Reed Repair

I've just finished repairing a reed on my new Lee Oskar harp. I had ordered it from ebay and it showed up at my front door the day before a gig. Having had no issues with LOs straight out of the box in the past, I didn't bother to test it... However, when I got up there - dead four hole draw!

The fix is extremely easy - you can buy a Hohner Service Kit or a Lee Oskar Tool Kit (note: A Hohner Reed Wrench doesn't appear to fit a Lee Oskar) which are incredibly helpful, but I would have been able to get away with using a small Phillips head screwdriver and a business card for this particular issue.

Here's a copy of the maintenance instructions that come with the Lee Oskar Tool Kit. Should get you out of trouble and save you a few $$

Blues Harp Song Keys - Little Walter

Since I'm sure we've all had trouble picking the key when jamming along to a song at some point, here are a few of the keys Little Walter played in...

Ah'w Baby: Song key: G, C Harp, 2nd position.
Back Track. Song key: F, Bb Harp, 2nd position.
Blues With a Feeling. Song key: A, D Harp, 2nd position. (Song key: F)
Boom, Boom Out Go The Lights, by Stan Lewis. Song key: E, A Harp, 2nd position.
Can't Hold Out Much Longer. Song key: G, C Harp, 2nd position.
I Hate To See You Go. Song key: G, C Harp, 2nd position.
Juke. Song key: E, A Harp, 2nd position.
Just Your Fool. Song key: A, D Harp, 2nd position.
Mean Old World. Song key: F, Bb Harp, 2nd position. (Song key: G)
My Babe. Song key: F, Bb Harp, 2nd position.
You're So Fine. Song key: E, A Harp, 2nd position.

If you've got any more please feel free to leave a comment. Cheers

Heartbreaker

Heartbreaker
words and music by Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield, Calvin Carter
Key of G, Cross Harp-C
Moderate Blues

7 -6 7 -6 -5 -5 4 -3' -4 -5
She's a real heartbreaker, don't you know?
7 7 -6 -5 -5 -4 -3 -4 -5
A real heartbreaker, don't you know?

6 6 -6 7 7 -6 -6 -6 6 6 6
She's a real heartbreaker, a mean man hater,
6 6 -6 6 -5 -5 -4 -3 -4
She's a real heartbreaker, don't you know?

6 7 ( stop time)
When she holds my hand, I get warm inside.
-6 (stop time)
Something happens that I can't describe.
-8 (stop time)
She never talks serious about love or romance.
8 - - (held for entire line) - - 8
She's the kind of babe that won't give your heart a chance.

-6 6 6 -5 -5 -4 -3 -4
A real heartbreaker, don't cha know.
-6 -6 -6 6 -5 -5 -4 -3 -4
She's a real heartbreaker, don't you know?
-6 -6 -6 7 7 -6 6 -6 6 -5 6
She's a real heartbreaker, a mean man hater,
6 -5 -6 6 -5 -5 -5 -4 -3 -4
She's a real heartbreaker, don't you know?

7 (stop time)
No one man ever enters her mind.
5 (stop time)
She likes to flirt with maybe eight or nine.
7 (stop time)
When she goes out man, she has a ball.
-5 (stop time)
She don't date one, she loves to date them all.

6 6 -5 -5 -4 -3 -4
She's a real heart breaker, don't you know?
-6 -6 -6 6 -5 -5 -4 -3 -4
She's a real heartbreaker, don't you know?
-6 -6 -6 7 7 -6 -6 6 -6 -5 6
She's a real heartbreaker, a mean man hater,
-5 -6 6 -5 -5 -5 -4 -3 -4
She's a real heartbreaker, don't you know?.

Happy With The Blues

Happy With The Blues
lyrics by Peggy Lee music by Harold Arlen
key of C, cross harp, F
moderately slow

6 -4 -2 -4 4
I've done some trav'lin'
6 -4 -2 -4 4
Done some un-rav'lin'
6 -4 -2 -4 4
And for this shoestring
-3 4 -4 5
Paid lots of dues.
-7 6 5 -6 -6
But sometimes maybe,
4 5 6 -6 -7
He calls me ba -by,
6 -4 -2 -4 -4' 4 -3' -3''
And then I'm happy with the blues.

-3 -3 4 -4 -4 5 -5
So many nights, many days
-5 5 -4 -4 4 -3 -3 4 5 -4 5 -5
I kept tel -ling myself what to do, where to go.
-3' -3 -5 -4 -1 2 -4' -3
But I stay here' cause I need him
-1' 2 4 -3' 2 -3''
And he needs me, I know.
-4 -3'' -1 -3'' -2
Rooms get so lone -ly,
-1 -2'' -2' -3' -3 -3
Without his fun -ny face
-7 6 5 4 -3 -3'' 2 -2
So, I'll be happy with the blues

The Blues Foundation's 2010 Blues Hall of Fame

The Blues Foundation has announced the artists that it will be inducting into its Hall of Fame this year, including harmonica master Charlie Musselwhite.

Other contemporary blues inductees include Chicago blues guitarist Lonnie Brooks and popular blues-rock singer/songwriter Bonnie Raitt.
The induction ceremony will be held at the organization's annual dinner the night before the 2010 Blues Music Awards ceremony scheduled for Thursday, May 6th, 2010 at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis.

2010 Blues Hall of Fame Inductees

Harmonica virtuoso Jerry Adler dies

Jerry Adler performed with entertainment icons such as Ed Sullivan, Frank Sinatra and Jack Benny. He contributed to music in popular films such as "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "The Alamo" and "High Noon."
Adler, 91, died March 13, 2010.



Read more here.

Honey Bee

Honey Bee
words and music by mckinley morganfield
key of F, cross harp-Bb
moderate blues

-5 -4 -5 -4 4 4 4 4 4 4 -3' -3"
Sail on, sail on, my little honey bee, sail on.

-5 -4 -5 -4 4 4 4 4 4 4 -3' -2
Sail on, sail on, my little honey bee, sail on.

4 4 4 4 4 -4 4 4 4 6 4 -3' -2 -2
You gonna keep on sailin' til you lose your happy home.

-5 -4 4 -5 -4 4 4 4 4 4 4 -3' -2
Sail on, sail on, my little honey bee, sail on.

4 4 4 4 -4 4 1 6 4 -3' -2 -2
I don't mind you sailin', but please don't sail so long.

-4 -4 -4-4 -4 -4 -4 -2 -5 -4 -5 -4 4 -4
All right, little honey bee, I hear a lot of buzzin'

-5 4 4 4 4 -3' -2 -2 -2 -5 -4 -5 -4 4 -4
Sounds like my little honey bee. I hear a lot of buzzin'

-5 4 4 4 4 -3' -2 -2
Sounds like my little honey bee.

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 -1
She been all around the world makin' honey,

-2 -2' -3' -2 -3'-3' 4 -4 4 -3' -2 -2 -2
But now she is comin' back home to me.

Circle of Fifths Tee

A little wearable harmonica theory for those of us who need a key reference when jamming - better yet, make the guitarist wear one so you don't have to look down! Get one here

MEGAPHONE AMPLIFIES HARMONICA MUSIC

From Popular Science Monthly Aug, 1931

MEGAPHONE AMPLIFIES HARMONICA MUSIC

THE volume of a harmonica can be increased for playing in public, especially in large auditoriums or outdoors, by amplifying the sound with a medium-sized megaphone.

A slot is cut in the megaphone about 3 in. from the mouthpiece, and over this is riveted a metal holder made as illustrated below with two lips to grip the harmonica, which is of the “marine band” type.

When full volume is desired, the player places his left hand over the mouthpiece, causing practically alt the sound to pass out through the bell. A slight mute is obtained by extending the right hand over the bell.

Because greater volume is attained with less effort, this idea helps players who have experienced difficulty from lack of breath. Furthermore, the player does not have to face his audience directly, which is an advantage if he suffers from nervousness. Of course, when he carries the megaphone on the stage, he looks like a “crooner,” but as soon as he starts playing -”well there’s a surprise in store for the audience.-”Robert D. Pike.

From Modern Mechanix "Yesterday's Tomorrow Today!"

Blues Harp Profile: Sonny Terry

October 24, 1911, - March 11, 1986

The joyous whoop that Sonny Terry naturally emitted between raucous harp blasts was as distinctive a signature sound as can possibly be imagined. Only a handful of blues harmonicists wielded as much of a lasting influence on the genre as did the sightless Terry (Buster Brown, for one, copied the whoop and all), who recorded some fine urban blues as a bandleader in addition to serving as guitarist Brownie McGhee's longtime duet partner.

Saunders Terrell's father was a folk-styled harmonica player who performed locally at dances, but blues wasn't part of his repertoire (he blew reels and jigs). Terry wasn't born blind-he lost sight in one eye when he was five, the other at age 18. That left him with extremely limited options for making any sort of feasible living, so he took to the streets armed with his trusty harmonicas. Terry soon joined forces with Piedmont pioneer Blind Boy Fuller, first recording with the guitarist in 1937 for Vocalion.
Terry's unique talents were given an extremely classy airing in 1938 when he was invited to perform at New York's Carnegie Hall at the fabled From Spirituals to Swing concert. He recorded for the Library of Congress that same year and cut his first commercial sides in 1940. Terry had met Brownie McGhee in 1939, and upon the death of Fuller, they joined forces, playing together on a 1941 McGhee date for Okeh and settling in New York as a duo in 1942, There they broke into the folk scene, working alongside Leadbelly, Josh White, and Woody Guthrie.

While Brownie McGhee was incredibly prolific in the studio during the mid-'40s, Terry was somewhat less so as a leader (perhaps most of his time was occupied by his prominent role in Finian's Rainbow on Broadway for approximately two years beginning in 1946). There were sides for Asch and Savoy in 1944 before three fine sessions for Capitol in 1947 (the first two featuring Stick McGhee rather than Brownie on guitar) and another in 1950.
Terry made some nice sides in an R&B mode for Jax, Jackson, Red Robin, RCA Victor, Groove, Harlem, Old Town, and Ember during the '50s, usually with Brownie close by on guitar. But it was the folk boom of the late '50s and early Us that made Brownie and Sonny household names (at least among folk aficionados). They toured long and hard as a duo, cutting a horde of endearing acoustic duet LPs along the way, before scuttling their decades-long partnership amidst a fair amount of reported acrimony during the mid-'70s.
From All Music Guide to the Blues: The Experts' Guide to the Best Blues Recordings (2nd Ed) ISBN 0879305487

Harmonica Hero T-Shirt

A while back I posted the Harmonica Hero YouTube video. Now you can grab your very own Harmonica Hero t-shirt here. Available in various colors and styles.

Author Sam Barry Teaches Mannish Boy Riff on Blues Harp

Sam Barry, author of How to Play the Harmonica: and Other Life Lessons, teaches Jason Headley the "Mannish Boy" (I'm a Man) riff on blues harp.



Described by his brother, Dave Barry, as "The only guy I know who's been a minister AND a coke dealer." Sam Barry is an author, a musician and a music teacher who plays in and around San Francisco in the band Los Train Wreck and tours with the all-author rock band the Rock Bottom Remainders. Sam is a regular performer on the national radio show West Coast Live.

Click here to find a copy of How to Play the Harmonica: and Other Life Lessons

Getting A Loan: The Boring Side Of Blues Harmonica

It's a pain- but sometimes necessary. Sometimes when in the performing industries there is a need for a personal loan. Your equipment may break down or you may just want to upgrade your blues harps or gear for an upcoming gig. Whatever your reason- make sure you shop around and get the best deal.

From what I've found- it's best to go to someone who shops around for you. There's a few sites that do this but the one I have used before is Financial Services Online. They are pretty quick to get back to you and there's a form on the site you can fill out for a free quote.

The cool thing about Personal Loans is they are usually pretty quickly approved (one to three business days) which is great if your PA just blew up and you have a gig the next weekend.


Click here to go to Finanical Services Online.

Got The Blues, Can't Be Satisfied

Got The Blues, Can't Be Satisfied
words and music by Mississippi John Hurt
key of G, cross harp, C
relaxed

-4 5 -5 -4 5-5 -5 5 -4
Got the blues, can't be satisfied.

5 6 6 -7 6 -3' -3 -2
Got the blues, can't be sat -is -fied.

-6 -6 -6 6 -7 6 -6 -6 6
Keep the blues, I'll catch the train and ride.

Yes, whiskey straight will drive the blues away.
Yes, whixkey straight will drive the blues away.
That be the case, I wants a quart today.

I bought my baby a great big diamond ring.
I bought my baby a great big diamond ring,
Come right back home and caught her shaking that thing.

I said, "Babe, what makes you do me this a-way?"
I said, "Babe, what makes you do me this a-way?"
Well, that I bought, now you give away.

I took my gun and broke the barrel down.
I took my gun and broke the barrel down.
I put that joker six feet in the ground.

You got the blues, and I still can't be satisfied.
You got the blues, and I still can't be satisfied.
Well, some old day, gonna catch that train and ride.

Get Your Yas Yas Out

Get Your Yas Yas Out
words and music by Blind Boy Fuller
key of C, cross harp-F
moderately

6 6 6 6 6 5 6 5 6 5 6 5 6 5 6 5 -4 -3 -2
Now you got to leave my house this morning,
don't I'll throw your yas yas out o'door,

6 6 6 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 -3 -3 5 5 5 5 -4
Now you got to leave my house this morning,
don't I'll throw your yas yas out o'door.

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 5 -3' -2 -2
Here you come raising hell,
know what you been doin' by the way you smell.

-3 -3 -3 -3 -4 -5 5 5 6 5 5 6 5 -4 -3 -2
Now you got to leave my house this morning,
throw your yas out o' door,

6 5 6 5 -4 -3 -2
I mean, yas yas out o' door. Yeah!

Now you have to leave my house this morning,
don't I'll throw your yas yas out o'door.
Here you come raising sand,
Know what you been doin' by the way you stand.
Now you got to leave my house this morning,
don't I'll throw your yas yas out o' door.
I mean yas yas out o'door.
Now you got to leave my house this morning,
yas yas out o' door.
Now you got to leave my house this morning,
don't I'll throw your yas yas out o' door.
Look at you drinkin, went right through your head.
Had to drink a belt before you went to bed,
Now you got to leave my house this morning,
don't I'll throw your yas yas out o' door
I mean yas yas out o' door.
Now you got to leave my house this morning,
don't I'll throw your yas yas out o' door.
Now you got to leave my house this mornin',
don't I'll throw your yas yas out o' door,
Oh, zee zah, be dum bum,
Batta, batta, batta, dado zam,
Now you got to leave my house this mornin',
throw your yas yas out o'door.

Good Liquor Gonna Carry Me Down

Good Liquor Gonna Carry Me Down
words and music by Big Bill Broonzy
key of C, third position-Bb
moderatly

-4 -4 -4 -4-4-4 -5 -3 -4-4 -4 -4 -3"
Lord I know a little girl 'bout sixteen years old

-3 -4 -4 -4 -4 -5 -4 -3 -4-3 -4 -4 -4
She says Bill stop drinkin I will sat is fy your soul

(chorus)

-3 -4 -3 -4 -4-3 2" -1
But I just keep on a-drinkin',

-4 -3 -4 -3 -3' -2'
Yeah, I keep on drinkin'

-3' -3 -3" 4 4 4 -3-3"
Yeah, I just keep on a drinkin'

-3 -4 -3-3" -2" -2" -1
Till good liquor carry me down.

Now my woman told me about fifteen years ago
Bill you gonna drink one of these mornings
and you'll never drink no more.
(chorus)
Yes I went to the doctor with my head in my hands
The doctor said Big Bill I think I'll have to
give you monkey glands.
(chorus)
Lord my woman told me to stop drinkin' and come on home,
Say If you don't Big Bill some other man
gonna carry your business home.
(chorus)

Quick Blues Harp Tip

Get in the habit of frequently rapping the harmonica (mouthpiece side down) against your leg or palm to knock out the excess saliva and condensation from your breath. Do this before and after you put the harmonica into your mouth. If the reeds are stuck together with saliva, they can't vibrate and make sound.

Dark and Dreary

Dark and Dreary
words and music by Joe Josea and Elmore James
key of C, third position-Bb
moderately

4 -4 -5 -5 -4 -4 6 -5 -4 -3 -4 -2'
I have lost my baby, almost lost my mind.

4 -4 -5 -4 -4 -6 -5 6 -5 -3 -4 -2'
I've lost my baby, almost lost my mind.

6 6 6 -6 6 6 6 -4 -4 -3 -4 -2'
Way she treat me, gonna drive a man stone blind.

Well, the road seemed dark and dreary, while I traveled down that way.
Well, the road seemed dark and dreary, while I traveled down that way.
Well, my baby left me, she just come back home today.

Oh, I love my baby, tell the world I do
Oh, I love my baby, tell the world I do.
Well, I need a little lovin', darlin', gonna make my dream come true.

Oh, I love you darlin', like a schoolboy loves his pie.
Oh, I love you darlin', like a schoolboy loves his pie.
Now ain't that the way to treat me, darlin', my hurt's so long I will die.

Blues Harp Profile: James Cotton

At his high energy 1970s peak as a bandleader, James Cotton was a bouncing, sweaty, whirling dervish of a bluesman, roaring his vocals and all but sucking the reeds right out of his defenseless little harmonicas with his prodigious lungpower. Due to throat problems, Cotton's vocals are no longer what they used to be, but he remains a masterful instrumentalist.

Cotton had some gargantuan shoes to fill when he stepped into Little Walter's slot as Muddy Waters's harp ace in 1954, but for the next dozen years, the young Mississippian filled the integral role beside Chicago's blues king with power and precision. Of course, Cotton prepared for such a career move for a long time, having learned how to wail on harp from none other than Sonny Boy Williamson himself.

Cotton was only a child when he first heard Williamson's fabled radio broadcasts for King Biscuit Time over KFFA out of Helena, AR. So sure was Cotton of his future that he ended up moving into Williamson's home at age nine, soaking up the intricacies of blues harpdom from one of its reigning masters. Six years later, Cotton was ready to unleash a sound of his own.

Gigging with area notables Joe Willie Wilkins and Willie Nix, Cotton built a sterling reputation around West Memphis, following in his mentor's footsteps by landing his own radio show in 1952 over KWEM. Sam Phillips, whose Sun label was still a fledgling operation, invited Cotton to record for him, and two singles commenced: "Straighten Up Baby" in 1953 and "Cotton Crop Blues" the next year. Legend has it Cotton played drums instead of harp on the first platter.

In 1974, Cotton signed with Buddah and released 100% Cotton, one of his most relentless LPs, with Matt "Guitar" Murphy sizzlingly backing him up. A decade later, Alligator issued another standout Cotton LP, High Compression, that was split evenly between traditional style Chicago blues and funkier, horn driven material. Harp Attack!, a 1990 summit meeting on Alligator, paired Cotton with three exalted peers: Wells, Carey Bell, and comparative newcomer Billy Branch. Antone's Records was responsible for a pair of gems: a live 1988 set reuniting the harpist with Murphy and Tucker and a stellar 1991 studio project, Mighty Long Time.
Cotton still commands a huge following, even though serious throat problems have tragically robbed him of his once ferocious roar. That malady ruined parts of his Grammy nominated album for Verve, Living the Blues; only when he stuck to playing harp was the customary Cotton energy still evident. ~ Bill Dahl
From All Music Guide to the Blues: The Experts' Guide to the Best Blues Recordings (2nd Ed)

Harp Tuning: How To Raise The Pitch

Håkan Ehn shows how to adjust a reed to raise the pitch a half step in draw hole 6. Håkan is tinkering with an A harmonica to play Canned Heat's On The Road Again.

Here's a link to where you can pick up a Lee Oskar Harmonica Tool Kit and Instruction Manualfor blues harp customization and maintenance.

Always practice on your old or cheap harmonicas first. I've messed up a whole bunch of harps along the way- better they be a $5 Jambone than a $100 Meisterklasse eh? Good luck.