Tunes to Play – Page 2 – The Toot Suite

Sugar, Sugar (Part 1)

July 31, 2011 Richard

I’m gonna make your life so sweet!

Time for some Bubblegum Pop. This is a style of music that was first enjoyed by children and teenagers in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Bubblegum music mixes catchy dance beats with sugar-sweet lyrics to make easy-listening, fun-time songs.

In 1969, a cartoon pop group called The Archies had a number one Bubblegum hit called Sugar, Sugar. It’s a great groove for the harmonica. So let’s put the pick’n’mix on hold and work on some real ear candy. Read more

That’s The Way I Like It (Part 4)

June 26, 2011 Richard

Don’t blame it on the sunshine

Now you’re hip to the groove and diggin’ it! Ok, ok, ok, getting down with the funk. Time to check out the lead part dudes.

This takes two forms. The chorus and the verse. Basically the bit that goes before the A-ha, Aha’s and over the chord accompaniment we learned in part 3. Ok, let’s keep on truckin’

That’s The Way I Like It (Part 3)

June 22, 2011 Richard

Yeah they were dancin’ and singin’

Well now we’re really motorvatin’. We’ve worked out the chorus and the intro, so now it’s time to learn a chord accompaniment to fit behind the verses.

This won’t take long at all. You just have to play some long notes and keep to the beat. Let’s get movin’ to the groovin’. Read more

That’s The Way I Like It (Part 2)

June 22, 2011 Richard

Dance with the boogie, get down

In the first part of this series, we learned two lines you can play to fill the chorus to the song. The ‘A-ha, A-ha’ parts.

Now it’s time to learn the Intro Theme. This starts the song and is repeated towards the end. It’s not difficult. But like the rest of the song, you need to keep it funky!

Ok, ok, ok let’s boogie on down brothers and sisters.

That’s The Way I Like It (Part 1)

June 21, 2011 Richard

Whatever it is, it’s got be funky!

Ok, ok, ok, disco time people! And here’s the groove to really lay it on. Get your harmonica chops ready for KC & The Sunshine Band….aaaah that’s the way, a-ha, a-ha, I like it, a-ha.

That’s The Way I Like It was a disco hit in 1975 when trousers were so flaired they called them bell-bottoms and the waist band came up so high you could count the buttons. In the summer time, a short trouser emerged which they named ‘hot pants’. And as for the shoes they called spoons…go ask grandad! But hey, whatever it was, as long as it was funky, it was cool. Now let’s go disco. Read more

One Love/People Get Ready (Part 1)

May 24, 2011 Richard

Let’s get together and feel all right

Here’s a great song to play in harmonica groups. One Love/People Get Ready was written by the great man of music and peace from Jamaica, Bob Marley.

Bob Marley’s musical style is called reggae. The reggae rhythm, or skank, uses the up-beat to create a relaxing and happy groove. We’ll be looking at this more closely in the final part of the series.

In this post we’re looking at the chorus of the song. So let’s get together and work out how a group of junior harmonica players can enjoy performing this cool instrumental. Read more