Play Like A Harmonica Pro (1): Build Tension, Hold the 5 Chord

Lee Sankey harmonica tutorial explaining how you can add professional touches to your playing. During the lesson Lee shows how holding the 1 and 5 chords is a simple and effective way of building tension to your solos in any setting.

Holding the 5 chord within a 12 bar chord sequence is also a fun way to learn about shifting the key centre of a song, practising scales and playing through chord changes.

Lee is using a Bb diatonic harmonica.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• lee sankey
• blues
• harmonica
• lesson
• tutorial
• 12
• bar
• chords
• tips
• pro
• harp

[hbombharry]

you are god lol

[leesankeygroup]

@hbombharry thanks for watching Harry (?), I have over 30 tuitional videos on my YouTube channel now. Lee

[escort325]

Very informative videos....thank you!

[leesankeygroup]

@escort325 Hi Rick, thanks for saying hello and subscribing. There's now four videos in this Play Like A Pro series and I have about 25 other blues harp lessons on my channel. Hope you find them helpful. Lee

[Tsutsomu]

Fantastic lesson Lee.

Thank you so much

Steph.

[leesankeygroup]

@leesankeygroup I uploaded this video which touches upon using other notes to emphasis chord changes, like going to the 4 for instance. "Play Like A Harmonica Pro (3): Add Flourishes to Your Blues Licks". Check it out.

Want some homework? What's a two note sequence on the draw 3 hole you could use to show a shift to the four chord?

[leesankeygroup]

@Rockers1957 Hey Barry, yes in this context the band would also hold the 5 chord as well, with everyone returning to the 1 at the same time for the 'release'.

For the 4 chord, try using the blow 2 or 5. But here's the key thing, experiment. Don't let someone like me give you all the answers. I'm always happy to point people in the right direction but you (players in general) need to use your ears and try things out to see how they work. That's the best way to truly improve. Lee

[Rockers1957]

super lesson lee! so the band holds the 5 chord as well as the harp player?

would also love to see a lesson on the making the 4-chord sound 'stronger' - alternatives to playing the 4 chord as 1 or 4 blow?

[leesankeygroup]

@arnenym Hi it was Ronnie Earl. He's a wonderful blues guitarist. Lee

[arnenym]

I did not hear what artist you recemmend us listen to.??

Who's version of blues for the west side?