "Last Night" base line to a Latin beat is ingenious. I'm psyched and totally intimIdated by my first ten listens. Here we go....
ronnie james webber
The Groove Meister is back!
(who's the bass player?)