Blues Harmonica

An introduction to blues harmonica for complete beginners, or anyone with very limited experience. Each week discover simple licks and tunes from early acoustic Delta blues through to the amplified harmonica of Chicago in the late 40s and 50s. This is a hands-on (and lips!) course.

The outline below is indicative only and may be subject to change to suit the level of ability found in any given class.

• Introduction to blues harmonica with a brief history
• Demonstration of playing
• Holding the harmonica/cupping
• Single notes
• Playing chords
• Learning to chug out a “train”
• Why blues harmonica is played in “2nd Position”
• Tongue articulation – the “dit dits” and the “dah dahs”
• Description of a 12-bar blues
• Playing chords along to a 12-bar blues backing track
• “Bending” notes – technique
• “wah wah” and “fanning the harp” techniques
• The “sweet” notes in playing the blues (the b7, b5 & b3 notes)
• Learning to play “You Gotta Move” (Misissipi Fred McDowel)
• Learning some simple riffs/licks
• Expressive sounds on the harmonica, baby crying, train etc.
• Vibrato – hand and throat techniques

Please Note: No prior experience or musical knowledge is required for this course, however, the simple ability to play single clean notes will be a definite advantage.

What to bring:

• Harmonica in the key of C
• Pen and paper

Important information

Once your enrolment is completed you will receive a confirmation email. This email will be your receipt and inform you of the dates, time and venue of your course, it will also let you know of anything you need to take to class with you.

Please make sure that you give us a valid email address and mobile number as any course changes will be communicated via sms or email.

Students are required to be 15 years old and above at the time of enrolment.

Click here to read our Refund Policy

We keep our class sizes small so that you get a better experience. Avoid disappointment, enrol early!