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I'm at Steve Baker's Harmonica Masters Workshop on lunch break preparing for my concert tonight. The last thing I do is check tempos. The #1 mistake made by performers is to count the song in too fast or slow. If you count it in too fast then you're playing catch-up the entire song... causing more mistakes to happen if it's a technically challenging song to play. If you count too slowly, then the song lacks drive... it drags.

So, the answer... continue reading...

For a travel set of harmonica, five keys of harmonica will take care of the job in most situations... G, A, B-flat, C and D.

G - 1st Position = G / 2nd Position = D / 3rd Position = A
A - 1st Position = A / 2nd Position = E / 3rd Position = B
B-flat - 1st Position = B-flat / 2nd Position = F / 3rd Position = C
C - 1st Position = C / 2nd Position = G / 3rd Position = D
D - 1st Position = D / 2nd Position = A / 3rd Position = E continue reading...

It sounds like a simple matter to know that 1+ is C (referencing a C Harmonica), as well as 4+, 7+ and 10+... and that whatever you play on the 1+ can be substituted by the 4+, 7+ and 10+. This is that. It's a simple piece of information... and a powerful one... but often overlooked and underused. continue reading...

When I speak of dynamics I'm commonly just referring to volume change. Another way to achieve volume change PLUS tonal change is to use your hands.

When playing acoustic (non-amplified), simply put, when your hands are open, you're the loudest and most bright in tone. When your hands are closed, you're softest and most muted in tone.

Experiment with variations of how open or closed you are... you'll be surprised how much a small movement of the hands, or even just fingers... or ONE finger! will make in your sound. continue reading...