This is one of my fav tunes of all time!! I really want to learn it on my harp and I don’t mean just the main rift…I’d like to play the solo! I’m using my C harp so my question is would I use second position since it’s blues/rock? When soloing in this tune would I need to use the major and the blues scale? This is my hold up for learning to solo on this instrument, I’m not sure if I should use scales based on the chord I’m in or just stay in a certain position.
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First of all the song tells a true story as told in the song. I was able to visit with Billy Gibbons many years ago for several hours when I was doing some upholstery work for his girlfriends T Bird he was giving her. Turns out we went to the same high school but he was 10 years ahead. I asked him about the songs ZZ Top sang and all were about his growing up in south Texas.
As far as the rift can you ask Lexa to play it? Its a some what slow tune and I think a B flat harp would be perfect. I will defer to the music theory experts. If I were tackling this one I would focus very with the rhythm and timing at the get go and get it down well. I can hear it to a T but have not tried to play it. I think what you are think about is very close as a major and blues. Not a guitar player but it sounds like a base was used in much of the song and you will stay mostly one the left side of the harp. I don’t think bends are a part of this tune but the tune has a cool lively but deep pitch. Point is get the timing down and then select your key as this tune is unique.
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It’s basically a Hooker blues boogie sped up. I can play it on guitar. But on blues harp it’s pretty simple I would solo were the guitar solo parts are then you have a reference. The climb down (or bridge) will probably be the hardest part) but you can attempt a tongue blocked octaves coming down. If you want to accompany guitar most players do the song in a key of G so you can reach all the Hooker boogie notes. Good luck not easy by any standard
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@Madmartigan26 yeah classic! It’s in the key of A, played on a D harmonica in 2nd position.
-12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -12 -3’ -4 -3’
You’d use the blues scale to solo over it.
Rock on! 