How to play like a professional… if that professional only knew how to play one note.

Music Theory – For the Rest of Us. The Alphabet of Music. A, B, C, D, E, F, G Each one of these notes correspond to a certain amount of vibrations per second. Piano tuners tune piano’s by starting at the note that vibrates 440 times per second (or 440 Htz) This is called the A 440. Every ‘so many’ vibrations per second constitutes a whole note.

Harmonizing. For some reason when a note is played with the note that is three away from it (for instance C and E) it sounds nice. This is called a Harmony. When you play three harmonizing notes together (for instance C, E, and G) it sounds even nicer. This is called a Major Chord. There are different ways of making chords – but to our Western ears – this sounds nice.

The Harmonica. If you look on the side of the harmonica you will see what ‘Key’ it is in. You all have ‘C’ harmonicas. This means the notes on the C harmonica are basically arranged so that you can get harmonizing notes out of playing different notes together. Blow out on the 1-4 holes and you will get the C, E, G, C notes and a C Chord. If you play a C harmonica in the Key of C – you are playing ‘Straight Harp’. This is what you hear when you hear country western cliché players play.

Straight Harp Example.

Cross Harp Example. When playing blues harmonica we play C harmonica in the key of G (it’s 5 th ) to get a ‘bluesy’ sound. Draw (suck) in on the 1-4 holes on your harmonica and you will get the D, G, B, D (This is the 5, 1, 3, 5 on the G scale and thus a G Chord. Muddy’s Riff: 3B 3D 4B 4D 4B 3D 3B

Chords and the Train. Use your finger to block off every hole but the 1-4 holes on your harmonica. Use a loose mouth and place the ‘harp’ in the corner of your mouth. Draw (suck) in on those four notes. Tap your foot to four beats. You just played the 1 chord in the key of G! Now blow out and blow on the same four holes. Tap your foot to four beats. You just played the 4 chord in the key of G (or the C Chord)!

Make that train whistle! When you are ready draw in on the 4 and 5 holes. Tap your foot to four beats. You just played the five chord in the key of G (or the D Chord)! 1-4 Draw (four beats) 1-4 Blow (four beats) 1-4 Draw 1-4 Blow 4,5 Draw (Make it whistle for four beats).

Single notes – tongue blocking. Play the 1-3 blow holes on your harmonica. Use your tongue to block off the 1 and 2 holes. You are now playing a single note. If you are having trouble: Put the harmonica in your mouth as deeply as you can. Do not put the harmonica on the edge of your lips. Don’t be a sissy! Do not clamp your lips tightly on the harmonica. Loosen those lips – they will not sink ships this time!

Single Notes – The DEEP pucker. Say ‘Ooooooooooooo’ Get real duck lipped Oooooooo out of it! Play 1-3 blow holes again. Slowly pinch in the outside of your lips like your saying Oooooo and get a single note. Once you have it – play the four blow – then the four draw. Wail that four draw for four beats then blow on the four for four beats. You are playing the blues!