Play Like A Harmonica Pro (3): Add Flourishes to Your Blues Licks

In this blues harmonica lesson Lee Sankey shows how you can add flourishes to the ending of your blues licks and phrases like a professional player. Lee runs through exercises in 1st, cross and 3rd position that demonstrate two important techniques. One, jumping an octave and two, avoiding the root note.

Useful for beginners, intermediate and advanced players.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• lee sankey
• blues
• harmonica
• harp
• licks
• lesson
• pro
• tips
• 1st position
• cross position
• 3rd position
• exercise
• beginner
• advanced

[zzzzbluzzzz]

thank for the great lesson, I always find myself drawn to end the lick on 2 draw, im forcing myself to change this habit and to learn something different now

[leesankeygroup]

@zzzzbluzzzz Hello, thanks for the comment. Ending on the draw 2, or the root note of any key is a common pattern for everyone. Precisely because it sounds so natural. Learning to play with that is important to add variety in our phrasing. Lee

[TomTheHarmonicaKid]

Hey great video thaks a lot xD Im just wandering why the views arent higher - also, you were playing 3rd position you bend the 4th hole (Db from D on a C harp), but that note isnt in the 3rd position minor scale (supposing youre not playing major, b/c theres not the 4 blow note) - so is it ok to bend the hole just for an effect, not really worrying about introducing a different note to the scale? :D

[leesankeygroup]

@TomTheHarmonicaKid Hi Tom, it would always be nice to get more hits. I'm surprised by which of my videos get the most traffic. There doesn't seem to be a pattern to it. In response to your question - the Db here is just a passing note. Although it's not technically in key, it can be used in a transition. 'Out' notes are a way of producing longer phrases i.e. like in Jazz and building tension which you then resolve to an 'in' note. So in some respects there are no 'wrong' notes, regards Lee

[MrSoAndSoHarp]

Thanks Lee. I really appreciate your clear communication of these essential concepts. I'm loving this series.

[leesankeygroup]

@MrSoAndSoHarp Cheers! Spread the word....Lee

[TomTheHarmonicaKid]

@leesankeygroup Yea thats what I kinda thought ,p I often do it too and think of it as of a blue note (while playing major) - a flatted note. Some ppl however encourage others to play only in one scale (the major scale), while playing blues. AND also switch to the minor scale (to get the 1/2 step bend notes; Bb and Db in case of the G minor + its blues so you can play minor (and major) scales over a major tune right.. :)

But yeah... now Im glad to know that it works either way,

Thanks!

Tom

[camilo862]

Thanks a lot Lee, you rock. Your other "tone vid" with the different hand posutre helped me a lot!! (I recently watched the famous James Cotton slow blues video here in youtube and noticed that when he plays accutically he does the same thing!! Great little trick!)

[leesankeygroup]

@hootchieman5 Yes exactly, for a 12 bar blues learn arpeggios for the 1, 4 and 5 chords in as many places as you can. This is the basis for 'playing the changes". Sounds like you're getting the concept. Lee

[hootchieman5]

@leesankeygroup - in addition to that Ending or starting on the 3 5, or flat 7th lke ending on the bent 2 instead of the 2 draw .a good option . ? also on the 5chord i guess i can play around between the 4 draw 2 draw bent and 3 draw all the way down which will give me the 1,3.5 chord tones. ass i saw you explain in other videos about playing appergios.to make it more intresting. i always seem to run out of licks when i get to 5 chords besides wailing on the 4 and 5 mix texture.