Harmonica - Alfie

Cover of the song Alfie on diatonic harmonica.
Song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for the movie Alfie (1966).
I was mostly inspired by the wonderful instrumental version of Stevie Wonder (1968).
Song in Bb.
Played on a Bb diatonic harmonica (Hohner crossover).
Used also at one moment a Eb Special 20 to reproduce Stevie Wonder octaves near the end of the song.
Recorded with an Electro Voice RE10 and a Digitech RP 360XP (as record station and for reverb effect).
Mixed with Audacity.
Backing track (in Ab): • Alfie (In the Style of...
Tablature:
0:00 - 0:44
+6 -5 +5 -5 +6
-5 -5 +7
+6 -6 +6 -3 -7 -6
-3 +4 -4
+5 +6 +8 +7 +7
-8 +7 -7 +7 -8 +6 +6
+7 (-6 -7 -6) -4 (-4) +5 -5 +6 -6 -8 -7
+7 (-6 -7 -6) -4 (-4) +5 -5 +6 -6
+6 +5 +6 -6 (-6')
0:44 - 1:15
+6 -5 +5 -5 +6
-5 -5 +7
+6 -6 +6 -3 -7 -6
+6 +5 -4
+9 -9 +8 -8 -8 +8 +7
-8 (+7 -7 +7 -8) * 3
+6 +6
+7 (-6 -7 -6) -4 -4 +5 -5 +6 -6 -8 -7
1:15 - 1:52
+7 -8 -7 +5° -6 +6 +4°
-4 -4 +5 +6 -7 -8 +8
-7 +7 -7 -6 -7
-4 -8 -7 +5° -6 +6 +4°
-4 -4 +5 +6 -7 +7
-7 +7 -7 +7 -8 -7
-6 -6 -7 -6
1:52 - 2:25
(+6 -5 +5 -5 +6) *2
-5 -5 +7
-6 -7 +7 -4 +4 -8 +7 +6
+7 +7 -8 +7
-6 -7 +7 -4 +4 -8 +7 +6
-6 -7 +7
-8 -8 +8 +8
-8 +8 -9 +8....
2:25 - End
Free end

[@eamonnocarroll5866]

Thanks

[@user-he8ym4zq7z]

very good　! alfee

[@michelvulin9646]

Absolument magnifique, belle sensibilité, bravo 🤠

[@MarkusYang-ws7qd]

很好聽

[@aryaGo925]

good job. I enjoy old songs, one time I stumbled upon "Alfie" by Bacharach, then I found Stevie Wonder play this solo. I was.. in love. I bought a diatonic harmonica just to learn how to play it, but I was sad of the fact that he used chromatic (which is too expensive for a total beginner like me). and THEN I'm here. and you sir brings me back hope into learning this song again. Thank you.

[@Zolta49]

Thanks for your comment :) I am very glad that my version inspired you to try this wonderful song on a diatonic !

[@harmonikaph2037]

Thank you for sharing ! I also inspired from the time I heard the version of stevie wonder.. 🥰

[@Zolta49]

Thanks for your comment ! Yes, it is a wonderfull song and stevie wonder's version is really moving.

[@zebrophile]

Beautiful!

[@Zolta49]

Merci beaucoup :)

[@trappstein]

I like it Zolta. !!

[@Zolta49]

Thanks for watching :)

[@andydunn5673]

Great playing Thanks for sharing as well

[@francoislem7149]

Superbe

[@Zolta49]

Merci François :) Je te souhaite une très bonne année 2020 !

[@christianmascret2575]

Bien joué ! Bravo ! Je pense que ce morceau est plutôt majoritairement en Ab.

[@Zolta49]

Merci Christian ! Oui tu as raison (le backing original était d'ailleurs en Ab). Pour des raisons pratiques, étant donné que la version sur laquelle je me suis entrainé (celle de Stevie Wonder) est en Bb, et aussi parce que mon harmonica en Bb est de meilleur qualité, j'ai choisi de le jouer en Bb ;)

[@oxharp]

Hi I am very inspired by your playing and love this version. I am going to try and learn it and following your tabs. Is this what they call 12th position? Can you give me any advice to internalise this please.

[@Zolta49]

Hi Oxharp ! Thanks for your comment :) This song is here played in Bb with a Bb harmonica, so it is basically what we can call the "first position". However, there is a tricky bridge between 1:15 and 1:52 which requires some overblows. Not sure what is the key change here, I picked up the notes by earing the original version, but we are definitely not in first position anymore. The 12th position is basically to play in F on C harmonica, so Eb on a Bb harmonica (which is not the case here, we are in Bb). In order to play and internalise this song, the best advice I can give is to listen (a lot), the Stevie wonder version (here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e32VhauJd7yUbNE, or here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXW7o4qcZbWYZ8U). Pay attention to his notes attacks, vibrato and his tone, and try to mimic them by playing along with him. Expressiveness and tone are particularly important in this song, and for me, it is what make the Stevie Wonder version amazing. Of course, because he is using a chromatic harmonica, it is impossible to have exactly the same sound as him on a diatonic, but we can try to get close enough, and it is wonderful exercice to practice tone :) Have fun practicing this song !

[@oxharp]

@@Zolta49 Thank you so much and thanks for subscribing to my channel.

[@blinknpoof]

Hi, Zolta! Sadly they have taken down your Sekai no Yakusoku video, I was studying from your amazing video, would you mind share the tabs in here? Thank you, u r great!

[@Zolta49]

Hi Jacob ! Yes unfortunately, Ghibli copyright asked KZbin to remove my video due to copyright reason :( I will see with KZbin if I can upload it again. I can also make another video of this song, face cam, with lower background music and it might work too ^^ Anyway, here the full tab of the song: Intro: +3 +6 +5 +4 +3 +6 +5 +6 +5 -4 +4 -3 -3" -2 -2" +2 Part A: +3 +5 -4 +4 +5 +6 +5 +5 +6 -5 -3" -3" +5 +5 -4 +3 +5 +5 -4 +4 +5 +5 +6 +6 -5 +5 -3" +5 -4 +4 +4 Part B: +6 -6 +4 +4 -3 +4 +6 +4 +4 +6 +6 -5 +5 -4 +5 -5 +6... +6 -6 +4 -6 -7 -6 +6 -3 +4 +6 -6 -5 +6 -6 -6 +6 -3" +5 -4.. Bridge: -3 " -3 +4 +5 -4 +4 -3 +2 -2 -3" +4 +5 +6 -3 -3" -2 -6 -7 +6 -8 +7 -7 -6 +6 +5° -6 +6 -5 +5 +4° -4 +4° -4 Ending: +6 -5 +6 -5 +5 -3" +5 -4 +6 -6 -5 +5 -5 +5 -4 -5 +5 -5 +5 -4 -3" +5 -4 +4 +4.... ... -8 +7 +8 -8 -10 +9...

[@blinknpoof]

@@Zolta49 Thank you so much! That work of yours actually made me start studying harmonica again, after 8 years without touching a harmonica, hope that u r able to upload

[@SiarheiKuchuk]

nice, how are you doing

[@Zolta49]

I am doing fine, thank you ! Thanks for watching :)