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Free Sample Lessons
After watching the BluesHarmonica.com overview video, try one of the lessons below to experience a lesson at BluesHarmonica.com.
- Tongue Blocking Study 2 – This study is for the newer player or the player new to tongue blocking
- Bending Study 5 – This is for the advanced player looking to improve their bending skills
A Filisko harp is a harmonica built by Joe Filisko. Its main characteristics are amazing response and sound due to his masterful craftsmanship.
Alternate tunings are a separate subject. Filisko builds mostly harmonicas in standard tuning, though he has created special tunings for customers.
Tuning, though can mean a few different things.
Note layout is one, where you have notes in specific holes and breaths that differ from the usual note layout. This is what people usually mean by alternate tuning.
There's also temperament, which is just fine tuning the notes you already have. This *is* an area that Joe Filisko gets into. Notes can be fine tuned - tempered - so that chords really sound huge and sweet, and this can really help you get the sound you hear from the great pre-1960 players - such as the Walters and the Sonny Boys, because that's how their harps were tempered. The harps Filisko builds for players such as Kim Wilson reflect this approach to getting that type of sound.