how to play blues harmonica

Your C Major Diatonic Harmonica uses the C Major Diatonic Scale for its construction. This Major scale is built with 5 whole steps and 2 half steps. The half steps are placed between the 2nd and 3rd as well as 7th and 8th scale degrees. The scale is C D E F G A B C. A piano player would play all white keys. For the piano to play the B Major Diatonic Scale they would start on the B key on the piano and make sure to use all of the whole steps and half steps in their proper order, which would equal B C# D# E F# G# A# B. A harmonica player just grabs the B Harmonica. continue reading...

Keeping your embouchure (lips, mouth and tongue) and auxiliary muscles (throat, neck, shoulders and back) relaxed are key to good tone and fast movement on the harmonica (a tensed muscle is a slow muscle). For tongue blockers, a light touch with your tongue is essential (the more pressure you use, the more your tongue pushes inside the holes of the harmonica... this all creates more drag and more effort to pull the tongue on and off for our standard tongue blocking techniques and articulations).

I had a new student last night and she asked how much a harmonica was to purchase. I said $65 (I sell the Hohner Crossover), and stated that they're the best pro-level harps on the market. She was very impressed that you could get a professional-quality instrument for that cheap. I agreed with her! continue reading...

September BluesHarmonica.com 2011 Newsletter
Leader in Blues Harmonica Education since 1994

WHAT'S NEW!
Steve Baker’s Harmonica Masters Workshop 2011 continue reading...

Here's how I'd change the lick that we've been looking at...

D Harmonica (2nd Position): 3' 3" 2 2" 2 = Even more bluesy now (2" is the flat-7th... a bluesy note) and keeps all the notes in a draw (good for speed)

G Harmonica (3rd Position): 5 5+ 4 4+ 4 = More bluesy and WAY easier to play... you can also play a two-hole split (octaves for some) the entire time

A Harmonica (1st Position): messes this lick up... sorry 1st Position, you're out of contention for this lick!

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