This is the earliest recording of me playing harmonica: June 1975, nine months after first picking up the instrument. With some conversation before and after. www.modernbluesharmonica.com/... www.modernbluesharmonica.com/...
Hey Adam, you were way ahead of me at 9 months and I had the help of RU-vid. Don’t ever have doubts, you have boat loads of musical talent even at 17. You can’t compare your past with 17 year olds of the present. Thanks so much for your videos, my leg was amputated from a motorcycle accident, and your videos have brought so much joy to my life.
I have been playing for much longer than 9 months, and I am not capable of playing "Whammer Jammer." It is something I'd never even try. The fact that Young Gussow did it relatively well is very impressive.
You can absolutely learn it. Take it one small chunk at a time. It is one of the best songs to learn, especially early on, because it emphasizes so many important techniques to playing harp. You can do it!
I've been playing since I was 15 and that was 1978 my mom bought me my 1st harmonica and I paid her back a week later was in the key of C and then I started discovering other keys of harmonica's cross harping etc kind of like you I had a natural talent for it and at 59 I'm still blowing and wailing to the day you sounded awesome at 17
I am very close to your age Adam . I first heard " Whammer Jammer " around 1974 when J. Geils played on "In Concert or " Rock concert on TV when there was about 4 TV channels . I was very impressed ! I went to the local music store and said " I want one of those electric harmonicas " I didn't realize that he held a harp to a mic attached to an amp like Little Walter I later learned . I bought Tony " Little Son " Glovers book with a plastic record in it . It was like reading Chinese for me . I couldn't get it . I remember going to a friends house in my teens and he had John Mayall on the the record player . He would pick the needle up and try to duplicate every lick . Put it down , pick it back up . Patience and dedication ! I agree with your assessment of your playing " Whammer Jammer at 17 . I thought I saw on this thread that you were going to discuss " Born in Chicago ? I can not find that post ! Paul Butterfield had great vibrato . It seems to me he mostly played a D harp . I cant wait to hear .
No matter how you slice and dice this recording it really is an awesome job for anybody with 9 months experience.Especially being all on your own with a damn needle.Way to go "Young Gussow"!
I got my first harp from Steven Tyler Areosmith playing at a highschool gig he threw it and I caught it ! Gave it back and then he returned it to me !! 1973
Being able to play that, that cleanly, after only 9 months is truly inspiring. I'm 33 and just bought my first harp last week...before watching your videos so i bought an E harp thinking that since i play 80% of our covers out of E it would be a natural fit lol. Then i found your videos. So far in a week i've been able to get pretty solid tone, can bend, and figured out a simple blues turnaround. Thanks for all you do. Now i've got to a couple more harps in different keys. I'm hooked.
I was playing guitar in my first band about early 1970. And even after a year or more of playing none of our band members had the nearly the skill at playing their instruments that you had after only 9 months. You must of lived and breathed the harmonica during those 9 months to become that good in such a short time. 👏
Yes it was impressive. Remember this is not an easy instrument to play net alone very well. So when you listen to stars like Jagger, Lennon etc etc I have even more respect and admiration for good harmonica players. It's a gift!
Really good, I’m still not that good after 31/2 years, sadly didn’t inspire me just made me feel I need to try harder, I think you had a good natural talent at a young age and I’m sadly over 50 😂 still great to watch and Thankyou for sharing young Adam 😘
Hey Adam, I wish I could have done those moves at 9 months. You had boat loads of talent at 17, and you can’t compare yourself to today’s younger people who may have learned tricks of the trade off the internet. My leg was amputated from a motorcycle accident, and I am so thankful that you decided to pick up the harmonica. Your videos have brought so much joy to my life, Thanks
Adam. Thanks for inspiring us. from the bottom of my heart. I'm restarting at 40 mile(old) Hehe. Few years ago I saw you in RU-vid. But some days ago I saw you in the Netflix Documentary again. I said: I know this Man. Again on the road...me. Thanks. The warmth of your words, make impact.
How unassuming Adam , brave of you and I get that your effectively saying stick at it if you love it and it may sound rubbish listening back but boy look what dedication can do . And it certainly did for you Much respect Man 🎤🎼🎤🎼
VERY COOL!!! I started playing same year, was full-time 3 years later. Met Sonny Jr. (Gary O.) in 1976 on his first gig with Sonny & Brownie. I was focused on Charlie McCoy style 4 hrs. a day but, could not have kept up with this at 9 months in on Whammer Jammer. I had Little Walter's "Boss Blues Harmonica" double LP but, as you mentioned did not have a clue on Tongue Blocking. Peter "Madcat" Ruth in '76 gave me some pointers (he was taking lessons from Big Walter) but, as you, self perseverance was the key! I liked that you did not hold back! .....you were all-in and going for it. Thanks for sharing Adam!
Nine months? Wow! 😃 If I were to see my friend’s son playing like that today, I’d think ‘that kid could be really good if he sticks with it’. OK it wasn’t perfect, but you had bags of feeling and swing in my humble opinion. 👍👍
You took one of the most intimidating harp tunes that many harp players shy away from and tackled it from the git go. It's no wonder why you are as good as you are. Adam got musical balls!! Forever a fan!!
I loved it Adam. Your present play is very similar. Tony Glover soaked his harp in a glass of water. I sat in front of him in live shows many evenings. He was my Harp God.
Hancock. Will Smith (the hero) flying drunk around doing "thrash" hero things stuff in the beginning of the movie, Whammer Jammer playing in the background. This very part opened my eyes for playing harmonica. Some years later looking at your channel, and finaly bought my owne harmonica. This is my story from the other side of the planet. I think when i hear the young Gussow playing Whammer Jammer I see a person who is full of energy and power, that you find at people at this age. No filter, no anxiety so cool.! Thanks for sharing.
Not only it was very good for a 17 year old who had been playing for 9 months, that 17 year old was already getting some live experience which is great. When I was a beginner I would bend the 3 draw and then go up to the natural note since it sounded cleaner. The fact that the draw note doesn't exist on 2nd position didn't bother me as it does now. Now, if I play an out of scale note I do it with a purpose and not just blindly.
Wow Adam that’s a challenging song for for most harp players but after 9 months !!!!!! Just goes to show hard work practicing the old way playing with the records , going over & over & over it , learning by ear, nothing beats it👍👍👍 Well done
I've been playing harp for nearly twelve years, and I don't play "Whammer Jammer" that well NOW. Of course, aside from that wailing 10-Hole blow bend, I haven't really tried, but still. I was nowhere near this good at the nine-month mark...and there's RU-vid video to prove it. If anything, this video demonstrates how much progress someone CAN make in such a short time with adequate dedication.
I still play whammer jammer wrong in so many places, your analysis of the song was very confident and complete I agree on the blow bend, for years I thought the original player changed harps for the high note Thanks for sharing this
Adam, you didn’t mention the importance that you found the groove so early in your journey. It rang true when you were 17. I love these conversations. Thank for sharing you time.
‘Whammer Jammer’ also got 20 yr old me excited to play ‘harp’ in ‘83, in nearby North Jersey. Except I didn’t stick with it. Anyway, That was really good. Especially for a kid who was only playing 9 months. You ‘nailed it’ better than I was ever able to figure out.
The desire, the feeling, it was there. Amazing for 9 months on a record player. I’m 65 so I know about fighting with them. You got lost in just a couple of spots but you filled it in. Nize
So you asked for opinions/feedback for young gussow. I think his stamina was excellent after only 9 months of playing. High notes were great. Struggled with the bends... Warbles sounded pretty good too for a beginner. The crowd clapped. Well done young fella!
I had the good fortune to hear a lot of Tony Glover, and later befriend him. I just loved Snaker Ray, Little Son Glover and Spider John Koerner. They played regularly at “The Coffee Break” in Dinky Town by UM. I’d walk over there from art school and hang out all evening sitting right in front of them. I’d sketch them playing and fill a couple of books. They eventually started talking to me. Later, Dave Ray asked me to join him to form a band . Snaker Ray and the Sneakers. I was playing lap steel then. A Weisenborn Coa wood beauty that sounded great. The band didn’t last long since we couldn’t get any gigs. :*)
Great story! Thanks. I saw Koerner, Ray, and Glover live precisely once. It was during the 1990s, I think. I can't remember where. Glover's book, quirky as it was, was important to me. I gave it a review for Amazon: www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R24KT7NMY2FDWN/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0825600189
Thank you Adam. I loved your review of Tony. I almost changed the course of my life from those 3 wonderful people. I got Glover’s book as soon as it was published and wore it out. I still see Koerner on occasion here in Duluth. Dave Ray has passed on. RIP. I treasure every minute I ever spent in their company. And you should know that I have learned very much from you as well. You are a treasure Adam. Be Well.
Great stroll down memory lane. 1975 was the year I started playing (I'm a year younger than you). I would never have been able to to even come close to that rendition. Very impressive. I spent most of my time trying to figure out Thom Doucette's solo and rhythm lines on The Allman Brothers Fillmore East album before moving on to Paul Butterfield. Speaking of today's young players, how about 8 year old Tancy Liu? She can play better than all of my the 45+ years of playing combined. After seeing her RU-vid videos, I'm ready to pitch all my harps out the window and call it a day. :)
I've been playing for years now, and there's a kid who's been playing for nine months playing like that... sheesh. One thing I noticed is that young Adam (as well as the rest of the band) seemed to be rushing a bit at times. This is very common, and definitely so when playing on stage in front of an audience when you're not used to it. Still, darn impressive.
The band did a pretty good job for young lads too!!! The blow bends sound really good for nine months in I didn’t attempt then till I’d played for at least five years I don’t think ... respect for posting this !!! Amazing your recorded it and that the recording survived 🎶😎🎶😎
Yes. I've had cassette tape of this particular gig kicking around for a long time, but just recently I discovered that Lloyd, the guitarist, had at some point digitized the whole thing and sent it to me on a disc. i've got the cassette deck needed to digitize the tape, but having it already in the form of mp3s made things easier.
dedication to learn that song at 17 and the guts to perform it live are ace, clear passion from young gussow, 10b bend is something i can't do and stops me from truly attempting this song (also been playing for 9 months in lockdown learning -with youtube and the kind dr. G's tutelage! ps.love the drummer!)
You can do it! You just need to decide one day that you’re going to bend that 10 note. It all happens right behind the front teeth. Start by sounding the 10b... slowly bridge the middle-ish part of your tongue to bring the tip of your tongue towards your teeth... the middle of your tongue will be close to the roof of your mouth, with the tip angles down towards the teeth. you’ll begin to hear it change and choke out... that means you’re close! Keep trying until you finally get the bend to sound. Once that happens, learn how to open your embouchure to hit the bend on key. It took me about 2 hours of sounding like a dying cat, and all of a sudden it clicked. I can now wail that note and any other blow bend 👍🏼
I think it was pretty obvious back then you had talent. Some of us try for years and still sound like nails on a chalkboard. Thanks for sharing the young you. Pretty cool.
Good point about that warble/wobble. Yes: I should have pointed that out. I'm surprised that I was able to do it that rapidly and smoothly that early on. I don't remember practicing that technique a lot, but I must have. A couple of years later, when I heard Little Walter for the first time, his style was incomprehensible to me. "Back Track," etc. Oh: i remember. I learned the warble by trying to copy James Cotton's "Boogie Thing": ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ldF2f9SI_KQ.html
I've been playing for at least two years and even when i've learnt how to overblow and other things, i am not able to play like you at that age, you have always been a great harmonica player, thanks for sharing that record.
Play along with the oldies and play with others irl and you'll easily get it. I been playing almost 6 years, jammin out comes easy with a couple guys and a few drinks.
@@luisbogad23 get a buddy to learn guitar haha. Thats what I did. I bought a guitar to teach myself then made him learn so I'd have someone to jam with. It works if you're patient :P easier to make new friends probably.
@@Kryynism i play guitar just a little bit, my roomate is starting, but i'll have to wait a long time, but you are right, someday i'll have someone to play with, until that day comes i'll keep practicing by myself
@@luisbogad23 play with your roomie and find a groove on whatever chords they know. My buddy is best on Am G and C on guitar. So I just play a low D harp or a G harp in 3rd and it works well enough. Playing with others is the best way bud. Doesn't have to be perfect, musical conversations and improv between two can unlock some seriously cool ideas. Especially when intoxicated haha
Definitely the Gussow vibe. The perhaps most import, the right feel was there. The timing, well, needs some work in places. Love these historical accounts.
Pretty amazing for less than a year worth of play time or even a couple of years. The main thing that I notice is that the articulation didn't seem to be quite there yet....but then again he didn't have a professional Adam Gussow to teach him. I think I am going to try your Whammer Jammer lesson.
Absolutely SHOCKED that someone playing only 9 months can play like that. I am SO impressed. Young Gussow, though imperfect, was nevertheless killing in.
No. I'd never heard, or heard of, Norton Buffalo at that point. I was inspired by this: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ASF5CpqP6HY.html
I thought he was darn good for a young man with only 9 months experience. Way, way, way better than I was after 9 months. Maybe even now. Of course I have limited talent and I'm old!
I ended up giving it away to this kid who lived down the hall in my apartment building. He just looked like the sort of little pumpkin, Huck Finn type who deserved it.
Despite the youthful foibles, you carried the tune pretty well. As Im writing this, to commend your 17 yo self on nailing the 10 OB consistently, you just mentioned the same thing in the second part of this vid 😂
Good natural sound...and you could play natural good....so we don t need to exercise...we play ..and play ..it s Blues...and I clean my Harp with Whiskey...
Tackling that hard music piece so early speaks to the intensity of passion you must have had right from the start with harmonica. And soaking harp in water must mean that it was leaky and so you were getting the pear wood to swell up to seal all the micro leaks and thus play better and achieve the needed speed. Right?
I don't remember thinking that the harp was leaky, just that once I DID soak it, it was suddenly loud and bluesy--the blue notes were easier to bend--but most of all it helped me bend that 10 blow, which I couldn't do with an unsoaked harp. (Now I can do it with an unsoaked harp; I haven't soaked a harp in years.)
I find it hard to give critique on a player who has clearly worked very very hard in their first nine months. For what it's worth, the ten blow bend does seem to slip away from you a bit as you try to hold it down.
Cut it out! "Not as good as the guitar player!" I play harp and guitar and what young Gus Smooth-toad is attempting on the harp is way way beyond those guitar parts!
