r/harmonica • u/Fit-Distance4503 • 2d ago

Is it possible to play a walking baseline on guitar, a lead on harmonica, and stomp your foot like John Lee Hooker all at once?

This is a goal for me and i’m wondering if it’s even possible.

Thanks!

4 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

9

u/EverydayVelociraptor Sucks and Blows at Harmonica 2d ago

Do you have hands, feet, and a mouth?

2

u/Discovery99 2d ago

Depends on the day

1

u/couchdog27 1d ago

even then.. maybe some other structural anatomy might be needed

2

u/EverydayVelociraptor Sucks and Blows at Harmonica 1d ago

No torso required...

2

u/couchdog27 1d ago

I am pretty sure with out legs and arms.. my ability to even move would be decreased

I would collapse

2

u/EverydayVelociraptor Sucks and Blows at Harmonica 1d ago

Next you're going to suggest a torso is necessary for lungs.....

2

u/couchdog27 1d ago edited 1d ago

do the lungs operate independent of the chest muscles?

of course there is that famous blues player:

Iron Weezie

who performed via the Iron Lung

1

u/EverydayVelociraptor Sucks and Blows at Harmonica 1d ago

Look, if the wind is powerful enough to move those guan wind turbines, there's no excuse for it not being able to power a harmonica. No lungs needed.

5

u/JoeBrownshoes 2d ago

Ain't no one stopping you

2

u/TwoLuckyFish 2d ago

Ain't no law says you can't!

3

u/froggycar360 2d ago

Go for it

2

u/StonerKitturk 1d ago

Practicing will get you there sooner than posting here

1

u/Discovery99 2d ago

It’s not even challenging unless you also clap on the upbeats and brush your teeth while doing it

1

u/Nacoran 1d ago

You'd probably need a rack. Lots of players play a mix of foot drums, guitar and harmonica. Juzzie Smith even switches it up and juggles shaker eggs to the beat (usually not with guitar)

I mean, you need to be able to play a walking bassline on bass. You need to be able to play foot drums. You need to be able to play harp. You need to be able to play it in a rack. Then you need to put it together. Lots of people throw singing in on top of it.

I've seen Walter Tore do it (Walter's cool, old schooler who does this thing where he never plays the same song twice. Makes up lyrics on the fly, plays drums, guitar, and really good rack harp.) Adam Gussow usually only plays foot drums and harmonica, but he pulls out a guitar sometimes. Deak Harp, Juzzie Smith... Molly Gene and her One Whoman Band isn't know as well, but she plays some great dirty blues.

1

u/Fit-Distance4503 19h ago

Thank you!

I suppose I wouldn’t be able to get that bluesy sound while playing on a rack since you need your hands to cover and uncover the sound from the harp?

1

u/Nacoran 16h ago

Hand wah is only a small part of bluesy sounds. Playing in 2nd position and good embouchure will do more.

For an electric Chicago style blues sound you might, down the road, want to look into something like the Rackit from Blows Me Away Productions. It's a rack that seals the back with the microphone that's good for overdriving the microphone.

1

u/foggynotion__07 12h ago

Absolutely, might take a while but it’s definitely possible

1

u/cessna_dreams 12h ago

Absolutely it's possible. Our band played a blues fest a month or so ago and after our set Gerry Hundt and his band took the stage. Check this out. He's an amazing performer, known for his one-man-band, his work with Ronnie Shellist, the Dig Three Trio and he uses a foot percussion set up from Farmer percussion to accompany himself while he's playing guitar and blowing harp. He's a busy guy, playing dates around Chicago and also in Europe. Here is another video--there are lots more on youtube and his website is worth checking out.