Hot Harmonica Posts
How To: Play the harmonica using the basics
Watch this harmonica tutorial video to learn how to start playing the harmonica. This instructional video is meant for beginners and teaches how to hold the harmonica, how to hold your mouth, and basic technique. This helpful how-to video will have you on your way to being a great harmonica player in no time.
How To: Play harmonica with additive techniques
Watch this harmonica tutorial video to learn how to play some exercises and build techniques on the harmonica. The instructions in this how-to video require a certain amount of knowledge of the harmonica, particularly how to hold it and how to hold your mouth, but this video is still helpful for beginners. This instructional video will help you play harmonica with additive techniques.
How To: Play a drone blues riff with your harmonica
In a two-part lesson on a drone-blues riff from the streets of Harlem. Also, news about the FIRST extended Satan and Adam recording made on the street back in 1989. (Gussow is using an A harp.)
How To: Sing, keep a strong beat, and play the harmonica
In a two part series Gussow gives an introduction to the fine art of singing, blowing harp fills, and keeping a strong beat, on a key of C harp.
How To: Play the opening riff of "Mother Mojo" on harmonica
Adam Gussow (of Satan and Adam) plays the opening riff of Mr. Satan's "Mother Mojo," then slows and dissects it, with side notes on how to adjust the reeds for faster response.
How To: Count and play your way through 12-bar blues change
A three-part lesson in how to count and play your way through 12-bar blues changes on your harmonica. Required: a copy of "Harp Attack," a 1990 Alligator Records release.
How To: Play overblows on your harmonica
Overblows! A quick-hit lesson on what they are, how to play them, and how to set up your harmonica to make them easier to play. Brief demo of overblow licks and Sony Rollins' "Tenor Madness."
How To: Practice to the blues scales on harmonica
Adam Gussow (of Satan and Adam) explains the blues scale and offers practice tips and inspiration to the harp player in search of self-transformation.
How To: Play harmonica one hole at a time
Watch this harmonica tutorial video to learn how to play the harmonica one hole at a time. The instructions for the exercise in this how-to video are helpful for harmonica players of any level, and the exercise will help build your creativity. Start simple and then increase complexity. Playing the harmonica one hole at a time will be easy using the tips in this instructional video.
How To: Tune your harmonica for better playing
After a little "free blowing" warm-up, Gussow (of Satan and Adam) puts his
How To: Learn to improvise on a harmonica
Ten key principles for blues harmonica improvisation, offered by harpist Adam Gussow. The first 8 are discussed here; the final 2 will be discussed in a short second video.
How To: Play the "blue third" on the harmonica
An intensive analysis of the "blue third," a quarter-tone that lies somewhere between the major and minor third and is a key constituent of the blues scale that all harmonica players must master. With Satan & Adam harpist Adam Gussow.
How To: Blow a harmonica through a 12 bar blues changes
In a three part series on how to blow harp through 12-bar blues changes, moving one particular riff--root, fifth, flat seventh, octave--up a fourth (for the IV chord) and a fifth (for the V chord). Gussow is using a D harp.
How To: Play third position blues on a harmonica
On a hot and sultry July afternoon in Mississippi, Gussow shows you how to play blues in B on an A harp in a two part series.
How To: Play first position blues on a harmonica
This is a four part series of four lessons on traditional and new approaches to first position blues playing an A harp in the key of A.
How To: Play the 4 hole draw on the harmonica
Gussow shows the importance of the 4 hole draw and suggests various ways of approaching the 4 hole draw and the 4 hole blow on a harmonica. This is for intermediate and advanced harmonica players.
How To: Warbles with your harmonica
This two part video series shows you how to warble with your harmonica. Part 1 of 2 - How to Warbles with your harmonica.
How To: Play glissando technique on the harmonica
This video shows you how to play glissando techniques on the harmonica.
How To: Play Train Songs and Fox Chase on harmonica
This two part video shows you how to play Train songs and Fox Chases on your harmonica. Part 1 of 2 - How to Play Train Songs and Fox Chase on harmonica.
How To: Tongue block on harmonica
This is a two part video to show you how to tongue-block on a harmonica. Part 1 of 2 - How to Tongue block on harmonica.
How To: Hold the harmonica the Gussow way
This video Gussow shows you how he likes to hold his harmonica.
How To: Hold the harmonica using the reference std grip
This video shows you how to hold the harmonica using the reference standard grip.
How To: Play the Upper Octave 7-10 holes on a harmonica
This is a three part video series to show you how to play the upper octaves on a harmonica, specifically 7-10 holes.
How To: Keep a steady beat on the harmonica
Learn to use phantom chords as beat-keeping tools on the 2 hole draw. also teaches syncopated harp breakdown on 1, 2, and 3 hole and call and response within chord patterns.
How To: Play a Sonny Terry rhythm
Adam Gussow discusses the "machine language" of the blues harmonica and deconstructs a rhythm by Sonny Terry.
How To: Combine a 2 hole draw with chord rhythms on harmonica
Adam Gussow teaches how to combine the 2 hole draw with chord rhythms using lip pursing and tongue blocking techniques.
How To: Play a clean 4 hole draw on the harmonica
Learn how to get a clean sounding 4 hole draw on the harmonica.
How To: Play clear single notes and vibrato on the harmonica
Learn how to play strong, clear single notes. Also covers vibrato. Part 1 of 2 - How to Play clear single notes and vibrato on the harmonica.
How To: Do lip pursing and tongue blocking
Lip pursing and tongue blocking are demonstrated in this video.
How To: Customize harmonicas
Five customized harmonicas are demonstrated in this video.
How To: Play the harmonica in ten minutes
Have you always wanted to play the harmonica but have no idea where to begin? Don't worry as we are going to show you an easy blues riff that anyone can play with just ten minutes practice! Play the harmonica in ten minutes.
How To: Play 'Silent Night' on harmonica
Learn to play the holiday song 'Silent Night' on harmonica.
How To: Circular Breathe
Learn how to circular breathe while playing the harmonica.
How To: Play 12 bar blues on the harmonica
How To Play the Harmonica: 12 Bar Blues (with a C major diatonic harp).
How To: Do over-blows or over-bends on harmonica
How To Do Over-Blows (Over-bends) on the harmonica in two parts. Part 1 of 2 - How to Do over-blows or over-bends on harmonica.
How To: Play the harmonica as a beginner
Beginning harmonica lessons in a short three part series. Part 1 of 3 - How to Play the harmonica as a beginner.
How To: Tongue block and lip purse the harmonica
How to tongue block and lip purse the harmonica. A skewed and blatantly biased over view of the wonderful, mythical and often dogmatic world of tongue blocking from a Lip Purser's thin toned point of view.
How To: Play root notes on the harmonica
How to play root notes on the harmonica. A look at the three root notes that make up the rudiments of a standard 12 bar blues and how they serve as an introduction to blues improvisation! Part 2 is an expansion by adding the 3 draw in all its bent and unbent forms as a harmony of the previously discussed root notes.
How To: Play advanced bending on the harmonica
How to play Advanced Bending on the Harmonica (A Harp played in 2nd position). An overview of which draw holes bend,how much and the importance of intonation and their use in all music including the blues.
How To: Play Minor Scales on the harmonica
How to play various Minor scales on a regular ten hole diatonic. (C harp)