'On the Road Again' harmonica lesson (by Canned Heat's Alan Wilson aka the Blind Owl)

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In this week's lesson, Liam Ward teaches you the solo from On the Road Again by Canned on an A diatonic harmonica. The solo was recorded by Alan Wilson, aka the Blind Owl, and features the very special use of a uniquely tuned harp to get an impossible (without overblows) note.
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[@Learntheharmonica]

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[@goozh]

I've always been a big fan of Alan Wilson, but I did not know he was such an accomplished harmonica player...I loved his vocals. This was a good history lesson, and fun harmonica lesson.

[@Learntheharmonica]

Cheers Smokin Ray. Yeah he did some really interesting stuff, and sadly like too many harp players he died far too young.

[@armanikayden3337]

instablaster.

[@mimivege3245]

Alan had purfect pitch, he always tuned his own harmonica, thats a fact! He was a genius ❤

[@cincinnatipedalsteel4347]

I learned this on the powerbender tuning… you get that note nicely on the bend of hole 7 😜

[@jonathanreid8899]

Hi Liam. I'd say it was re-tuned too especially given the fact that you slide back to the draw 4. Given that he was a bricklayer (encouraged by his father) I'd say he was useful with his manual dexterity and re-tuned the note! His style of playing was also very emotive and not fiddly so it would make sense to be able to hang on to that note. The solo is basically Minor pentatonic I think which apparently has some affinities to Indian Modal Music which the song evokes(?) There's a book out about Alan Wilson's life called 'Blind Owl Blues' by Rebecca Davis with a chapter entitled 'On the Road'. I would love to have met him and what he did with Son House was absolutely wonderful! Thanks for the videos!

[@thomasboogie734]

Thank you so much for your hard work on Alan's amazing harp solo. I've been a hard core fan of Blind Owl's harmonica playing since 1968, I won't claim to be in Alan's league, however his harp work has inspired my own playing for many years. Thank you for your interest in the Blind Owl's unique style of harp playing!

[@Learntheharmonica]

You're very welcome, he was a great player and it's so much fun studying his music and sharing it with you 😎

[@Minnow77]

Goosebumps!!!! The harmonica is just awesome on this track. Thanks for the tutorial. I am a million miles away from that 😔 I would love to see a tutorial on the theme tune for Roobarb and Custard-such a playful riff, always makes me smile!

[@Learntheharmonica]

Yeah I always loved the harp of this song. Thanks for watching, Emma. Do send me a link to the theme song and I'll have a listen. Cheers. Liam

[@Minnow77]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHq4lGeEj9h2edk

[@ianritchie5111]

fantastic!!....sent for full lesson....as i did with JUKE....both times id sussed the intro but not the rest....JUKE premium lesson brought it all together!!

[@Learntheharmonica]

Nice one Ian, hope you enjoy the full lesson :)

[@doctordan6287]

I’ve adjusted the 3 draw reed up as well as the 6th. Makes it very easy to jam out in various ways without paying too much attention . No sense making it more difficult. I used an old retired Lee Oscar which is now labeled “OWL”. Just a joy to play and so easy.

[@Learntheharmonica]

OWL - I love that!

[@mk5586]

Oh, nun erst das coole Video gefunden. Jahr diesen Song per Zufall gehört, nun kann ich diesen spielen. Vielen Dank Liam. Du bist der Beste 👍👍👍👍👍👍😀😀😀😀 Viele Grüße und vielen Dank Manux

[@Learntheharmonica]

Danke!

[@andytate5670]

yeah he did use a specifically tuned harp. a way around is buy 2 harps in A, but but one in the Higher register A, and when you're coming to that bit you can just get the note on the Higher harp. I never liked the overblow technique unless you hit it bang on it can sound pretty awful. I get my harps tuned to the way I like them pretty much so I don't have to do anything I have to over think but play what I want to play.

[@steve3150]

another brilliant lesson

[@Learntheharmonica]

Thanks Harpoman!

[@kirkjones8486]

To hit that 6 draw note...I just quickly sharpened it with a dremel tool by lightly removing some of the tip of the reed with my tuner on my iphone Pretty easy

[@DesmoDreams]

Excellent and informative as usual! :)

[@Learntheharmonica]

Glad you liked it! 😎

[@1988roki]

Good work, man !

[@Learntheharmonica]

Thanks a lot!

[@davidcastellanos881]

Excellent video, man. The first time I heard that solo it blew my mind. I think he filed the reed of his harp in order to play that note.

[@billpresing5568]

Yes Lee, The Blind Owl did tune his harps. Would it be possible to give a lesson on his works on the first Hooker n' Heat double album ? Especially Boogie chillen' # 2. This album was waiting for me upon my return from 3 years in the U.S. Army after hearing the heart wrenching news of his death while I was serving in Viet-Nam. Thanks for On the Road and for all that you do. .... Will

[@Learntheharmonica]

Hi Will, I love that Hooker and Heat album! Such great playing, and good fun listening to him follow Hooker trying to lose him. Cheers. Liam

[@billpresing5568]

Thank you Liam, I was hoping you would reply to this message. I'm a huge fan of the Blind Owl since the beginning and that big fat tone that he got outta that Marine band. I only hope that his music lives on for the man who was a true multi instrumental Genius !! Thank you and keep up GREAT work, Will

[@user-fv8ey1dq6x]

I'm pretty sure he had his harp customized , replacing that Reed with one a half step higher, very easily done. BRENDAN POWERS does it all the time.

[@formansbasement2311]

You don't even have to replace the reed, just shave some metal off near the tip to raise the pitch one semi tone

[@user-fv8ey1dq6x]

I saw a video about 25 years ago ,new direction for harmonica by Howard Levy, pretty cool stuff.

[@glexson1]

very nice 'dissected'! Thank you.

[@timjames72]

i have a harp with that tuning and it sounds spot on

[@Learntheharmonica]

Nice! Did you get it made specifically for this song?

[@timjames72]

@@Learntheharmonica yes mate i did, it's a hohner blues harp and i sent it to get retuned

[@stevemcqueen7735]

Thank you

[@Learntheharmonica]

Welcome!

[@lamper2]

Night Owl Blues would be a great lesson

[@allenbrandimart3148]

I had some fun with that drawl six I’ll just play that part of the song soft that draw

[@1957mhoffman]

Excellent. Thanks.

[@Learntheharmonica]

No worries Mike!

[@geoffc376]

The Most bought instrument in the world... and the least played. Thank you for this. I'm on it!

[@Learntheharmonica]

You're welcome, thanks so much for watching!

[@AaronHahnStudios]

That guitar in the background looks a little worn... did you lend it to 'El Kabong' ? ;-) all aside, your right, this is a awesome tune to learn, well done Liam. Your channel rocks!

[@Learntheharmonica]

Haha, that guitar has been all over Europe so it's certainly had its day!

[@cliffwestnidge6604]

I've seen a clip on u tube that shows how to file down one reed to get the sound

[@shodanart]

Good for you! It isn’t all the other tricks: That’s actually what Alan did. He filed it. It’s difficult to do because it’s not precise. But Alan was able to file it to hit that note!

[@billnicholson9095]

thank you sir!

[@Learntheharmonica]

No problem sir! :)

[@jamesha175]

i will hazard a guess = because it was the '60s and most people did not even realize that one could change a reed, Owl man did not change one of his reeds

[@GabrielPiancastelli]

Please teach unequal love from crosby, stills and Nash

[@Learntheharmonica]

Thanks for your request Gabriel Piancastelli, I'll see what I can do :)

[@justinkrann7406]

he filed the 6th hole semi-tone up

[@mtu90007]

Do you have a video lesson for the harmonica solo in Willie Nelson’s On The Road Again?

[@Learntheharmonica]

No, I've not heard it. Do you have a link to the song? Cheers. Liam

[@Neomuller.]

@@Learntheharmonica kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZXPqpxrosienZI enjoy it, my friend.

[@TCS_Aquatics]

The way you're talking about him tuning his harmonica, is that how Will Wilde tunes his?? I've gotten kinda obsessed with Blind Owl lately...

[@Learntheharmonica]

I think Will actually tunes his 6 draw down to what would normally be the 6 blow, along with other changes to the higher notes so that he can get tasty draw licks in the upper register as well as the lower one. You'd have to ask him for details though! Do you do any retuning of your harps?

[@TCS_Aquatics]

@@Learntheharmonica I don't as of now, but I have to admit I'm very interested in it and the whole process of tuning and even refurbishing harps!

[@Stevesolo1950]

He filed the 6th draw Reed.

[@joaoferreira-yi8fl]

I heard : (re)tuned by paring the reed with a knife...

[@thekiltedcarnivore]

he filed the top off the six reed.

[@richardervins]

Wonder why no one came up with another viable solution for the missing G other than changing the pitch... Just use a Bb harmonica holding it between index and middle finger - go up when you want to play the G instead of the F# - and there you are. Takes a bit of practice - but what doesn‘t. 😁

[@cliffwestnidge6604]

And another that shows a slim cut of a post it sticker over the 7th reed

[@senorlimon1357]

Excellent video .. now Goin down slow

[@Learntheharmonica]

Thank you Señor Limón.

[@PIPEHEAD]

You're so naive ! It's well known that he'd trained his cat, and whenever he trod on her tail ( really lightly, honest ... ) she would deliver the missing note. People didn't know how to tune harmonicas in the 1860s ! Her name was Gwladys, with a W - he was an Everton fan.

[@PIPEHEAD]

Bli ( I call him " Bli " ... ) was so pleased with his success, that he developed the same principle, and had soon invented the bass drum pedal. He then drew up full plans for a Wah Pedal, but alas, died before they'd invented electricity - it's always the way .....

[@user-fv8ey1dq6x]

Rite,

[@oldbroom805]

he shaved the reed

[@gianniscassa]

You're really a smart boy,but please chat less and play more😅

[@johnnyacevedo681]

You talk too much play some music quit talking so much

[@Learntheharmonica]

Thanks for your feedback!

[@johnnyacevedo681]

You don’t do Jack caca for me, he should be a auctioneer you jabbered too much

[@Learntheharmonica]

Thanks for your feedback!