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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

Building Harmonica Technique Book/CD

Price: $17.95
Length: 80 pages
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Recording Includes: Detailed technique examples, songs, and full-band background tracks to play along with.  
Description: Building Harmonica Technique 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. This book is for all levels but is recommended for the intermediate to advanced player. Expected study time for this book is one year. The C major diatonic harmonica is used in this book.

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
8) Building Harmonica Technique #3
9) Building Harmonica Technique #4

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!

“Hello... I want to tell you “thank you” for creating the “Building Harmonica Technique” book. It’s one of the best instructional books I’ve come across. It would be easy to go on and on about how wonder I’ve found this book. It’s an excellent book for the beginner who’s interested in blues style and has an entry-level ability to bend. It is a book a person will find challenging and can grow with”

Rick Diffley - Spokane, WA


"I just bought David Barrett's Building Harmonica Technique. Its a Mel Bay instructional with CD for $17.95 (number MB95167BCD). Previously I was disappointed with a few harp books that were too basic. This one is for intermediate/advanced use and I really like it. Anyone know of this particular training book AND another they think is as good or better for intermediate/advanced blues diatonic training? 9 out of 10 blues harp books are beginner stuff. This one is a really nice exception. I would recommend it highly. It got me tongue blocking and tongue slapping plus much more. I really like his deal where he does a few solos, then plays the background without his solo for you to work on your solo. Each of these spin in some important new material to be learned."

Hats off to David ... nice.
Dennis Dugan


"First I'd like to thank you for the "Building Harmonica Technique" book- I now tongue block, play octaves and understand a hell of a lot more about the instrument. Something like that I feel is like a gift, to be taken on in whatever way the receiver chooses. I've really appreciated your gift, and I try to pass on the "goodwill" to others, not just in terms of harp, but also in my profession-community development."

Yeah so Thanks eh."

Phil Coyne - Daylesford, State of Victoria, Australia


"Finally I've found a book, Building harmonica Technique, that is written for all of us that has played the harmonica for a while and don't know how to proceed. This book is a great source of inspiration and if I ever can play the examples the way David Barrett plays them............