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Blues Harmonica.

Blues Harmonica. How to play like a professional… if that professional only knew how to play one note. . Music Theory – For the Rest of Us. The Alphabet of Music. A, B, C, D, E, F, G Each one of these notes correspond to a certain amount of vibrations per second.

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Blues Harmonica.

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  1. Blues Harmonica. How to play like a professional… if that professional only knew how to play one note.

  2. Music Theory – For the Rest of Us. • The Alphabet of Music. • A, B, C, D, E, F, G • Each one of these notes correspond to a certain amount of vibrations per second. • Piano tuners tune piano’s by starting at the note that vibrates 440 times per second (or 440 Htz) This is called the A 440. • Every ‘so many’ vibrations per second constitutes a whole note.

  3. Harmonizing. • For some reason when a note is played with the note that is three away from it (for instance C and E) it sounds nice. • This is called a Harmony. • When you play three harmonizing notes together (for instance C, E, and G) it sounds even nicer. • This is called a Major Chord. • There are different ways of making chords – but to our Western ears – this sounds nice.

  4. The Harmonica. • If you look on the side of the harmonica you will see what ‘Key’ it is in. • You all have ‘C’ harmonicas. • This means the notes on the C harmonica are basically arranged so that you can get harmonizing notes out of playing different notes together. • Blow out on the 1-4 holes and you will get the C, E, G, C notes and a C Chord. • If you play a C harmonica in the Key of C – you are playing ‘Straight Harp’. • This is what you hear when you hear country western cliché players play.

  5. Straight Harp Example.

  6. Cross Harp Example. • When playing blues harmonica we play C harmonica in the key of G (it’s 5th) to get a ‘bluesy’ sound. • Draw (suck) in on the 1-4 holes on your harmonica and you will get the D, G, B, D (This is the 5, 1, 3, 5 on the G scale and thus a G Chord. • Muddy’s Riff: • 3B 3D 4B 4D 4B 3D 3B

  7. Chords and the Train. • Use your finger to block off every hole but the 1-4 holes on your harmonica. • Use a loose mouth and place the ‘harp’ in the corner of your mouth. • Draw (suck) in on those four notes. • Tap your foot to four beats. • You just played the 1 chord in the key of G! • Now blow out and blow on the same four holes. • Tap your foot to four beats. • You just played the 4 chord in the key of G (or the C Chord)!

  8. Make that train whistle! • When you are ready draw in on the 4 and 5 holes. • Tap your foot to four beats. • You just played the five chord in the key of G (or the D Chord)! • 1-4 Draw (four beats) • 1-4 Blow (four beats) • 1-4 Draw • 1-4 Blow • 4,5 Draw (Make it whistle for four beats).

  9. Single notes – tongue blocking. • Play the 1-3 blow holes on your harmonica. • Use your tongue to block off the 1 and 2 holes. • You are now playing a single note. • If you are having trouble: • Put the harmonica in your mouth as deeply as you can. • Do not put the harmonica on the edge of your lips. • Don’t be a sissy! • Do not clamp your lips tightly on the harmonica. • Loosen those lips – they will not sink ships this time!

  10. Single Notes – The DEEP pucker. • Say ‘Ooooooooooooo’ • Get real duck lipped Oooooooo out of it! • Play 1-3 blow holes again. • Slowly pinch in the outside of your lips like your saying Oooooo and get a single note. • Once you have it – play the four blow – then the four draw. • Wail that four draw for four beats then blow on the four for four beats. • You are playing the blues!

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