Harmonica Keys for Beginners (+ Learn a Muddy Waters Riff)
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- Опубліковано 26 сер 2024
- ► Get the Circle of Fifths, a Position Chart and the Jam Along Tracks here: www.harmonica....
Positions and their Sounds 1:36
The Musical Alphabet 3:52
How to Remember a Harmonica’s 2nd Position Key (Harmonica High 5) 4:22
Sharps & Flats 5:57
Everything But the B’s (B=F# & Bb=F) 7:01
Which Harmonica to Choose 4 a 2nd Position Song (Which Harp 4 this Song?) 8:11
Those F-ing B’s (F=Bb & F#=B) 9:30
The Circle of Fifths 10:16
5 Steps to Always Choosing the Right Key 13:05
How to Play the Riff from Cross-Eyed Cat by Muddy Waters 14:51
Playing Along With the Backing Track 17:15
Conclusion 18:15
Thanks for checking out this beginner harmonica lesson, Keys for beginners.
When we harmonica players are playing in first position, it’s easy to choose the right harmonica for the song - it’s the same key label as the song! But when we’re playing in 2nd position, it can be very confusing to remember which 2nd position key a harmonica plays in.
I’ve thought of 2 “mnemonics” (a mnemonic is a device aid with memory) to help you remember this potentially confusing subject:
Harmonica High 5 -
Harmonica and High both start with the letter H. Harmonica High 5 is our mnemonic to remember that if want to know what 2nd position key a harmonica plays in, we count up 5 alphabet letters, STARTING WITH THE KEY OF THE HARMONICA AS #1. So with a C harmonica, C is 1, D is 2, E is 3, F is 4, G is 5, so we will be playing cross-harp (another term for 2nd position) in the key of G on a C harmonica.
Which Harmonica 4 This Song?
If we know the key of the SONG, and we want to choose the right harmonica to play in 2nd position, count up 4 alphabet letters with STARTING WITH THE KEY OF THE SONG AS #1. So, for example, for a Blues in E we count up: E is 1, F is 2, G is 3, A is 4. So we to choose an A harmonica to play an E Blues.
When we start playing, I’m playing a C harmonica for this lesson. Any 10-hole diatonic harmonica in the key of C will work for you to follow along with the Cross-Eyed Cat portion of this lesson. Of course, the discussion of keys doesn’t require any actual playing. For Cross-Eyed Cat, I’m playing a C harmonica, in 2nd position, in the key of G. Here are the harmonica tabs to Cross-Eyed Cat:
-5 5 -4 4 -3 -4
(Slide up into the first 5 draw!)
Thanks for watching this free harmonica lesson on harmonica keys for beginners. I hope you enjoyed this free lesson. If you did, please give it the thumbs up and subscribe so you don’t miss any of the new free harmonica lessons.. As always, please leave any questions below.
Have fun!
Luke with Harmonica.com
#Harmonica #HarmonicaLesson #LearnHarmonica
Thanks. 71 year old retired guy here. My various medical/mechanical issues just won't let me play guitar any more. Your videos have given me lots of hope that I'll be able to jam with my grandkids again.
YESSAH! When I got repetitive stress syndrome in my left hand which stopped me from playing guitar, I got WAY deeper into harmonica. You'll be jamming with your grandkids before you know it. Have you checked out Beginner to Boss?
www.harmonica.com/lessons/
I’m right where you are at 73. Essential Tremors made playing guitar impossible. I just started a couple of weeks ago. This lesson really helped me understand this key thing.
Enjoy your retirement time, harmonica is a perfect instrument for all ages. I'm 60, close to mine and I bought my Hohner Crossover recently, so much fun in the learning path.
This is my first time playing the harmonica, you made it seem so much fun, I'm using this as breathing practice post covid. Thank you.....
Right on Sherma! It is fun, and great for your breathing!
Hows it comin on 5 months later bro?
@@mrtambourineman6107 i was bout to say that like post-covid? it's just now starting to end
@@youragent7671 i think they just meant they had covid and had long covid issues...
Hawaya Luke, awesome tutorial! Im jus starting my harp journey.
I noticed ur cap says “ALOHA”. U from Hawaii?
Thank you.
Finally I found someone who explains the keys and the positions in a clear and simple way.
Sweet! Glad you found it helpful, Daniel. Rock on.
Thank you for being helpful. You are the best teacher I have found.
I bought a harmonica several years ago and never learned to play until I found your videos. You are a great teacher! Thank you!
Thank you! And you’re welcome!
Great vibe, teaching style, so clear, helpful, interactive. Almost feels real, not virtual. Just learned "Lion Sleeps Tonight" and the WildcatBlues riff - thanks!
Sweet. CONGRAST Jeff. Keep on rocking, man!
Thank you. I could play that riff in time. Miracles do happen.
Ha! right on Jonathan. You are on your way my friend. Rock on!
Once again, great stuff Luke. I was taught a handy sentence to learn the circle of 5th (and 4th). The sentence is Carol, Gets, Drunk, And, Eats, Butterflies ( the first letter of each word). Cheers
Robert
London, Canada
LOVE IT!!!! ;-)
Luke, excellent presentation. I’m enjoying learning to play Harmonica with you. I’m rather “Slow” at certain things and learning an instrument is definitely one of them, but, because you are taking your time and being very specific, I seem to be catching on. So cool. Thanks for sharing. Be well.
Rock on, Charles! Yeah, it came slow to me too, so it's easy for me to explain it in bite size bits. 🤣 You might be a good candidate for my Beginner to Boss course:
www.harmonica.com/lessons/
Terrific video. First time this has been explained to me so that its understandable....and I've been harpin' for four plus years. Thank you.
Oh, right on! That’s awesome, man. You’re very welcome, and thanks for the note. That makes my day. Keep on harpin’, my friend!
Luke, I'm a Noob Be. Like every thing else, there are hundreds of sites about harmonicas. However, my opinion is you're the best teacher for me. Thank you brother man, keep on jammin!
Right on brother David. I appreciate your kind words.
I didn't realize breathing would be a big factor. I get so into hitting my notes and repeating phrases that I suffocate a little! Anyhoots. Now I have two songs to practice as well as scales and single notes. I'll be back. thanks.
Sweeeeet. Good stuff. Yeah BREATHING IS EVERYTHING! 😎
I feel like harmonica would be fantastic for boxers and fighters for their breathing. Love the videos!!
True. Glad to hear it!
We all learn in different ways. In my case, I need to see pictures/diagrams/words. So I appreciate your time-stamped notes after each video. Bravo!
Glad it was helpful, Alan!
This is my ‘holy grail’ vid to understand what I’m trying to do. Thank you 🙏🏼 so much.
It’ll give me (us) such a soul blues harp boost with these vids. 🎶✨
Ya buddy! That's what I like to hear my friend. Bluesify the world and let's make some soulful sounds!
Bought your course Beginner to Boss ✌🏼🔥🎶
Luke, your lessons are a blessing! I am new on harmonica and really want to thank you for this and all other videos and great explanations. Really enjoying my first steps!! 💃🙏
woo hoo! Glad to hear it demetra. Thanks for the note. Keep on rocking, my friend!
Thanks man. I’m a long time guitarist just getting so into the harp. This helps a lot. I might even try to accompany myself once I get a little better. I can imagine that like singing and playing guitar at the same time, playing two instruments at once will take much practice. I’m with it though.
Yeah, exactly. Pat the head and rub the tummy at the same time kinda thing. 😉 I've actually taken to just using a looper pedal! 🤣
Wow, just what I needed to figure out which harps to buy. I have a G, Bb and Db. Just ordered a C. THANKS!
Boom! You’re welcome.
Just bought myself my first harmonica, and I'm loving your channel.
Awesome! Thank you!
Luke, that was a great lesson, only did the wrong thing once and that was last month at a sing a long, won't be doing that again!!
LOL. Right on Pete! Good man!
Thank you for these videos. Leaning made so simplistic . Many Blessings !
Right on Claud. Blessings right back atcha!
Your explanations and graphics are great. Thanks so much!
Right on. Glad it’s helping.
Best explanation on the web. Thank you! You truly are a teacher. 👍
Thank you for your kind words. I really appreciate it!!!!! Glad it helped.
I have a C harmonica, but it doesn't seem to play the same sounds as yours, it might be that i have no rythm, or my blowing sucks, lol. Great classes, thank you for your teaching, it's great.
Hmmm… What brand is it? Does it have 10 holes?
@@Harmonicacom, it's an East Top Blues Harmonica, on the key of C, after watching a few time and a bit of patience, I believe it's sounding a bit better, thanks.
I like your videos. I´m a beginner, but very clear explanations. Thank you.
Hey David - you’re welcome. Glad you like them.
I agree just memorising ffing B and Bb is easy and a very neat idea. But people will eventually want to now how that comes about, it will nag at them. So here is quick explanation. If you think of the scale degrees upon a keyboard as whole steps (just using white keys, in key of C) except between 3 and 4 and between 7 and 1 is always a half step (the two white keys BC and EF sitting next to each other) eg 1 2 3.4 5 6 7.1
then the above effing Bs starting on B becomes B(1) C#(2) D#(3) E(4) F#(5). And Bb becomes Bb(1) C(2) D(3) Eb(4) F(5)
Very enlightening, thanks.
Right on Tom!
Thanks for the video to learn the various harmonicas and song keys. So the high 5 was great and noticed you don't need the 4 this song, just reverse the system. Eb harmonica plays a Bb blues, then if the song is in Bb - go grab your Eb harmonica. Going to check out your other videos.
Right on Annie. Keep on rocking. 👊🏼
Hey, thanks for your videos ,they're great !
So basically,
- No matter the key/position, if you blow on the fourth hole, it'll make the same sound no matter what (it depends on the harmonica of course)
- keys / positions are just a way of saying : "Hey, you want this kind of sound, so use these holes".
- First position for instance is saying "Wanna play an E ? Blow 4", while second will say "Wanna play an E ? Draw 2".
- if I want a more blues sound, I'll use the second position (and only certains holes linked to that position), whereas for a more happy sound, I'll use the first one.
-it's used more for people that wanna play in a band. If you just wanna have fun picking tabs from theweb, that use "blow X, draw Y", you do'nt really need the concept of positions, right ?
Yes, Rolnik all those statements sound true to me! Rock on, my friend!
OK that's the first 3 beginner lessons now just to practice what I have learnt before moving to the next one. This may take a while. 😃👍
You can do it!
Really clear explanations together with relaxed and funny atmosphere! As usual...
Thanks Andrea!
Thank you for your interesting lessons about playing basic diatonic harmonica .. this video is very useful for myself and many people who want to be able to play the harmonica .. greetings from Indonesia
You’re welcome! Aloha from Hawaii
Super Video! Thanks👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you too!
Best explanation, thanks.
Right on. Glad you could follow. Tough subject.
Great information, thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Cool 😊 I like the way u explain and u also took time to write in the description for us. Thank you 🤝
My pleasure 😊
Dude, thank you so much. I have learned a lot from you in one afternoon. Need to say that I have my guitar knowledge already, so it is easy to understand keys, but this is helpful anyway, as I am complete beginner with harmonica.
Sweet! Congrats.
Rock on,
Luke
Here's my awser 😎🔥😁 great, thank youuuu ✌️
You're welcome 😊
HEYYYY LUUUUUKE .Happy New Year and Thank you vor this Video 😎✌️.
Aloha! Thanks for the note. Happy New Year, and I’m glad it was helpful!
Aloha is Hello of Hawaii 🌺 😊 In Germany Nordrhein-Westfalen say : Tach (for good Day ) or simply Hallo (for hello)😊✌️
Like your teaching 👌
Thank you Daniel! 😃
Thanks...great stuff!
You're welcome. It's my pleasure. Rock on! 😎
You are great, Luke! I love your lessons.
Thanks, Raquel - glad you like them!
I've been playing for years ,but I never used these technical blows,I relearning correctly,thanks
Cool.
You make it easy to understand; thank you so much!
Awesome, Olver. Thanks for the note.
Wow. I thought I had your bell turned on, but I didn’t. I have it turned on now. I’m learning how to red the keys from the red back hymnal. Church is wanting me to play along. This is a good lesson for me. So, thanks. I’m tying to fixture out whether to play the melody or try playing the fill in? I think the fill ins sound better. I use the potions chart along with the circle of fifths chart.
Hey, thanks for turning the bell on. Yeah, harmonica is a great instrument for church. The Bible even “praise Him on the harp!” lol. ;-) I play harmonica sometimes at my church too. I agree with you, the fill in is better! Keep on spreading the love, and I’m glad the lesson was helpful.
Thank you for such a great explanation!
You're very welcome, Judy! Glad it helped.
First time this made sense to me. You rock!
Sweet! Glad it helped. Rock on, my friend.
This is really amazing lessons 👍 thank you 🌹
You're welcome 😊 Glad you like it!
Thank you.
You're welcome, Renata!
Great lesson, very easy to understand!
Thanks Thomas. Glad you liked it!
Bud. That was a great lesson.
Right on Renata. Glad you liked it!
Iv decided to buy a harmonica to distract me from smoking 🤣 will keep watching these vids to learn as much as possible. I see the best one for beginners are in C, and I think Hohner are the best - from what iv read- I'll let you know how I get on, I'll keep.searching amazon 🤣
Right on, Chris! Good for you my man, and I wish you success in both endeavors! LOL. Here's my blog on what harmonica to buy: www.harmonica.com/which-harmonica-to-buy/
Aloha,
Luke
@@Harmonicacom thanks, ill read it today
Great riff! Easy to begin and enter into this harmonica world! Thanks again man!
Ya, it’s a killer riff. And attainable! You’re welcome. Glad you liked the lesson.
Really enjoyed the video!! Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it! You're welcome.
Rock on,
Luke
Realy great lesson!! Thank you so much.
You're very welcome! Glad you liked it, Wessel!
perfect video
Right on Jan. Glad it helped. 🤙🏼
Great lesson. By the way, Cb is the same as B. And B# is C, because there is no black key between B and C (same for E and F)
Hey Larry, that’s correct!
Learned a ton from this video
I’m so glad it was helpful.
Thanks Luke new subscriber about to learn harmonica to play country with guitar cheers
Right on Paul. Do it, man!
Best explanation👍🏼🔥🇩🇪 greetings from Germany
Thank you for your kind words. Aloha from Hawaii.
Man, I feel your lesson the best in UA-cam!
Ha! Thanks. Cheers!
I have an Arkia harp. With a plastic comb and brass reeds. Is it bad for harmonica to play wet and in the shower . I really like how they sound and they seem easier to play when wet
Nope that ain't bad for it Craig. That's pretty cool. I've probably logged thousands of hours of practice on the can, but I've NEVER played in the shower! Now I'm gonna have to TRY it. Thanks for sharing. 👊🏼
I need to learn some Howlin Wolf harmonica tabs
I love me some Wolf!
New to the channel. Great teaching
Thanks for the sub! Glad it's helping, Dave.
Rock on,
Luke
I actually have a harmonica that I play in H for some blues songs, only certain guitarists can keep up with me, but sounds interesting key
LOL. Good one!
"choose the best harmonica for the jam"
oops i only have 1 it is key of B, so it works well with a jam in key of F#.
fun fact: Led Zeppelin's 'Immigrant Song' is key of F#
edit) thanks Luke, i just got my 1st harmonica today and now i know where to start
Ah Ah aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa AH! (in my best Robert Plant impersonation.) Yeah definitely consider picking up a C harp yet for reasons I mention in this forum post: forum.harmonica.com/t/why-c-harp-and-what-key-harp-to-get-next/5678
Here is my article about brands: www.harmonica.com/which-harmonica-to-buy/
Hope that helps. Rock on!!
@@Harmonicacom honestly my choice had nothing to do with led zeppelin - i got a B because my friend told me that his B makes a superior resonant tone than his other key harps make.
......Thank you, Luke, for this VITAL lesson, and demonstration!!! This information has always seemed "elusive", and your lesson sure helps to clarify the essentials!!! Can you do more videos, on the topics of "non-standard(Major scale), tuned harmonicas, and where they work best, etc. = ("Minor", and other types of harmonica variants)?!.... :D
I’m so glad the video was helpful. Yes, it would be good to some videos on other tunings and such. Thanks for the note.
That t shirt ❤️
Hey, you noticed! You're the first person to comment on it. It's the Dharma Circle of 5ths, lol.
Rock on,
Luke
Thanks for the tips Luke, I'm fascinated with Harp cause I like the blues. I have no idea how long its gonna takes me to be able to play like John Popper or at least Little Walter...haha :))
You're welcome my friend. You can do it!
Rock on,
Luke
Thank you so much,very nice !!
You’re welcome, Pepe
really helpful stuff!!!!!!!Thx!!!!!
No problem! Glad you liked it, Hugo!
Great teacher
Thank you for your kind words, Chuck.
Dope lesson...
Right on Tyrone. Thanks for the note. Appreciate you.
super advice man
Thanks Robert!
Awesome video....thanks...peace
Aloha Bill - glad you liked it. Peace, love and positivity!
Really.. Thank you
Hey Carmine - you’re very welcome!
With absolutely no music training I'm finding your Lessons valuable! In this lesson you mentioned Before the Rain by Lee Oskar. Why key harmonica is he playing?
George - very glad to hear that, my friend. Lee Oskar is playing a Db harmonica on Before the Rain.
Really great video - answered some questions. I have a G hohner and am frustrated playing in the first position for G-maj and e-minor celtic tunes using the lower half of the harp because of missing notes. It seems like a harsh bend to get the needed notes. Could you do a video on this?
Hey Gregory - the middle octave doesn’t require bends. If you can try and play the melodies between holes 4 and 9. I teach the middle octave major scale here: ua-cam.com/video/nkUAbVIcMSw/v-deo.html
@@Harmonicacom Great, thanks!
So, how is Cross Harp different. Is that an entire new video? Great stuff, Thanks!
Cross harp is just another name for 2nd position.
Question? You say we need to count up 4 keysfrom the key the song is played to know which key harmonica we need; but near the end in point #3 you say if we know the major key of the song just use that key harmonica? I'm confused.
Hey Pastor Jim - yes, depending on the style/tonality of the song.
For a folk song in G, a G harmonica is the ticket. (like Neil Young Heart of Gold)
but for BLUES in G, you need a C harmonica.
Does that make sense?
On the high five counting trick, when counting up five positions.. Is that blows or draws?
Neither. It's LETTER NAMES of the musical alphabet, remembering the "effin bees" Bb = F and B = F#
Make sense?
So let's say you just want one general purpose harmonica that can play most songs (mainly more folk songs) and have them sound decent enough even if they're not perfect, what's the best middle ground?
Are you asking what key harmonica or what brand?
Keys: I'd start with C since most beginning vid lessons are C, and then G is probably one of the most common folk keys.
Brands: Hohner Special 20 if you can afford $50. Fender Blues Deluxe if you're on a budget.
Hope that helps!
Rock on,
Luke
Thanks for the insight on choosing a harp for a song Luke. Cross Eyed Cat was the first song I jammed and soloed to one year ago. James Cotton on front harp and listen closely to the song and you'll here Butterfield in the background filling, anyway, everything I've researched says it's Butterfield. Thanks again I enjoy your stuff. (which mic r u using? Edwina or Delphina?)
Hey Vince - interesting. I never heard that before. Glad you’re enjoying the lessons. The mic I’m using is the Edwina.
Brilliant
Thanks William Paul
Merci beaucoup l'Ami !!!!!
Hey Eric, good to see you here! Rock on!
Hey Luke how are you doing ☺ 😊 🙂 😀
I'm trying to get this riff right. And I'm so close. But is there a secret to isolating the note to a single note. Cause when I breath in and blow out somehow others notes seem to get involved. And it sounds not right kind of microphonic. Is there a way to fix this. If you could just give a quick and simple solution without sending me a link right now. I can't afford your course I'm in debt and I'm just! eventhough, I just bought a harmonica it was inexpensive so I made the necessary Investment, but could you please give some help? Please
Keep your lips relaxed and draw the corners of your mouth together.
Can't help giving you the link though, lol: ua-cam.com/video/v4mDMJzsnoU/v-deo.html
Where can someone get that cool tee shirt ? Thanks for the lessons. They are fantastic and easy to understand.
Right on Ed! Glad you're liking them. You can get the shirt here:
penamoon.com/products/dharma-circle-of-fifths-t-shirt/SP531660-KJOWDEZAACDEQURAA6Z9AG
Hello!Great video. So..first harmonica should be a crossover in C, A or ...????Thank you
DEFINITELY KEY OF C!
Thank you. Got a C!! Now I need to learn how to play it.
Any difference between playing a major blues or a minor blues?
Yes. For a true minor blues, the easiest thing to play on is a Natural Minor harmonica. Lee Oksar's Natural Minor harmonicas are labeled in 2nd position, so you would just but the key that is the same key as the song you want to play.
How I know my hermonka key?
Cause my hermonka without a letter
You can play hole number 1 and see what shows up on the Bend It Better tool:
www.harmonica.com/bending-tool/
Hi sir Luke. Just want to ask of there is a standard way to play a song in a harmonica? I mean if I wasn't able to copy exactly just how you play but I actually found a way to play a song in tune, is it still acceptable or is it still right?
I always say:
If it sounds good
and it feels good
IT IS GOOD. 😎
I just think of the guitar. The note on the A string is the key of the harmonica, the note on the E string at the same fret is the key of the song. 👍 (for Second position)
Very cool Dave!
Great video, long winded and overly technical, you start off by saying that you are going to stay away from theory, then you end up in the circle of 5ths. Which is one thing that has always confused me. But regardless I do appreciate you trying to teach us. All I want to know is what key harmonica to use with guitar songs and the key that the guitar is in.
Just download a position chart.
Question? I understand the circle of fifths etc but what I don't understand is the concept of the blues being in G on a C harmonica. I come from a guitar background and in the key of C, the blues scale would be A minor = the minor Pentatonic with an added b4. So is the G blues scale a major or minor scale in the harmonica key of C?
Hey Al - this is a good question, and one that's difficult to answer.
BTW - you CAN play a Am blues scale on a C harmonica in 4th position. (I teach the 4th position minor pentatonic scale in my Beginner to Boss course.)
Are you familiar with the modes? Playing from G to G in a C major scale is the Mixolydian mode which is like major but has the b7, which makes it work well over a G7 chord. So we can play the I chord and the IV chord which is great, and then through bending we can get the b3 and b5 to be able to play the blues scale. Does that help at all?
@@Harmonicacom Thanks for the detailed explanation. I get it now.
Hi Luke! Do you mean we need more than one harmonica? Thanks!
That is correct! (If you wanna be able to play in more than 1 key!)
@@Harmonicacom Thank you! for letting me know! You’re awesome!
What is the A B C D E F G called? Is that a scale in a certain key?
Those are the notes of a C major scale (as well as an A minor scale.) Does that answer your question?
I'm sorry. I'm new to this. What is a position? I understand what you are saying about choosing the right harp. But, what is a position? I apologize if this is something basic and obvious, but I've watched this video 3 times and still seem to miss it.
Hey Erik - I talk about the difference between 1st and 2nd position (also known as straight-harp and cross-harp) at 1:36.
The quick in dirty answer is that a C harmonica playing in the key of C is called 1st position, and a C harmonica playing in the key of G is called 2nd position.
Positions is confusing at first and takes some time to understand, but check out my forum post on the subject and please leave a comment with any further questions you have:
forum.harmonica.com/t/what-does-1st-position-2nd-position-mean/5914?u=luke
@@Harmonicacom Ooooooh. Ok. Now I understand it!!! Thank you for replying and clarifying for me.
Stevie Ray Vaughan’s little sister is in Eb I want to play the saxophone solo with a harmonica, do I play it with a Eb harmonica or a Ab harmonica?
Sorry I missed this somehow. You would want an Ab harmonica.
Aloha,
Luke
I pretty much took the playing harmonica by ear I don't know one wit about whatever he's talking about I blow on the darn thing until it sounds nice
LOL. Well that's all good if you're playing by yourself. But if you're playing with a band, you're gonna need to know what key harmonica to have for what key song they're playing in.👍🏼
@@Harmonicacom basically what I was getting at is that my playing is instinctive and I don't necessarily know how to put the words what I do when I play it I just play it been playing harmonica for a little over 10 years now I took it up when I was in my mid twenties and I'm 42 right now I had asthma real bad and I heard playing a harmonica can help with asthma so I started and it does I would practice by playing along with my favorite songs I play along the acoustic songs like hootie and the blowfish and I also played in church for a while
cheers to your great lesson! What you'll sell, I'll buy😁
Thank you for your kind words.
A way you could say it quick and easy is the harmonica is the 4th of the key
Yes. To play a song in 2nd position, choose a harmonica up a 4th from the key of the song. You got it, Zahir.
Rock on,
Luke