Hey Sonic Junction -
I'm back and in this series we'll be working with another Sonnyboy Williamson #2 song - the number, "Nine Below Zero". As with some of my previous Sonic Junction lessons, we'll be working with my interpretation of Sonnyboy's style rather than working on any one of his recorded versions of the song.
The song is an easy, medium shuffle in E, played in crossed position on a regular, key of A Marine Band. "Nine Below Zero" is a true blues classic and learning it'll give you more ammunition in your repertoire, either for performances with your band, busting out something new at the local blues jam, sitting in with another band or just sitting around playing by yourself for the sheer fun of it.
Rick Estrin
Topics and/or subjects covered in this lesson:
Blues
key of E
A Harp
Sonny Boy II
Rick Estrin
Nine Below Zero
Print Chords & Tab
A Harp in the Key of E
Loop 0:00 Whole Song
Loop 0:00 Intro
Loop 0:31 First Vocal Verse
Loop 1:00 Second Vocal Verse
Loop 1:30 Solo
Loop 2:00 Third Vocal Verse
Loop 2:29 Solo and Ending
Comments
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Hi Rick- here's my attempt at Nine Below Zero. Any tips?
Hi Mark, You have a pretty good handle on the rhythm of the song - Aside from that, you seem to be more or less doing your own thing with it - I can however, offer encouragement - Have fun with it!
Hi Andoni !! there s no backing track yet , like Rick told you , it s Mike that can put the backing track on line ... and when it s on line , there will be an "play" sign just higher than the " +" sign , for instance go on "Chicago shuffle " and you will see the tree sign , hope that will help ??
Thanks Andre! I have heard that the backing track will be up today! That's great news! It doesn't get any better than having a Ronnie James bass part for a guide!
Hi Friends :
Rick's lessons are absolutely amazing, he explains so many details about the song, and the approach to perform it, I adore these lessons. I didn't find a backing track for this song, is there a possibility to upload it, so that we can rehearse with it? Thank you very much.
Hi Androni - I'm really glad you're enjoying the lessons! I'm sure there must be a backing track for this. Mike? Can you Androni find the backing track?
Hi Rick :
I can't find the backing track for this song yet. When you click on "+", the menu doesn´t provide an option to play a backing track. Congratulations for the quality of your lessons.
Hi Andoni - the backing track is now up. You can play it by clicking on the "play" button in the upper right corner of the screen. Enjoy.
Thank you. The backing track is already available, and it is very good.
Hello Rick and all harp students:) Happy New 2020 Year ! And Happy Harping:)
Rick, thank you for the lesson! I think in blues there are lot of value in the gist of the words and in the meaning of the story. And for not english speakers\listeners, often very hard to catch the meaning of blues songs, or convey it. So , I did the russian translation of the Nine below zero. And tried to tell this story to moscow blues dance audience on the dance party. So here it is.. My debute of "Minus 30"
Hope you engoy the russian story of it)
Song from 1:30 of the video.
Very Good Kosta !! it s really fun to see and ear your Russian version of "9 below zero" ... Happy New Year and hope to see you again !! André
Hey Kosta - Thanks man! I love it!
Hey Rick - contact me offlist about a potential gig in the middle of May...your old email doesn't work for me any longer....
Hi Larry - I emailed you at the address I have. Hopefully that'll work.
No backing track
Sorry Boyd, I think there should be one - Mike? Can you help Boyd to access the backing track?
Mats - it IS work to learn the harmonica and play it better than average!
An alternative to the metronome is to go for a walk while playing/practicing the harmonica. Once you start walking, usually one finds the natural tempo that works for you and it stays consistant (unless you are walking up and down hills, etc). This will become your natural metronome. Just attach playing your harmonica to your walking tempo.
You've got good tone, approach and basic understanding. Next step is to attach this to a steady tempo that even a drummer could lean on.
Good advice, Larry!
Thx Larry, i will give this a go, too.
I´ve allready started using the metronome and trying to figure out the exact time frame while learning the song. It offers me an additional perspective in the learning process (next to tone,riffs,feeling,...) And it is allready getting fun.
Thanks to all
And Mats, another thing that could be helpful is to remember that the space between the licks is an important part of the music.
I'm going to pick this tune. looks hard but fun. Have to give it a try. I can do it. if it was easy would not be fun.
That’s the spirit! Have fun with it too!
it's not "nine below zero" but it's "the key to your door"...with my son :DDDDDD
Nice cupped "wah" sound! Good groove. good job.
and the father isn't too bad, either!
Hi Gagi - Good job! Nice bright, clear, tone. Good Sonnyboy type, vibrato too!
Thanks for the comments Rick and Larry. Will keep at it.
Hello Rick.
Here is a new try at Nine Below Zero. Pretty much copying your version on A harp. I have used tongue block all through except in the chug fills in the solo. Have learnt a bit while triyng to get it down. Still find the 4 draw bend a bit of a struggle on the fly, and also hitting the 3 bend on the first note of a phrase, but am pretty happy with my progress. Seems I still need to keep my face muscles as loose as possible. As i said before more 'elaxed attack'. I have been keeping this in mind while working on it.
Regards Blair
Sez Blair "Seems I still need to keep my face muscles as loose as possible"
ALWAYS relax EVERY MUSCLE not necessary when playing harmonica - including back and shoulder muscles, neck muscles, and even your lips should be loose, soft and relaxed while playing.
You certainly understand "groove", based on this example!
Hi Blair - Good job. You’ve got a good, natural pocket and you really did your homework on those fills! Keep working with your tongue blocking and you’ll develop a more focused tone and you’ll begin discovering how to exploit more of the chordal benefits of the TB technique. Real good job overall!
RELAX THAT TONGUE! Make it feel like a big ol' lump with absolutely no tension in it at all. The only muscle you need to engage is further back in the tongue - the one that pushes it forwards and brings it back.
In bending while TB'ing, you will also engage the muscle that arcs that tongue in it's back 2/3rds to aim at that "sweet spot" that engages the bend.
Thanks for the advice Rick.
Ok I will stick with it for a bit. I dont think I am too far off getting reasonable at tongue block. I find it a bit tricky to get a good 4 bend and hitting the 3 and 2 bends to a lesser extent. Also getting a good clear tone on the TB is an issue. Meaning not too muffled when I want it to be crisp. Probably just need to learn to attack and relax at the same time - practice!
I played some riffs real slow today to get a bit of muscle memory happening and I reckon I will practice that for a while.
May send you something down the track.
Regards
Yeah - If you get a better handle on that one skill, it’ll make a huge difference. All it takes is some time spent in focused practice. I’d really love to hear you once you get more comfortable tongue blocking. You already have the beginnings of a real good, natural rhythmic feel.
Hi Rick. The clip below I played on Bb and sped it up a bit. Think I need some work on the 3 half step bends, especially in the faster runs. Changed the intro and second solo to include some of your other licks. Probably 70% lip and 30% tongue block. Just dont have the time to really master the tongue block at the moment but also really like lip pursing method at times. Your comments welcome.
Hi Blair - Overall, good job! I’m impressed with your timekeeping - You seem to have a good, natural sense of rhythm. That’s actually kind of a big deal! Additionally, you’ve done a pretty good job learning the licks. I really recommend develping your tongue blocking - It would fatten up your sound and give you the technique to exploit your natural sense of rhythm and really kick it up to the next level.
Hey Blair... very relaxing, sonny boy for real.
I'm excited to be starting on Nine Below Zero. The video of Sonny Boy Williamson II is inspiriing, as, of course, is Rick's version. I'm working on the groove!
Rick, I'm really enjoyng this lesson. The clear sound really forces one to work on the smoothness and tonality of the bends to try to match your sound. For me its try and try an try again, but I'm getting closer.
It's try and try again for me too, Joe. I hope you're enjoying the series.
yeah man
One of my all-time faves. Slobbering over my harps in anticipation... Bring me a bib!
I could be biased, but I think this is gonna be a good one!
A great song I'm still working on the your last song. I guess I'm slow. Thanks for being here
Thank YOU for being here! Once the lessons start, let me know how you like this series.