David's Tip of the Day: Wa Wa Wa = One Breath

It's common for students to hear a Wa Wa being played on one note and mistakenly think that a separate breath is used for each Wa. Though it can be done this way, the Wa effect is much more pronounced if you use one, even breath (no volume changes) and ONLY the hands to separate the notes (the hands are what create the Wa affect). Go to Solo Harmonica Study 4 and look at page two of the PDF transcription... first bar of the 4th Chorus. All seven of those 2 draws are played with one breath, using a Wa to give the sense that they are all separate. Listen to the MP3 and note how strong of an effect this is. While you're there, watch the video of the 4th Chorus where I talk more about this. Wa's are a great harmonica technique, and worth some attention.