Step-By-Step Harmonica
This page hosts all 30 steps in my Step-by-Step Harmonica lesson course, which will take you all the way from a beginner, through to intermediate, and advanced playing levels.
Please watch the introduction video to learn which harmonica you'll need, along with a few great tips on how to get started!
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Beginners Harmonica Lessons
Step #1
In this lesson we learn how to hold the harmonica, how to play single notes and a breathing exercise called "The Train."
Step #2
In this lesson we discover how and why the diatonic harmonica was designed the way it was. We then learn the diatonic major scale and also tidy up the pucker technique on our low notes.
Step #3
This lesson improves our single hole technique on the low notes and gives us our first tune to play; "She'll Be Coming Round The Mountain."
Step #4
This lesson introduces improvisation. Then using our diatonic major scale we play our first improvised piece of music.
Step #5
This lesson introduces the all important technique of draw bending.
Step #6
In this lesson we gain further insight into our draw bending technique.
Step #7
In this lesson we learn accurate semi-tone draw bending on the 2 and 3 holes.
Step #8
This lesson introduces a couple of fun pieces designed to hone our accuracy and skill on the harmonica. "Chug #2," and "The 3 Jump."
Step #9
This lesson introduces the 2nd position blues scale. In addition we learn how to 'T' notes for extra definition.
Step #10
This lesson completes our beginners course with an introduction to the 12 bar blues progression and the "Nashville Numbers System."
Intermediate Harmonica Lessons
Step #11
In this step we learn "Hoochie Thang," a 12 Bar Blues example that uses our 2nd position blues scale, and the head wobble technique.
Step #12
This lesson introduces octave tongue blocking. We then put our new skill straight into use in "Hoochie Thang," and "Chug #2."
Step #13
In this lessons we introduce improvising with chugs and a new chug called "Shuffle Chug."
Step #14
In this lesson we hone our draw bending technique with "The Clean Up" and introduce double stop bending.
Step #15
This lesson introduces throat vibrato and a 12 bar blues example called "Sidewinder Blues."
Step #16
In this lesson we introduce the technique of blow bending.
Step #17
In this lesson we learn our 1st position blues scale, and how positions are named and found on the diatonic harmonica using the circle of fifths.
Step #18
In this lesson we learn the techniques of hand muting and hand vibrato and play the "Shortfuse Blues."
Step #19
This lesson introduces rhythm words and we play "The Calico Train," a 24 bar blues example.
Step #20
This lesson teaches the "Quick Change" blues and the sliding technique. We also learn "Free Indeed," a blues example that uses both our 1st and 2nd position blues scales.
Advanced Harmonica Lessons
Step #21
In this lesson we learn how a major diatonic scale is created in terms of Intervals. We also learn our 1st position diatonic major scale in the first octave of our diatonic harmonica.
Step #22
In this lesson we find out why the interval of a 3rd is so important and then we use it to hone our speed and accuracy with an exercise that breaks our major diatonic scale into 3rds.
Step #23
In this lesson we learn our 2nd position major diatonic scale and compare that to our 1st position major diatonic scale. We then improvise with the provided jam tracks, in the same key, using two different harmonicas.
Step #24
In this lesson we learn "Mg's Country Scale," push our speed and accuracy yet again with the introduction of triplets and introduce "The Rolling Effect."
Step #25
This lesson pulls together all we have learned in the last few steps of the course and puts it to the test with a fast paced country piece called "Wagon Chase."
Step #26
This lesson takes a look at what is behind the "Blues Sound" and follows it back to its' origins in New Orleans with the classic traditional "Oh When The Saints Come Marching In."
Step #27
This lesson compares the three main key families; Major, Minor and Dominant 7. We look at the similarities and differences in them and then introduce a new chord progression the 1,6,2,5.
Step #28
In this lesson we learn our 3rd Position Blues Scale and then compare it to our 2nd Position Blues Scale by playing in the same key using two different harmonicas.
Step #29
This lesson introduces the "Minor Blues" and shows how the 3rd Position Blues Scale is used over minor blues a lot in conjunction with our 1st Position Major Scale in "Dorian Mode."
Step #30
This lesson looks at tongue blocking in more detail, showing us tongue blocked single notes, tongue slapping, tongue switching and how to play draw octaves up high by blocking three holes.