Skip to main content
Blues Harmonica logo

User Account

Username:*
Password:*
Forgot Your Password?

Visitor Menu

  • Sign Up
  • Sample Lesson #1
  • Sample Lesson #2
  • Student Recordings
  • Forums

jam

Openings, Part 5 - From the V (Common Jam-safe Blues Openings)

Posted Wed, 08/03/2016 - 14:07 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

The next most common place to open a song is from the V. This is bar 9 in the 12 Bar Blues Progression. Even though there is a V Chord associated with the turnaround in bar 12, it's known that "The V" only means bar 9.

There are three options to this opening type...

1) You and the entire band starts from the V ("All In")... "E, Shuffle, From the V, All In" continue reading...

  • band
  • ,
  • opening
  • ,
  • jam
  • ,
  • safe
  • ,
  • performance
  • ,
  • harmonica

David's Tip of the Day: Openings, Part 2 - From the I (Common Jam-safe Blues Openings)

Posted Wed, 06/22/2016 - 07:40 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Our first type of opening is simply from the beginning of the 12 Bar Blues Form, from the I (from the one... we use Roman numerals for chords). The speech will be as follows for "Need My Baby" by Big Walter Horton...

1) "G"

2) "Shuffle" (in this case with a Quick Change)

3) "From the I"

4) Count the band in and play continue reading...

  • opening
  • ,
  • form
  • ,
  • band
  • ,
  • jam
  • ,
  • performance
  • ,
  • harp
  • ,
  • blues
  • ,
  • harmonica

What's New: Aki Kumar Interview

Posted Sat, 03/26/2016 - 19:01 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

You might already be familiar with Akarsha (Aki) Kumar from the recent CD "It Takes Three" with Aki, Gary Smith and myself (David Barrett), or the Contributor Videos Aki submitted in the early days of BluesHarmonica.com (2009). Aki was one of my students, and I'm proud to say one of my most dedicated and now accomplished students. He's been a professional player in the California Bay Area now for ten years, currently runs two of the most successful jam sessions in the area and has been featured on numerous CD's for the prestigious Greaseland Studios label. continue reading...

  • aki
  • ,
  • akarsha
  • ,
  • kumar
  • ,
  • interview
  • ,
  • blues
  • ,
  • harmonica
  • ,
  • harp
  • ,
  • vocals
  • ,
  • band
  • ,
  • jam
  • ,
  • session

David's Tip of the Day: QuistJam Jam Tracks

Posted Mon, 02/01/2016 - 09:47 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Jason Ricci shared with me his favorite series of jam tracks available for free on YouTube. Check out QuistJam here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KASgnQXLZrw with a Slow Blues in G. Thanks for the tip Jason.

  • jam
  • ,
  • tracks
  • ,
  • playalongs
  • ,
  • backing

David's Tip of the Day: Quadrupedal your Jam Track Options

Posted Fri, 01/15/2016 - 11:28 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

If you like to work with jam tracks, but find that you're lacking in some keys, or find that a particular jam track is perfect for a song you're working on, but a little bit too fast and not in the correct key, there's a simple solution. Place the jam track into a program like the Amazing Slow Downer (www.ronimusic.com), change the key (and tempo if you want) and then save the file. Done, you now have another version of the jam track. continue reading...

  • blues
  • ,
  • jam
  • ,
  • track
  • ,
  • harp
  • ,
  • harmonica

David's Tip of the Day: Last of My Favorite Jam Tracks - Steve Baker Playalongs

Posted Fri, 08/07/2015 - 08:55 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

Though Steve includes standard blues grooves in his jam tracks, where his series really excels is in their inclusion of songs that are bluesy in nature, but have elements of other musical styles. This also includes challenging keys, grooves and chord progressions. If you would like to add more diversity to your playing, or would like to start the process of learning how to deal with non-standard blues songs, this is a great series. More can be learned about the series here http://www.stevebaker.de/books_en_46.html

  • jam
  • ,
  • tracks
  • ,
  • playalong
  • ,
  • band
  • ,
  • backing
  • ,
  • harp
  • ,
  • blues

David's Tip of the Day: More Favorite Blues Harp Backing Tracks

Posted Thu, 08/06/2015 - 07:49 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

The Ultimate Jam Track series is another great collection of killer blues backing tracks. Like Jimi Lee's jam tracks, the musicians are steeped in the tradition of the blues and are inspiring to play with. There are three CDs available and they're all great http://www.ultijamtracks.com/blues.html

  • backing
  • ,
  • jam
  • ,
  • track
  • ,
  • music
  • ,
  • accompaniment
  • ,
  • harp
  • ,
  • harmonica

David's Tip of the Day: General Blues Harp Backing Tracks

Posted Wed, 08/05/2015 - 07:32 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

One of my favorite jam tracks with common blues grooves (designed to be generic so that they can be used with a wide range of songs) is Jimi Lee's "Every Groove a Bluesman Needs To Know." 31 tracks are included with PDF description of each groove. Download or physical CDs can be ordered here http://www.jimileeband.com/jam_tracks/

  • jam
  • ,
  • track
  • ,
  • blues
  • ,
  • harp
  • ,
  • playalong
  • ,
  • band
  • ,
  • backing
  • ,
  • harmonica

David's Tip of the Day: Blues Harp Backing Tracks

Posted Mon, 08/03/2015 - 08:59 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

I often get asked by harmonica students if a jam track exists for a given song. Jam tracks, by design, are specific to common grooves, but intentionally vague so that they can work for many different types of songs. Some songs are famous due to their uniqueness... "Baby Scratch My Back" for example by Slim Harpo. For songs like these, specific jam tracks are needed. For these songs BluesHarpTracks.com is the place to go. If they don't have the song you're looking for, email Shoji, you may be able to pay him to make one for you.

  • backing
  • ,
  • jam
  • ,
  • playalong. tracks
  • ,
  • harp
  • ,
  • blues
  • ,
  • harmonica

David's Tip of the Day: Derek Trucks’ 10 Commandments of Jam

Posted Tue, 04/14/2015 - 08:29 by David Barrett Admin
David Barrett Admin's picture

It's always good to hear advice from experienced players on stage etiquette... we sometimes forget that it's not all about us ;-)

Derek Trucks’ 10 Commandments of Jam
http://alanpaul.net/2015/04/derek-trucks-10-commandments-of-jam/

  • stage
  • ,
  • tips
  • ,
  • to do
  • ,
  • etiquette
  • ,
  • jam
  • ,
  • session
  • ,
  • blues
  • 1
  • 2
  • next ›
  • last »

Sign me up!

Full access to all lessons starts at $20/month! (with annual subscription)

Subscribe

Free Sample Lessons

After watching the BluesHarmonica.com overview video, try one of the lessons below to experience a lesson at BluesHarmonica.com.

  • Tongue Blocking Study 2 – This study is for the newer player or the player new to tongue blocking
  • Bending Study 5 – This is for the advanced player looking to improve their bending skills

Contributors

  • Aki Kumar
  • Joe Tartaglia
  • Gary Smith
  • Mark Hummel
  • Joe Filisko

Site Links

  • About David Barrett
  • Accredited Instructors
  • Links
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
Hohner
© 2009 - 2025 David Barrett and the Harmonica Masterclass Co. for Bluesharmonica.comSyndicate content