sonny

The standard thing to do is to learn what Rice Miller played and you play it as well. Since this song is in minor, I recommend that you make sure to play all of the 3 draws as 3' (matching the minor 3rd found in minor) and deemphasize, or delete all together, 2+'s and 5+'s (the major 6th will clash in minor).

Another approach is to create your own solo. If you do this, make sure to stay to the Blues Scale (http://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/movement_exercises_study_2_scales), it contains no notes that will clash with minor.

Now that you've studied the hook you can decide to play it or not. Though playing the hook is the standard way of playing a hook-based groove, another approach works better for this song. Listen to how Rice Miller plays a draw chord (holes 1, 2 and 3) on beat 2 and the "and" of 2. This aligns with the back-beat of the snare drum. This is a good sound... it's the way most players approach accompaniment for this song.

If the approach is to play the draw chord(s) for the i7 Chord, then it's a good idea to play the blow chord (1+, 2+ and 3+) for the iv7 Chord. continue reading...

"What do you do about the iv7 Chord?"

Playing the same i7 chord lick over the iv7 chord is the answer. The i7 lick is G G G Bb C which are all notes of the iv7 chord (C Eb G Bb). Though the rest of the band moves away, you're still playing the same rhythm and contour as them. Though they're not the same notes, they are in harmony with what the band is playing.

We don't always get this lucky, but we'll take it when we can! Give this a try by playing along to the original track.

When a song is hook-driven like this one is, your first approach to accompaniment is to play the hook as well.

The hook on the i7 Chord is 2 2 2 3' 4+ (Root, Root, Root, flat-3rd, 4th). Though he's playing on a Bb Harmonica in 2nd Position, let's reference the C Harmonica in 2nd Position to make talking about the music theory easier. The notes would be G G G Bb C. continue reading...

Our next song on the School of the Blues House Band Standards list is "Help Me" by Rice Miller. This iconic tune is one of the rare tunes in minor, F Minor to specific. Miller uses the Bb Harmonica in 2nd Position, and although there are some rough areas of major against minor, he still makes it work.

Your homework this weekend is to listen to the song and try to copy what he plays in the opening chorus and solo. On Monday we'll discuss how to approach both accompaniment and improvising. continue reading...