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Blues Harmonica Secrets Revealed (Gussow.017)
Posted on March 3rd, 2010 25 commentsOverblows! A quick-hit lesson on what they are, how to play them, and how to set up your harp to make them easier to play. Brief demo of overblow licks and Sony Rollins’s “Tenor Madness.” For a free tab sheet to this video, please visit: www.tradebit.com For a video tutorial focused on “Tenor Madness,” please visit: www.tradebit.com
25 responses to “Blues Harmonica Secrets Revealed (Gussow.017)”
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I started playing in 1975. I was OK by 1985, but then I met Nat Riddles and my playing took a major leap. I met Sterling Magee in 1986 after working the streets of NYC and Europe for a year; after three years with him, playing the streets of Harlem, I was respectable.
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plasticbudgie February 16th, 2009 at 05:50
Wow man thats some impressive time spent…
and look how it turned out!!I’m very impressed… also your tutorials are very fun and you your character make watching them even more enjoyable. !! keep up the great work buddy.
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LongingCirkel April 5th, 2009 at 04:27
A tip to everyone who’s struggling on overblows (I have for quite a while): learn to play them before adjusting your harp like our harphero did in this vid. Only if you’re able to play them you’ll notice the difference when your harp is finetuned. I learned the hard way by just keeping on trying even on the high harps, and now I can get them (although they come slow) I went back to this vid and finetuned my harp a bit and yes: quick and easy the overblows come!
Thanks a million, mr. Gussow.
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chicoventura May 3rd, 2009 at 19:05
Ive been playing for years and always wondered how to do so many things you do. Thanks so much for your tutorials.
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MickfromShik May 15th, 2009 at 17:48
That’s depressing knowing it takes over 10 years to become good.
Almost turns me away from trying to learn the harp.
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KudzuRunner May 16th, 2009 at 04:31
Would you say the same thing about the violin? With all due respect, you evidence the problem: most people don’t take the harmonica seriously.
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Snotlingfondler June 27th, 2009 at 19:26
im getting a hohner marine band next and im gonna try out all this on my old one first haha, i aint wreaking a £30 harp
great info and i am in awe of your playing
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Aliksandr July 2nd, 2009 at 10:16
SHIT! I had never try to overblow thinking it was going to be too difficult, but knowing how to bend and watching your video I got it the first time. THANK YOU ADAM SO MUCH YOU MADE ME HAPPY TODAY!!
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PieJesuG July 3rd, 2009 at 10:27
Do you need to blow any harder to get the overblow?
On my trials, the blow reed stops sounding but the draw reed doesn’t tone… It is the draw reed that creates note… Isn’t it!?
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LesterBflat July 13th, 2009 at 20:56
I’ve been playing for years and could never understand how to overblow. It was because of this video and Adam’s way of explaining overblows that I finally got it. Thanks Adam, you’ve opened up a whole new world for me.
I’m re-inspired. -
KudzuRunner July 14th, 2009 at 05:07
I’m delighted at that news. It’s stories like this that make me glad I embarked on this YouTube venture.
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trustyadam13 July 22nd, 2009 at 14:35
Okay so I am overblowing(i think) and i’m just getting that really rough, kinda vibrating sound like you were in the video a little bit…except i’m getting it on every hole i try to overblow…And i can kind of hear the overblow note within the rough vibrating sound i’m playing…I’ve only been playing about half a year( since christmas) but i can bend just about every note… But I was surprised to think that I’m already overblowing…any help you can offer would be great =)
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tenichols10 July 27th, 2009 at 08:42
yea the blow read “chokes” and the draw reed plays the not. try not to blow any harder, its more of a pressure thing than a power thing
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surfer1124 July 30th, 2009 at 22:35
Thank you very much for all of the videos. They are helping immensely. I’m having one problem. I was working on the upper octave and all of a sudden the 8 Draw was making no sound, so I tried 8 Blow and it reluctantly sounded. Going from 8 Blow to 8 Draw it will sound weakly, and then go silent again. I tried loosening the reed thinking that may be the problem, but no luck. I’m stuck. I was wondering if you knew of what it might be or if you have any other tricks up your sleeve. Thanks, Adam!
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rosstones1 September 5th, 2009 at 14:23
hey the videos on overblows have really helped me. Its been refreshing to hear a blues player use them tastefully and not trying to play in every key and be all Howard about it. Im gonna post some saxophone lesson videos soon.
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KudzuRunner September 5th, 2009 at 15:32
I couldn’t be all Howard about it if I tried; that’s probably why I went in this direction. It’s taken me years to realize that I’m Hank Crawford living in Charlie Parker’s world. I’m not a jazz genius, just an R&B guy working hard with the tools I’ve got.
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AeonSteampunk September 6th, 2009 at 11:35
I’ve almost got it, I can get it to that growling vibration state just before it pops but cant seem to get it further. Ive managed it a few times by accident but can’t seem to get it back. Any tips on this? I found Howard Levys explanation very helpful, bend 8 blow then do the 6 blow. That’s worked well for me to this stage. Really struggling with this.
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Zambeezo October 6th, 2009 at 13:07
I bought ya cd! Harlem blues anyway, and its awesome. Whats the best album for some of the slower blues you have shown us?
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tommror October 12th, 2009 at 12:13
Sweet, i adjusted my Bb Marine band and after about 15 min managed the 6 overblow pretty decent. About 1 hour later i actually managed the same thing on my Lee Oscar C harmonica without even adjusting it. Great lesson!
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OlleGranat October 29th, 2009 at 08:03
Hi Adam, thanks for the lesson! I can do overblows fairly easy now, but I have a really irritating problem, every time i adjust my harps to overblow, they go flat! I just did it on my C MB deluxe and the 6 hole blow sounds awful.. Do you have any idea how I can avoid it?
Thanks.
Olle. -
KudzuRunner October 29th, 2009 at 11:02
Overblowing per se can be hard on blow reeds, but if yours is going flat soon after you adjust it, you’re probably stressing or even scoring the reed in a way that weakens it. I can’t diagnose beyond that. Visit the forum search at Modern Blues Harmonica (one of the last pages on the website) and search “overblow.” Lots of threads!
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daddyrichispoor November 2nd, 2009 at 01:01
Thanks for the tips. I find a toothpick works well for me sometimes when “jimmying” the reeds.
i’ll try to make it by the tip jar sometime.
peace,
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kmkellner January 18th, 2010 at 18:44
Adam,
I love what you do and my sound is very close to yours. I have watched your vid on overblows 10 times but still ca not do it. What must I do? I have great control, musicality, and experience but everytime I try to overblow I get that squeally sound like the note is sickly and strained. I have tried closing the gap of the reed to no avail. what am I missing?
Thank you,
Ken
Richmond VA -
Tariqalhajri January 21st, 2010 at 11:46
how do you reassemble the plates on the marine band? Theres no screws just nails…
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XPMBblues February 9th, 2010 at 10:38
Try with hole a hole 6 or higher, blow into the harp in the regular way. Move the front part of your tongue upwards and *slightly* forward. Kind of like the movement you would do if you were to spit as far as possible. Jaw movement is *not* needed. It’s difficult to explain, so if it still doesn’t work, blow and move your tongue around (and modify its shape) until you get a change in sound..
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KudzuRunner February 16th, 2009 at 05:42