harp

Join Ross Garren for his latest lesson on overbending where he covers overdraws.

Well that's it, these are all of the songs that students of School of the Blues first learn before they start to add their own song selections into the mix. I recommend you look at the listing I provided (https://www.facebook.com/bluesharmonica/) and make note of the different types of grooves that are represented... these are the grooves you'll most likely play in an average set. continue reading...

In this submission Gary has us "Thinking on our Feet," taking what the other player gives us when trading solos. We trade 12's, 4's, 2's, 1's and even... to our great surprise... 2 beats!

Some nice footage from Joe and Eric's tour of Australia. This was recorded at Humph Hall in Sydney, Australia in April 2015 https://youtu.be/sG2KhzJqJQg

Here's what I like to play. Reminder, Bar 9 is four beats on the V7 and then two beats for the bVI7 and then two beats back down to the V7.

#1 - 3" 3' 3"

#2 - 4+ 4' 4+

#3 - You can also play an arpeggio (notes of the chord played one after another). The V7 Chord being 1 2' 3" and then 4' for the bVI7 and back down to the 4+ for the V7.

As always, the key practice point is to loop that part of the song and play it hundreds of times until you come up with two to three combinations that you like and then memorize them so that they'll be waiting for you when you play this song.

My student (thanks Dan) came in with a new case yesterday. It was a RedHead 2-Pistol Aluminum Gun Case, and it was a real nice size and weight, and well built. $50 bucks at Bass Pro shop (http://www.basspro.com/RedHead-2Pistol-Aluminum-Gun-Case/product/1308281...). The foam is perforated so that any shape can be pinched out and it fit his harps really well. continue reading...

Using the information below...

G7 = G B D F = 1 2" 2 3 4 5 6+ 7 8 9 9+
Am = A C E = 1+ 2+ 3" 4+ 5+ 6 7+ 8+ 10 10+
Bm = B D F# = 1 2' 3 4 7 8 9'+ 10'+
Bbm = Bb Db F = 1' 2" 3' 4' 5 9 10"+

These are the lines I like to play (one note per chord... two beats each)

Example #1 = 1 2+ 2' 2" (leads to 2+ in Bar 9)
Example #2 = 2 3" 3 3' (leads to 3" in Bar 9)
Example #3 = 3 4+ 4 4' (leads to 4+ in Bar 9)
Example #4 = 5 5+ 4 4' (leads to 4+ in Bar 9)
Example #5 = 6+ 6 7 9 (leads to 4+ in Bar 10) continue reading...

Over the holidays I listened to Jimi Lee's new CD compiled of live performances of jazz standards. On this CD he sings, plays guitar and on every tune plays tasty harmonica. If you like jazz standards (Fly Me To The Moon, Bye Bye Blackbird, etc.) then I think you'll love this CD http://www.jimileeband.com/shop/

Jimi plays altered-tuned harps on this CD as well, so one of my students asked him to put a list together with the keys and turnings he used (thanks Dave) and Jimi posted this on his website (thanks Jimi) http://www.jimileeband.com/shop/jimi_lee_jazz_standards_cd_harp_key_list/

The first eight bars follow the standard 12 Bar Blues progression. In bars 9 and 10 where we expect a V7 to iv chord (it's common for a minor blues to have a major V chord), in this song it's a bVI (flat six chord) to V7. In 2nd Position (E Harmonica) this chromatically descending chord progression (by half step) works out well as 2 to 2', 3' to 3" or 3' to 4+. In 3rd Position (A Harmonica) 3' to 3", 4 to 4', 5 to 5+ (and its octave equivalent 2" to 2+) or 2" 2 (and 5 6+) works well. Experiment with these to see which sounds best to you.

This song brings two challenges to harmonica players... it's in minor and it has a chord substitution for Bars 9 and 10.

If you decide to play this in 2nd Position you'll need an E Harmonica to play in Bm (B minor). You'll want to stick to the blues scale...

Lower Octave = 1+ 1' 1 2" 2
Mid Octave = 2 3' 4+ 4' 4 5 6+
High Octave = 6+ (6' 6) 7+ 8 9 9+

If you choose to play in 3rd Position you'll use an A Harmonica. Again, the blues scale is a good scale to focus on...

Lower Octave = (1+) 1 2" 2 3''' 3" 4+ 4
Mid Octave = 4 5 6+ 6' 6 7+ 8
High Octave = 8 9 9+ 10 10+ continue reading...