the greatest three-note lick in the history of blues harmonica?

Three notes, a world of feeling and intensity. This lesson breaks down a remarkably powerful blues harmonica lick--originated by Sonny Boy Williamson II (Rice Miller), supercharged by James Cotton--into four sequential stages version, from beginner through advanced, and shows you where the magic is, using a key of C harmonica. With Adam Gussow of ModernBluesHarmonica.com
T-shirt courtesy of www.harpkingtsh...
Please note: at the 3:47 point, Gussow misspeaks. He should have said, "It's a triplet, but it's displaced the equivalent of a dotted eighth-note ahead of the beat."
Here's James Cotton playing the lick on an E harp in "All Walks of Life," from the 100% COTTON album: • The James Cotton Band ...
For more blues harp instruction, visit Modern Blues Harmonica:
www.modernblues...

[@leguerrierdumental5521]

Well my harmonica was resting in my studio for 2 years, and your the guy who made me pick it up and understand, exploring and having fun with this so small , but great instrument, Thanks Master Gussow !

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

You're welcome. Keep picking it up. One day it will surprise you with what it says. ---Master G

[@MegaJimmy777]

my ma gave me a wood reed hohner C blues harp when i was about 8 or so (she'll be 95 in April godwilling))...she taught me to play with the high notes in my left hand and low notes in my left...she played all the old cowboy songs like camp town ladys and you are my sunshine...in fact she still loves to play (to this very day)...anyway when i caught the blues in chicago (i guess mid 60's) i heard a blues guy playing on the street on the southside)...i wanted to stay and listen to him that day...but we were on our way to the hospital to see my old man...i traveled there with my ma because i was her "halkeye" (she was blind) and needed me to read the postings on the bus so we went the right way...long story short...i started listening to every blues recording i could get my hands on with my favorites of charlie musselwhite...paul butterfield...corky seigel...and of course sonny boy two/little walter/and even that chromatic harpmaster william clarke...as i tried to learn the blues licks i realized after a friend pointed it out that i was playing wrong as i needed to get those low notes in my left hand where they belonged...funny...i guess my ma ma taught me how to play backwards and those blues cats forward :-)...you're awesome Gusgow!!!...i'll sign off with the cost of harmonica's now as compared to those old days...fifty bucks now and i remember as little as four bucks back in the day...i never soak em in beer anymore ;-)...sheesh...i have five hundred or so bucks worth of harps at my gigs which include lee oscars/hohner blues/and two antique chorus 64 holer's (talk about gettin dizzy!!!...

[@OmniphonProductions]

Great lesson; great lick! I particularly love that you mentioned the mobility.With or without the bent inflection on the top note, it works as...2B-2D-1D, 3B-3D-2D (bent or not), 4B-4D-3D (as taught), 5B-5D-4D, 6B-6D-5D, and that's not even including the top octave. This truly is, as you said, a simple principle that then leads to a much larger world.Side Note: It's great that you included a martial arts analogy because that same ability to apply a single principal in many different ways is one of the main differences between a student and a master.

[@ikust007]

OmniphonProductions I am missing a note or something on the part 3: I bend the 4 but when I listen to Guss I have the feeling there is a double note . I do not do part 2: i do part 3 . But I really have the feeling of a shuffle ...??

[@sifularson]

Adam, I'm an 8th degree Black Belt in martial arts however I'm only a Blue belt with the harp. As a teacher, I often use analogies to help my students understand a concept. I truly enjoy your teaching style and your martial arts analogies. Thank you so much for all you do to help all us who are learning. Lastly, you are obviously very proud of your son. I can tell.

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

I'm glad you heard that pride.

[@johnfreitas3019]

I'm getting gooder but you'll always be the GOODEREST..!

[@wimjongman]

Gussow's Classic Blues Licks You Should Know. That improv on 15:40 is the cherry on the cake. Thanks, sensei!

[@douglastibbitts6817]

Thanks for the tips. Your teaching style keeps me involved. I find it easier to breath out through nose without changing mouth position to expel extra air from that lick. For me it's just easier to play that lick fast and clean. All ways wanted to learn that lick. Thank you sir.

[@kyvss]

This entire lesson is so frkn wholesome! Your empathy is importanter!

[@Zb_Calisthenic]

Best harp teacher on YT.

[@masterofnone1481]

Agreed 💯

[@danlaxer514]

What's cool is when you're doing the bend at a fast speed it's like 4 distinct notes. In other words, your 4 draw to 4 draw bend sounds more like a pull-off on a guitar. It's very cool.

[@javiersanchez2874]

Thx again gussow

[@laskartrece]

You have great passion and respect for this twofold black jewel (blues and harp). It is very hard to explain, it is not like guitar or piano... I try to follow you and is hard... takes time and faith...(specially faith, I guess) hahaha. Well, your "importanter" Tshirt is also "importante" for me because I am myself a professor of Spanish and words are just notes. Politicians know very well this "importanter" aspect when they play war symphonies to us... Appreciated, take care.

[@JODYCK1]

thanks Gussow,thats like when i was learning drums or guitar,first you start slow and get the feel,then throw in the rest. thanks again,love your lessons.

[@ch-wg2cq]

Simply awesome teaching Adam!

[@richardparkhouse3635]

Meet you in Edinburgh Adam couple of years back. Your lessons are great not only does one appreciate what a great player sounds like but it makes you want to improve irrespective so of ones ability. Thank you.

[@49rockon]

Great lesson. This will be my first blues lick. Hope to be able to "lick" it soon. Please continue with your great work. And many thanks !

[@FollowYourArt2]

Fantastic! Love your lessons! You got the groove!

[@Blue_3rd]

Thank you for another great lesson, Adam. Gary Primich used this riff extensively in his song ‘Goodbye Little Girl’ from his ‘Botheration’ CD. It’s essentially a Rice Miller riffs masterclass :)

[@timothyblanton4225]

My two Gurus...... Adam and Tomlin. You guys are the most "giving" teachers alive. BTW, I'm signed up for the Global event in August.

[@chickennuggets7710]

excellent as always, you really do teach stuff we cant find anywhere else, keep up the good work dr.gussow!

[@leoramirez7583]

Thanks for the video, you play awesome.

[@zachvanslyke4341]

Outstanding lesson once again. Thanks for all of your hard work Dr. Adam

[@HarpoonDon]

I have that tee-shirt among others. I love it. That shirt is my favorite at the moment.

[@990donk]

Amazing! Blues Harmonica is like a language and you sir are Master.

[@sammorush]

Nobody sound like you! You're an amazing player!

[@Nenden]

A very simple idea, transformed into something amazing! Thanks for the upload Adam.

[@matthewscheidt7754]

Many thanx!

[@jakeypainstone7342]

Amazing lesson Adam, my fav so far👍

[@Learntheharmonica]

Awesome lick!

[@scottjagodzinski9593]

Freaking amazing......thanks again

[@tonyrhodes7941]

Yo I'm loving every min thank you I'm going to get ur course

[@drtone]

Wow, the breathing trick is so bad ass!! Thanks!

[@FAHRENHEIT451JL]

Sonny boy williamson - help second part to the second solo. Can't complete The song without out it I hate this lick so much, but you gotta love it.

[@FAHRENHEIT451JL]

Help me*( song name not a cry for help lool)

[@Robert-yk8tx]

Nice idea to make a simple version to get the groove right first. Will use that more often. Thank you

[@lesstroddenpath3726]

Thanks for articulating it step by step thru the 'kungfu' of that groove, Adam 👌🏽

[@buffalohouse362]

Fantastic lesson Adam. I am waiting with baited breath for the next. Loving this advanced "picking apart" you are giving us. Looking forward to the global blues harmonica summit. Just don't know what my chops will be like after 8 hours!

[@chapolin5169]

Great lesson, Adam! You are great, man! Got to work on that...

[@Harpmando]

Adam, you're great!

[@gillesrenard2267]

Great thanks for your generosity!

[@andydunn5673]

Another great lesson Thanks for sharing in such in in depth and passionate way

[@rosedavila3547]

cool jam

[@GipoHarmonicaSchool]

Great great lick! Very good for Shuffle Blues!!! Thanks Prof. Adam.

[@Harp_and_Guitar_Moving_Forward]

I'm gonna try this on the E harp since you mentioned it

[@Tracks777]

Good video! Keep it up!

[@adachan7923]

I've been stuck on yhe triplets in sbw's "help me" for past few weeks - thanks for helping me crack the code!

[@MrBloozyman]

Cool Mr Adam,,thanks man,,and loved the film,,,,you de man

[@jimmcminn4503]

You da man! Thanks

[@sammyg7106]

Awesome

[@seankellyhimself5877]

You are awesome, thank you!

[@yoschieschmitt1929]

Ich liebe es. Danke!

[@bsb4038]

Love your blues....

[@ericalbert6954]

Merci beaucoup l'Ami !!!

[@flying6676]

Fantastic progressive lesson Thanks

[@joebryan964]

I wish these lessons was in order

[@AndrewKomarharp]

great lesson)

[@slimpickinses]

Adam as you were talking about air control I realized I was letting some air out of my nose on the blow.

[@josepharosso7329]

Excellent

[@ronrehmann2753]

Proud of that kid, ain’t you?

[@mdpocoroba]

My car alarm wants to learn that lick.

[@shamshermann]

Absolutely loved the video! fantastic stuff... it's something like meditation when you realise reality is bigger... hahaha great explanation. look forward to more 🙏🙏🙏

[@sizzlechooch]

"It dont move, if it ain't got that grove." Hey, I make eet up.

[@campcrazy9471]

Good stuff!!

[@hamradiotime]

Massive!

[@allenmahan9393]

Im w ya, Adam ...

[@clawhammer704]

Very similar to the fiddle bow shuffle.

[@timothyblanton4225]

No one explains it better. Not just the notes but the Nuts and Bolts. Yahoo!

[@brettpenza5149]

You're a blessin' on KZbin (and probably everywhere else you go). You mention tongue blocking. This is how I learned to make a single note, way back 40+ years ago as a kid in 6th grade. Unfortunately, it sort of takes away the ability to articulate with the tongue. I am trying now to get the single note as you teach. I can certainly see the value of it. Not easy to master though, after you've been sealing out with the tongue for years. What is the "standard" in your experience? Do most blues players do it all with the lips, or are there some accomplished blues "tongue blockers"? Just wondering. Thanks again for all these gifts you are providing to us.

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

Most players I know started with lip pursing, then added tongue blocking at a certain point. The exception would be blues players who were mentored by David Barrett, Joe Filisko, or Dennis Gruenling, each of whom is primarily (or almost exclusively) a tongue blocker, and each of whom encourages his students to start with fulltime TB. It's much harder (although still possible) to overblow when you TB, so guys who overblow (Jason Ricci, Carlos del Junco, me) tend to go back and forth between TB and LP.

[@slava_bo]

I'm going to practice ) tnx

[@Axman10]

15:58

[@Axman10]

15:58

[@badraldenshalgen4489]

You are amazing !!! mannn

[@williamhoughton1484]

Brilliant 🤙😎

[@poleristgaming8355]

Why cant you teach us that stuff at the end! This lesson was awesome! But that stuff at the end there was out of this world!

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

Maybe if I get you hooked on some great sounds, you will teach yourself. That's my ultimate goal, little cricket.

[@Copharp9226]

Adam, thank you, for the great three note lick. I don't have a problem with the lick, but I can't open my lip even a tad without getting additional notes lick a "double stop." What's the answer. I also heard that three note lick from Ronnie Shellist!

[@yoschieschmitt1929]

Thank you, Adam, once again. However, I am not sure I know exactly what lick three of the four is. The others I wrote down and work on doing them increasingly faster.

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

Do you mean "what NOTE three of the four is"? I assume so. That third note is the 3 draw. Just a 3 draw, without bend or inflection.

[@storballen4449]

That shirt is hilarious

[@bloodshotgaming7]

Niceeeeee

[@danlaxer514]

But how are you making the 4D to 4D bend sound like 2 distinct notes rather than like a bend when you're at speed? It's like a pull-off on guitar. How do you do that?

[@johnhopkins6731]

Adam I have a question, is it ok to breath out through your nose instead of blowing over the harmonica? Sometimes I find it is easier.

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

Yes, it's okay.

[@ronrehmann2753]

I have an E harp, Bro

[@slimturnpike]

I'm gonna ask a really naive question, but what note are you resolving after the lick towards the end of the video? Obviously the tonic of the scale but which hole and direction? Thanks.

[@FAHRENHEIT451JL]

I've never been able tto get my four draw to wail when I'm pulling down over to The 3. Will this be the video to commit me

[@a.reagam5037]

What it is, is.

[@Timbyte]

i think James Cotton copied that lick from Rice Miller. He used it a lot on the 4 chord.

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

I suspect you're right. Cotton got a lot from SBWII. Do you have a clip where SBW uses this lick? I can't immediately think of one.

[@Timbyte]

also, thanx for the video

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

Yes! You are right. That is the lick at :47. James Cotton got it from Sonny Boy. I'm handing it from Cotton (his records) to YOU. (I've edited the video description to reflect the lick's history.) Keep it alive.

[@melvincassii3359]

Sonny Boy used it on Help Me and at least one recording of Eyesight to the Blind. And be sure to to check out Annie Raines' Got to Fly (so nice on an F#).

[@MegaBoomer666]

Echt super Leider spreche ich kein Englisch Aber sehr schön gezeigt Vielen Dank

[@Robert-yk8tx]

Wanderer x - translated: 'Really superb, unfortunately i dont speak english but very well demonstrated, thank you very much'

[@davidfriedman6224]

Nice inadvertent use of 'pitch' moving away from the bat to demonstrate a moving 'pitch' in a blues note.

[@McDonnellMusic]

How are you so sure I don't have an E harp ?

[@joabgarcia4476]

is there any good books you can revomend to learn quality tevhniques??

[@alexmc69]

I'd start with a dictionary

[@aleX_k_punkt]

please also listen to this master of this lick: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5WxYoV6ec2Zgtk Mr Aleck „Rice“ Miller aka Sonny Boy Williamson II In this song in the beginning and then his solo about at 1:15 I think he‘s playing C on an F harp ....

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

Thanks! I've never heard that particular track, but you are 100% right to ask us to pay attention to it. James Cotton was a student of Rice Miller's and he clearly took this riff from his master. You've got great taste and great ears.

[@SH-lh5yv]

Please subs Indonesia

[@azmildman]

You can't teach me the good stuff at the end? (the last note twice?)

[@60viking]

i don't feel like i am going to get this. might as well sell my Marine band. well maybe Ill just keep it.

[@johnwise7693]

don't give up!!

[@Andy-in8ej]

They keep saying to me ,,,,,move the instrument not your head,,,,,,The first 2 minutes,???????

[@jamesmoody2383]

Great lick...but way too much talk to get me going !

[@gregschroer2314]

don't understand why for beginners he would not suggest Hohner golden Melody easiest harmonica you ever tried to bend on try it if you don't like it I'll buy it from you

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

Golden Melody harps are tuned for melodies, not chords. The chords are slightly off. I believe that beginners need to learn how to play chord rhythms as well as melodies. If the chords are slightly sour--and they are--then students won't get accurate feedback on proper embouchure. Even perfect embouchure will produce a slightly sour chord. Also, I believe that wood combs give a better sound--including a better sounding bend. Finally, 90% of the great classic repertoire for blues harp (the Walters, Sonny Terry, etc.) was played on Marine Band harps. Now you understand why I recommend them for beginners.

[@stick-itproductions.3307]

Oops. I may or may not have bought a harmonica with a Plastic Comb.

[@Southside_Slim]

Aaaah Sanse I snnnatchathe pebble almost most gracious Teacha Suh Dang Teach whooee James Cotton was kungfoo fightin his shuffle liks was fast as lightnin hoooeee git down gibackupagain.Cotton mess in around with the time on those longer liks is like one of the first things I tried to mimic when I first picked up the harp and I saw Gooses vid a beginner lesson and he's mentioning how the harpist is the one guy in the band who can be off time or wrong note miss a beat and still be 😎that's kept me go in when I've ready to hang it up and as Mooncat says in a lesson about riffs if you don't get a lik right if you make a mistake don't give up the worst you done is create a new lik

[@whiskeyoo7]

What is it e harmonica ya doing this?

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

I"m using a C harp.

[@whiskeyoo7]

Gussow's classic blues harmonica videos : ok . Thanks adam. Great videos. Keep up the great work

[@whiskeyoo7]

Gussow's classic blues harmonica videos : i would like some g lee oscar tips😀

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

Do you have an extra lung...because I am dying here!

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

No, but I am a distance runner. That helps. The key thing is to maintain balance between in-breath and out-breath. Usually this means finding a way to quickly exhale in the middle of long powerful draw notes.

[@j.sabatino1198]

Your Kung Fu is strong!

[@borisnatashabaddonoff6919]

It's Not Kung Fu It's More Like Tounge Fu .

[@ashqzaman]

i have an e-harp that i bought when i knew nothing about them

[@WJV9]

Keep it, you'll need it for a few Eminor tunes or Emajor licks. I will also work in 2nd position B blues which you will encounter when doing jam sessions.

[@healingleafwave6963]

Great video but you over explane simplify things which i get because you want people to understand

[@bobshuwab1988]

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