Hi Harpsters!
This week we listen to my new study piece “Two Way Boogie” which incorporates some varying approaches to a tongue-blocked shuffle rhythm and different changes in the 12-bar blues structure. It’s gonna be fun, so get your harps (and your ears) out and get ready to Boogie!!
- Dennis Gruenling
Topics and/or subjects covered in this lesson:
Chicago Blues
Print Chords & Tab
Bb Harp in the Key of F.
Loop 1:05 Introduction to Two Way Boogie
Loop 1:59 Whole Song
Loop 1:59 First Chorus - Boogie Rhythm I
Loop 2:27 Second Chorus - Boogie Rhythm II
Loop 2:51 Third Chorus - Solo
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Where do you find the tabs?
Hi Dennis :
I'd like to post my cover of your "Two Way Boogie". I really liked that lesson and your unique teaching system, and I enjoyed playing this song. I'd appreciate any comments or feedback. I played it using the tongue blocking embouchure from beginning to end Thank you very much.
Nice job! Sounds good, and the next step would be for you to get cleaner, more articulate notes and make sure your pitch is better with the individual notes (some of the notes were going flat while you attack or play them). Relxing and breathing softer and more natural should help with your pitch. Good job Andoni
Thanks a lot for your support and your insightful tips, it's a privilege to receive feedback from such a great harmonica and blues master, whose music inspires us. I'd like to ask you one specific question, to check my understanding on the issue of articulation when you are tongue blocking throughout the song :
- In order to get more articulate melody notes, can I make a "K" sound while I attack the note, or move the right side edge of my tongue towards the inside of my cheek while the tip of the tongue doesn't move?
- In order to get more articulate chords (for example, in the second chorus), can I pronounce a "CHUK" or "TA" or "TAT" sound (depending on if I want to cut off the end of the chord or not) while I keep drawing ?
Besides, if I am not mistaken, I should use the same breath for the melody note and the chord that goes right after it, instead of using a separate breath for the chord. Am I right?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Dennis :
I have just signed up for Sonnic Junction, and I think your lessons are wonderful, like your music, which I have been listening to for many years, and I saw you play live with the Nick Moss Band last year in Madrid, which was amazing.
I have a question : when you are playing a Boogie Woggie, as you explained, you can choose between playing the chords in a less pronounced or less articulated or softer way, or playing the chords in a more pronounced or articulated way. If I'm not mistaken, what it boils down to is that in the first case, the tip of the tongue's backward movement (which generates the chord) is shorter than in the second case. So it's just a matter of how long the tongue comes off the harp. Is that right, or are there more factors to bear in mind?
I suppose that, for any of both approaches, whenever you are performing a tongue Slap, you should probably use less strength for the first part of your tongue´s movement (when it comes off the harp) than for the second part of the movement (when you are going back to the position in which the tip of your tongue touches the comb), which should be more percussive, in order to get a crisp melody note just after the vamping. Did I guess right, or there shouldn't be any difference in strength in both parts of the tongue's movement?
Thank you very much. I'll keep following your lessons, they are all great and they are full of useful tips and details.
Neither approach should involve more strength in your tongue blocking application. How you articulate will make a difference of course, as well how long the tongue is off the harp and how heavy or lightly you breathe. Thanks!
Thanks for you enlightening comment Dennis. I enjoyed this lesson.
Hi Dennis, Are you tongue blocking the whole time or mixing it up with lip pursuing? I struggle to get strong bends when I tongue block.
I am tongue-blocking everything...no lip-blocking here.
Hi Nick !! it might help ?? if you look on a computer at the upright , you ll see a "printer" , an "add" and a "play" sign . the play sign is the backing track !! if you re on a phone , I don t know yet where is the backing track ... hope it help ?!!
Thanks Andre. You're right, I'm using a phone so maybe that's why I can't see the tracks. Will try on a computer when I get a chance.
Mike, any chance you could make them accessible.on phone. I see for some of Jerry's you have separate links under lots of the pieces to the backing tracks. I can get to those on my phone ok. And I love Jerry's lessons, but would be great to be able to go the whole journey on Dennis's too using the phone (I do most of my learning and practice out and about... in the interests of keeping a happy home :-D )
Thanks Dennis and Mike. Not sure why but I still can't seem to find my way to this backing track or any of the others. They're not appearing in the menus that I'm seeing for the songs. Is there another way I can get to them?
Hey Dennis. Great having these study pieces and finding it much easier to stay motivated and make progress by having whole song goals. Am finding that I'm picking up techniques here and there along the way. Not quite at the stage where those techniques are making it much through into jam playing, but trusting that will come in time.
One thing though is that I'm seeing mention of backing tracks, but can't seem to find them. When I can get backing tracks im finding them so good for my learning though and essential for preparing to perform. Is there somewhere I can find ones for your pieces please? All the best, and thanks again. Nick
Hi Nick - For every study piece on Sonic Junction, there is a guitar backing track from the same song. I believe these get posted after the original performance is posted and/or at the beginning of when each song starts to be broken down by the instructor. I think that is very important, and one of the many great things I like about presenting my stuff here on Sonic Junction.
I know there are plenty of jam tracks out there online, and I also have all kinds of acoustic guitar jam tracks available on my own badassharmonica website that I make specifically for harmonica practice. But for study pieces here on Sonic Junction, they are loaded up here for each song...let me see if this one has been uploaded yet. Thanks!
Hi Nick - backing track is now up. It's floating "play" button on the upper right side of the screen. Thanks for the reminder and enjoy Dennis!
Will do. Thanks Dennis.
I know there is some reticence to get deep into the theory, but perhaps you can point me toward some source. I can see and hear the roots of the changes, but I don't understand how the other notes played over each chord fit into a pattern or theory. It's hard not to be curious about what rules apply.
Thanks.
Bill
Hi Bill - follow through with this whole series first, then let me know what questions you have. I'll help in any way, but I do break some of it down...
I like the short format. This would be a good study piece to learn and then practice on different key harmonicas. There's a lot of 3-hole draw bend work and I'm not solidly consistent from one harp to another.
Yes - I strongly recommend practicing anything you learn on all different key harps! The 3 draw is so important to master, you can never be TOO good! Glad you're working on this...thanks
are you going to give us an acoustic breakdown?
As always, there will be a breakdown, yes!
This would be a pretty good tune to begin a jam session - the "Warm Up Blues" is what I'm calling it. I'll start with this at our next jam. Thanks Dennis.
Yea, sounds great...then expand upon it and take it further than what I did here...
Hi Dennis !! I understand but to me , you are "taking off" on the third verse for a "wild ride" !! I d have like to see what you d have done on the others verse ?? and what do you mean by "jams online" ??
GREAT STUFF Dennis !!! thanks
Thank you Tim!! Hope you enjoy working this out....!
i will , i like the tone of Bb harp
I won t make friends but I have to say it ... 3 times Best Modern Blues Harp Player and only 3 Chorus ... come on ... let Dennis play !! to me it s a shame !!
Hi Andre - Thank you for the kind words!!
The point of these study songs is to provide a particular focal point for learning and practice...sometimes the new shorter songs which we are experimenting with here are more approachable and attainable, while still learning, developing, and fine-tuning new techniques and approaches. But thank you, I do like to cut loose, which I do on some of these, as well as on all of my live performances and some of my jams online.