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About the Author David Barrett
Harmonica Masterclass Lesson Series

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Info: Harmonica Masterclass Lesson Series Levels
 
 

Lesson Series Level 1

Classic Chicago Blues Harp Book/CD

Price: $24.95
Length: 144 pages
Level: Beginning-Advanced - This book/CD contains all the text from Classic Chicago Blues Harp #1 & #2, though the recording is not as complete.
Recording Includes: Detailed technique examples, songs, and full-band background tracks to play along with.  
Description: Classic Chicago Blues Harp is a progressive lesson book which walks you step-by-step from the beginning stages of playing the harmonica to the very advanced. Classic Chicago Blues Harp takes the major techniques used by professional artists and teaches it to you. Some techniques just cannot be learned by listening to recordings, thus this book. One of the main goals of this book is to take what you already know and help you work with it in many different ways. Here are some of the topics covered in this book. Tongue Blocking: single hole blocking, the tongue slap, octaves, and flutter tongue. Vibratos: from the soft non-bent vibrato to the beautiful bent vibrato. Positions: How to understand and use positions. Most of the time that is spent in this chapter is on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd position. Octave Substitution & Position Substitution: How to take licks from the most understood part of the harmonica, first through sixth hole, up to the high end of the harmonica. Position Substitution takes licks and phrases from a position that you understand well, usually second position, and places it into any other position of your choice. Blues Scales: A strong understanding of the most used blues scales will allow you to fly through difficult passages with ease, and also empower you to compose great sounding passages in every position. After each new technique there are exercises to help you master the technique. After the exercises you will play some blues licks that use the technique you learned, followed by a full 12 Bar Blues example. The CD that accompanies the book will walk you through each example with a full back-up band to give you that big blues sound.  

Each chapter finishes in a chapter review test to help you in understanding the main points covered in each chapter. This books is 144 pages and is recommended for all levels. Expected study time in this book is two years. The D major diatonic harmonica is used in this book, along with all other standard major harmonicas (G, A, Bb, C, D, F.)

Page Examples: See bottom of this page
Reviews on this Book: See bottom of this page

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Material Recommended by the Author to Accompany this Book:
1) Blues Harmonica Jam Tracks & Soloing Concepts #1
2) Blues Harmonica Jam Tracks & Soloing Concepts #2
3) Scales, Patterns & Bending Exercises #1
4) Exploring 2nd Position
5) Exploring 3rd Position
6) Building Harmonica Technique Video #1
7) Building Harmonica Technique Video #2
 

Reviews on this Book:
Detailed below are comments from harmonica players who have used this book.  Email us your comments and you will be entered into a monthly drawing for a free Harmonica Masterclass T-shirt, a $20.00 value!

"I have just finished the Chicago Blues Harp Book and believe that it is absolutely the best ever harmonica aid I have ever purchased!"

Jon Hines


"Hi: I recently purchased three of your instructional books in Fargo, ND and they have been extremely helpful. I first started out with Tony Glovers books years ago and  for a beginner such as I,  they were hard to follow... but I did learn a few things...there were books out there but none with tabs and examples of actually blues licks from an actual instructor. I bought Charlie Musselwhite's instructional book and record but even that was difficult. Paul Butterfield and John Sebastion's tapes were OK, but Butterfield would just say the notes are there you just have to find them, which I found frustrating because I could bend and do a lot of the techniques, but I had problems finding the notes, being fairly  musically inept. So your tabs of the songs have been a godsend and have actually improved my playing because I can make sense of the progressions and licks..I was playing way too may notes.. Last summer, I went Port Townsend, WA and took the Country Blues seminar with Phil Wiggens, Mark Graham, and Gary Primich. I improved my playing...vibrato and tone but still I need help with just figuring out Blues licks. Phil was good with providing tabs and Gary was informative but really didn't give what I wanted which was, how do you do that lick ? Sometimes I think Harmonica players are so afraid that someone will steal their licks, that they are unwilling to teach a few people, who have a strong desire to get better, anything useful. Most of us out here in the hinterland will never be professional players, but just have a strong to desire to play the blues and certainly will never be as good or creative as the masters.. they certainly don't have to worry about us stealing their licks...anyway...I thank you for the work you have done...as far as I am concerned your instructional books are the complete package.. they are meant to be studied over and over and something can always be gleaned from them. Excellent! Good job!"

Al Gunderson
East Grand Forks, MN

Excellent book full of exercises and tips to better tone. - Rodney Miller