Tequila.zip

For ADVANCED BEGINNERS, INTERMEDIATE, and ADVANCED INTERMEDIATE players. A video tutorial focused on "Tequila," an early 1960s hit for The Champs and a perennial bar-band favorite. Adapted for the harmonica by Adam Gussow of Satan and Adam.

[NOTE: Also included with this video is a rhythm track, adapted from a free online karaoke track. Thanks to Sergio, one of my customers, for this terrific find!]

"Tequila" is a Latin-flavored instrumental. In this adaptation, the harmonica plays the sax part. Gussow also shows you the song's distinctive guitar riff and explains the song's underlying harmonic structure, one that includes a diminished chord and several dominant seventh chords.

Technical challenges include 2 draw, 3 draw, and 10 blow bends and some tricky timing. One particular challenge is a melody line that requires harp players to move smoothly between whole step bends on the 2 and 3 draw. ADVANCED BEGINNERS will find this rapid back-and-forth movement difficult, but they will be able to master the same melody in the middle octave.

Harp key: A

Note: a PDF tab for this lesson is also available.

Running time: 41:26

Another Modern Blues Harmonica production (www.modernbluesharmonica.com)