Basics of Music Theory for the Blues Harmonica Player Harp Soloing Scales Blues Major Pentatonic

The fourth of the seven positions starts on the 4th Scale Degree of the Major Scale and is called 12th Position... this is playing in the key F on the C Harmonica. The Mode created is called the Lydian Mode.

The notes are as follows:
F G A B C D E F (same notes as the C Major Scale, just starting from F)

Intervals:
Whole | Whole | Whole | Half | Whole | Whole | Half

Scale Degrees (Relative to its equivalent Major Scale):
1 2 3 #4 5 6 7 8

Full Scale:
1+ 1 2+ 2"
2" 2 3" 3 4+ 4 5+ 5
5 6+ 6 7 7+ 8 8+ 9
9 9+ 10 10'+ 10+ continue reading...

The second of the seven positions starts on the 2nd Scale Degree of the Major Scale and is called 3rd Position... this is playing in the key D on the C Harmonica. The Mode created is called the Dorian Mode.

The notes are as follows:
D E F G A B C D (same notes as the C Major Scale, just starting from D)

Intervals:
Whole | Half | Whole | Whole | Whole | Half | Whole

Scale Degrees (Relative to its equivalent Major Scale):
1 2 Flat-3 4 5 6 Flat-7 8

Full Scale:
1+ 1
1 2+ 2" 2 3" 3 4+ 4
4 5+ 5 6+ 6 7 7+ 8
8 8+ 9 9+ 10 10'+ 10+ continue reading...

For use of the Major Pentatonic Scale, Paul deLay is my favorite.

Join me for our sixth lesson on Music Theory for the Blues Harmonica Player, where we explore how to deal with non-12 Bar Blues Changes. In this lesson we cover Chord Voicings, 12 Bar Blues, 8 Bar Blues, 16 Bar Blues, 20 bar Blues, 24 Bar Blues and how to figure out and deal with songs that are outside the standard form. For your convenience I've pulled some of the audio from the video examples and saved them as MP3s for you to practice with on your own. I hope you enjoy and get as much out of this lesson as I did! continue reading...

In this lesson you'll learn how to move around the entire range of your harmonica using your home scale (A Major Scale on your A Major Harmonica). We'll dig into Movement and Breath Patterns as well as how you can use your jaw to facilitate greater ease of motion and speed in your playing. This is lesson will benefit all skill levels of players. You'll need an Harmonica for this study (advanced players will also need the B-Flat Harmonica). continue reading...

Join me for our fourth lesson on Music Theory for the Blues Harmonica Player, where we explore melodic development… how chords and scales work together to create great solos. In this lesson you’ll learn about chord tones, scale tones, outside tones, active tones, non-active tones, passing tones, upper and lower neighbor tones, appoggiatura, the hierarchy of note selection, chord scales, sequences and chord-tone soloing. This lesson is for intermediate skill level players. You'll need a C Harmonica for this study. continue reading...