Do I hear correctly?
Tue, 10/16/2012 - 08:01
When I listen to players like Sonny Boy I & II and others, it seems to me that they don't play clean single notes very often, but it does not sound like real chords either (although a little more with SB1. Do I hear right? Is it that they play two note combinations or hust the result of their slapping? Any light will help understand and appreciate?
I think your observation is correct and points to the fact that playing exclusively pure single notes isn't really traditional in blues harmonica. The word "harmonica" refers to the "harmony" that you can play by combining different holes, and blues harmonica players have always taken advantage of that essential element in the identity of the instrument.
The players you name use a combination of clear single notes, two-hole combinations (sometimes with a main note and the one to the right bleeding in slightly) and chords, slaps, pull-offs (especially with SB2), and splits. SB2 used warbles occasionally but off the top of my head I don't recall any instances of SB1 doing so.
Later players added even more multi-note techniques to the smorgasbord - hammers (Dave calls them flutters), hammered splits, rakes, shimmers, and lots more warbles.