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Forums :: Tip of the Day

Challenges of Playing on the High End - Octave Substitution

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Mon, 10/12/2015 - 08:20
David Barrett Admin
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Head InstructorTeacher 10Level 10
Joined: 11/30/2009

Let's now take some familiar licks and move them up an octave. This is by far the easiest, and most enjoyable, way of getting to know the high end of the harmonica.

First lick of "Juke" by Little Walter (minus pulls and such, just the basic pitches)
3+ 3 4 5+ 6+ 6+ = 6+ 7 8 8+ 9+ 9+

First chorus of "Easy" Big Walter Horton
3 4+ 4, 4 5+ 4 4+ 3
5+ 5 6+, 6+ 6+ 5 5+ 4
4 5+ 4 5 5+ 4 4+, 6+ 5 5+ 4 3' 3" 2 2, 3 4 5+ 6+ slide-to-2 2 1 1

=

7 7+ 8, 8 8+ 8 7+ 7
8+ 9 9+, 9+ 9+ 9 8+ 8
8 8+ 8 9 8+ 8 7+, 9+ 9 8+ 8 7 6 6+ 6+ (3' 3" doesn't translate, so 7 6 is used), 7 8 8+ 9+ slide-to-6+ 6+ 4 4

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