Harmonica Journal for Beginners and Intermediate Harmonica Players

Harmonica Lessons . How to Play The Harmonica .

Here is a list of 10 things to do and dont do.

1. Practice hitting single notes and bending notes.

2. Hold the harmonica the way you feel comfortable. There are guides line to holding, but I have found to hold it how I feel more comfortable than all the rules and regulations.

10. Dont let any idiot in the band go over and turn down your mic volume with out your permission.

This is a few tips to get you started. I know they will help you. Remember the only way to success is repetition, practice doesnt make perfect it makes permanent.

Harmonica Lessons . How to Play Harmonica

The 2 hole on the Harmonica is very important for Blues and Playing Country Music also. When you are practicing use a C Harmonica and practice bending the 2 hole down. There is 2 different distinct bends you get from it and those are 2 bent a whole step , its a F note , and this you bend will be used in Blues alot. There is also another bend on the 2 hole and that is 2 bent down a half stetp and its a F sharp.  The F sharp you can use in pretty Country Music songs . The 2 hole blow is an E note and you will use it in Blues and Country. I use it lots as a passing note. If you learn the Country song “Please Release Me” you will use the 2 blow and the 2 bent down half step. I will do a video on this hole and also I will do a video on the Song “Please Release Me”. So practice bending the 2 hole it will help you in more ways you can imagine.

Harmonica Lessons and Instruction for C Harmonica

The 3 Hole of the Harmonica is so important in playing Country Music. If your practicing with a C Harmonica you can get multiple notes out of one hole. 3 Blow is a G , 3draw normal is a B , 3 Draw bent down a Half step is a B flat , 3 Draw bent down a whole step is an A , 3 Draw bent a step and a half is an A flat. So look at that 5 notes out of one hole.If you practice you can get each and every one of those notes and you will use them playing Country Music. Think about it. It isnt going to be a cake walk for you to learn this , but if you want to be a quality player you better start to understand this. Remember this pertains to when playing Cross Harp or Second Position.

<

Control Your Own Future Cick Here!

You dont have to rely on any body to control your own musical destiny. Musicans need to be and can be there own buisness managers. To have other people in charge of your hard work most of the time doesnt work out. In this day of internet and computers you can and have the right to protect your self. Learn to brand yourself , you are worth it , its been your hard work over the years and now you can post your own music anywhere and get it heard. If you are a solo act or have a band , to hire someone to promote yourself or your band is expensive. If you follow this step by step guide to getting yourself heard the pay offs are yours and not someone elses .Honestly now is the time to school yourself on your future in music.

Independent Musicians 30 Minute Guide to Sell Your Music in the Largest Online Music Stores without a Major Label Guaranteed. Independent Music Distribution for Any Music Artist or Band. Please help yourself and look in to this step by step process to protect yourself and your music.

Thanks Craig

Harmonica Lessons . How to Play Harmonica

5 Chord Arpeggio Exercise

The 5 chord Arpeggio on the Harmonica. Remember when practicing use a C Harmonica. This lesson is for a C Harmonica. To practice it do this:

1Draw , 2 Draw Bent down a half step , 3 Draw Bent down a whole step , 4 Draw .

Theses are the notes Up-   D , F Sharp , A , D

Down – D , A , F Sharp , D

You need to know it and practice it . Yout going to use it more than you can imagine.

Harmonica Lesson. How to Play Harmonica

One of the most important things about playing Country Music  and pretty melodies on the Harmonica is the Country Scale. If you practice it on a C harmonica like you should , it goes like this.

1 Draw , 2 Blow , 2 Draw , 3 Draw bent down a whole step , 3 Draw , 4 Draw , 5 Blow , 6 Blow         Thats it  now go down the scale from the 6 Blow down.

6 Blow , 5 Blow  , 4 Draw , 3 Draw , 3 Draw bent a whole step , 2 Draw , 2Blow , 1 Draw .

This is it by the notes on a C Harmonica

Up: D , E ,G , A , B , D , E , G

Down: G , E , D , B , A , G , E , D

This technique is when playing Cross harp or 2nd Position. Remember when practicing use a harmonica tuned to the key of C

Harmonica Lessons . How t Play Harmonica

1. Do not soak your harmonics in water or beer. Some say soaking gives them a better sound , well to get a better sound go back to practicing.

2. Dont let some idiot in the band go over and turn down your mic volume with out conferring with you. Total disrespect. They will try and you need to set them straight right off.

3. Forget the dancing around shit on stage , and concentrate on playing your instrument correctly. Your showmanship will come when you know what you are doing. Your there to add to the band musically and not step on peoples toes.

7 Draw , 6 Draw , 6 Blow , 5 Blow , 4 Blow , 3 Draw , 3 Draw bent whole step , 2 Draw , 2Blow , 1 Draw , then resolve on the 2 Draw. Learn it well you will use it lots.

Just as Jesus created wine from water,
we humans are capable of transmuting
emotion into music.”
~ Carlos Santana ~

” Music can change the world
because it can change people.”
~ Bono, U2~

“Music is a higher revelation
than all wisdom and philosphy.
Music is the electrical soil
in which the spirit lives, thinks and invents.”
~ Ludwig van Beethoven ~

“… everyone was using tiny brushes and doing watercolors,
while Jimi Hendrix was painting galactic scenes in Cinemascope.
We are working in a field of mystical resonance, sound and vibration…
that’s what makes people cry, laugh
and feel their hair stand up … ”
~ Carlos Santana ~

“Music does bring people together.
It allows us to experience the same emotions.
People everywhere are the same in heart and spirit.
No matter what language we speak, what color we are,
the form of our politics or the expression of our love and our faith,
music proves: We are the same.”
~ John Denver ~

“Do you know that our soul
is composed of harmony?”
~ Leonardo DaVinci ~

“I think music in itself is healing.
It’s an explosive expression of humanity.
It’s something we are all touched by.
No matter what culture we’re from,
everyone loves music.”
~ Billy Joel ~

Harmonica Lesson . How to Play Harmonica

Ok so we went over the Country Scale on the lower register of a C harmonica. Now lets start working on it in the higher register . It starts on the  6 Blow , 6 Draw , 7 Draw , 8 Draw , 8 Blow , 9 Blow , 10 Draw . Thats it now down the scale. 10 Draw , 9 Blow , 8 Blow , 8 Draw , 7 Draw , 6 Draw , 6 Blow. This  scale is used when playing second position or commonly known as cross Harp. This scale is what you want to play when playing pretty country melodies and fills for singers. Remember to practice on a C Harmonica. To become a good player it takes  hours and hours of practice. If you dont practice you wont achieve nothing.

Mike Caldwell a true great Harmonica player and my teacher for a few years. Listen to how precise he is and the speed in which he plays. Probably no one faster than Mike . One of the best Harmonica players alive. He has played with the best Loretta Lynn , BoxCar Willie just to name a few.

Click to listen Mike Caldwell

Harmonica Lessons . How to Play Harmonica

You know this may sound real easy and not many people will realize how important that this riff is in Country Music and Playing Blues. When you start here you can go so many different directions and use it at your will . This riff is for cross harp or second position playing . It goes like this 1 Draw , 2 Blow , 2Draw and you know thats it. Short and sweet. Practice it over and over in again. Do it fast do it slow. If you continue with the Harmonica and want to become a player you will thank me for this Country Harmonica Tip. This simple riff will lead you into I dont know how many songs , one for example is Will the Circle Be Un Broken , another is Walking After Midnight. You can go into Amazing Grace with it. You can do a Country solo for the song Jackson and start on the 1 Draw.The Country Scale starts with these 3 notes . Really just experiment with it. It is real important.

Hey,

One of the most important things about playing Country Music  and pretty melodies on the Harmonica is the Country Scale. If you practice it on a C harmonica like you out to it goes like this.

1 Draw , 2 Blow , 2 Draw , 3 Draw bent down a whole step , 3 Draw , 4 Draw , 5 Blow , 6 Blow         Thats it  now go down the scale from the 6 Blow down.

6 Blow , 5 Blow  , 4 Draw , 3 Draw , 3 Draw bent a whole step , 2 Draw , 2Blow , 1 Draw .

This is it by the notes on a C Harmonica

Up: D , E ,G , A , B , D , E , G

Down: G , E , D , B , A , G , E , D

This technique is when playing Cross harp or 2nd Position. Remember when practicing use a harmonica tuned to the key of C

Harmonica Lessons . How to Play Harmonica

Were are going  to do this in Phrases. This slash / seperates each phrase. Another thing I want you to remember this is my version meaning it might not be exactly correct note for note.

Phrase 1.        3 Draw, 4 Draw     slide down to  1 Draw, 2 Blow , 2 Draw 3Draw bent whole step , 3Draw , 3 Draw bent a whole step   /

Phrase 11 .  3 Draw ,  3 Draw , 5Blow , 4 Draw , 3 Draw , 3 Draw bent a whole step , 2 Draw /

Prase 111. 2Draw , 3 Draw bent whole step , 3 Draw , 4 Draw , 5 Blow , 6 blow , slide down to 2Draw 3 Draw , 4Draw  2 Blow 2 Draw 3 Draw bent down a whole step , 3 Draw and hold this note a long time.

Do this whole section 2 times then go to bridge

Click Here To Listen Georgia on my mind

Press link to hear it. I Played an F harmonica in the Key of C on the youtube video.

The Bridge: 2 Blow , 3 Blow , 3Draw bent whole step , 3 Draw 3 Draw bet whole step , 3 Blow , 2 Blow , 3 Blow/

2Blow , 3 Blow , 3 Draw bent whole step , 3 Draw , 4 Draw , 3 Draw , 4 Draw bent/

2 Blow , 3 Blow ,  3 Draw bent a whole step , 3 Draw , 4 Draw , 5 Blow , 6 Blow/

3Draw , 4 Draw , 5 Blow , 4 Draw , 3 Draw , 3 Bent Whole step/

Back to the beginning.

Practice this