Well, not sure if I'm posting this in the right place. I was just wondering if anyone had any tips on playing Howlin' Wolf's "I Ain't Superstitious". There's a really cool line about "I Ain't Superstitious, but a black cat just crossed my trail", and a couple of girls I know where Black Cat costumes at sci-fi cons I go to. Was just wantin' to learn to play it for them :smoke:
Thanks for any help you can give me. :)
Mike
"I use heavy strings, tune low, play hard and floor it. Floor it, that's a technical term." - SRV
I actually got a handle on that song of his by learning from a great version on an album/CD.
London Sessions is the name. it has Howlin Wolf, Clapton, Winwood, Charlie Watts on it.
it is a twelve bar. I have played it in standard tuning. I am not sure if HW used an open tuning.
The Wolf's best song for me is "Built For Comfort." I'm not up to "300 Pounds of Joy." :lol:
He did play a lot in open tunings.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
The Wolf's best song for me is "Built For Comfort." I'm not up to "300 Pounds of Joy." :lol:
He did play a lot in open tunings.
Of course by "he" you mean Hubert Sumlin....
Both are great songs... I can't help you with any tips, but just wanted to tip my hat to your good taste.
8)
"There won't be any money. But when you die, on your death bed, you will receive total conciousness. So, I got that going for me. Which is nice." - Bill Murray, Caddyshack ~~ Michigan Music Dojo - http://michiganmusicdojo.com ~~
Thanks! Yeah, Mr. Sumlin did most of the picking. :D
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
I actually got a handle on that song of his by learning from a great version on an album/CD.
London Sessions is the name. it has Howlin Wolf, Clapton, Winwood, Charlie Watts on it.
it is a twelve bar. I have played it in standard tuning. I am not sure if HW used an open tuning.
Could you give me an idea of what style 12 bar blues it is? Do you use a blues shuffle, power chords, or strum other chords or something. i just can't seem to get it by listening for some reason. Doesn't help any that I had to take my new guitar in for repairs...through me in to a funk...but I guess that makes me ready to play the blues.
"I use heavy strings, tune low, play hard and floor it. Floor it, that's a technical term." - SRV
Try it with a standard 12 bar I-IV-V shuffle. That works for many Wolf songs.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
learn to count the beats in your head. 12 bar is an easy framework to play in if your remember the beat count for each chord.
there are a few varities, but the basic count is:
I count this way...
first chord I..8 beats.
chord change to IV... 8 beats
chord change to I 8 beats
chord chnage to V 4 beats...then IV chord 4 beats and then I chord 4 beats.
you just played 12 bars.
you can strum open chords, barre chords using an up down pattern if you want. you can mix your strumming too. what ever the feel of the songs needs or demands.
Well, I think I might have solved this. I got the Hal Leornard's Blues Guitar White Pages. The thing is huge, about the size of a phone book and has lots of songs in it, including I Aint Superstitious. It's got the Jeff Beck version (which I haven't listened to) but I think it'll give me an idea. Also has Sweet Home Chicago, which I've been interested in learning.
The reason i ask about beat patterns is because I know there can be several variations in the I-IV-V 12 bar strumming. I usually do 4 bars of I, 2 bars of IV, 2 bars of I, 1 bar of IV, one bar of V, and then 2 last bars of I, which may or may not include a turn-around if I don't fudge it up. But I know there are different variations to the I-IV-V and stuff so I was just wondering if there was a certain pattern that would be most helpful. I actually first learned it reading the easy lessons for Before You Accuse Me posted on GN's own Easy Lessons :mrgreen: And thus did my learning and love of blues guitar begin.
"I use heavy strings, tune low, play hard and floor it. Floor it, that's a technical term." - SRV
oh I see. well, yes, here is a certain pattern that Howlin uses. depending on which recording.
since you understand 12bar, why dont you mess with it and see what sounds right. unless you are a stickler for accuracy.
I'm no stickler...that's for sure. I guess that's half the fun of playing...figuring out what you like for them blues :D
"I use heavy strings, tune low, play hard and floor it. Floor it, that's a technical term." - SRV
love THIS tune!!! Jeff Beck does a great versh with the JB Group - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=luY85TdQD78 (ah, that talking wah!!!)
its basically just the opening riff followed by some chord stabs for the most part, with some improv'd rhythm on the turnaround bit. If I recall, the Howlin' Wolf versh is in the key of A. for the riff I used to do the notes g-a-b-a or a-a-b-a I think. not sure, lol, gonna have to dig this one out (thanks for the remind!). its a shuffle kind of feel in 12/8, at least the rhythm I play. can tab the generic-rhythm I fall back on when necessary if that'll be of use, but ya probs have it already.
hope this helps
S
