Playing Electric Worry On Harmonica: A Step-By-Step Guide

how to play electric worry on harmonica

Electric Worry is a song by the American rock band Clutch, from their 2007 album From Beale Street to Oblivion. The song features a harmonica part, which is played on a C harp. The song is in the key of G and the harmonica is likely playing in the second position. A YouTube video demonstrates how to play the harmonica part in Electric Worry, and the tabs for the song are also available online.

Characteristics Values
Song Electric Worry
Artist Clutch
Harmonica Type C harp
Position 2nd
Notes The song is in G

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Harp tabs for Electric Worry

The harmonica part in Electric Worry by Clutch is played on a C harp. One source suggests that the song is in G and the player is in the second position on a C harp.

|(rhythm)|----------------------------||----------------------------||----------------------------|x4|-----5----5--5--------------||-----5--5-5--5---3--3-1-----||--3--3--3-3--3----------1---| pm . |(rhythm)|----------------------------||----------------------------||-----5----5--5--------------|x2|-----5--5-5--5---3--3-1-----||--3--3--3-3--3----------1---||----------------------------| pm . |(rhythm)|----------------------------| |------------||----------------------------| |------------||----------------------------|x2 |------------||-----5----5--5--------------| |--5~~~~~----||-----5--5-5--5---3--3-1-----| |--5~~~~~----||--3--3--3-3--3----------1---| |--3~~~~~----| pm . |(rhythm)|----------------------------| |----------------------------| |-----5----5--5--------------|x2 |-----5--5-5--5---3--3-1-----| |--3--3--3-3--3----------1---| |----------------------------| pm . |----------------------------| |------------| |----------------------------| |------------| |----------------------------|x2 |------------||-----5----5--5--------------| |--5~~~~~----| |-----5--5-5--5---3--3-1-----| |--5~~~~~----| |--3--3--3-3--3----------1---| |--3~~~~~----| pm .

> Standard Tuning: (E-A-D-G-B-e) Some power Chord patterns may vary. I tabbed the main progression p = pull-off h = hammer-on . = palm-mute (pm) / = slide up \ = slide down ~ = let ring ...

And here is the tab for the intro:

|-----------------------------------------------------------------| |-----------------------------------------------------------------| |----------3~---5-5p0---------------------------------------------| |--3p0-5-5------------3-3/5~---3p0-3-4-5~-----5~---3--3p0---------| |-----------------------------------------------------------------| |-----------------------------------------6p3--------------6-3~---| |--------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |------------------------------------------------13-11~--------------------------| |----------------------------------------------0----------0----------------------| |---3-3h5-5------3~---3-3h5---------------------------------10-8~----------------| |----------------------------------------------------------------------3--3-1----| |------------6p3------------6~--3h6-3~~~~-------------------------------------1--|

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Tongue blocking

The technique involves using your tongue to block certain holes on the harmonica to get the desired sound. For example, for a 4 blow, the tongue would cover holes 1, 2, and 3. When you need to isolate and block just one hole, you may need to turn your tongue sideways to cover it. This can take some practice and you may need to adjust depending on the harmonica model as the spacing between holes can vary.

One approach to tongue blocking is to think of the harmonica as a computer screen. Instead of thinking about the distance between holes, think of them as a percentage of the total distance. This can help when adjusting between different harmonica models.

To tongue block and play the 1 hole, open your mouth so that holes 1-4 are open, and then put the tip of your tongue over holes 2-4. This will allow you to play the 1 hole with the correct tongue positioning.

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Harp keys

To play Electric Worry on the harmonica, you will need a C harmonica, also known as a C harp. This is because the song is played in the key of G, which is the second position, or cross harp, on a C harmonica.

Harmonica players change keys by using a different harmonica, rather than changing techniques as a pianist or guitarist might. The second position is primarily used for blues harmonica and is oriented around drawing, with the draw 2 hole being the root of G. The first position, or straight harp, is oriented around blowing, with the blow 1 and blow 4 holes being the root note C.

The natural position of the harmonica, the first position, is considered to have a "folksy" sound, reminiscent of Bob Dylan. The second position, on the other hand, is described as "bluesy".

The Lee Oskar harmonica is a popular choice for beginners as it has the first position key labelled on one side and the second position key on the opposite side. This makes it easy to identify the different positions and their associated keys.

For beginners, it is recommended to stick to learning the first and second positions, as these positions are used in over 90% of popular music featuring the harmonica.

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Blues vamp in G

To play a Blues vamp in G on the harmonica, you'll need a harmonica in the key of C, and you'll be playing in the second position. This means that the tab positions on the harmonica will be different from what they would be if you were playing in the first position.

A vamp is a repeating rhythmic part that forms the basis for improvisation. To play a Blues vamp in G, you'll be using notes from the major pentatonic scale, which will give it a nice melodic country feel. You can also experiment with notes from the blues scale to give it a more bluesy feel.

  • The first variation is to change the single note you are playing during the rhythm while keeping the rhythm itself the same. Just be careful when playing a blow note, as you might be tempted to play blow chords afterward, which you should avoid.
  • You can also try using different single notes during the draw chord part of the vamp. This will give you a different sound that can add interest to your playing.
  • Another idea is to try bending notes during the vamp. This will give your playing a more expressive and bluesy feel.

Remember, the goal is to eventually be able to make up your own licks and improvise around the vamp using your own ideas. So feel free to experiment and find your own style!

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Harp player Eric Oblander's solo

Harp player Eric Oblander of Five Horse Johnson delivers a stunning solo performance on the harmonica in the song "Electric Worry" by Clutch. Oblander's solo is a highlight of the song, showcasing his mastery of the instrument and adding a unique dimension to the music.

"Electric Worry" is a powerful song that explores themes of personal liberation, resilience, and rejection of societal expectations. The song encourages listeners to embrace freedom and satisfaction, breaking free from constraints and negative influences. Oblander's harmonica solo enhances the impact of these themes, providing a bluesy and expressive melodic line that complements the song's message.

In his solo, Oblander likely draws on a range of techniques and stylistic elements. He may employ bends, vibrato, and tongue blocking to create a dynamic and expressive performance. Additionally, he might utilise position playing, moving between different registers of the harmonica to add variety and interest to the solo.

Oblander's solo is a testament to the versatility of the harmonica and its ability to adapt to different musical genres. By incorporating blues influences into the predominantly rock context of the song, Oblander showcases the harmonica's capacity to blend and enhance the overall musical experience.

Overall, Eric Oblander's solo performance on "Electric Worry" is a showcase of technical skill, musicality, and the harmonica's unique expressive qualities. His contribution to the song highlights the instrument's potential to captivate and inspire, leaving a lasting impression on listeners.

Frequently asked questions

The harmonica used in Electric Worry is likely a C harp.

The harmonica is played in the second position.

The tabs are: -3 +4-3+4-3´-2 ->-1-2-3´+4 -3´-3´ -2-2" -2 ->-4+5-5-5 -6+6-6-6 -3+4 -3+4-4 -3+4-4 -3+4-4 -3+4-4 -4+4-3´-2 -2-2-3´+4-4-3-2-2 -2"-2-3´+4-2 -2"-2-3´+4 -5-5-5 -6-6-6-6 -5-4+5 -4-4+4 -5+4 -3-3-3-3´-3´-2.

The song is a blues vamp.

Five Horse Johnson harp player Eric Oblander plays the harmonica in Electric Worry.

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