"Paul Simon dictated every note!" - Charlie McCoy on country harmonica and teaching Johnny Cash

[@Learntheharmonica]

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[@robertedrington4443]

Hi Liam. I just want to say how much I enjoyed this interview. It is superb. You are gifted in the smooth and engaging way you orient the dialogue.

[@Learntheharmonica]

Thanks Robert! Great to meet you in Edinburgh :)

[@danagreen6518]

great to hear Charlie tell his story and share his love of harmonica

[@airmojo]

Gotta love Charlie McCoy... when I started playing harmonica in 1978, after seeing Norton Buffalo on an Austin City Limits TV episode (on PBS), I met a local harmonica player (he was playing in a local band), and he told me about Charlie McCoy... over the course of a year or two, I bought every Charlie McCoy LP I could find at the local record shops... I still buy the new ones too ! Met Charlie at one of the SPAH conventions. Charlie mentions in your video about modifying the 3 blow up full step (paddy richter) AND the 5 draw up a 1/2 step (country tuning)... that is what Lee Oskar called his Melody Maker tuned harps, and he labels them in 2nd position).

[@mooncricket8551]

what a gentleman. always giving credit to others.

[@johnnieguitar5724]

SO much info in this interview! Excellent post, thank you! I was not aware of harmonicas with different tuned reeds. Makes sense !

[@Philharpo]

Great interview Liam. Thank you. Saw last night's gig - wonderful harmonica, wonderful quartet with him..

[@Learntheharmonica]

Cheers mate. Yeah, I managed to pick the night when nobody I knew was there. Great show, and as you say, what a band.

[@trappstein]

Best interview with Charlie that I have seen. I am a big fan of his. Thx Liam

[@Learntheharmonica]

You're welcome Tom, glad you liked it. What a gent he is, eh?

[@norman-gregory]

Hi Liam...I could have listened to Mr McCoy For another 2 hours. Good interveiwing by the way, always letting Charlie Talk, and asking relevant and comfortable questions. Thanks for uploading this. Thank you Liam for your helpful channel for us Beginners, and better player's. Cheers from Australia.

[@Learntheharmonica]

Glad you enjoyed it Norman! What a gent he is, it was a dream to sit down and hear him talk about the amazing things he's done over the years.

[@markieproductions22]

I love the story of how he came to start using the country tuned. I have one in the key of C but am not too sure what to do with it.

[@dokuyataiwan7268]

That was a great interview. It brought back a lot of memories. I heard him play on a record many years ago and it really got me interested in the harmonica. I wasn't the only one he inspired. He is so great.

[@Learntheharmonica]

Yes, what an inspiration he is :)

[@AlexRossiharmonica]

Great. i do use one of his books to teach,, amazing book amazing musician..

[@goranpavic5377]

O man he still play and gigs!great man!

[@Learntheharmonica]

Yeah he doesn't want to stop!

[@robertbairt9094]

Great interview, very informative, CM is a humble expert🤩

[@Learntheharmonica]

Glad you enjoyed it, he's done so much and yet was willing to sit and chat about his life with me. What a guy!

[@rosamondlincoln]

Great interview

[@Learntheharmonica]

Thank you! I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with Charlie!

[@petekraemer6613]

So kewl...I picked it up...easiest 64 note tutorial I`ve ever had in 45 years!

[@richardbullivant3121]

Great interview Liam. One of my fave harmonica players. Would love to see a orange blossom special lesson. It is the one song I aspire to reach the ability to play. Thanks for the interview keep up the great work Liam.

[@Learntheharmonica]

Hi Rich, it's on my list - it's a long list, but I do hope to teach it one day :)

[@dovlandzbaum5036]

Super interview, Liam! Charlie's interesting, and so nice!

[@Learntheharmonica]

Yeah, what a guy.

[@oldmanriber]

Great interview Liam, some interesting stuff and he seems like a really nice bloke.

[@Learntheharmonica]

Glad you enjoyed it, I was so happy to meet him - he's a country legend :)

[@paulappletonharmonica3375]

Cool interview …. I guess what Charlie describes he uses outside of richter and country tuning is what is a lee oskar melody maker …. With a raised second and fifth in the scale … the second also being the sixth if playing in first postion ( paddy richter ) I should really consider purchasing one of those 🧐…. Keep up the good work 👌

[@harmonicalessons]

Great job Liam. Charlie was one of my early influences. My kids even use his bluegrass riffs! A student sent me this link and I will take a look at some of your other videos too. Thanks, Dave Gage

[@Learntheharmonica]

Cheers Dave. I only found out very last-minute that Charlie was in town so I'm really glad I got to meet him. What a legend. Nice work on your website etc by the way. Cheers. Liam

[@harmonicalessons]

@@Learntheharmonica I believe Charlie to be the father of modern country and bluegrass style harmonica. He mentioned in your interview about playing with Elvis Presley, which happened approximately from 1960 to 1970. I think Charlie's best work in terms of a relaxed, less structured, and more "jam-like" sense was with Elvis during this period. I have a forum post from 2012 where I linked directly to a bunch of KZbin song videos of some of Charlie's best with Elvis. The list included: "Big Boss Man", "Hard Luck" (from Frankie & Johnny), "Merry Christmas Baby", "Faded Love", "A Hundred Years From Now", "The Fool", "All I needed Was the Rain", and many others. If one were to listen to only two Charlie McCoy albums of the many many he released, you can't go wrong with "The Fastest Harp in the South" and "Harpin' the Blues". Charlie inspired many of us who followed to play faster and to actually play over the song chord changes including Northern California player Norton Buffalo. Norton took it in a different direction with greater emphasis on tight timing, syncopation, dynamics, and a more flowing sense of improv. If you like Charlie, be sure to check out Norton, if you haven't already - Dave Gage

[@billnicholson9095]

awesome interview! yall both seem like supercool guys.

[@Learntheharmonica]

Cheers Bill. Really cool to get to hang out with such a legend.

[@jeffsimslmt]

Most awesome!

[@manucash]

number 1 this harmonica player 👍

[@timcastens1150]

I read an article recently and there was no mention of his work with Steve Miller, I think it was the best playing he ever did, the country stuff pretty much all sounds the same. To each his own I guess.

[@dbob3405]

A true genius. If Charlie did nothing but play the accompanying guitar on Dylan’s Desolation Row, his legend would be secure. Instead, that is just tiny part of a career that contains decades of brilliant work. One of a kind!

[@ZvikaDror]

Great interview, you're on fire :) The only true McCoy!

[@Learntheharmonica]

Haha, cheers mate!

[@rolfr6662]

I love Charlie” Tribute to little Walter” and that entire album?....yes Charlie plays with excellent musicians. But...going to see Corky Siegel in October in Evanston, Ill. Corky in my view is a master bender...check him out.

[@jamesangusmcaninch]

There are so many great harmonica players.

[@remowb]

Charlie played harp on Steve Miller's 5 album...check it out!

[@robynw63]

I bought a custom tuned harp just as Charlie described holes three and five. I call it Paddy Country or Country Paddy. I'm not sure what should come first...LoL

[@Learntheharmonica]

Haha, I'm going with Country Paddy... Cheers Robyn!

[@jakeburns9833]

Have you done orange blossom special lesson? Great interview by the way.

[@Learntheharmonica]

Hi Jake, I haven't done one yet but it's on my (very long!) to-do list so watch this space :)

[@friedcash9815]

great interview ty. is that room backstage somewhere. it looks kinda cool

[@Learntheharmonica]

Yes it was backstage at a show in London. One of the most lovely and humble harmonica players I've met, and what a legend he is.

[@leependragon6647]

Could you tell me where Middle C is on a C Harmonica? For the life of me I can't figure it out because I have found so many conflicting sources saying it is either the 1 blow or 4 blow.

[@Learntheharmonica]

Hi Lee, I don't play piano but I'm pretty sure it's the one blow.

[@leependragon6647]

@@Learntheharmonica Thank you. I don't play piano either but I would have a hell of a time trying to play sheet music if I don't know what notes on the harmonica correspond with what notes on the staff.

[@thomasprice1760]

20 min in and no mention of playing on some of Bob Dylans best records. ????

[@thomasprice1760]

Wth and Dylan plays harp too..