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Are there any examples of a bass player playing harmonica and bass simultaneously?
Just got to thinking it would be interesting, maybe some Morphine style thing going on
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The first bassist that came to mind is Jack Bruce. Simultaneously, I’m not too sure but there are plenty of live tracks of him in Cream going off on the harmonica!
Heres him with Graham Bond Organization, obviously mimed for the movie or whatever it was made for. There isn’t much of bass and harmonica at the same time since he was probably told to exaggerate the harmonica part
https://youtu.be/GPEAK3RjfLk?si=V56h0LmieZRxN9Nc
Aha absolutely loved Gonks go Beat! What a weird yet funny film. And that is a great tune as well. Introduced me to Graham Bond. Fantastic band, seems to defy being boxed in by any genre.
I double that!
Don't be silly. Bass players can't play any instruments.
I don't know if he ever actually did this in a real live setting, but Glenn Cornick from Jethro Tull can be seen playing bass and harmonica on some videos of Song For Jeffrey:
https://youtu.be/0TsFPHLTCKo?si=3Si_Ccn-lu78vbBV
Granted, they are lip syncing to the studio track and all the actual live recordings sound like Ian Anderson is switching from flute to harmonica.
Bonus: That's Tony Iommi miming the guitar part!
I did it on one original song back in the 80s.
Both were pretty simple parts.
Great live performance by Johnny Winter on the Old Grey Whistle Test where his bassist plays harmonica over the whole 5 minute intro. Not simultaneous though, I don't think.
Pretty sure chris squire of yes did it in a few live shows
Of course Chris Squire would be able to do that
I know he played harmonica on some later versions of And You And I, but I think it was before the bass came in on that movement.
I'm considering it. Investing in a harmonica holder seems intimidating for some reason. I do enjoy some Taj Mahal though. I should just do it. I already learned how to bend the notes.
I've only just gotten into playing harp and guitar, the thought of playing it with bass is terrifying (for those around me)
I've known some great harmonica players but I've never known one of them to use those holder things.
Did they play bass at the same time?
Not harmonica but one time I tried to play kazoo while playing bass. It did not go well…
There's an awesome picture of Bob Dylan with a bass, I'm sure he could have a go.
https://jewishjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/bob-dylan.jpg
I didn't realize that he had the harmonica on at the time.
Dylan’s technique is more just breathing in and out with a harmonica in his mouth though.
I mean if you're playing bass is not really much more you can do,you can't use your hands.
Your hands don't exactly do much when you're playing a diatonic harmonica; maybe a bit of a wah-wah effect. If you have it on a holder, you can move your mouth around to access any of the notes and play melodies.
Is this replying to me? It was questioned by the person above me.
I do this! I play a lot of blues and rock. Got the neck holder and everything (it always looks funny but it's fun!). It's a lot easier to strum a chord and play than it is to play a bass line and play in my opinion. It took some practice to get decent at. I have yet to see any professional or famous musicians do it but I'm sure somebody has. I have a B Minor harp and a 5 string that we wrote some darker low blues stuff with... that was cool.
Dave Landreth from The Bros Landreth rocks the harmonica & bass simultaneously in a couple tracks!
God, I hope not.
Chris Wood will sometimes play harmonica with the Wood Brothers.
I played bass and kazoo in an old project I was in, but there's no video that I'm aware of.
Victor Wooten's rendition of Amazing Grace.
Most of Michael Manring's solo compositions.
Harmonica — not harmonics.
Meh. They're still good recs, and I stand by them.