Skip to main content
Blues Harmonica logo

User Account

Username:*
Password:*
Forgot Your Password?

Visitor Menu

  • Sign Up
  • Sample Lesson #1
  • Sample Lesson #2
  • Student Recordings
  • Forums

high end

David's Tip of the Day - Challenges of Playing on the High End - Breath Pattern

Posted Mon, 10/05/2015 - 08:43 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

The most apparent change on the high end for someone studying the note layout of the harmonica or playing scales is that at hole 7 the blow notes are higher than the draw notes. This is easily seen in the C Major Scale below. Note the change in breathing between holes 6 and 7.

4+ 4 5+ 5 6+ 6 7 7+

If you play two octaves of scale you get...

4+ 4 5+ 5 6+ 6 7 7+ 8 8+ 9 9+ 10 10+ (10'+ B is also available if you want to throw it in there, but it's rarely used)

Now the entire range...

1+ 1 2+ 2" 2 3" 3 4+ 4 5+ 5 6+ 6 7 7+ 8 8+ 9 9+ 10 10+ continue reading...

  • breathing
  • ,
  • scale
  • ,
  • pattern
  • ,
  • high end
  • ,
  • harp
  • ,
  • harmonica

David's Tip of the Day - Challenges of Playin on the High End - Intro

Posted Fri, 10/02/2015 - 13:42 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Jot down some notes this weekend on what you think are the challenges of learning to play above hole 6 in 2nd Position and why you may think it's not used as much as it could be. I'll share my observations starting Monday. Have a great weekend everyone!

  • high end
  • ,
  • solo
  • ,
  • harp
  • ,
  • harmonica
  • ,
  • 2nd position

David's Tip of the Day: One Hole Away - Charlie Musselwhite

Posted Wed, 09/16/2015 - 07:56 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Let's continue with more memorable quotes from artists...

At my 1998 Harmonica Masterclass Workshop, Charlie Musselwhite was fielding questions from students and just answered a question about playing on the high end of the harmonica. The next student asked, "But what happens if you play a wrong note?" and Charlie said, "Well, I'm only one hole away from the right one." continue reading...

  • harp
  • ,
  • harmonica
  • ,
  • high end
  • ,
  • playing
  • ,
  • soloing
  • ,
  • improvising

David's Tip of the Day: Playing above Hole 6 - Lick Harvesting (Rod Piazza)

Posted Thu, 03/13/2014 - 08:51 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

"The Bounce" has a great head with the octave substitution technique we spoke of before on the IV Chord. This song can be found on the release The Best Of Rod Piazza 1968-2003 [Disc 1], though the Alphabet Blues release is in better tune (The Best Of Rod Piazza is a little bit flat). He's playing an A Harmonica in this instrumental.

  • high end
  • ,
  • rod piazza
  • ,
  • harp
  • ,
  • harmonica
  • ,
  • Instrumental
  • ,
  • soloing
  • ,
  • improvising
  • ,
  • songwriting

David's Tip of the Day: Playing above Hole 6 - Lick Harvesting (William Clarke)

Posted Tue, 03/11/2014 - 08:44 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Check out William Clarke's "Pawnshop Bound" on the Serious Intentions release at 1:44, it's a killer solo that not only includes high end work, but high end work with 5-hole octaves. He's on a C Harmonica in 2nd Position.

  • high end
  • ,
  • solo
  • ,
  • harmonica
  • ,
  • octaves
  • ,
  • 2nd position
  • ,
  • second position
  • ,
  • harp
  • ,
  • blues

David's Tip of the Day: Playing above Hole 6 - Lick Harvesting (Jerry McCain)

Posted Mon, 03/10/2014 - 14:56 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Playing above the sixth hole in 2nd Position is generally rare for post-war blues harmonica players. The 1961 instrumental "Steady" by Jerry McCain is a rare example of one of our classic blues harmonica players doing just that. The lick is found in the 4th Chorus, with a pickup of 4 5+ 6+ and the main lick of 6 7 8. He's using a Bb Harmonica. The recording I have is from "Blues Masters, Vol. 4: Harmonica Classics (Rhino R2 71124)," though I just looked it up on iTunes and it can be found on "Harmonica Classics By The Blues Masters" and can be purchased individually. continue reading...

  • high end
  • ,
  • harmonica
  • ,
  • harp
  • ,
  • jerry mccain
  • ,
  • blues
  • ,
  • Instrumental

David's Tip of the Day: Playing above Hole 6 - Lick Harvesting (Paul deLay)

Posted Fri, 03/07/2014 - 08:57 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Our style of music is vocabulary driven, and the best way to implement great sounding high end licks in our vocabulary is to harvest them from great players. Check out "Say What You Mean, Baby" by Paul deLay on the Greasy Kid Stuff release from Kid Ramos https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/greasy-kid-stuff/id626224731 This is a KILLER solo (and the entire album is great), with tons of great high end licks for you to use. He's playing a G Harmonica in 2nd Position in this tune.

  • harp
  • ,
  • harmonica
  • ,
  • paul delay
  • ,
  • high end
  • ,
  • soloing
  • ,
  • improvising

David's Tip of the Day: Playing above Hole 6 - Blues Scale

Posted Thu, 03/06/2014 - 09:02 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Though only one of the blue notes in the blues scale is available from holes 6+ to 9+, it's still a viable way to play, especially when you add the 6 and 6' to round out the scale. Put on a more bluesy jam track (a "Box" is a good choice) and give it a try.

Upper Octave Blues Scale (Modified): 6+ 6' 6 7+ 8 9 9+

  • high end
  • ,
  • blues
  • ,
  • scale
  • ,
  • harp
  • ,
  • harmonica
  • ,
  • upper
  • ,
  • soloing
  • ,
  • improvising

David's Tip of the Day: Playing above Hole 6 - Octave Substitution, Part 2 (Full Song)

Posted Wed, 03/05/2014 - 10:05 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Instead of taking just one lick and moving it up an octave, try it with an entire song. Use "Temperature" from Tongue Block Study 2 and move it up an octave. Though by now you've probably already memorized the notes on your C Harmonica, you can visit Music Theory Study 1 for a note layout. The process is simple. The first lick of the song is 3 4+ 3, which are the notes B C B. Move these notes up one octave to 7 7+ 7. Print out the sheet music for the song and write below the TAB the octave above version. continue reading...

  • harmonica
  • ,
  • harp
  • ,
  • octave
  • ,
  • high end
  • ,
  • soloing
  • ,
  • solo

David's Tip of the Day: Playing above Hole 6 - Octave Substitution

Posted Tue, 03/04/2014 - 09:27 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

The Major Pentatonic Scale we started with in this series was 6+ 6 7 8 8+ 9+ 10. The same notes are found one octave lower 2 3" 3 4 5+ 6+ 6. These are notes we use all the time. Try making up some licks with these lower notes and moving them up an octave. This is called octave substitution and is a tool often used by improvisers to move up to the high end in a way that makes melodic sense, and commonly without the need of a slick transition lick. Take this lick for example: 2 3" 3 4 5+ 6+ 6+ 5+ 6+ and then repeat it at 6+ 6 7 8 8+ 9+ 9+ 8+ 9+. I use this in my instrumental study song "Blow! continue reading...

  • Major Pentatonic Scale
  • ,
  • high end
  • ,
  • harmonica
  • ,
  • harp
  • ,
  • solo
  • ,
  • improvising
  • ,
  • octave
  • 1
  • 2
  • next ›
  • last »

Sign me up!

Full access to all lessons starts at $20/month! (with annual subscription)

Subscribe

Free Sample Lessons

After watching the BluesHarmonica.com overview video, try one of the lessons below to experience a lesson at BluesHarmonica.com.

  • Tongue Blocking Study 2 – This study is for the newer player or the player new to tongue blocking
  • Bending Study 5 – This is for the advanced player looking to improve their bending skills

Contributors

  • Aki Kumar
  • Joe Tartaglia
  • Gary Smith
  • Mark Hummel
  • Joe Filisko

Site Links

  • About David Barrett
  • Accredited Instructors
  • Links
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
Hohner
© 2009 - 2025 David Barrett and the Harmonica Masterclass Co. for Bluesharmonica.comSyndicate content