Then try the following go crazy insert bendsextra noteschords wherever desired. When you play more than one key of harp, the idea of positions is helpful. Global blues harmonica summit live and recorded global blues harmonica summit webinars webinars by level find webinars aimed specifically towards the beginner, intermediate or advanced player beginner level. Learn the pentatonic blues scales on electric guitar. By the 1920s, when recording companies began to look for blues acts, blues harp was a common sound in the southern part of the united states. Part 1 of 2 how to practice to the blues scales on harmonica. Reference material for the first time in blues harmonica history there is an abundance of lesson material available to study. For additional charts, information on positions, and harmonica theory, visit the members area theory section. The purpose of these blogs is to hopefully help eradicate the possible fear of difficulty that someone may have. Simple blues riffs are perhaps the most common way for one to begin improvising on the diatonic harmonica.
The previous issue outlined ideas for practice, and introduced an exercise based on the major scale. Harmonica scales for beginners while learning to play. This tab is perfect for advanced beginners, since it requires the 2, 3 and 4 draw bends, but beginners. Chromatic harmonica scales guitar lessons for beginners.
Chicago blues legend, little walter, discovered very early that blues can be played on a chromatic. This pdf contains the scale charts for the blues scale in all keys for guitar in standard tuning. Blues harmonica music theory blues harmonica kaizen. Play major scale in 1st, 2nd, 3rd position harmonica how to. A member of the modern blues harmonica forum posted these breath patterns his. How to practice to the blues scales on harmonica harmonica. Blues harmonica positions at a glance blues harmonica kaizen. Blues harmonica riffs beginner bluesharp instruction and. A member of the modern blues harmonica forum posted these breath patterns his name is john potts. And because they use fewer notes than the standard 7note scales, pentatonics make it easier to play in multiple keys on one harmonica. The scale shown is the c major scale, but the pattern and relationships are the same for all major scales. Adam gussow of satan and adam explains the blues scale and offers practice tips and inspiration to the harp player in search of selftransformation.
Blues scale in 12 positions the notes below are for a harp in the key of c, but the tab holds for any key harmonica e. You can get more charts in with custom tunings using my interactive scale generator here. Use repetition of a single riff, and pauses between these riffs, to create a more melodic feeling to your playing. Harmonica123 free lessons harmonica123 learn harmonica. This is because it is a major third, whereas the blues scale has a flat third.
Major and minor scales the scales available on a c harmonica fall into three groups. If instead you map the c blues scale on an f harp, known as second. Oct 16, 2010 blues scale practice for diatonic harmonica warm up by trying the following with bends if possible. What to learn to play the chromatic harmonica in every key. It is so fundamental that many professional players continue to practice it daily. When it really starts to sound like a blues scale is when we play it going back down starting on 6 blow then 5 draw 4 draw 4 blow 3 draw and well land on the 3 blow. For more about playing the blues scale, visit modern blues harmonica at tradebit, where youll find a quicktime video lesson supplemented by a pdf tab entitled blues and country scales. Pentatonic scales play in six different keys on one. Global blues harmonica summit live and recorded global blues harmonica summit webinars webinars by level find webinars aimed specifically towards the beginner, intermediate or advanced player. Part 1 of 2 how to practice to the blues scales on.
Once again, the most challenging part of the scale is switching the order of blowing and drawing between holes 7 and 6. Dont get me wrong on this, its perfectly legitamite to use the minor pentatonic scale over dominant blues chords. Pentatonic scales wildflower harmonica instruction. This course is designed to teach beginner level players the basics of playing the 12hole solotuned diatonic harmonica, which is tuned differently from the standard 10hole diatonic instrument. I have also included the 5 box patterns you need to learn in order to memorize the blues scales in all keys. In this lesson, im going to help you learn a scale so that you can more easily learn your favorite songs faster.
Rock, country, blues, folk, and world music all make extensive use of pentatonic sounds. You reach the next numbered position on your harmonica by counting up five scale steps from the key of the harp. To play the blues is a fascinating undertaking because it can be both simplistic and yet intangibly tricky to master. Blues riffs a riff is a slang term for a short musical phrase that is usually repeated or repeatable. Heres a chart that lays out pentatonic scales in six positions click on the image to download the fullsized chart pdf. This gives you an idea of just how important it is. Also i play in different bands, i dont consider myself a pro by any means. Here are the harmonica tabs for going down the major scale. Blues harmonica for complete beginners enroll in course for free if you are struggling getting started on the harmonica and want to get a decent foundation then you should come and join my free 4week. The blues scale is a foundational element of blues harmonica playing. What youll find there is a series of links to, a filehosting site at which ive uploaded a series of blues harp lessons. Sep 06, 2017 the blues scale is a foundational element of blues harmonica playing. This course is designed to teach beginner level players the basics of playing the 12hole solotuned diatonic harmonica, which is tuned differently. It gives a safe path to a bluesy sound over the 12bar blues.
Harmonica articles, harmonica lessons, harmonica tabs, how to play the harmonica, learn about the harmonica. The solotuning provides all of the eighthnotes of the major scale repeated in. Playing the blues scale now that you can bend notes the next thing we should look at is the blues scale. This harp will produce two full chords when inhaling or exhaling. Oct 22, 2016 for more about playing the blues scale, visit modern blues harmonica at tradebit, where youll find a quicktime video lesson supplemented by a pdf tab entitled blues and country scales. Diatonic harmonicas are tuned to a single major scale and are available in different keys. This is just a series of seven notes which help the harmonica sound bluesy, so playing this scale over and over is excellent training. Im an internationallyknown blues harmonica performer and instructor.
In addition to that scale the minor fifth is added which is a. With the technique of bending, a very bluesysounding scale, called the blues scale, is possible. Understand, however, that you can perform any song in any key by simply using a differentkeyed harmonica. The sampler is the perfect way for blues harmonica players to explore new. Student guide for solotuned harmonica part i diatonic. What youll find there is a series of links to, a filehosting site at which ive uploaded a.
The scale on the g harmonica is an octave lower than the one on the c harmonica. With the technique of bending, a very bluesysounding scale, called the blues. How to play pentatonic and blues scales on the harmonica. Some years back i spent much of a summer holiday playing this exercise with a metronome. Here are the three most common positions, or keys, played on the c harmonica with their corresponding blues. Their construc tion enables playing techniques known as bending and overbending, which. Mastering the chromatic harmonica by practicing scales. Blues scales blues is an irresistible tonality for a guitar player.
Notation key blues harmonica lessons blues harmonica. Plus im going to show you how to play the lion sleeps tonight right. The blues scale is probably the most common piece of practical blues harmonica music theory that people do learn. Ive been creating original blues harmonica tabs for more than 25 years. This is just a series of seven notes which help the harmonica sound bluesy, so playing this.
You will also need to bend lots of notes to get the blues notes blues scales which. Pentatonic scales are fivenote scales that sound good over just about any kind of music. Although solotuned instruments are not well suited for blues. Despite its name, the blues scale is not only used in blues music. When it really starts to sound like a blues scale is when we play it going back down starting on. Below are the 12 minor pentatonic scales presented as chromatic harmonica tabs. Minor pentatonic scales are a fantastic place to start, particularly for players who. Here are the three most common positions, or keys, played on the c harmonica with their corresponding blues scales. Modern blues harmonica online harmonica lessons and tabs.
Blues scale practice for diatonic harmonica warm up by trying the following with bends if possible. Often new players are drawn to the instrument because of a desire to play the blues. An example of a chromatic blues harmonica piece is blues in the dark played by the legendary georg harmonica smith. Why not try starting with the minor pentatonic scales. So, when i play this scale, im visualizing the scale step that im on. Jp allen gives a harmonica lesson on the basic blues scale. You can also access our site through your mobile phone. Lee oskar harmonicas superior harmonicas since 1983.
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