Blues 'Classics' Heads
The House Band guitar player at our local jam told me (suggested, recommended?) to learn 5+ heads to classic blues songs that most players at the jam would know so I could lead off with the head and then improvise from there when the harp solo comes. He's been a huge help to me with amp/PA set up and other jam etiquette stuff so I'm happy to listen to him. Any suggestions for songs that start with a harp 'head' before I do a lot of searching through my library. I'll be happy to share my research.
Thanks
key to the highway, blues with a feelin, checkin' on my baby and sittin' on top of the world are the most likely songs
people know at a jam-session.
others are wang dang doodle, got my mojo workin', baby what you want me to do, baby please don't go.
Hank: Dave wrote a book with John Garcia on improvisation that identified a huge list of blues standards.
Geez, I guess I've got so much stuff accumulated in my rush to learn this wonderful little instrument that I can't keep track of it all!! Thanks Jon - page 74 is now open in front of me.
Luckily I can handle it!! OK so as soon as I start going through my ITunes library I come up with:
Ah'w Baby, All My Love in Vain, Blues with a Feelin, Checkin up on my Baby, Don't Start Me Talking, Down Child, Just Your Fool, Keep It To Yourself, Let Me Explain, Nine Below Zero, Sittin' On Top If the World, Key To The Highway
Now my question is becoming: Which of these (and others) are jam players most likely to know? I've tried to look for songs with vocals and instrumental solo opportunities.
OK so now I'm heading back to my library to find others and then start selecting 5 or so to learn. Please feel free to suggest others based on these criteria - well known, not too difficult, and at least a 12 bar head.
Thanks