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What's New: Accompaniment Study 6 - Horn Lines & Organ Padding

Posted Tue, 05/21/2013 - 17:47 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

In this lesson we study how to approach playing horn lines and organ padding on the harmonica. This study brings a new slow blues jam track and full-length study song, this time a uptempo boogie with vocals and extended solos (solo based on Little Walter-style phrasing). This lesson is for intermediate skill level players. You'll need an A Harmonica for this study. continue reading...

  • accompaniment playing approach sideman side-man blues harp harmonica chords chording little walter big walter horton

David's Tip of the Day: 7 Positions in One Scale - Part 5 (12th Position)

Posted Tue, 05/21/2013 - 07:59 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

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...

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

David's Tip of the Day: 7 Positions in One Scale - Part 4 (5th Position)

Posted Fri, 05/17/2013 - 13:50 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

The third of the seven positions starts on the 3rd Scale Degree of the Major Scale and is called 5th Position... this is playing in the key E on the C Harmonica. The Mode created is called the Phrygian Mode.

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

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

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

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

  • music theory harp harmonica

David's Tip of the Day: 7 Positions in One Scale - Part 3 (3rd Position)

Posted Thu, 05/16/2013 - 07:54 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

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...

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

David's Tip of the Day: 7 Positions in One Scale - Part 2 (1st Position)

Posted Tue, 05/14/2013 - 07:59 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

The first of the seven positions is what we call 1st Position or Straight Harp... this is playing in the key C on the C Harmonica. The Mode created is called the Major Mode, or Ionian.

The notes are as follows:
C D E F G A B C

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

Scale Degrees:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

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

  • harmonica blues music theory

David's Tip of the Day: Sharp Corners

Posted Mon, 05/13/2013 - 12:05 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

If you have a sharp corner on a harmonica that's bothering you, get a file and get rid of it. Sharp corners can be a byproduct of the punching process on metal pieces or from the injection mold process with plastic pieces. Either way, there's plenty of underlying material to get out a fine file and take that sharp corner down. Sometimes just a basic emery board for finger nail care can do the job. Make sure to point the holes of your harmonica down so that any particles that come off don't go into your harmonica.

  • harmonica care

David's Tip of the Day: 7 Positions in One Scale - Part 1

Posted Fri, 05/10/2013 - 07:50 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Many of us poo-poo the practice of the major scale our instrument was constructed to play so well. Did you know that the C Major Scale on your C Major Harmonica contains the notes needed to play in seven positions?

Here are the full three octaves. Give it a play and let's discus it for a while.

1+ 1 2+ 2" 2 3" 3 4+
4+ 4 5+ 5 6+ 6 7 7+
7+ 8 8+ 9 9+ 10 10'+ 10+

  • scales patterns exercises harp harmonica

David's Tip of the Day: Sunken Harp

Posted Thu, 05/09/2013 - 07:30 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Hold your harmonica with both hands, using your standard cup. Now look at your harmonica and note how much of it is in your hands. The more of the harmonica in your hands, the less you can place in your mouth. The more harmonica you can place in your mouth, the larger your embouchure is (the harmonica acts like a wedge... opening your mouth the deeper it's wedged in). The larger your embouchure, the bigger your tone.

  • blues harp holding cupping bullet mic classic harmonica

David's Tip of the Day: How long?

Posted Wed, 05/08/2013 - 08:05 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture
continue reading...
  • 3 draw bending bend control half step whole step minor third 3rd blues bluesy

David's Tip of the Day: Get Something Good and Get To Work

Posted Tue, 05/07/2013 - 08:18 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

"Who knows the secret I don't know, and who is it?" states Barry Schwartz on the TED Radio Hour Podcast 5/4/12 (NPR). When it comes to equipment, buy what most of the people you respect recommend (gear that has stood the test of time) and get to work.

Here's what I recommend...

Harmonica: Hohner Crossover

Microphone: JT30 body, a Shure CM or CR element, screw-on output connector, cable and backup screw-on to 1/4" female adapter

Small Amp: Fender Super Champ X2 continue reading...

  • amp stage backline setting up sound tone harp harmonica blues big fat performance gear vintage classic
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