David's Tip of the Day: Baby What You Want Me To Do - Blues Standards

Jimmy Reed's "Baby What You Want Me To Do" is the first song on the School of the Blues House Band Standards List. This laid back shuffle is the most common shuffle chosen by harmonica players due to its relaxed feel. It's a really easy groove to play to, so if you're new to soiling, choose this groove! To generically call for this feel say "Jimmy Reed Shuffle."

The song opens with two bars of the I Chord (one chord) to establish the feel (some musicians say "two for nothing"). The 12 Bar Blues form start with the vocals.

This song teaches two things to the house band...

1) The most common (or easiest to play to) groove in the blues harmonica world is the "Jimmy Reed Shuffle"

2) When the band "hangs on the I," that the form begins when the vocals begin. This happens a lot, so it's an important concept to know.