Modern Blues Harmonica - The Upper Octave 1 (Gussow.030)

Adding holes 7-10 to your melodic repertoire. Basic boogie-woogie blues patterns on the upper octave.

If you'd like to purchase a copy of my new solo album, KICK AND STOMP (2010), please hit the following link. Only $10 for 14 tracks of harp-powered one-man band music, all for instant download. Liner notes included!:

http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/kick_and_stomp.html


For a series of skill-graded video tutorials and tabs focusing on classic blues harmonica repertoire by Sonny Terry, Little Walter, Paul Butterfield, and others, please visit:

http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• blues
• harmonica
• harp
• lesson
• Satan
• Adam
• Gussow

[elfbeard]

So check this out- I taped off holes 1-4 on my A harp. I'm officially determined to conquer my "fear"

of the upper octave. I have found when the going gets tough up there I gliss down to the 2-draw

into a familiar power move. My playing will never go anywhere new if I keep chickening out on the

high range stuff and playing stuff I'm already confident in. I recommend challenging yourselves this way

[KudzuRunner]

That's a good way to create a breakthrough. I hope others will think about doing what you've done.

[GFXerDave]

I only just subscribed to your Harp Lessons. So far Brilliant content mate!

Trying to Learn Harp in Australia can be a little bit of a bugger, since its so hard to find anyone who plays the harp let alone enjoys creating some sweet blues tunes.

I'm slowly starting to Learn my XB - 40 in the Key of C. Started off with a cheap Bluesband in the key of C and then got myself the XB - 40, which can have every note bent.

anyway, Thank you very much for creating these great learning Videos.

Cheers!

[KudzuRunner]

Glad to hear I've been a help. YouTube deserves much of the credit for bringing us together.

[JorgeAmarull]

Great... thanks a lot for every single lesson...

[joshshuffman]

i would point out that a lot of us spend most of our time on holes 1-6 because you TOLD us to.

js

[AriaStone]

Hi Adam. Thanks once again for your great lessons. I am really interested in expanding my playing to the higher register. The reeds on most of my harps seem to be blocked or stuck even when it's a new harp. Any suggestions or links regarding this? I am using Special 20's, Pro Harp and Blues Harp MS.

[Conf1ictz]

@KudzuRunner thanks but for some reason i try to incorporate it into my playing(2nd position), and well maybe its just me, it sounds weird, then again, im fairly new at harp, been playing for only about a year

[KudzuRunner]

@Conf1ictz: Absolutely not. It's just important to know, when you're playing it, what scale degree you're playing (in cross harp, the 9th, or 2nd; in first position, the major 6th; in 3rd position, the 5th) and play it with an emphasis or finesses that reflects that musical meaning--rather than simply "wailing" and hoping that something productive happens in a musical sense. This is the difference between playing the instrument like a musician and just wimping out like a harp player.

[harpinbrad]

@elfbeard yeh thats a clever idea.. im a bit of a newbie. so that sounds cool. i have learnt all bruce springsteens riffs but i want to learn techniques like vibrato etc

[yaguarete167]

... that the most beautifull free playing i heard...