learn to play harmonica

One of the first, and most important, techniques you learn on the harmonica is the tremolo.

The tremolo is achieved by opening and closing your throat at the vocal chords. Try a couple blow coughs, then relax your breath and don't cough so strongly... nice and soft. continue reading...

Now that everything is relaxed and spit isn't running into your harp!... move around the harmonica, making every note played sound warm, full... beautiful.

If you get a little bit of an upper or lower note, adjust and then move on. If a note sounds flat, bent or airy, or the note squeals or stalls (won't sound at all)... adjust your tongue location (usually down). Your goal is to make every note sing with the least amount of effort as possible. continue reading...

Happy New Year to all of you!

Here's something fun for you to watch today if you have the time...

This is the footage of Gary Smith and I testing amp setups on the bandstand from an upcoming episode of the Bassman Chronicles. This is the part where we play each amp setup, each time making notes (strategically placed students in the audience, the band and us). The goal is to make note how each amp setup affects...

1) How well we can hear on the bandstand

2) The tone we get on the bandstand

3) How well it fills the house and what it sounds like to the audience continue reading...

Joe Joe Filisko for his latest submission on the 5 Types of Sound on the diatonic harmonica

Now that the King of Swing contest submission period is over and judging has begun, this gives you the great opportunity to test your listening skills. Go to http://www.bluesharmonica.com/king-of-swing and listen to the first entry... not looking at any of the comments. Listen once just to appreciate the song. Listen again and make note of what you hear from chorus to chorus (texture, range, rhythm, dynamics, execution, head, hook, soloing theme, etc.). You'll most likely need to listen to the song four to five times, but that's the point... focused listening takes time. continue reading...

Focus... what YOU like... these are all subjects to get you thinking of what your focus will be for the new year. Even though this is what I do for a living, it's very difficult to set aside quality practice time. When I do get focused practice time (not just quick moments of jamming), it's VERY valuable to me and it's imperative that I have a focus so that I can grow as a player with the limited time I have. continue reading...

To focus on everything is to focus on nothing

Jimmy, a student on the site, needed some clarification on the V-IV-I. Here it is for you as well. Let's start from the top so that there's no confusion.

When we speak of theory on the site we use a C Major Diatonic Harmonica. This harmonica produces the notes: C D E F G A B C. For blues we commonly play in 2nd Position, so we play in the Key of G. The key of G uses the following notes for its construction: G A B C D E F# (F-sharp) G.

If playing by ourselves, we can play those G A B C D E F# G notes in any order, in any rhythm, we wish, to create what we feel sounds good. continue reading...