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In this Performance Training lesson I'll help prepare you for success at a Jam Session. Jam sessions can be very challenging, but they provide a valuable opportunity to gain stage experience, meet like-minded musicians and try new material. No harmonicas are needed for this lesson, but download the PDF to reference as we go through the points in this lesson. This lesson is for all skill level players, but is generally focused on intermediate players. continue reading...

Item three of our three elements needed to produce a vibrato on the harmonica was, "Tongue and pharynx are relaxed enough to be influenced by the throat tremolo." continue reading...

Vibrato is change in pitch, and slightly in volume, and even more slightly in tone. As a technique, it's one of the most difficult skills to teach and learn. Here are the three important elements to producing this technique. Item 1 we've already discussed; we'll discuss items 2 and 3 over this week.

1) Throat tremolo is on

2) Mouth is tuned to the note you're playing

3) Tongue and pharynx are relaxed enough to be influenced by the throat tremolo

This is the harmonica player's standard way of performing a tremolo and is the basis for the vibrato that we'll cover later. This technique is produced at the vocal folds, where you open and close your airway. Performing a slight cough (without engaging your diaphragm) will give you the feeling of this technique. Your goal is to isolate your vocal folds so that the listener never hears a coughing sound (you are exhaling, but it's a smooth and even stream of air, not a burst of air from the diaphragm for each tremolo piece). continue reading...