Blues Harmonica Student Syllabus

By David Barrett, Mel Bays HarmonicaSessions eZine

October 2007
There is so much to study on the harmonica that it can be difficult to know what to spend time on. Last month I gave you some warm-up exercises as well as what to focus on in your practice time. This month I have put together for you a lesson plan of what I commonly do with my private students. The left column represents the main study areas and the right column represents areas we would work on at the end of a lesson or while the student is working on a song that may take many months. Having multiple areas (but not too many) to work on helps to keep the study interesting. Take a look at this list and see if there are some areas you have overlooked in your study.
1) The Basics The World of Blues Harmonica Construction and original musical intent Techniques available The approach to study Holding Flat Prayer (Good for hand vibrato) Right Hand Pinch (Common) Right Hand End Cap (Most air-tight) Embouchure (Open vocal track) Harmonica Notation Rhythm Training 12 Bar Blues Studies: First Lessons Blues Harmonica Technique Articulation (Ha, Ga & Ta) Vibrato (Tremolo) Dip Shake Two Note Combinations 2) Bending Physics of Bending What happens in the harmonica Notes available Tongue, jaw and throat (vocal track) position Bending for Expression Stopping at the Bottom Starting at the Bottom Chromatic Scale (Half step control) Studies: Exerts from First Lessons Harmonica Baby Scratch My Back by Slim Harpo Sharp Harp by George Harmonica Smith Heads (famous songs that require bending control) Technique True Vibrato (change in pitch) Dips, Cuts and Falls

Secondary Study A) History of Blues Harmonica Essential Blues Harmonica B) Rhythm Training Whole notes, half notes & dotted half notes Quarter notes & eighth notes (straight) Swing eighth notes (shuffle rhythm) Triplets Syncopated eighth notes Dotted quarter notes Tie, slur, staccato, accent, fermata, repeat, ritard and volume C) Music Theory #1 - Notes Chromatic Scale (sharps/flats) Major Scale (sing) Scale Degrees Basic Chords Memorizing the harmonica

Secondary Study D) History of Blues Harmonica Essential Blues Harmonica E) Test Music Theory #1 F) Music Theory #2 12 Bar Blues Count Changes Sing Changes Bass Lines Quick change and turnaround usage Listen to band for changes Openings Endings Breaks

3) Tongue Blocking Tongue Block (TB) Slap (S) Pull (P) & Pucker Pull (PP) Pull Slap (PS) Flutter & Side Flutter Tongue Octaves TB Bending Studies: Blues Harmonica Level 1, Tongue Block Method Walters Boogie by Big Walter Horton Juke by Little Walter

Secondary Study G) History of Blues Harmonica Essential Blues Harmonica H) Test Music Theory #2 I) Playing with a Band #1 Leading a tune Key: (Ex: G) Groove: (Ex: Shuffle) From: (Ex: From the V) Signals Passing solos Breaks Vocal cues (break, speed, etc.) Secondary Studies J) History of Blues Harmonica Essential Blues Harmonica K) Accompaniment Playing #1 Traditional Accompaniment (Fills & Playing w/Vocals) Hooks Listening Examples James Cotton & Otis Spann Little Walter & Jimmy Rogers Walter Horton & Jimmy Rogers Little Walter & Muddy Waters Others Playing exercises

4) Blues Harmonica Instrumentals (Classic 50-70) #1 Easy by Big Walter Horton Play slow, then full tempo with original track Play with jam tracks and record Sharp Harp by George Harmonica Smith Play slow, then full tempo with original track Play with jam tracks and record Sad Hours by Little Walter Play slow, then full tempo with original track Play with jam tracks and record Steady by Jerry McCain Play slow, then full tempo with original track Play with jam tracks and record Juke by Little Walter Play slow, then full tempo with original track Play with jam tracks and record Walters Boogie by Big Walter Horton Play slow, then full tempo with original track Play with jam tracks and record Your Choice Play slow, then full tempo with original track Play with jam tracks and record 5) Improvising Principle Chorus Forms - the study of repetition Artist song samples and analysis Original composition Focus Notes Analysis Original Composition Instrumental Construction Elements Head Hook Bridge Artist Song Samples & Analysis Original Composition Additional Soloing Concepts Soloing Blocks Climatic, Constant & Saw-tooth Form Turnaround Usage

Secondary Study L) History of Blues Harmonica Essential Blues Harmonica M) Accompaniment Playing #2 Bass Lines N) Accompaniment Playing #3 Horn/Organ Lines Memorize harmonica Memorize 7th chords Play roots (all ranges) Play 3rds (all ranges) Play 5ths (all ranges) Play Flat-7ths (all ranges) Hole Changes Octave Hole Changes Listening examples Sequences 2 & 3 Note 4 & 5 Note

6) 3rd Position Basic Theory Non-Bending (Full range) Holes 4-10 with Bending Holes 1-4 with Bending D Blues Scale Major-Focused Soloing Holes 4-10 Holes 1-4 (Arpeggios) Converting chromatic harmonica soloing Studies: Exploring 3rd Position Blues in the Dark by George Harmonica Smith I Got to Go by Little Walter Original composition 7) Blues Harmonica Instrumentals (Classic 50-70) #2 Off the Wall by Little Walter Play slow, then full tempo with original track Play with jam tracks and record Juicy Harmonica by George Harmonica Smith Play slow, then full tempo with original track Play with jam tracks and record Chitlin Con Carne by Jr. Wells Play slow, then full tempo with original track Play with jam tracks and record Your Choice Play slow, then full tempo with original track Play with jam tracks and record 8) 1st Position Basic Theory Holes 1-4 Holes 7-10 (Middle range?) Studies: Exploring 1st Position Rice Miller (Sonny Boy Williamson #2) & Jimmy Reed Original Composition 9) Blues Harmonica Instrumentals (Classic 50-70) #3 Roller Coaster by Little Walter Play slow, then full tempo with original track Play with jam tracks and record Creeper by James Cotton Play slow, then full tempo with original track Play with jam tracks and record Your Choice Play slow, then full tempo with original track Play with jam tracks and record 10) Chromatic Harmonica Basic Theory Slaps Pulls Fake Octaves Octaves Button Usage

Secondary Study O) History of Blues Harmonica Essential Blues Harmonica P) Accompaniment Playing #4 Sonny Terry & Country Blues Q) Microphone & Amp Microphone Bullet (Body, cartridge & output connector) Vocal (stick/wand) Amp Size (S, M & L) Effects Pedals (Delay, reverb, EQ, pre-amp, etc.) Secondary Study R) History of Blues Harmonica Essential Blues Harmonica S) 2nd Position Scales Major Blues Minor

Secondary Study T) History of Blues Harmonica Essential Blues Harmonica U) 3rd Position Scales Blues Minor V) Position usage over 2nd Position changes Secondary Study W) Test 2nd & 3rd Position Scales st X) 1 Position Scales Major Blues Y) Test Harmonica Note Spread w/Bends Chords of the 12 Bar Blues 1st, 2nd & 3rd Position Scales Chromatic Scale Secondary Study Z) Playing with a Band #2 Groove Instruments in the Blues Band Shuffle (stand, double & backwards) Rock Beat Swing

1st and 2nd Position Soloing Studies: Basic Blues Chromatic for the Diatonic Player Blues in the Dark by George Harmonica Smith Original Composition 11) Non-12 Bar Blues Changes Scale Study Maj, Mix, Dor & Min (all) Chord Study Maj, Min, Dim, M7, Mm7, m7 Arpeggio Study Mm7: C, D, E, F, G, A & Bb m7: C, D, E, F, G, A & Bb iiV at 9th Measure Turnaround None IIVIV IVIii--V Substitutions Song Studies Aint Nobodies Business if I Do Stormy Monday by T-Bone Walker A Real Romance by John Garcia

Slow Hook Rhumba (Latin) Grooves based on blues standards

Secondary Study AA) Playing with a Band #3 Form How to make a chart Modal 16 Bar Blues 8 Bar Blues Alterations (Watermelon Man) BB) Building a Set List Straight ahead tunes vs. arrangements Instrumentals Standard vocal tunes Keys Grooves Tempo

About the Author David Barrett http://www.harmonicamasterclass.com/david.htm