Re: The original "I'm Ready"

["Bob Maglinte" <bbqbob917@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fred S" <fsstov@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "harp-l" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2003 12:46 AM
Subject: The original "I'm Ready"


>
> I am working on the classic "I'm Ready" by Dixon/Waters.  I've got a
> tape of the original 1954 Muddy Waters version, and it is giving me some
> problems.  It's in Eb, but an Ab harp in 2nd pos doesn't match that
> funky harp. Tabs I've seen always show it in 2nd pos with (2 2" 2) being
> the signature riff.  But when I listen to the original, it sounds like
> Little Walter (it's got to be Little Walter, right?)  is playing in a
> different position - maybe third, from the minor-ish run in the solo.
> In any case, the harp sounds like it is playing something other than the
> "standard" Eb-Db-Eb riff.  I'm also having trouble matching the trill in
> the verse in 2nd pos. It's obviously servicable as a 2nd pos song, but
> I'm really trying to figure out what's going on in this version.  It's
> much funkier than the typical 2nd pos rendition.  So if anyone has a tab
> that matches the original, I'd appreciate it, or even a hint as to what
> position would match the harp part (hope he wasn't using a chromatic!).
> Thanks,
> Fred S

Hi Fred,
Little Walter IS using a chromatic here, and it's a 64 Chromatic in the key
of C. with slide button pressed in, and he's playing it in Eb, basically 3rd
position, except the slide is pressed in.

Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com