HOW TO PLAY HELP ME SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON HARMONICA LESSON

British blues artist Will Wilde shows you how to play Sonny Boy Williamson's "Help Me" on a Bb Harmonica.
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[@willharmonicawilde]

Learn harmonica with me! Join my free online course: www.willwildeharmonicamasterclass.com

[@TomBailey-gy8qp]

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[@patrickclark3337]

Why would someone "thumbs down" this video? He's taking the time out of his schedule to show you/us how to play the song. What a bunch of asshats! Thanks Will, I try to learn as much by ear as I can but it helps to have someone show me if I missed something.

[@joemazmo7981]

Because some people are cunts.

[@willharmonicawilde]

Hahaha Yep! :-)

[@joestephan1111]

Everytime I try to play along with Sonny Boy I throw my harp back in the drawer and announce out loud, I Quit! No one does it finer than him. He is the Gold Standard!!!

[@c_farther5208]

I have learned more from this video than a month on the net. Well done! You are extremely fast on picking out your notes...very impressed. Seriously, I am impressed. You explained things so specifically, good teacher!

[@rodrigojosebeltranarriagad2040]

Bro, those bibratos are insane, well done

[@ArtofDreaming1]

That was just plain beautiful.

[@willharmonicawilde]

Thank you!

[@BrianReeves2]

This is a fantastic breakdown of one of my favorite songs. Thanks, Will.

[@jonbarr9195]

Wow, you absolutely aced this tune!! Thanks for breaking this down. Your vibrato is awesome, sounds just like son ny, passion and all.

[@algieturas612]

I'm 48. This has gotta be the BEST cover of Sonny Boy's Help Me I have ever heard. Help Me is the earliest recorded piece of music I can remember hearing as, probably, a 4-5 year old. dad had an old reel to reel deck & he used to crank it's tiny speaker as high as it would go. I even heard Sonny Boy when hear was wearing his 'cans'.

[@heiko6983]

Great Will! Help me is also the one that told me to start playing blues harmonica. I love how You play it. And how You explain it🙏🏻😎

[@matthewwesthorpe6674]

Mate, I got stung by the same bee, thirty years ago, and it still itches! Man you sure have helped me out with this. SO GOOD to see and hear the emphasis in which you play. You've struck a chord! If I was born with seven thumbs I"d give them all to ya. Cheers

[@rhatid]

I went out to buy an harmonica after hearing his Bye Bye Birdie. What an inspirational player. And so are you developing to be Will Wilde. What a great tradition.

[@gbuxman]

Man your tutorials are the most effective I've seen yet. Thank you!

[@MariliaCoutinho]

Your tutorial videos are incredibly effective (at least for me): they are simple, to the point, detailed and as little wordy as possible. Very generous to the community. Thank you!

[@garyadamsgma1495]

I can see why its so special to you! Love it!

[@timothyjpielak]

I keep reviewing this to learn it ...and I thank you each time for being such a generous teacher.

[@markgreany9562]

I am a big fan of the great harmonica teachers - Gindick, Gussow, Ritche, and YOU! Just found you and boom, hooked. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Please do not be discouraged by the negativers on you tube. Keep on!

[@ArtofDreaming1]

Playing this along with you has been the best part of my day.,I feel so much better!!!!!!

[@gayabalkan]

Really appreciated that man. You clarified some details that always baffled me... Respect for what you're doing!

[@Sam-dc9bg]

Just can't get enough of what your control and expression with vibrato does to the music. Very cool.

[@FAHRENHEIT451JL]

This song has pushed me hard but after watching this video a hundred times, I'm suppeerrrrrfreaking close. Thank you so much will wilde

[@jasonmills2638]

This is fantastic, a big help, cheers from New Zealand. 2024.

[@brianjones1603]

i `ve been playing harp from first hearing starkicker from the whistle test and the wizzard by sabbath .,and who could forget groovin` with mister bloe ? Then i stopped playing sometime in the nineties, until i retired last year. In the interim i have collected a few old blues artists on cd and vinyl and watching Will has inspired me to try a bit harder to recover my youthful enthusiasm and maybe a lot more style. Thanks Will, everbody loves the sound of a train in the distance,everybody knows it`s true.

[@ianritchie5111]

Excellent lesson Will!!!.....it was SONNY BOY got me into blues harp as well!.......youll have to break down BRING IT ON HOME for us!!......cheers!

[@alrobinson7830]

Will... I had no idea that this was the song that you got you started! Next time you are over in the States, I will take you over to Sonnyboy's gravesite in Tutwiler, Mississippi. Long story... but around 15 years ago, I was asked to lead a bunch of harmonica students holding a seminar to Sonnyboy's grave marker. The instructor leading the seminar did not know where it was located. If you don't know where it is... very hard to find!

[@dhillonh55]

Awesome playing, you are the master ... Thanks for sharing...

[@mikemurray5382]

Thank You. One of the best internet lessons I've seen for a piece i have wonted to learn

[@jeanfrancoisdauzan1098]

Super merci !!

[@harpharpharpharp1971]

While I am confident that Will's analysis of what Sonny Boy Williamson played is quite valid and would be helpful to some people, the idea that you would need to know all that in order to play it, is false and can be discouraging. I don't understand a word of it, and I can play it. I met Sonny Boy Williamson twice in the 1960s, and I am fairly confident in telling you that he would not have had a clue what Will is talking about. He just played it, Like I just play it. Not quite as well, but that has more to do with me not being Sonny Boy Williamson than it has to do with me not being conversant with the technical terms used or knowing which number hole I am blowing into, which is something I have never ever given a moment's thought to.

[@bill6579]

Big thanks for sharing this lesson! Lots of great stuff in it.

[@MGBarkell]

Great lesson Will as always! I actually liked and saved this video quite some time ago and came across it again. Motivates me to work to pick this one up again. Thank you

[@bpetersson5024]

brilliant, I went through the intro, up to the solo and said: enough for today, my jaws are cramping...you can just do that with the -2 2 1 1 turnaround and you sound pretty good :-)..big thanks, mate!

[@jamesmares4206]

I like the you break it down. Very heipful and I agree that this is probably the most iconic blues harmonic song of all time.

[@luke-vr9wk]

Mr Wilde i just want you to know this is the video i watched that made me pick up the harp and inspired me to want to be like you. I play everyday when im not sick i watch your videos whenever i can. Playing harp has given me expression and is doing good for my mental health i am 33 yo from Australia 🦘 literally just got home with my first decent harp (im very poor) been saving for months i got a blues harp in Bflat. Im not very tech savvy im very oldschool for my age but i found your video here 3 months back. Ive been playing harp for those 3 months. Coincidentally found a dirty old Huang harp the next day at a op shop for $7 took it home cleaned it and played until it broke. I have several others ive found 😅 thank you Will god bless

[@willharmonicawilde]

Thanks a lot man, all the best

[@TheGixernutter]

Superb. You've got me on this now Will. I've only been playing 30 years. But hey let's play Sonny right. Nice one.

[@martcaseyireland]

Fair play to ya man.. it’s such a hard instrument to play! And like youI absolutely love that number

[@timaves1504]

Fabulous Will! Your playing is SO controlled and precise! I’m in awe of you. 😊

[@righteyeartistry156]

I had to learn the old school way. Before KZbin. Kudos to you Will.

[@alleycat-145]

This is such an awesome tutorial. I come back to it many times and can never get enough of it.

[@spaceyoyo6721]

Amazing sound !! :)

[@abekelly9935]

My fav too !!

[@harpharpharpharp1971]

If you don't understand this, don't be discouraged. I have been playing this song since I heard Sonny Boy play it in a South London Jazz club when I was 17. I have no difficulty playing it note for note, but I have not the foggiest notion what Will is talking about. What is all this "Draw three" and "blow five" stuff? What does half a step mean? I have never in 60 years of playing the harmonica given even a moment's thought to which hole number I am blowing into or sucking on. Or to any of the technical terms that are used in tutorials, such as "second position" or "overblowing". Of course, I can do it all, but I have no idea what it is called. I am glad tutorials like this didn't exist when I was learning to play. I would have found them so confusing and discouraging, I would have quit. The best way to learn to play the harmonic is to just play it and figure it out by trial and error. Use your ears. And here is a priceless tip taught to me by the legendary bass play Peter Ind. Sing what you want to play. Whatever instrument you play, if you can hear it in your head well enough to sing it, however badly you might sing, you are more than half way there. Trust me. You will figure out which stuffing hole to blow in, and you won't need to know it's number.

[@geoffpatch8255]

How do you explain to someone what note to play if you don't tell them what note to play? It's like telling a guitarist to play like Clapton by listening to Clapton and playing the sounds you hear.

[@chrisyoung4651]

Thank you will your awesome and I appreciate you sharing seriously I've been playing harps for 13 years and you inspire me and you are teaching me things I didn't know I learned by ear so thank you 👍✌️keep on jamming 😝😛😜

[@patriciawhite1936]

very nice, my favorite

[@gaijin134]

Great lesson Will. You the man!

[@ThePneil92]

Thanks for sharing, I've been wanting to get round to learning this for a while. The vibrato in this is awesome and really makes the song!

[@yourvito]

Thanks bro! needed this lesson 20 years ago lol, lucky to have find you. Rock on and thanks for sharing!!

[@harmonica2007]

Thanks Will! I had some of that figured out, but was pretty stuck. Very cool lesson. I like how you demonstrate right away the overall riff and put all the parts together.

[@michaelhowe5202]

Will,once again a great lesson. Love your teaching style, you are the best. My playing has advanced so much because of the way you explain stuff, looking forward to the s.b.williamson tutorial.

[@timothyjpielak]

Thank you!

[@bobsyeruncle4841]

that blew my head off pure gold Will thanks man.

[@robsoneduardodrakho3204]

thanks Will, you solved my doubt!!!👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@andrewo8]

You make everything soud so sick love it !

[@coleo781]

Kickass dude

[@Ecofish1]

Thanks Will - You have helped me tremendously; and your band sounds great!

[@willharmonicawilde]

Thanks Greg!

[@musaddiqgohar7779]

It's so cool.

[@pompom7x728]

I won't use the info since this is not an instrument I want to play. I sing (punk rock... and rockabilly since today). I have an excellent teacher. Once my situation will be better (divorced mother of male twins aged 17, no job), I want to play a bit of piano again and go on learning the guitar. I happened to know about Sonny Boy Williamson because of my boyfriend (guitar teacher) when I was young and slim and I quite never recovered from this song too. It is amazing 🤩🎼🌺

[@theblueshopper9360]

Thanks man, great lesson! You're amazing, love you're work! Big fan here!!🤘🎶👏

[@ruypapaleobianchini395]

Uma aula de gaita👏👏👏👏👏👏😳🇺🇸.

[@Redshift313]

Thx brother... another great...

[@janthomas5147]

It's interesting Sonny Boy actually hits the full on major 3rd at the end of the first verse, and in the solo too. You do too on the trills - So cool.

[@spaceyoyo6721]

Great video !

[@hurricanereardon826]

Awesome lesson!

[@jonathanpalmer3587]

This was so great. First time hearing you teach this. Can’t thank you enough. Could never pick up the fast licks without your help. You’re the greatest.

[@corvuscrack9505]

Your Soynd is so warm ..👍

[@marcelpacheco7878]

NICE!

[@davidvidler5107]

Great lesson & energy Will. Sounds cool too. A harptab on the screen would Help Me! Cheers from David in Australia

[@jerrycohencohen8901]

To good ❤

[@AlexandruLungan]

Thanks !! amazing

[@willharmonicawilde]

Thank you!

[@jackleg266]

amazing vibrato!!!!

[@clintsequipment]

Thank you for posting this! Very helpful... you have a great sound!

[@christophsteiner60]

Fantastic job Will! thanks for sharing

[@evandavies4049]

Won't can i say mind blowing will your a a inspiration to me to get better great harping though

[@d.a.g.532]

Отличный пример. Можно легко учить Help Me🤝👍👏

[@olrailbird]

Very nice. I need to learn to use my hands, much less hit the right hole in the right direction. Thanks for your time.

[@harpmangaz]

Thanks Will, great video, very much appreciated

[@MGBarkell]

This is the best break down of one of my favorites from Sonny Boy II. Thanks Will. Have you done Bring it on Home?

[@marcmondragone3452]

This sounds great. one good way to learn a song interacting with the computer monitor is the one that Harmopoint uses . I've been looking for something similar to it maybe an Application .if you can show what your teaching in the screan .like per example a virtual harp comb it will be great.

[@tavarespablo]

Amazing lesson 👊👊

[@willharmonicawilde]

Thanks Pablo!

[@richardlowe8542]

Hi Will thanks for this. Quick request, would you be able to do a tutorial for cha cha cha the blues (Charlie musselwhite)? I can't make it past the first 30 seconds and can't find a tab anywhere! Thanks!

[@kheldoron]

This is so good! Thanks!

[@user-yv5sd4mj2o]

Will, очень круто! Спасибо тебе!

[@Seansaighdeoir]

Thanks for this mate - great stuff.

[@TCS_Aquatics]

Getting mean as hell around 6:15 haha great lesson man!!!

[@evandavies4049]

Will you ferking do e it again still learning on the road whick i love blind owl and mesmerized by this track awesome goinging to get Skype on this one

[@majidalaghmand4846]

Do I need to be able to read notes

[@DeanMarsh1962]

Awesome! Going to practice this. Do you have or know about a "how to" or tab for "Bring it On Home" Sonny Boy for harp? Thanks!

[@andrewthegraciouslordrober327]

Awesome teaching. To the extent that what you play sounds like what Mr Miller plays too. Very strong harp sound, just like his and he must have had such strong throat muscles. Is that one of your own harps? I'm using a Marine Band.

[@nodgelyobo1]

I love the way you aggressively attack the harp, I was playing like a lily livered wimp before I discovered your lessons... Cheers Will

[@willharmonicawilde]

Hahaha Thanks!

[@keyjam9]

He must drawing on only holes 1 and 2 for the chord chop or he would be getting the major 3rd on draw 3. And its a minor song.

[@RasidMatinjanin]

If I was one of those rich rap moguls I'd bring blues back instead of this horrid junk of today. You are an amazing harp player, It is my life mission to learn to play that well and I will. Hey keep it up you got another fan.

[@ilvecchiopoe]

bravissimo grazie--------

[@Pspisripoff]

Awesome! Thank you! But you should note those keys, cuz its quite hard to follow it when you dont see nots

[@Pspisripoff]

Itd be great if you noted licks and showed on screen, cuz otherwise we have to pause video to note all the notes sometimes, like here! Thank you! :)

[@alisonmanners3003]

Awesome thanks my favourite of all time as well Ive practiced and practiced for years Billy Branch & Junior Wells do a good rendition One good thing about self isolating got the time to learn this properly now AKA Ali Cat Manners ^..^x

[@ikust007]

Damn! 8!years ago …

[@TheRealFeechLaManna]

After many years of playing around w harps, Ive found my biggest obstacle to improving is my complete inability to bend notes without breating in through my left nostril in particular. This has become a big issue as I have gotten better overall, plus I always feel like an idiot when I block my nose w a finger during bends. Meh.

[@luke-vr9wk]

I know it's a B flat but what harmonica are you using Mr Wilde? Love your teachings! 33yo from Australia 🦘

[@mankenybom9344]

Great instructions... however I sometimes notice a thing (a little bit) that you can become a little short of breath between the notes. I get that a lot. As I try to concentrate on getting the notes right, I tend to forget how and when to breath. But I'm getting there... slowly and safely. However, I seldom hear any harpinstructor mention this, but maybe it comes so natural for them that they forget to adress it as a problem..... or perhaps that each person must find his own way around this problem.

[@jackleg266]

i have so much fun learning from you.. this too, is the song that got me interested in harp!!! there is a note that ends the first turnaround? is it harp or organ? sounds mysterious to me.. thanks

[@patrickclark3337]

Hey Will I've seen it, and originally learned it 4',+4,3',2,3',+4,+3,+4,3',2,3'. The +4,+3,+4 ( in one fluid breath) are different from the one you do. Is that acceptable in your opinion? Because that's the way I've been playing it for a while, but I can do it both ways, I just have to retrain myself to play it your way.

[@willharmonicawilde]

If it sounds good, then it's acceptable, you don't have to play it the same way as me. ;-)

[@tonychestnut904]

Fantastic breakdown and lesson, but how have you developed your vibrato? It sounds wonderful!

[@willharmonicawilde]

Thanks. I have videos about vibrato. Just search 'will wilde vibrato lesson' on youtube, you'll find it