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Modern Blues Harmonica – wah wahs (AG.12)
Posted on March 4th, 2010 7 commentsHarpist Adam Gussow shows you the difference between wah-wah, tremolo, and fanning: three different ways of texturing your acoustic harmonica sound. If you’re interested in learning how to play blues harmonica, please visit Modern Blues Harmonica. You’ll find a series of skill-graded video tutorials and tab sheets there, along with one of the internets most active blues harmonica discussion forums and other pages filled with invaluable tips, tricks, and suggestions for upping your game: www.modernbluesharmonica.com If you’re interested in attending a unique student-centered weekend in the Mississippi countryside, please consider coming to Hill Country Harmonica 2009 www.hillcountryharmonica.com
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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
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“Will It Go Round in Circles” for Harmonica
Posted on February 27th, 2010 25 commentsI’ve always loved Billy Preston’s 1972 hit, “Will It Go Round in Circles.” I’ve played a version of it on harmonica for more than 20 years as part of my duo, Satan and Adam. This morning I woke up and said, “I’m going to work up a version for solo harp and foot drums.” I transformed the horn riffs into a harp riff and learned two verses and the chorus. This video is the result of one morning’s work. As part of my continuing quest to bring blues harmonica playing into the new millennium, I’d like to encourage other harmonica players to lift their eyes from the so-called “classic” repertoire of the blues harmonica past, wonderful as it is, and take on the classic music of our own time–above all, the great soul and blues-rock hits of the 60s and 70s. There’s absolutely no reason why amplfied blues harmonica needs to remain locked into a 50’s West Coast / Chicago bag. I’m 51 years old. If I can keep pushing to find new stuff, I challenge the younger players out there to match my efforts. –Adam Gussow If you’re interested in learning to play blues harmonica, please visit my website: www.modernbluesharmonica.com
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3-year anniversary special: blues harp at the crossroads returns!
Posted on February 26th, 2010 25 commentsThree years after first resolving to “give it all away” on youtube, Dr. Gussow returns with a blast from the past–and some surprises. Use an A harp on this one. www.hillcountryharmonica.com
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Re: North Mississippi Front-Porch Blues Harp Lesson (Gussow.024)
Posted on February 25th, 2010 12 commentsTake II
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Sunshine of Your Love for harmonica 1 (AG.10)
Posted on February 20th, 2010 25 commentsThe Cream classic from the late 60s, translated into simple blues harmonica riffs, then performed by Adam Gussow as a one-man band. If you’d like to learn how to play blues harmonica, Gussow has 200+ free video tutorials on youtube and a whole lot more stuff at Modern Blues Harmonica: www.modernbluesharmonica.com If you’re looking for a modestly-priced “total harmonica experience” this spring, think about making the pilgrimage to the North Mississippi hill country for Hill Country Harmonica www.hillcountryharmonica.com
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Modern Blues Harmonica – Train Grooves 1 (Gussow.047)
Posted on February 15th, 2010 25 commentsFirst part of a two-part lesson on train rhythms. After talking about some remarkable donations to his "church" of blues harmonica, Gussow (of Satan and Adam) demos and dissects the "nuck-a tuck-a" rhythm that is the foundation of harmonica train songs. Key of A harp. Live in the car from Oxford, Mississippi. For a series of skill-graded video tutorials and tabs focusing on classic blues harmonica repertoire by Sonny Terry, Little Walter, Paul Butterfield, and others, please visit: www.modernbluesharmonica.com
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Hill Country Harmonica 1
Posted on February 10th, 2010 25 commentsPreview for an exciting event–a two-day, family-friendly blues harmonica intensive–that will be taking place on May 22-23, 2010 on Foxfire Ranch in Waterford Mississippi. Foxfire is 50 miles south of Memphis International Airport and easily accessible by major highways. Our teacher/performers include Billy Branch, Adam Gussow (with Charlie Hilbert), Terry "Harmonica" Bean, Billy Gibson, Brandon Bailey, and Bill "Howl-N-Madd" Perry. For more information on Hill Country Harmonica, please visit the event website: hillcountryharmonica.com If you'd like to learn how to play blues harmonica, please visit Modern Blues Harmonica www.modernbluesharmonica.com
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Gussow OMB rehearsal – “Hot Rod” (1955)
Posted on January 29th, 2010 19 commentsBack in the woodshed! Adam Gussow of Satan and Adam attempting to transform a 1955 honkin’ R&B sax instrumental by Hal Singer into a harp-and-footdrums tune. This is the music that inspired Dean Moriarty to shot “Blow! Blow!” in a San Francisco jazz joint in Jack Kerouac’s novel ON THE ROAD. If you’re interested in learning how to play traditional and contemporary blues harmonica, please visit Modern Blues Harmonica. Inexpensive video lessons and tabs, lots of blues harmonica links, a Top-10 and Second-10 all-time list of harmonica greats, plus one of the most dynamic discussion forums on the web: www.modernbluesharmonica.com
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Big River Harmonica (AG.9)
Posted on January 27th, 2010 13 commentsConversation about the harmonica overture for “Big River,” Roger Miller’s play based on Mark Twain’s ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN. With Adam Gussow, who played harp in a bus-and-truck production of the play in 1987-1988. Gussow’s personal appearances page can be found here: www.modernbluesharmonica.com If you’d like to learn how to play harmonica, please visit Modern Blues Harmonica: www.modernbluesharmonica.com