How to Play the Blues Harp

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Country Blues

Darth Vader - yes it's that top country bluesman Darth Vader sounding remarkably like Sonny Terry. It's possible you might have missed this when it first came out so I thought I would share it with you.

"The Big Apple's Merry Monarch of the Mouth Harp", Peter "Trip" Henderson is rooted in the country style of harp playing but, as you will hear from his "Cuckoo" he brings his own interpretation to the genre. His Jug Band Waltz is a pretty faithful rendition of the Memphis Jug Band recording.

De Ford Bailey was one of the big names in country blues and is the only black musician to have been elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Here he is playing a Fox Chase. One thing that comes out on his (rare) videos is his complete lack of movement while he plays. No Kim Wilson leg raising here - the most that you'll see might be him raising an eyebrow very briefly. No hand-wahs either. Here is a perfect example as he plays Pan American Blues

Joe Filisko is the most authentic exponent of the 1920s and 1930s hokum blues that I have ever heard. Here he is at the NHL 2006 Autumn Festival playing his tribute to De Ford Bailey. He has even got De Ford Bailey's immobility while he plays!

Here he is with Eric Noden playing jug on Sugar Pudding

I saw the Wiyos at Upton Blues festival in 2005 and was blown away not only by the country blues style of the harp player but also the sheer good-timey enthusiasm and showmanship that they injected into everything that they did. Here they are doing Cornbread and Butterbeans at Middle Earth in Bradford Vermont.

Here they are doing Dying Crapshooters Blues and, back at Middle Earth, doing Gonna Get Tight.

Pure entertainment!

For a masterclass on playing country blues style rhythm harp check out this tour de force from Peter Madcat Ruth. It's so good, I bought the video - a really good buy for anyone wanting to learn rhythm harp.

He's not strictly blues but he's definitely country and deserves a mention in any harp players Hall of Fame. Here he is: Charlie McCoy playing Orange Blossom Special and here he is with that other harp wizard Val Doonican playing Stone Fox Chase which for many years was the theme for the 1970s UK TV series "The Old Grey Whistle Test"