harmonica lessons

Join Joe Filisko again for his latest insight... the Exhale Push and Nose Push lesson.

Here are the common ways in which to articulate a chord on the harmonica. Keep in mind that these articulations are not embouchure-specific. In other words, these are articulations that both pucker and tongue block players can use when playing a chord, such as draw or blow holes 1 2 3 (as seen in Ex. 1.2 of Solo Harmonica Study 1 on the site).

1) HA - Not a true articulation (you have to close off the airstream momentarily to be a articulation), but is one way in which we create differentiation between a stream of similar pitches (think Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha....) continue reading...

The Repertoire Builder song "Take It Easy Now" does not teach any new techniques, but places into context what you've worked hard to learn in Bending and Tongue Blocking Studies 2. This song will continue to work these techniques and give you a fun song to play that contains valuable lick vocabulary for your improvising down the road.Contributor Joe Tartaglia also just started to learn this song in Lesson 26, check it out. This study is for intermediate skill level players. You'll need a C Harmonica for this study. continue reading...

Join Joe Filisko for his latest insights into the world of good blues harmonica playing with Insight #10, Playing & Practicing

Gary Smith completes his thoughts on the blues harmonica instrumental song writing process in this final video of the series.

Let's now try that new lick in all of the positions...

D Harmonica (2nd Position) = 3' 3" 2 1 2

G Harmonica (3rd Position) = 5 5+ 4 3" 4

A Harmonica (1st Position) = 8'+ 8 7+ 6+ 7+

Which one is easier for you to play and which version sounds best to you? Think about it.

Let's now work on a new lick. Play the following blues lick on the D Harmonica in Second Position...

D Harmonica (2nd Position): 3' 3" 2 1 2

Work out where this lick will happen on the G Harmonica (for 3rd Position) and the A Harmonica (for 1st Position). Which position is easier for you to play and which version sounds best to YOU?

Repertoire Builders are new original instrumentals that I wrote to go between your tongue blocking and bending studies. These songs don't teach any new techniques, but places into context what you've learned in the previous Bending and Tongue Blocking Studies. These songs continue to work technique along with giving you a fun songs to play that contain valuable lick vocabulary for your improvising.

Contributor Joe Tartaglia just started to learn the newest song (found in Bending Study 2.5) in Lesson 26, check it out when you get a moment