3. Tips on how to play clear notes.
Rule #1: Put the harp as deeply as possible in your
mouth.
Rule #2: If you hold the harp on the edge of your
lips, your tone will be lousy.
Rule #3: If your lips are clamped tightly on the
harp, your throat is constricted, your tone will be lousy.
4. Tips on Good Tone.
Inner Compression:
Pressurize a column of air as
it enters and leaves and stays
in your body.
Do this by slightly resisting
the airstream at your lips –
and everywhere else.
This resistance creates back
pressure.
You know you have this
compression if your
airstream makes a loud long
hissing sound at draw for 10
seconds.
5. Vowel Sounds and Articulation.
Play a 3 blow as if you are saying ‘oooo’, as in “cool”.
Now try saying ‘eeeee’ and listen to the tone flatten
out.
This can teach you about how you form your mouth to
effect your tone.
Articulation:
Practice saying ‘Ta-Ta’ to articulate a 3 blow.
Practice saying ‘Ka-Ka’ to articulate a 3 blow.
Practice saying ‘Wa-Wa’ to articulate a 3 blow.
Practice a ‘ha’ sound by pushing from your stomach.
11. Your First Boogie - One
Start tapping out a 3 blow:
Move the harp slightly and draw on the 4 draw:
12. Your First Boogie - Two
Take a slight pause – and then slide down to 3 blow:
Play a long 4 draw and then slide up to the 5 draw:
13. Your First Boogie - Three
From your 4 draw – blow out on 4 blow slide to the 3
draw and wail on it – until you resolve on 3 blow:
Tongue the 3 blow and then create some tension on
the 3 draw and resolve on the 3 blow:
14. Your First Boogie - Four
Play a long wailing 6 draw – ta ta ta ta ta ta ta:
Resolve your tension on 6 blow:
15. Biography
All information and scans were taken from:
Rock n’ Blues Harmonica – Revised edition
Jon Gindick
ISBN 0-930948-10-6
Visit http://www.gindick.com/
Songs played:
“False Sense of Security” 7 Ways
“Forgiven” 7 Ways