The complete idiot's guide to playing the harmonica

237 Pages·2002·7.44 MB·English

by  William Melton, Randy Weinstein

Playing the
Harmonica
by William Melton and Randy Weinstein
A Pearson Education Company
Dedicated to the memory of DeFord Bailey (1899–1982), whose genius on the harp was exceeded only by
the courage, grace, and dignity he brought to every day of his life.
Copyright © 2002 by William Melton and Randy Weinstein
All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or trans-
mitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without writ-
ten permission from the publisher. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the
information contained herein. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of
this book, the publisher and authors assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is
any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of information contained herein. For in-
formation, address Alpha Books, 201 West 103rd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46290.
THE COMPLETE IDIOT’S GUIDE TO and Design are registered trademarks of Pearson Education,
Inc.
International Standard Book Number: 0-02-864241-4
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2001094740
04 03 02 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Interpretation of the printing code: The rightmost number of the first series of numbers is the year
of the book’s printing; the rightmost number of the second series of numbers is the number of the
book’s printing. For example, a printing code of 02-1 shows that the first printing occurred in
2002.
Printed in the United States of America
Note: This publication contains the opinions and ideas of its authors. It is intended to provide
helpful and informative material on the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding
that the authors and publisher are not engaged in rendering professional services in the book. If
the reader requires personal assistance or advice, a competent professional should be consulted.
The authors and publisher specifically disclaim any responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, per-
sonal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and appli-
cation of any of the contents of this book.
Publisher
Marie Butler-Knight
Product Manager
Phil Kitchel
Managing Editor
Jennifer Chisholm
Acquisitions Editor
Gary Goldstein
Development Editor
Doris Cross
Production Editor
Katherin Bidwell
Copy Editor
Lisa M. Lord
Illustrator
Brian Moyer
Cover Designers
Mike Freeland
Kevin Spear
Book Designers
Scott Cook and Amy Adams of DesignLab
Indexer
Angie Bess
Layout/Proofreading
Svetlana Dominguez
Gloria Schurick
Contents at a Glance
Part 1: The Harmonica: It’s No Toy 1
1 Versatile, User Friendly, and Fun 3
We give you a dozen good reasons to play the harmonica
and tell you how to practice smart to get good fast.
2 Let’s Take It from the Top 13
The harmonica is older than you think. This chapter gives
a little history about our little instrument.
3 The First Step: Spend a Little Money 21
There are a lot of different harmonicas to choose from.
We explain what to look for in a harmonica and how
to choose the one that’s right for you.
4 My Harp Will Go On 31
Here you’ll learn how to tune, maintain, and repair your
harmonica to optimize its performance and extend its
playing life.
Part 2: Let’s Get Blowin’ 41
5 Harp Talk 43
In this chapter we explain how to read the harmonica
tablature system that makes it possible for you to
play the harmonica without knowing how to read music.
6 Body Language 49
Ninety-five percent of playing the harmonica (at the least)
takes place inside your body rather than inside the
harmonica, and here we explain how to use your various
body parts all at the same time to produce the right sounds.
7 Playing Your First Notes 57
Now you get to play your first official notes as a harmonicist.
We teach you to play both single notes and chords with a
good tone.
8 Playing More and Faster Notes 67
Here you get to play faster notes and more notes, just like the
title says: high notes, trills, grace notes, glissandos, and more.
9 Music Break Number 1 79
Time to consolidate all this knowledge and make some
music. This chapter gives you a chance to play some familiar
songs and check your progress before moving on.
Part 3: Steppin’ Up 89
10 Reading and ’Riting and Rhythmatic 91
If you want to learn to read music, we teach you everything
you need to know (at least for now) in this chapter.
11 Tongue-Blocking Tricks 113
Now you start to sound like those harp players you hear
on CDs and the radio. Here you learn to play all the various
tongue-blocking techniques that go into producing that fat,
dirty sound.
12 The Art of Bending 121
Bending notes is the biggest piece of the technique pie. It is
not optional. You must learn to bend notes if you want
to play your harmonica like it’s meant to be played. We teach
you how in this chapter.
13 Harp Positions and Musical Modes 133
Here, we start to refine your knowledge and talent. We
teach you how to understand and use chord progressions in
your music and how to play in a variety of keys on your
harmonica through the circle of fifths and different positions.
Part 4: It’s Showtime! 145
14 Ready for the Blues (and Improvisation) 147
You’ll be amazed at how good you sound by the time you
get to this chapter, and here we put it all together with
advanced blues and improvisation techniques.
15 You Got More Than the Blues 159
The harmonica is about more than the blues. It’s a key
component of many different styles of music. In this chapter
we teach you how to play country, rock, fiddle, and Celtic
music on the harmonica.
16 Keep Your Day Job 175
You didn’t spend all this time becoming a great harmonica
player so you could entertain only yourself. Here we teach
you how to play well with other musicians, how to form a
band and get gigs (paying jobs!), how to play amplified,
and how to give a good performance.
17 The Final Note: Music Break Number 2 183
We close with a final music break chapter, where you can
use all the knowledge and talent you’ve developed and
apply it to playing the songs in this chapter.
Appendixes
A Complete Glossary of Harp Terms 197
B Resources 203
Index 213
Contents
Part 1: The Harmonica: It’s No Toy 1
1 Versatile, User Friendly, and Fun 3
Why Play the Harp? ......................................................................3
Becoming a Player ..........................................................................6
Getting Geared Up ..........................................................................7
Practice Smart to Get Good Fast......................................................8
2 Let’s Take It from the Top 13
In the Beginning: Oriental Blues ................................................13
Europe Adopts (and Adapts) the Free Reed ................................14
Hohner: Harmonicas for the Huddled Masses ............................15
Harmonicas from Sea to Shining Sea ..........................................16
The Pre–World War II Era ............................................................17
World War II................................................................................17
The ’40s and ’50s ......................................................................17
The ’60s ......................................................................................18
The Harmonica in Today’s Music World ....................................19
3 The First Step: Spend a Little Money 21
Decisions: Getting the Best Buy ..................................................21
Keys and Tunings ........................................................................22
Musical Style ................................................................................22
Sound Quality ..............................................................................23
Durability ....................................................................................23
Comb ..........................................................................................23
Maintainability ............................................................................23
Availability ..................................................................................24
Price ............................................................................................24
More Decisions: Tunings for Every Occasion ..............................24
The Choice Is Yours......................................................................26
What to Buy Now and What to Buy Later ..................................28
Harmonica Stuff ..........................................................................29
4 My Harp Will Go On 31
Harmonica Physics: Good Vibrations ..........................................31
Working Parts ..............................................................................32
Notes and Keys ............................................................................33
Be Gentle at First ........................................................................33
Preventing Harp Disease ..............................................................34
Care and Not Feeding ..................................................................34
Keeping It Clean ..........................................................................35
Four Repair Techniques You Can Learn ......................................36
Minding the Gap ..........................................................................36
Tuning ........................................................................................37
Replacing Individual Reeds............................................................38
Replacing the Entire Reed Plate ....................................................38
Quandaries and Queries ..............................................................38
Part 2: Let’s Get Blowin’ 41
5 Harp Talk 43
What’s Going On Here? ..............................................................43
The Tablature System ..................................................................44
What Note to Play........................................................................45
How Long to Play It ....................................................................45
Should You Bend the Note? ........................................................46
How Much Should You Bend It?..................................................46
When to Use the Slide Button on a Chromatic Harmonica ......47
Some Familiar Tunes ....................................................................47
6 Body Language 49
Stand Up Straight! Suck in That Gut! ..........................................50
Keep Both Hands on the Harp ....................................................50
Take Some Deep Breaths ..............................................................51
Open Wide and Say “Oooh” ......................................................53
7 Playing Your First Notes 57
Let’s Start with Some Chords ......................................................57
’Tis Nobler to Pucker or Tongue? ................................................60
Puckering......................................................................................60
Tongue Blocking ..........................................................................61
More Tonguing Techniques..........................................................63
Good Vibratos ..............................................................................63
Don’t Just Stand There! Stomp Your Foot! ..................................64
Ten Tips to Top Tone....................................................................65
8 Playing More and Faster Notes 67
Playing High Notes ......................................................................67
That’s Really Trilling ....................................................................69
Grace Notes ..................................................................................73
Slides and Dropoffs ......................................................................74
Hanon for Harp ............................................................................76
9 Music Break Number 1 79
Familiar Songs That Are Fun to Play............................................79
Part 3: Steppin’ Up 89
10 Reading and ‘Riting and Rhythmatic 91
Why Read Music? ........................................................................91
Notes ............................................................................................92
Note Names..................................................................................92
How Notes Are Written ................................................................93
Sharps, Flats, and Naturals ..........................................................93
What Note Shapes Mean ..............................................................94
The Unnotes ................................................................................96
Notes with Lines and Dots............................................................96
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Playing the Harmonica
Chords ..........................................................................................98
Minor Chords ..............................................................................99
Broken Chords ..............................................................................99
Beats............................................................................................100
Signs............................................................................................103
What Speed to Play ....................................................................103
How Loud to Play ......................................................................104
Other Important Signs ................................................................105
Keys ............................................................................................106
So Just What Is a Key? ..............................................................106
Key Signatures ............................................................................107
Minor Keys ................................................................................108
Identifying the Key......................................................................110
Checklist for Reading Music ......................................................110
11 Tongue-Blocking Tricks 113
Tongue-Block Octaves ................................................................113
Tongue-Block Chords ................................................................116
Tongue-Block Chord Exercises ....................................................116
Tongue-Block Tremolos ..............................................................119
12 The Art of Bending 121
Draw and Blow Bends ................................................................121
The Basics of Bending ................................................................122
The Physics of Bending ..............................................................123
The Technique of Bending ..........................................................123
The Music of Bending ................................................................128
The Art of Overbends and Harp Valves ....................................130
13 Harp Positions and Musical Modes 133
The Circle of Fifths and Harmonica Positions ..........................133
More Positions Than the Kama Sutra ........................................135
Ionian Mode (First Position)........................................................136
Mixolydian Mode (Second Position) ............................................137
Dorian Mode (Third Position) ....................................................138
Aeolian Mode (Fourth Position) ..................................................139
Phrygian Mode (Fifth Position)....................................................140
Locrian Mode (Sixth Position) ....................................................141
Lydian Mode (Twelfth Position) ..................................................142
Modes and Chord Progressions..................................................143
Part 4: It’s Showtime! 145
14 Ready for the Blues (and Improvisation) 147
Improvisation: Making Your Story Make Sense ........................148
Riffing Up a Groove: Simple Ain’t Easy ....................................148
The “Straight Eight” and the “Shuffle” Rhythms ........................149
Six Basic Riffs ............................................................................149
viii
Contents
Call-and-Response ......................................................................150
Twelve-Bar Blues Techniques ....................................................153
Sequencing Call-and-Response Units ..........................................154
Creating an Ending ....................................................................154
Licks: Spicing Up the Meat ........................................................156
Blue Notes ................................................................................156
Rhythmic Placement and Phrasing ..............................................157
Melodic Ornaments ....................................................................158
15 You Got More Than the Blues 159
Country Harping ........................................................................159
Rock Harp ..................................................................................163
Erin Go Harp ..............................................................................164
Fiddling on the Harp: Appalachian Fiddle Tunes......................169
16 Keep Your Day Job 175
Jamming ....................................................................................175
A Little Harp Can Go a Long Way ............................................176
Forming a Band and Getting Gigs ............................................178
Finding Musicians ......................................................................178
Getting Organized ......................................................................178
Playing Amplified ......................................................................178
Getting the Word Out: Marketing ............................................180
Taking Care of Business..............................................................181
Leave ’Em Screaming for More ..................................................181
17 The Final Note: Music Break Number 2 183
Putting It All Together................................................................183
Appendixes
A Complete Glossary of Harp Terms 197
B Resources 203
Index 213
ix