Sheet music for Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee
I recently joined a blues band, which have some songs by Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee on their setlist such as 'I was born with the blues' and 'Walk on'. As this is my first time playing in a band I'd love to have the security of sheet music to play from to get started. Does anyone have a transcription of the harmonica parts on these songs, of others by the same artists? Thanks in advance!
One of the benefits of regularly playing with a band is that you don't need to be the least bit bashful about asking whoever is leading the song, "What key are we in for this one?" (I've played in various groups where they've teased me that the inscription on my headstone will read, "What key are we in again??") And if you're the vocalist, you tell the rest of them what key you want to do the song in. (Tell the guitarist that you can only do the song in F# major. Then after she or he has shot you a thoroughly confused look, or has miserably pleaded, "But I forgot to bring my capo!," tell him or her that you were only kidding, and can sing it in E major.)
Thanks for the input. I realize that the 'right' way to internalize the music is to figure it out by ear, but I was hoping there was a shortcut to deal with the large list of songs the band is already playing. Apparently not.
I could use your input, though. I've started transcribing Walk On, based on the version on Spotify ( https://open.spotify.com/track/4q8AnAeRxSLTH4Z5Pb4Niz?si=H4xyOaqpTq6J0aRcOMXhKA&utm_source=copy-link ). I believe the song is played in F, on a Bb harmonica in 2nd position. At 0:34 there is a harmonica part that sounds like it is a 3-4 shake when I slow it down to 50÷. At full tempo, the speed makes me think more of a flutter than a shake. Could it be a flutter but with a special technique where the tongue is on the right side of the mouth, so that it blocks hole 4 when it is on the face of the harmonica but hole 4 sounds when it comes off? Or is it a regular shake and should I practice to get it up to speed? Thanks in advance!
Thought I would listen to this and figure it out.
I would say definitely a 3-4 shake with a slight dip to start the 3 draw. He repeats this in the song.
At times he is so great at using a hand flutter as well. dip on 4 to hand flutter at draw 4.
Five blow is used a lot as well telling me to play major pentatonic predominantly.
There are quite a lot of great techniques used in this song.
Walk on in your study and I'm sure youll play great with the band on this one.
John
Figure out what key the song is in, and then what key of harp gives you second position. Then puzzle it out by ear. That's the best way to learn orally composed and transmitted music.