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Tip of the Day: Harmonica Blessing #4 - Portability

Posted Fri, 09/16/2011 - 07:59 by David Barrett Admin
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What can I say... the harmonica is portable. Throw it in your shirt pocket and away you go! continue reading...

What's New: Joe Filisko 18 Harmonica Insights, #7 - Rhythm, Groove & The Sway

Posted Thu, 09/15/2011 - 10:22 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

In this latest harmonica insight Joe Filisko speaks about Rhythm, Groove and The Sway

What's New: Joe Tartaglia Lesson 27

Posted Thu, 09/15/2011 - 10:06 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

In this lesson Joe Tartaglia learns how to apply the licks he's learning. We also review the study songs Gary's Blues and Take It Easy Now.

- Checking in after Lesson 26 Video
- Lesson 27 - Introduction and Lesson 26 Review Video
- How to Apply a Lick - Part 1: AAA and AAA with Fills Video
- How to Apply a Lick - Part 2: Hints for Dealing with the I7 and IV7 Video
- How to Apply a Lick - Part 3: AAB and AAB with Fills Video
- How to Apply a Lick - Part 4: A BA C and IV7 Chord Ideas Video
- How to Apply a Lick - Part 5: Review Video
- Review: Take it Easy Now, Chorus 1 Video continue reading...

What's New: Joe Tartaglia Lesson 27

Posted Thu, 09/15/2011 - 10:06 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

In this lesson Joe Tartaglia learns how to apply the licks he's learning. We also review the study songs Gary's Blues and Take It Easy Now.

- Checking in after Lesson 26 Video
- Lesson 27 - Introduction and Lesson 26 Review Video
- How to Apply a Lick - Part 1: AAA and AAA with Fills Video
- How to Apply a Lick - Part 2: Hints for Dealing with the I7 and IV7 Video
- How to Apply a Lick - Part 3: AAB and AAB with Fills Video
- How to Apply a Lick - Part 4: A BA C and IV7 Chord Ideas Video
- How to Apply a Lick - Part 5: Review Video
- Review: Take it Easy Now, Chorus 1 Video continue reading...

Improvising Study 10 - The Improviser’s Mind: The Big Picture

Posted Thu, 09/15/2011 - 08:25 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

In this final improvising lesson I review the concepts taught in Improvising Studies 1-9 and go into detail about: theory; chorus forms versus free-form soloing; memorized versus improvised solos; perspective for each level of player on improvising; perspective for other styles; recommendations on how to organizing your licks and transcribing.

This is for students who have finished all or for those who like to read the last page of a book first ;-). No harmonica is needed for study... just me japin' continue reading...

Harmonica Blessing Lesson Two - No Key Signatures & Scales

Posted Tue, 09/13/2011 - 06:33 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Your C Major Diatonic Harmonica uses the C Major Diatonic Scale for its construction. This Major scale is built with 5 whole steps and 2 half steps. The half steps are placed between the 2nd and 3rd as well as 7th and 8th scale degrees. The scale is C D E F G A B C. A piano player would play all white keys. For the piano to play the B Major Diatonic Scale they would start on the B key on the piano and make sure to use all of the whole steps and half steps in their proper order, which would equal B C# D# E F# G# A# B. A harmonica player just grabs the B Harmonica. continue reading...

Harmonica Blessing No. 1 - No Wrong Notes (Lesson 1)

Posted Mon, 09/12/2011 - 06:22 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Your C Major Diatonic Harmonica only contains the notes of the C Major Scale... nothing else (unless you bend... which the harmonica was intended to do). You can play any note and still be staying away from "bad" notes. On top of that, even if you're going for a specific note and miss it, the note to the left and to the right of it are harmonies of what you meant to play... it still sounds great! This also means that if you can't even play a single note well... or you're just a little off on your aim... you're playing in harmony... two notes played together sound great... continue reading...

Tip of the Day: Light Touch & Relaxed Muscles = Speed

Posted Fri, 09/09/2011 - 07:20 by David Barrett Admin
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Keeping your embouchure (lips, mouth and tongue) and auxiliary muscles (throat, neck, shoulders and back) relaxed are key to good tone and fast movement on the harmonica (a tensed muscle is a slow muscle). For tongue blockers, a light touch with your tongue is essential (the more pressure you use, the more your tongue pushes inside the holes of the harmonica... this all creates more drag and more effort to pull the tongue on and off for our standard tongue blocking techniques and articulations).

Tip of the Day: Value of our Instrument

Posted Wed, 09/07/2011 - 06:46 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

I had a new student last night and she asked how much a harmonica was to purchase. I said $65 (I sell the Hohner Crossover), and stated that they're the best pro-level harps on the market. She was very impressed that you could get a professional-quality instrument for that cheap. I agreed with her! continue reading...

Tip of the Day: Articulation (Lesson 3)

Posted Tue, 09/06/2011 - 06:40 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

You've learned that many options for articulation exist. Which articulation is correct? That is an answer only history or you can answer. As your instructor at BluesHarmonica.com I will share which articulations work best for a given passage when it's appropriate (I feel it performs the job best or is what a given artist used for an Artist Study for example), otherwise, when I say, "articulate this or that note or chords," I am leaving it up to you on what articulation feels and sounds best for YOU personally... just get the job done.