Hey now!
It's Rick Estrin - This week I'm back on Sonic Junction with the 4th verse of this Lockdown Shuffle. I'm going to start out giving a little background about the origins of this basically traditional piece. After that, we'll get into the mechanics of what I'm doing to try to make the verse "swing". I cover the distinction between hitting a chord with a somewhat lighter, more casual attack, versus the more aggressive, more obviously percussive attack we used earlier in the song. I address "lag time" and the "cool" effect that can have when applied in the right spot. I talk a little about the benefits of "tongue switching", re: tongue blocking out of the left side of your mouth. Also, in this verse, you've got another opportunity to work out on those all important, precision bends on the 2nd and 3rd holes. Who ever knew education could sound so cool?!?
Have fun, and I'll see you next week!
Rick
Topics and/or subjects covered in this lesson:
Chicago Blues
Print Chords & Tab
A Harp in the Key of E.
Loop 0:00 First Four Verses
Loop 1:50 Inspiration for Piece and Big Walter
Loop 3:55 4th Verse Acoustically
Loop 4:40 I Chord Breakdown
Loop 9:57 IV Chord and Back to the I Breakdown
Loop 12:42 V Chord and Turnaround Breakdown
Loop 14:25 Closing Thoughts
Comments
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Thanks for the geneology of this tune. So interesting to listen to each of them in relation to the Rick Estrin version we're working on. I have listened to both the Pinetop original and the Big Walter version but never made the connection. Pinetop playing in C# is a little WTF. Piano players? Really love how the intro works on harmonica and wild to hear it with, I don't know, clarinet?
The phrase in the third bar with the slight drag or stutter is something I want to wire into my brain. Likewise on the 5th bar when you hit the 1-blow on the upbeat. You could have waited and hit that on the down beat but it's such a cool surprise this way.
thanks for sharing all this.
b
It wasn't conscious, but in thinking about it now, that 1 blow on the upbeat probably comes from Now's The Time, by Charlie Parker - which is also the same tune that the song The Hucklebuck came from.
This is a great song it makes me feel like a beginner. Loving every minute of it
It's great you're diggin it, Boyd! For me, that's a component that always makes it easier to put in the work. Keep having fun with it!