How to Play Harmonica in a Jug Band
Jug bands have been around since the turn of the nineteenth century, and have drawn influence from nearly every style of American music. From early American folk music and jazz, through electric blues and beyond, jug band music has always been about making a good show out of what the musicians have and what the audience wants to hear. Keep your playing lively and draw on all the music that moves you when you blow your harp in the jug band.
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Instructions
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Listen to the old jug band music. The Memphis Jug Band and Gus Canon's Jug Stompers are two bands that set the standard, but there are many other early jug bands that were important (see Resources below).
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Listen to other influences. Listen to modern jug bands, as well as country, blues and even rock music for inspiration. Many of today's jug bands owe as much to bluegrass music as they do to the original skiffle sound, so pay attention to any sound that moves you.
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Play the melody. A lot of early jug band harmonica plays during the vocals as well as the breaks, carrying the melodic line. This is a much different style than most modern harp players use, so the best way to learn it is by listening to old jug band recordings.
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Play the blues. A more modern style of harp playing is to play short leads during the breaks. A break is when the singer stops signing, leaving a pause between verses or between the verse and the chorus. Playing a short, bluesy riff during these pauses can give you a more modern sound.
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Learn to chug. Chugging is a rhythmic style of blowing the harmonica. It is a way to keep time and playing along with the music without always playing out front. It can help you to bridge the gulf between the blues style of playing solos during the breaks and the jug band style of playing the melody. Follow the link below for a lesson on the "Train Song," a basic style of chugging.
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Listen to your band mates. Jug bands can incorporate jug, washboard, washtub bass, kazoo, banjo, mandolin, guitar, musical saw and many other instruments. Be aware of the lineup of your jug band, and play in a style that compliments the other musicians and the band as a whole.
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Have fun! It's great to play nice and tight, but jug band music is fun loose and ragged too. Experiment with the sound and find something that works for you without being too much of a perfectionist.
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Tips & Warnings
Work on traditional songs and modern tunes. Jug band music is about entertaining people and having a good time. You will get a better crowd response with a few modern numbers played jug style.
Don't worry about playing something complex. Jug band harmonica can be very simple and still sound good.
You will probably need at least the keys of A, Bb, C, D, E, F and G to play. You may need all 12 keys. Invest in a good set of harmonicas.
