How to play Checking up on my baby by Sonny Boy Williamson

Jun 21, 2017 | 12 Bar Blues, Backing Track, Intermediate Harmonica Lessons, Licks, Songs

Hello and welcome to this week’s harmonica lesson, where I will be teaching you how to play the Sonny boy Williamson classic Checking up on My Baby. You will need a harmonica in the key of D, and we will be playing in 2nd position in the key of A.


Lick 1

The tune starts before the start of the 12 bar progression. The 1st phrase starts on beat two of the bar before bar 1 of the 12 bar.

Lick 2

Lick 3

Lick 4

You also don’t need to play loads of different notes. Lick 4 just has two different notes and sounds really tasty!

Lick 5

The last lick is a different rhythm to the others and uses a classic Sonny boy Williamson trick. This is the repeated 4 draw bend, release, 5 draw lick. You will hear him using this in lots of different tunes.

Backing Track

Full Tune

Edinburgh Harmonica Workshop

If you want to find out a little bit more about the most exciting weekend in my calendar then click here to find out about the Edinburgh Harmonica Workshop.

Thank you

If you have any questions just send me a wee email.

Happy harping!

Thank you so much for taking part in this lesson. I hope it was useful for you. If you enjoyed this lesson, please share it with your friends.

See you again for the next harmonica video!

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