Modern Blues Harmonica - Whammer Jammer 1 (Gussow.077)
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- čas přidán 31. 07. 2007
- First in a five-part how-to series on the classic blues harp instrumental by Magic Dick and the J. Geils Band. Your guide, Adam Gussow, has been woodshedding the tune for 33 years and is happy to share what he's learned.
If you'd like to purchase a copy of my new solo album, KICK AND STOMP (2010), please hit the following link. Only $10 for 14 tracks of harp-powered one-man band music, all for instant download. Liner notes included!:
www.modernbluesharmonica.com/k...
To order "Blues Harmonica Secrets Revealed!, Vol. 1," a DVD that collects more than FIVE HOURS of my early CZcams videos and adds two Satan and Adam videos, check out:
www.modernbluesharmonica.com/c...
For orders outside North America, you can order the same item at this URL:
www.modernbluesharmonica.com/c...
For a series of skill-graded lessons for harp players of all levels, focused on classic repertoire drawn from greats like Little Walter, Big Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Sonny Terry, and Paul Butterfield, visit:
www.modernbluesharmonica.com - Jak na to + styl
It took me almost 1 full year to learn Whammer Jammer, but I can finally say that I can perform both the record and live versions. I had the notes memorized in about 4 months, but realized it was played using tongue blocking. Took 8 months to learn the technique but I can proudly say it was 100% worth the pain and suffering. I’ve got another 3-4 months of studying to nail down all of the mic nuances he does.
I just heard an interview with Magic Dick today : I think he does use both. Bot for sure , tb is the major technic!
@@ikust007 there’s 2 spots where he doesn’t tongue block that I can tell. The 10 blow full bend, and the last chorus where he’s rapidly playing -2 -2 -2’’ -1
He has said in interviews that he TB’s the 10 blow bend, but in a lot of the footage you can tell he’s not.
Man this is fab, I'm living in South Africa (Joies) and play in a great RnB Band called the Vipers, we all live on the Blues and as the harp player i find this stuph truely invaluble, thank you so much man, you've just pushed my playing so much further.
10 years later, Adam, and you're still excellent.
This goes hard
i'm 16 years old, and just started playing the harmonica, just like you did ;D
I only have C and D...My heart just broke!! :(
Adam, you are the freaking man for posting this whole thing about whammer jammer.
Mid 70s J geils band live blow your face out incredible album great party album.
I am 12 years late but better late than never....thanks Adam..peace
Man, I say this as the kind of guy who never says things like this, but you are the Friggin' King. If I could be one quarter as good as you are on harp, I'd be happy.
Whammer Jammer blew me away the first time I heard it
Just got ot out and listened to it again-amazing
Thanks for tackling it--even close will be cool
awesome ... I've played it like 5000 times and great to hear it broken down and understood
Thanks for making these videos Adam! I think I can honestly say that when I heard Whammer Jammer for the first time, it changed my life. I was halfway through my senior year in high school and I had only been playing for 4 months, but I knew I HAD to learn that song. 3-4 months later, I figured I had it for the most part (HAHA). 3 and a half years later, my rendition has improved quite a bit, but you've opened my ears to subtleties that I had missed before.
These videos are the most comprehensive harmonica instructions I have seen in 40 years of Harmonica playing. Cudo's to you Sir for the wealth & diversity of instruction you've made available to every level of experience in Harmonica playing. BUT!! If I may? The iceing on the proverbial cake. Offering a choice and availability of Closed Caption so as to alleviate any question of accuracy in what you are offering. Thank you for a treasured collection of instruction. Please do not stop. Dam right I've got the Blues!!
Thanks, Adam !
Very nice! I like to play the Hohner Rocket
Amp harps with the green combs. They are soooo smooth.
Great playing and great teaching....! THANKS!
Great lesson and great playing.
I can do it parts but to bring it together is a son of a!
Best instructional video on whammer jammer, I been looking for sheet music on whammer jammer so I can sound like Magic Dick Thanks a million Adam
Those throat sounds are absolutely key.
adam, thanks for all that you do for self-taught harp students like me. You are a fantanstic teacher, and you must be a hell of an English professor too. I hope to catch you live some time. I'm a school teacher from Jersey, and I've learned so much from you. you are a great teacher, a polished player and a generous man..cheers, Bob G
lots of great tips man! helping me learn this alot easier than i could on my own
Wow, Thanks Adam I love Wammer Jammer and appreciate you taking the time out to explain it for us mere mortals. Looking forward to the rest. By the way, just want to let you know you are all in our thoughts with that big bridge collapse in Mississippi. I think it's out your way. All the best
Mott (South Australia)
The first three notes are the 4 draw bend, 4 draw, and then a multi-note thing that's not a warble, but a tongue-swish against the harp: 25 draw followed by 14 draw in rapid oscillation.
The bridge was on the Mississippi River, but it was way north of us--all the way up in Minnesota. Thanks for the thought, though.
Dude, Thank you very much. I knew I was missing something on this song.
Thank you very much for the videos. They have certainly been my main learning resource thus far. Additionally, cant help but appreciate @ 4:20 startpoint 🤣😏😎. Will be watching every video. 👊
WHAMMER JAMMER!!! Yeah!!!
One of the best rockin' harp tunes ever done. As for differences? I'm already seeing differences in some of the harp tabs available, but no matter. Getting your perspective on the tune is definitely worthy of some type of donation.
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
Jam On!
-BB
This might interest you. For years I've played straight harp on some folk songs. My wife and I just started up a band, and I insist we have blues, and blues harp. So I've played blues harp about a week, and I intend to learn this piece! Just that first hard bend is excrutiating for me, but I've already "sort of" got it.
I am now doing a decent job with the portion you just showed in the last couple minutes of this video. I will learn this, and learn it well, thanks to your tutorial.
Dam I'm going to try that 🤠
I got one from my music store a while ago.
Plus, I can do blow and draw single bars now, Hooray for me!
ok i went to you tube your new page had a blank on the right side! well got whammer jammer on cd so wanted to relive it! thanks harp master!
awesome vid brutha.....btw.....there's a radio interview with Magic Dick online somewhere where he discusses all the different players he copped to compile the song. It's great because he pays such homage to the players. I grew listening to John Fogerty and Magic Dick and that's what got me playing harp though I'm primarily a guitarist. Full House is definitely a desert island album for me. Great energy.
Right you are. MORNING AFTER was the first album of their that I bought. Later I got their first album in cassette form and it has "Cruisin' For Love," which also shows up on the live album. I did a little switcheroo in my head. But accurate scholarship is important, and you and several others caught my mistake.
Groovy, people!
very nice lesson
Arg! This is Mindblowing! I still remembered when my cousin showed me the tabs for this classic, I nearly Passed out, just by the look at it, the other time was when I heard him play Spokey Dokey by the Seatbelts 8-)
I will be following this close Adam but it's way over my leauge I think, but that doesn't mean I can't have fun with it.
You need an A harp. No ifs, ands, or buts.
Ya. Will have to come back to this one. Glad you posted it. I wondered if you would touch on J. Geils band...and I see you are in deep! I am was too... So I am gonna keep it up. Now that I am 60 yrs old. Ha ha
sweet! can't wait to put this lesson to work. Its late here on the west coast..and Wife is prego too, she would probably kill me if i started on the harp...
Yo the best..class guy!
I love the J. Geils band and Magic Dick.
Whammer JAmmer is also a Huge favorite of mine.
I'd love to start playing harp, although i know jackshit about it.
Could you help me out?
The Mouse was manufactured by Lectrosonics in Alquerque, New Mexico but is no longer made. You can occasionally find them on eBay
thanks....as soon as i master it the cheque will be in the mail.
Adam, Love your instructions. You do a great job!I can't hit the 2nd high note in the beginning of the song and also the end. Do you draw on the 10 and bend it?
Good question! The answer is: That's what I do--change my embouchure--but I suspect it's not what Magic Dick does. I switch from lip pursing to tongue blocking, but I'd be that he keeps in a lip pursing mode the whole time.
Technique is always secondary: the point is simply making a sound. There are often several ways of making the same (or a similar) sound.
the closest to whammer jammer i've heard. im having trouble with the tongue blocking on the 4 and 5 draw and hitting the 9 and 10 hole blow. great lesson
"I'm not going to do it on camera because its pornographic" HAHAHAHAHAHA 05:16
Yes -- are you kidding porno tongue cmon .
? Where can we get that setup that you have on your street videos of the one man band. Your truck behind you and you playing on the railroad near the road. I would love to learn how to play that crossroads harp tune with Willy Brown.
I really enjoyed this video. It really put me in my place. I need to stop going to work so I can pratice more. I got to get my blow bends working more often!
The album was called "The Morning After" the 2nd J Giels Bands album that Wammer Jammer is on not their 1st album.
Right you are. I believe somebody else pointed this out in one of the early comments. Good point, though.
lol. Peace.Love.music and beauty to you.
I talk about this briefly as several other points in my YT videos. The tongue motion is similiar to the motion when you mouth the word "tweet," strange as it sounds.
With the tongue blocking bit at the very start, if you are starting on the 4 draw bend, then going to the normal 4 draw, then tongue blocking it side to side, does that mean you have to change your embouchure so that you can play the 3 4 5 holes with the side to side movement?
Would an A blues Harmonica Work or no cause thats all I got and I love this song and I really want to learn it.
ありがとう！練習します。
Great! As for the mouse: what is the actual amp, and is it sold today? Thanks!!! I need to find one. rick
I am gonna follow your videos dude cause Whammer Jammer did the same to me,for some reason I used to use two harps when playing this and I never got it rite so teach me how?
Hi adam, a 16-years old fan here, i don't want to be a hair-splitter here but 'whammer jammer' isn't from their first album, it's from their second, which is called 'morning after'. thanx for all your great lessons, i'll practise this one right away.
what amps are you using and what are the settings, reverb, etc?
just ordered Bittersweet Boogie from your site. ive never played before but want to learn. is this a good song to start with or is there a better (read easier) one to start with.
thanks.
For anybody trying to learn this song: I fond the best way to get the best vamping rhythm (the 1,2,3 draw chords) is to inhale while articulating "daw-dee daw-dee" and exhale with a quick soft bust like a "hey" The rhythm is the key to this song. Try it. (* is down beat)
*Daw-dee daw-dee daw-dee hey | * - daw-de daw dee hey|
Thank u Adam
now is that a stock harp u r playing?
Tip: Around 8:30 in the vid, it help to "say" the phrase "diddle diddle" while doing those draw chords.
Another great lesson Adam!. I dont get your point about the difference between your "puckered" version and the tongue blocked version. Arent you still only playing one hole in each method regardless? I couldnt pick a difference in how it sounded. Am I missing something?
Hi! I'm filippo from Italy and I would like to learn this song.. but i found very hard to get the note on minute 6:29-6:30... do you bend the 10th hole?.. could you help me please?
darn it i got full house didnt think about the studio version!
Damnit! FOUR harmonicas I have, all in C! I've got to find an A one.
I have no idea what an RE is. I play Marine Band model 1896, the standard Hohner MB.
Hey Adam Its Me Again Er.. What Key Are You Using For Your Harmonica there and whats the best key to play whammer jammer with?
Adam. I'm a harmonica player.i like your videos they're very helpful. Thanks but I have a question about playing a harmonica part for a specific song. I believe it's usually played in the key of c-sharp. The song is called don't follow by alice in chains. It's off their album "jar of flies". Will you please give me some advice on the secrets of that songs harmonica part? For reference, the harmonica player who originally played it, his name is David Atkinson. Thanks Danny
i bought an A harp just for this...;p
sorry this question isnt related to whammer jammer but do u have to tounge block to get a good 2 bend i've tried lip pursing but it doesnt sound good id appreciate it if any of u helped me out thanks
Hey, for the single notes you think I could just use my fingers to block? It's kinda wierd and hard to block with my tounge and I can't really fit my lips around one hole at a time...
I started on a double reed that I got in Tijuana and tore up Nightmares then advanced to blow you face out!! Thank you
hey nice playing!!
I'd like to know about harmonica player who I can buy thier songs, or bands that uses harmonicas. Could anyone tell me about someones please?
Thank you
Hey Adam, what do you think of James Montgomery? JC
Great videos Adam. I learned this when it first came out and the trouble I have is finding a harp that I can bend that high note on. Not all harmonicas are created equal.
It’s not the harp. It’s you.
@@ER-me1ii Not true. I bought a new harp and I can now easily hit those notes.
What the technique called at 7:24? When you kinda open your lips
Adam.... can you do a video of how to play Long Train Running by The Doobie Brothers???
Harmonica players are seriously the biggest characters ever... but that's a good thing!
Check out Howard Levy. He even plays classical music (if you're into that)!
Whammer Jammer is on the second J. Geils album The Morning After.
Yes, that's right.
Good stuff. Well, I really wish that Magic Dick himself would weigh in here--maybe upload a video and show us what he's REALLY doing.
It's a pretty good song to start with, but may give you trouble at points. If you find it rough going, try "Floyd's Hotel."
Adam, did you ever see Sonny Terry perform? JC
About three holes, maybe four. Try every possible variation and see what sounds best.
I rarely go Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaugh!!, but reading your question just made me do that.
The answer is no.
Sure: I'm playing an A harp. You've got the right key.
Sorry. I use what Magic Dick uses: a key of A, played in the key of E.
Been playing front harp 45 years and man you sent me back to school. Have a question; Juke has so many small changes, sometimes it seems a note within a note, when you play Juke do you make a point of playing exactly? I ran into an old friend I used to play with Rick Estes and he said how he grew tired of exact note playing so he changed it up a bit, I kinda concur but you seem to be a stickler for the exact note progression. Any feed back would sure be welcome.
I have several more questions if you get back. Thanks, Kingfish
I rarely play Juke--it's not part of my setlist--but when I do it, I play the first 3-5 choruses very much like the record. But it's important to remember that Little Walter himself didn't always play it the same way. James Cotton plays it differently. Billy Branch plays "Son of Juke," which updates it in a great way. I think anybody who regularly performs it as a note-for-note replication is still a student, not a master.
I thank you so much for your reply although I cannot concur on this one. Over the past 45 years I've played with so many, Cotton, Delay, Butterfield, Winter, Spoon, Dixon, and Harman just to name a few. All the harp players I've played with have played their own version except Rick Estes of the Night Cats although he's now jazzed it up and does his own version. Juke is the one harp melody that like Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue I feel should be played note per note as per the Chess recording. Juke has so many notes within a note that only a master of the diatonic harp could actually play this melody. However that being said I too have refined my own version.
Sure. You can play a C harp in the key of G. But you can't play along with the J. Geils version, or my version, both of which are played on an A harp in the key of E, unless you use an app. like the Amazing Slow Downer and change the key. And you'll have to have very strong chops to bend the 10 hole blow on the C harp.
wat type of harmonica do u use in this video?... is it a c
what is the basics of whammer jammer ? im a 13 year old beginner
Yes, but it will hurt the harp. You can place it under running water--you sink--for a few seconds and shake it out. It will bend much easier.
I haven't even watched the whole thing yet. Ho BOY!! i"m excited. This is going to be Awesome!!
No, I never did. I've seen many other masters, though: Paul Butterfield, James Cotton, Kim Wilson, Carey Bell, Paul Oscher, Paul Delay, Jerry McCain, Jerry Portnoy, Kenny Neal, Bill Dicey, Billy Branch, Sugar Blue, Jerry Portnoy, Howard Levy & Jason Ricci (of course), Lazy Lester, and I'm sure I'm leaving a lot out.
sensei
How do i live a happy life
No draw. Just blow the 10 hole, then bend it down a whole step. I couldn't do this, 30+ years ago, without soaking the harp--running it under the faucet. That's a good way to start. Now it's not needed; my chops are strong enough to do without.