Tip of the Day

The diatonic harmonica is built with two goals... to have as much of the major scale available as possible and to have as many of the common chords available. Below are the chords in the key of C Major.

C E G = I Chord
D F A = ii Chord
E G B = iii Chord
F A C = IV Chord
G B D = V Chord
A C E = vi Chord
B D F = vii-dim Chord

Now look at the harmonica note layout from the chord perspective...

C E G C E G C E G C = BLOW
D G B D F A B D F A = DRAW

What do you see?

Notice that there are two notes missing (F and A) from the first octave (1+ to 4+) and one note missing (B) in the top octave (7+ to 10+). Ponder why these notes might be missing...

C E G C E G C E G C = BLOW
D G B D F A B D F A = DRAW

Here is the C Major Diatonic Scale
C D E F G A B C D

Let's start looking at tuning systems on the harmonica. Below is the pitch set of the standard C Major Diatonic Harmonica.

C E G C E G C E G C = BLOW
D G B D F A B D F A = DRAW

Here is the C Major Diatonic Scale

C D E F G A B C D

Look at this scale and the tuning above and ponder why the tuning is the way it is.

Like most techniques on the harmonica, using a light touch is important for the flutter and side-flutter. If you work on the technique for a bit and pull the harp out of your mouth and find square impressions on your tongue, you're using too much force. ;-)

The side-flutter is where your tongue moves side to side... apposed to on and off for the flutter. There's three common ways to approach this.

1) Your tongue stays over three holes in your standard four-hole tongue block embouchure. For example, your tongue is at left and the 4 draw sounds... then it moves to the right and the 1 hole sounds... and then to the left and the 4 draw sounds... rinse and repeat. In this version you hear single notes bouncing back and forth. continue reading...

Instead of taking your tongue on and off the harmonica for the flutter, move it side to side for what's called the "Side Flutter," this is the way Little Walter played and Kim Wilson plays. Give it try.

I work with private students on these issues every day. Case in point... a student yesterday... when he started, the single note was there (4 draw for example with holes 1-3 covered), but as soon as he started the flutter movement his tongue would migrate to the center and create an octave flutter (tongue now covering 2-3, leaving holes 1 and 4 open). This is still a nice sound, but a different sound. continue reading...

The flutter tongue can also be performed in an octave. Try a 4 draw flutter... then a 4 draw flutter with a slight amount of 5 draw leaking in... then 1/4 octave with flutter... you can hear that each one has its own unique presentation. Try this through the amp as well (the amp can be great for dialing in subtle differences in presentation).

If you lean a little bit to the right and allow a sliver of air to travel into the other hole (5 draw with a little bit of 6 draw for example) you can get a very thick version of the flutter. Listen to bar three of the head to "My Blues" in Bending Study 4 for an example of this.

Try your flutter tongue (this is taught in Tongue Block Study 3)... does it have a nice roll to it, or does it sound choppy?

When performing the flutter tongue your lips are in the normal position of being over four holes and your tongue is in the normal position of blocking the three holes to the left. continue reading...