learn to play harmonica online

Now play the same starting note at a...

1) Medium volume... going to a very loud volume and then very soft volume

2) Soft volume... going to a very loud volume and finishing at a medium volume

3) Loud volume... going to a soft volume and finishing at a medium volume

4) Soft volume... going to a very loud volume and back down to very soft

5) Loud volume... going to a very soft volume and back to a very loud volume continue reading...

Now play the same note you played from the last tip... starting as softly as you can... and I mean softly... making it slowly sound from nothing, raising in volume slowly... until it's very loud!

This is two levels of volume and is more desirable than one (which means NO dynamics)

Now do the same in reverse... loud to soft.

Now improvise, making every lick start at one volume and ending at the another. More tomorrow on this.

Play a note on your harmonica... any note... for about three seconds. While holding this note try to keep the volume the same at the beginning, the middle and at the end. Did you just do it? Good. Now, never do that again! :-)

The bulk of technique performed on the harmonica is hidden from view. You can't see what I'm doing and I can't see what you're doing...YOU can't see what you're doing! The tongue is responsible for all good and evil on the harmonica. If your tone is thin... a note bends, squeals or stalls unintentionally... or a bend goes too far or not far enough... your tongue is in the wrong spot. If your tone is good and you're able to control bends at the correct pitch... your tongue is in the right spot. Get to know your tongue. continue reading...

In this latest harmonica insight Joe Filisko speaks about Rhythm, Groove and The Sway

In this final improvising lesson I review the concepts taught in Improvising Studies 1-9 and go into detail about: theory; chorus forms versus free-form soloing; memorized versus improvised solos; perspective for each level of player on improvising; perspective for other styles; recommendations on how to organizing your licks and transcribing.

This is for students who have finished all or for those who like to read the last page of a book first ;-). No harmonica is needed for study... just me japin' continue reading...