lesson

In Sharon's latest lesson (#5) she: plays "Walk with Me" with the jam track (Tongue Block Study 1); plays her daily exercises (Slaps, Flutters and Shakes); starts her new study song ("Temperature" Tongue Block Study 2); reviews chording; starts to learn how to play under a vocalist/soloist (Accompaniment Study 2); and learns how major scales are built and why we can bend the depths we can on each hole of the harmonica. Subscribers can see Sharon's lessons here https://www.bluesharmonica.com/contributor/sharon-barrett

In Sharon's latest lesson she reviews: Solo Harmonica Study examples 1.2 and 1.4; playing single notes; and holding the harmonica. In this lesson we cover: the major scale; Solo Harmonica Study example 1.7; Tongue Block Study 1; exercises 1.2 through 1.4; hand and throat tremolo; dealing with excess saliva; embouchure choices for playing hole 1; and choruses 1 through 4 of tongue block study "Walk With Me." You can see Sharon's lessons here https://www.bluesharmonica.com/contributor/sharon-barrett

In Hob's latest lesson we review bending, work on the first chorus of his bending study song and work on the concept of Hole Changes (an exercise to memorize the blues chord tones on each hole of the harmonica). This lesson can be found here http://www.bluesharmonica.com/contributor/hob_bosold

Today's tip is a simple one, but an important one for learning material. For most people, the first thing they do when digging into learning a lick or solo is to play along with the recording. When playing along with the recording there's a percentage you'll miss... rhythm, notes (notes that you'll miss or replace with incorrect ones), nuances (such as pulls and other articulations that help speak the notes) and dynamics. This can easily be fixed by listening to the lick you're trying to copy once and then playing along with it once. continue reading...

Beginning Student Hob Bosold plays his performance song with me on bass in preparation for his student concert rehearsal. Hob also learns how to use the accompaniment patterns he’s learned and the solo from the study song “Temperature” to play over an entire track (vocals and solo). Lastly, Hob learns the tongue placement in preparation for learning how to bend. This lesson can be found here http://www.bluesharmonica.com/contributor/hob_bosold

Ronnie Shellist's musical career began in 1997 working with singer/songwriter Hugh Fadal from Austin, TX. Blues great Gary Primich was a huge influence on his music as well as Guy Forsyth and Walter T. Higgs who lived and played in Austin in the mid 90's. Thanks to a great blues scene in Austin at the time, Ronnie had an up close and personal experiences in the scene that heavily influenced his ultimate musical direction. His style is a combination of mostly Chicago and West Coast blues influenced by funk and jazz greats such as Grant Green and Maceo Parker. continue reading...

Beginning Student Hob Bosold learns how to count the band in, signal an ending, play accompaniment under a soloist and how to get back on track after getting lost. You can view his lesson here http://www.bluesharmonica.com/contributor/hob_bosold

In Ryan's latest lesson he plays the Bending Study 5 song "Half Steppin'" for my review, learns the fine points of blow bending and we finish Accompaniment Study 9, Due playing. In our next lesson we'll dig into 1st Position playing.

In Hob's latest lesson he plays the entire tongue block study song Temperature (focus on slaps) for me and I critique. I teach hob the bending technique of the dip and how to breathe through his nose as a pressure relief valve while playing the harmonica (as well as learning how to close the nose on inhale notes so that he doesn't fill up with air). He learns what the note layout is on the major diatonic harmonica and why the notes were ordered in the way they are. Finally we talk about the difference between 1st and 2nd Positions and we play common accompaniment lines in the 12 Bar Blues. continue reading...

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...