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Let's start a series on getting to know the high end of the harmonica.

Step #1 is to get used to the switch at hole 7 (where the blows are higher than the draws... thus why blow bending is available up there).

Play this lick 6+ 6 7 8 7 6 6+ all day today... 100's of times... and you'll be one big step closer to playing the high end well.

More to come...

P.S., watch the Gary Primich interview (http://www.bluesharmonica.com/gary_primich) on "High-end playing" when you get a moment... it will help in our discussion.

Due to the fact that we're not required to study scales and chords to play our instrument (at least at the basic level), playing to non-12 Bar Blues can be a great challenge. Many times the change in the form is very simple once you look at it closer. I've placed at https://www.facebook.com/bluesharmonica my transcription of "Watermelon Man." In this blues-based jazz instrumental you can see that Bars 9 and 10 of our standard 12 Bar Blues are played three times (the V and IV Chord) to make this a 16 Bar Blues. continue reading...

If you do have the opportunity to work with a private music instructor, I highly recommend you record your lessons. I record the lessons for my students (using the Tascam DR-40) at School of the Blues. A student asked me to give him some thoughts of how to best use his recorded tracks from his lessons. I thought you might like to see this as well.

Purpose continue reading...

I'm interviewing Magic Dick this weekend for BluesHarmonica.com. If you would like me to ask him a question, go to http://www.bluesharmonica.com/forums/ask_david_barrett and reply to the "ask Magic Dick" thread. My time will be limited to ask these questions, but I'll do my best to get as many in as possible.