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Join me for a study of one of our four great post war Chicago blues fathers, Big Walter Horton. In this lesson we dig into what Big Walter Horton is really known for... his killer shuffles. All of the licks used in the study song "Shakey's Shuffle" come from Big Walter, providing you with great vocabulary for you to study and draw upon for your own improvising. You may record yourself playing to the provided jam track and submit it to me for review if you wish. This study is for advanced skill level players. You'll need an A Harmonicas for this study. continue reading...

Join Joe Filisko for his 18 Harmonica Insights. Tip #14 is about failing.

Gary Smith continues his insight into songwriting with his blues harmonica instrumentals "Minor Mambo," recorded live at Moe's Alley in Santa Cruz for the Blues Harmonica Blowout 2xCD set. Note that this is the song taught in his Artist Study lesson.

Join Joe Filisko for his 18 Harmonica Insights. Tip #15 is about great repertoire.

Some of you may know that I study martial arts (and do a little teaching as well). I'm off to my 2nd Degree Black Belt test. Last night was board breaks and tonight starts with sparring and goes all the way through the big public show on Sunday. So... I'm offline for a while... have a great weekend!

In this improvising study we dig into how to approach different playing situations. The feel of a song (light, bluesy and mixture) heavily influences your note choices on the harmonica. Modal blues is where there's no chord change... though very liberating, it can be challenging to play to when you've been developing your phrasing based on chord change all these years. I give you a plan of attack for improvising to very fast tempos... no doubt a challenge for all skill level players. Finally, I briefly cover the approach to slow blues. continue reading...

Join Joe Filisko for his 18 Harmonica Insights. Tip #16 is about great players.

Join Mark Hummel for more song writing lessons with "Harpoventilating" from his Ain't Easy No More CD.

Join me for a study of one of the four great post war Chicago blues fathers, Rice Miller (Sonny Boy Williamson II). In this lesson we dig into his hugely influential approach to chording. Almost all of the licks used in the study song "Sonny's Bird" are Rice Miller's, providing you with great vocabulary for you to study and draw upon for your own solo harmonica playing. You may record yourself and submit it to me for review if you wish. This study is for intermediate skill level players. You'll need the Low F Harmonica for this study. continue reading...

Join Joe Filisko for his his 18 Harmonica Insights. Tip #17 is about harmonica care.