Blues Harmonica Lesson - learn to improvise

[chrisdavies23359]

This may be a silly question, but why, when everyone recommends starting with a harmonica in the key of c, do people then offer beginner tutorials which are not in c? This does look like a very good tutorial, but my harmonica is in c, so I'm dbefore i start lol

[leesankeygroup]

@chrisdavies23359 Hi Chris, not a silly question at all. Some people think that C is not the best harp to learn diatonic harp. A is a good alt choice, it will sound nicer (bigger/warmer) as a beginner compared to C. The main factor is playing the diatonic harmonica requires several different keys. Otherwise your options for playing along with CDs/MP3's/Jam tracks or musician friends will be very limited. If you think you are going to stick with the instrument it's worth buying a C, D, A & G.

[chrisdavies23359]

@leesankeygroup Hi, thanks for the reply, I am determined to stick with this, I'm not a complete music newbie however, i have 3 decades of blues/rock lead guitar behind me. BTW, You play extremely well and inspire me to do more. Having awful trouble bending my hohner silver atr though, got a marine band coming in the post, hope this will make things easier

[chrisdavies23359]

@chrisdavies23359 see silver atr and read silver star, my typing sucks almost as bad as my harmonica playing lol

[thelegendaryshenuk]

men you are awesome!

that help me alot thanks

[leesankeygroup]

@thelegendaryshenuk Thanks for letting me know. I have over 30 harmonica tuitional videos on my channel, you might find them useful for other aspects of your playing. Warm regards, Lee

[fcbtim]

not only applicable for harmonica - also totally applicable to blues guitar

[leesankeygroup]

@fcbtim Hello Tim, yes I agree thanks for pointing that out, Lee

[brikinahonix]

a big THANK U for you

[leesankeygroup]

@brikinahonix cheers, thanks for watching!

[zardozica]

Very, very powerful lesson Lee! Thank you for putting this up. I am practicing this a lot and using it to count through the 12 bars while I play - slowly of course.

[leesankeygroup]

@zardozica Hello! Nice comment, thanks very much. This video is one of my personal favourite tutorials I've provided so far.

[1RAVENGANG52]

wow this was helpful thanks.

[leesankeygroup]

@1RAVENGANG52 cheers!

[oweedoin]

Great lesson, bud. Your teaching style is first class and a great help. Thanks.

[leesankeygroup]

@oweedoin Hi, that's great to hear. Just spread the word and may be check out my music. Many thanks for your interest, regards Lee

[harpdude07]

Hi, I'm 16 and have been playing for 3 years but only seriously in the last year. I find all of your videos great for moving from intermediate and it's nice to find a fellow Englishman who rocks on the harp!

[leesankeygroup]

@harpdude07 Thanks for your positive feedback and I'm glad my videos have provided you with some useful tips. I started playing when I was 18 but 22 years later am still learning everyday. Music is a long road, have some fun along the way. If you are in the UK, consider joining the National Harmonica League. They also run a fantastic festival in Bristol each year. Best regards, Lee

[harpdude07]

@leesankeygroup I shall look forward to many years of learning on this great instrument!!

[jffl62]

Fantastic stuff, Lee, really helpful. I've only been playing since last March, still chasing basics, so this is great material. One question: when you hit the 3 draw bend and the 3 & 4, are you tongue blocking or switching to lip pursing? I've tried both, and I think I'm favouring blocking. Cheers.

[leesankeygroup]

@jffl62 season's greetings. Thanks for watching and posting a comment. I mostly tongue block but occasionally lip purse as well. I find it useful to be able to use both techniques. If you have only been playing for a few months there's obviously a mountain of stuff to learn. But it's still important to keep working on the basics even after playing for twenty years. Music is life long learning. Best regards, Lee

[Taktikool]

AH man, such a relief finding your videos. You're going over everything I've had trouble finding around the web, or maybe its your method that I understand better. Whatever it is, keep it coming and I'll be waiting for that book!

[leesankeygroup]

@Taktikool Thanks for the feedback. Great to hear my explanations are clear and I'm covering some interesting angles. Difficult to do given how much has already been covered by Adam Gussow and Jason Ricci on YouTube. Check them out if you haven't already. Dave Barrett's site is a brilliant resource too. Lee

[Taktikool]

@leesankeygroup Thanks Lee, I've watched a ton of Adam's stuff and Jason's stuff but I some people teach things that other people can understand better. Jason helped me understand rhythm. Adam helped me understand single notes. Jon Gindick helped me understand making music with cadence and small nuances on a single note etc. You've helped me understand timing a lot better. So I'd say cover whatever you want, some people will understand it better than another instructor has covered!

[proveit]

Lee, Excellent ADVICE - Thanks for your pertinent insightful teaching gems!

[leesankeygroup]

@proveit Cheers Frank, glad to hear you find them useful. This one is intended to give people a platform that they can run with and use their own creativity. Regards from London, Lee

[isaacullah]

Ace!

[leesankeygroup]

@isaacullah Cheers!

[isuckharp]

great lessons loving your vds keep them coming and some more of your playing ,it sounds like you mainly tongue block? cheers dave

[leesankeygroup]

@isuckharp Hi Dave, thanks for your comments. Yep, I mostly tongue block. It depends on the style/piece but somewhere in the region of 70-95% of what I play is tongue blocked. Lee 

[isuckharp]

lee loving your vds keep them coming cheers dave

[arman27harp]

Brilliant. Just a question, when U talk about "the same 12 notes", do U mean the blues scale? If yes, then U played 7 notes blues scale, what about the rest 5:) ? Do we need just to extend blues scale, or something else?

[leesankeygroup]

@arman27harp Hi Arman, thanks for your question, which is kind of tough to answer in this space. When I talk about the same 12 notes I'm referring to the chromatic scale i.e. all the notes used in Western music. Not the blues scale. Other scales are created by using some of the notes and omitting others. This creates different intervals between notes. It's amazing to me that the diversity of Western music genres is based on combinations of these 12 notes. Hope this helps, Lee

[Mr5watt]

Great lesson, thanks. I've started using it as part of my daily practice. Great for loosening up & familiarising yourself with the blues scale at the same time.

[leesankeygroup]

@Mr5watt It's fantastic to hear that the exercise has that kind of impact. Daily practise! Superb, you'll be making some serious progress.Regards, Lee

[willgreener]

This is a SUPERB lesson, too! xxx

[leesankeygroup]

@willgreener Thanks Will, your session at London Harps this week was brilliantly thought out. Really fantastic tune selection and of great benefit to everyone who was there. Lee

[hohner2010]

this has kicked started me to focus on timing, and im starting to tap my foot to my beat. another year and im ready to play in jam nights... thank you also i took what you said about me being able to tongue block and started playing to little walter god he is brilliant too.

[leesankeygroup]

@hohner2010 Hi Cain, glad to hear your starting to try tongue blocking. It's definitely an essential technique, especially if you want to play like Little Walter. Little Walter was a genius on the harmonica. Lee

[arman27harp]

Much than enough for starting... Thanks!

[jodanchudan]

Again, great lesson - thanks! Couple of questions: are you sticking to the I chord here (and, if you are, is that what's meant by 'modal' playing)? Second, could you give some examples of different grooves that work the same way - ie. groove-riff-groove? I'd love to be able to play foxchase/lost John type stuff, but struggle to build ideas outside the 12 bar blues format.

[leesankeygroup]

@jodanchudan Hi thanks for the kind words once more. Yes this exercise is just on the I chord. You could use the same principle to alternate between the I and IV or through a twelve bar etc. Once you've got this one down look to create your own grooves or play along to records to pick up different rhythms. All the basic principals are in this video. For tips on playing Foxchase or Sonny Terry try Ben Hewlett's resources, they're excellent. Lee

[SurlyMac]

Thanks for more terrific stuff. There is hope, after all!

[leesankeygroup]

@SurlyMac Hi Scott, I think anyone can get the hang of this simple groove and put their own take on it with a little practise. The main thing is it shows how much expression and possibilities exist within using 1 or 2 notes. Plus this exercise is fun too. Lee

[DeKiewicz]

Great Lee

Spot on :) - As you said before - Simplicity :)

Thanx Lee again for some great harmonica stuff

[leesankeygroup]

@DeKiewicz Hi there. My emphasis on simplicity here is not a stylistic one. If some one wants to play complicated licks and phrases, great. My reference to simplicity is from a learning perspective. How ever you want to play an instrument it's important to develop control and understanding as you go. One way of doing that is to keep things simple and build your confidence. But, people forget how much you can do with just 2 notes. Lee

[strawwoodclaw]

thanks for the excellent lessons -

[leesankeygroup]

@strawwoodclaw No problem, thanks for positive feedback. Hopefully I've suggested some useful things to work on. Lee

[Tsutsomu]

Hi Lee,

Thank you so much for this new lesson.

Friendly :

STeph.

[fiendant]

Another great lesson Lee, Thank you:o)

[leesankeygroup]

@fiendant Thanks for watching. I may be taking a break to focus on my book now.

[nomoboy]

Simple is best.... Simply great! Another million thanks Lee, for another fantastic lesson.....

[leesankeygroup]

@nomoboy Looks like I'm a roll here, cheers. 

[nvwoos]

thanks lee