A few "mistakes" but he's replicating that which is normally done with TWO different guitars. Very good. Keep in mind that he hyperventilated for 4 minutes doing that.
I think he's playing a Blues Harp. Regardless, it's the culmination of talent, perseverance, and effort. I doubt there are a handful in the world as good, or better.
As another lowly guitar player, I'm freaking amazed. I can't vouch for him hitting every note just right, but I can't vouch for guys playing a pretty damned good version on a guitar either. I just don't understand how he exhales for over four solid minutes I never saw him inhale.
Hey SiG - you actually play the harmonica with both outgoing breath and incoming breath - the note will change based on whether you are inhaling or exhaling through the instrument.
I prided myself 30 years ago being a good harp player, copied magic dick, Charley Mcoy, toots thillman and Steve millers incredible player….this guy kicks ass. Keep it real
Just recently took up the harmonica. I have only learned a blues riff. Working on Train Train by Blackfoot. Very impressive. The breathing and lung capacity is the hardest part. Listen to Nothing else matters by Metallica on harmonica
From his website: "I designed the Wilde tuning specifically for playing blues rock and hard rock music. As much as I love Richter tuning, I have always found it somewhat frustrating when it comes to playing rock 'guitar like' minor pentatonic/ blues licks in the upper octave. The Wilde tuning addresses all of the frustrations I had with Richter tuning, whilst still retaining the familiar bluesy feel of classic second position harmonica playing that we all know and love." Whereas the Richter tuning was initially designed for playing major scale melodies in first position (it was never intended to play blues, hence the missing flat 5 and minor third in the upper octave), Wilde tuning has been carefully designed with second position rock & blues playing in mind, and so allows you to play minor pentatonic & blues scale licks throughout all three octaves of the instrument without the need for overblows. It also allows you to use much more expression and vibrato because ALL of the draw notes bend, and your root note always lands on a draw. This concept was inspired by Brendan Power's 'Powerbender' and 'Powerdraw' tuning, but the Wilde tuning's configuration is geared more towards rock and blues playing. Wilde tuning is very intuitive to play because holes one to five are exactly the same as standard tuning. Holes six, seven and eight are exactly the same as holes two, three and four (just an octave higher). Hole nine is the same as hole two (but two octaves higher) and the reeds in hole ten are reversed (so the blow bend is now a draw bend). All of this makes fast minor pentatonic and blues scale runs much easier in the upper octave because you no longer need to overblow to get the flat third, or overdraw to get the flat five: they are now available as simple draw bends. I think that the Wilde tuning is the configuration that every aspiring blues rock harp player has been waiting for." Will Wilde (Creator)
Impressive, particularly the ending. Most of the rest is fairly easy assuming one can handle the speed. I was watching his left thumb, and it appears that he's not playing a chromatic harmonica, so the note bending is all tongue. I'm not familiar with the alternative tunings described in previous comments - all the harps I've played (Marine Band, Hohner Echo Harp & Hohner Chrometta-12) have standard C/G major chords. The chromatic harp has a "shift" button for flats and sharps, the others require either tonguing or pinching to bend the notes. Playing harmonica is similar to "Eefing" (see Jimmy Riddle).
Magic Dick of the J. Geils Band was one helluva player, even though "Whammerjammer" was almost complete ripoff of Mr. Superharp James Cotton's "The Creeper".
As a lowly guitar player, all I got is.... Fucking WOW!! That was impressive. Allan Collins approved. :)
ReplyDeleteA few "mistakes" but he's replicating that which is normally done with TWO different guitars.
DeleteVery good.
Keep in mind that he hyperventilated for 4 minutes doing that.
Harmonica players make banjo strummers look like gods......
ReplyDeleteAs another guitar player, holy shit! Awesome.
ReplyDeleteCL
I’m not but that was badass. banjo and harmonica, the two greatest instruments
ReplyDelete...HOLY SHIT!!!
ReplyDeleteIncredible!
ReplyDeleteI think he's playing a Blues Harp. Regardless, it's the culmination of talent, perseverance, and effort. I doubt there are a handful in the world as good, or better.
ReplyDeleteAs another lowly guitar player, I'm freaking amazed. I can't vouch for him hitting every note just right, but I can't vouch for guys playing a pretty damned good version on a guitar either. I just don't understand how he exhales for over four solid minutes I never saw him inhale.
ReplyDeleteHey SiG - you actually play the harmonica with both outgoing breath and incoming breath - the note will change based on whether you are inhaling or exhaling through the instrument.
Deletethat dudes woman LOOOOVVVVEESSSS him!!!
ReplyDeleteSerious harp chops. The Skynyrd guys need to get him on stage jamming with Medlocke on that one.
ReplyDeleteI prided myself 30 years ago being a good harp player, copied magic dick, Charley Mcoy, toots thillman and Steve millers incredible player….this guy kicks ass.
ReplyDeleteKeep it real
Just recently took up the harmonica. I have only learned a blues riff. Working on Train Train by Blackfoot. Very impressive. The breathing and lung capacity is the hardest part. Listen to Nothing else matters by Metallica on harmonica
ReplyDeleteRivals red hot chili pipers…..wow!
ReplyDeleteThank you! That was outstanding!
ReplyDeletePersonally this lady works for me, Indiara Sfair
ReplyDeleteThe guy does have pretty spectacular breath control.
She uses it to mimic the human voice.
DeleteVery nice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1F_eQkOfvU
From his website:
ReplyDelete"I designed the Wilde tuning specifically for playing blues rock and hard rock music. As much as I love Richter tuning, I have always found it somewhat frustrating when it comes to playing rock 'guitar like' minor pentatonic/ blues licks in the upper octave. The Wilde tuning addresses all of the frustrations I had with Richter tuning, whilst still retaining the familiar bluesy feel of classic second position harmonica playing that we all know and love."
Whereas the Richter tuning was initially designed for playing major scale melodies in first position (it was never intended to play blues, hence the missing flat 5 and minor third in the upper octave), Wilde tuning has been carefully designed with second position rock & blues playing in mind, and so allows you to play minor pentatonic & blues scale licks throughout all three octaves of the instrument without the need for overblows. It also allows you to use much more expression and vibrato because ALL of the draw notes bend, and your root note always lands on a draw. This concept was inspired by Brendan Power's 'Powerbender' and 'Powerdraw' tuning, but the Wilde tuning's configuration is geared more towards rock and blues playing.
Wilde tuning is very intuitive to play because holes one to five are exactly the same as standard tuning. Holes six, seven and eight are exactly the same as holes two, three and four (just an octave higher). Hole nine is the same as hole two (but two octaves higher) and the reeds in hole ten are reversed (so the blow bend is now a draw bend). All of this makes fast minor pentatonic and blues scale runs much easier in the upper octave because you no longer need to overblow to get the flat third, or overdraw to get the flat five: they are now available as simple draw bends.
I think that the Wilde tuning is the configuration that every aspiring blues rock harp player has been waiting for."
Will Wilde (Creator)
Impressive, particularly the ending. Most of the rest is fairly easy assuming one can handle the speed. I was watching his left thumb, and it appears that he's not playing a chromatic harmonica, so the note bending is all tongue. I'm not familiar with the alternative tunings described in previous comments - all the harps I've played (Marine Band, Hohner Echo Harp & Hohner Chrometta-12) have standard C/G major chords. The chromatic harp has a "shift" button for flats and sharps, the others require either tonguing or pinching to bend the notes. Playing harmonica is similar to "Eefing" (see Jimmy Riddle).
ReplyDeleteMagic Dick of the J. Geils Band was one helluva player, even though "Whammerjammer" was almost complete ripoff of Mr. Superharp James Cotton's "The Creeper".