The Little Walter songs Key To The Highway, Juke and My Babe are arguably 3 of the best in his repertoire. Let’s explore and learn how to play them on harmonica.
Key to the Highway
A song that was written by Big Bill Broonzy and Charlie Segar later was adapted by Little Walter as a Chicago blues with a full band. The song was a hit, spending fourteen weeks in the Billboard R&B chart where it reached number six in 1958.
C Harmonica, 2nd Position, Key of G -4 -4’ -3’ -2 -2” -1 -4 -4 -4 -4’ -3’ -2 -2” -1 1 -2 -3’ -2 -2” -1 -3’ 1 -2 -1 -1 solo -3’4 -4’\ -2 -3’ -2 -3’ 4 3 -2” -2 -3’ 4 -3’ -4 -4 \-2 -2” -2 -3’4 4 -3’ -4 -4’ -3’ -2 \-2 -2” -1 -2” -3’ -2 -3’ 4 3 -3’ -2 -2” -2 4 3 -2 -2” -2” -1
Juke
Deep-toned harmonica instrumental that features long saxophone-like phrases. “Juke” was Little Walter’s first hit, and it was the most important of his career. Due to the influence of Little Walter on blues harmonica, “Juke” is now considered a blues harmonica standard.
A Harmonica, 2nd Position, Key of E -2 -3" -3 -4 5 36 36 (x8) -2 -3” -3 -4 5 -5 -4 5 -4 5 6 -5 -4 5 6 -5 -4 4 -3’ -2 -2 2 -2 -1 -1 -1 2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2” -1 2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2” -1 2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -3” -3 -4 5 -4 5 -5 5 -3’ -2 -2” -1 1 -1 -2 -2 2 -2
My Babe
My Babe is a Chicago blues song written by Willie Dixon for Little Walter. Released on Checker Records, the song was the only Dixon composition ever to become a number one R&B single and it was one of the biggest hits of either of their careers.
Bb Harmonica, 2nd Position, Key of F 3 -3’4 -2 -2 4 4 -3’4 -2 3 -3’4 -2 -2 4 4 -3’4 -2 -1 -2 -3 -4 -3’4 -2 -1 2 -2 -1 -2” 3 -3’4trill -5 6 5 -5 -3’ -2 -2 1 -1 -3’4 -2 -2 -34 -34 -3’4 -34 -34 1 -2 -34 -2 -2” -1 -1 -1 -2 -3 -4 -4’5/ -4’ -3’ -2 -4’ -4 -4’ -3’ -2 -4’ -4 -4’ -4 -4’ -4 -5 -2 -2 -3’ -3’ -3’ -2 -1 -1 -2” -2 -3’ -3 -4 -5 6 -5 5 -4 4 -3’ -3” -2 -2" -1 -3’4trill -2 -2” -1 -1 1 -2 -2 -3’4trill -1 1 -2 -2” -1 -1
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