Tip of the Day

Many harmonicas have sharp corners and edges left over from the manufacturing process. Take your finger and run it along all of the corners and edges of your harmonica... most likely you'll find a sharp metal corner or a place where the mold for a plastic comb left a high spot. You don't even need a metal file, a finger nail file will do the job just fine too.

Grab a harmonica that you're comfortable bending on. Perform a bend on hole 2. Note your jaw position in the bending process. Play that hole again... move your tongue into position so that you're ready to bend... but don't bend just yet. Now start to bend... just a little bit... not all the way down... now drop your jaw. You'll notice that the note will bend deeper. Now grab a harmonica where the 2 draw bend is difficult for you to achieve the full depth of the bend. Bend the 2 and to reach a lower degree of the bend now drop your jaw. continue reading...

The King of post war blues harmonica instrumental writing was Little Walter. The new box set is a must-have... you're missing out if you don't have it. Here's a good set of CDs with two of them being Little Walter's material: http://www.bluebeatmusic.com/product_info.php?products_id=15677

Many of you are finishing up your instrumentals for submission to the Shuffle King contest. Rod Piazza is one the best blues harmonica instrumental writers of all time. If you don't have his "Rod Piazza, His Instrumentals" CD you're missing out.

http://www.bluebeatmusic.com/product_info.php?products_id=15393

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/06/science/06wsfmusic.html?_r=1

After hitting play on a lesson video you can hit the space bar to quickly pause a video... hit the space bar again to restart the video. I haven't tested this on my PC as of yet, but believe it works the same.

Let's now see if your body has developed the muscle memory needed...

1) Play the 6 draw and bend it... it should start to bend with the slightest movement of the tongue

2) Play the 3 draw and bend it... it should start to bend with the slightest movement of the tongue

3) Play the 1 draw and bend it... it should start to bend with the slightest movement of the tongue

4) Play the 6 draw again and bend it... it should start to bend with the slightest movement of the tongue continue reading...

It's very difficult to be objective when in the act of playing. Records yourself... walk away... come back later and take a listen to what you played. Don't get discouraged (it can be hard not to), but use it as a tool to get better. List the areas that need work and get started on dialing them in. Pick one area to work on... then move onto the next... etc. If you're working on a study song from the site use this as an opportunity to follow along with the transcription to see where you may have made a departure. Of course send it to me for my review.

Most of the time spent in lessons, for players of ALL skill levels, is on a player's rhythm. You can work with any high-quality music instructor to help you with your rhythm... again, it doesn't have to be a harmonica instructor (in fact, most harmonica instructors lack classic training and are not exactly the best qualified to help you with rhythm and theory... something to think about).

Can't find a harmonica instructor... work with a music instructor that's familiar with blues and jazz. A piano or guitar instructor is preferred since they have strong chord knowledge and can accompany you in your lesson. They won't be able to help you with harmonica technique, but they can help with context... rhythm, tone, choice of notes, presentation and of course music theory. Something to keep in mind.