The Good Doctor’s making house calls
We hope you’re staying safe and keeping well. A reminder that regular live lessons are available online to suit your time frame and budget.
Indeed, the Good Doctor is ready and waiting to coach you over internet right now! To book your online session, go to our Contact page and get in touch. We look forward to helping you achieve your music goals.
Warm Up – Low Rider by WAR (C Harmonica)
Skills Focus – Throat Vibrato
Ear Training – Learn to identify the keys and harp positions of our selected tracks
Schedule : Tuesday 7.00-8.00pm (UK)
Platform : Zoom
Entry : £10.00 GBP payable in advance
Sign up : paypal.me/harpsurgery (more…)
This information is given from a lip-pursed embouchure perspective, but may be useful for other embouchures. Audio files are based on a 10 hole diatonic harmonica in C major.
Newcomers to the harmonica can often find it difficult to play accurate single notes. Which is perfectly understandable. Let’s be honest, there really isn’t much to aim at. Plus the concepts of embouchure for accurate intonation and diaphragmatic breathing for tone have yet to be fully explored. Everyone has their own approach to gathering single note skills and some will find success sooner than others. If you are finding this skill elusive and frustrating however, don’t give up. It’s not that you can’t do it, just that you can’t do it yet. Give it time and you will get it. If this is your experience, welcome to the harmonica! Let’s run through a few ideas that may help you in your quest for isolating single notes.
Airtight
For the best tone and accuracy, first we need to eliminate any leakiness. This means placing your lips right round the mouth piece, with the corners of your mouth supportive but not rigid, and lips pushed slightly forward but not stiff. And drop that jaw. Remember also that each hole has dividers either side, so your target area is nearly twice as wide as your eyes might tell you. There is a margin around each hole. Pushing the harmonica into your lips will actually improve your accuracy, airtightness and tone.
Posture
Next you should remember to relax your posture. This includes your shoulders, neck, jaw and tongue. Make sure you’re not slumped or leaning on elbows either, as this compromises deep breathing from your diaphragm. If your cheeks are puffing in and out as you play, this probably means you are not moving warm air from deep down in your abdomen and your tone will suffer as a consequence. (more…)
The Perfect Musical Gift
What could be better than starting the New Year learning harmonica with a highly experienced, professional harmonica tutor (as heard on BBC TV).
Harp Surgery tutors students every day all around the world over Zoom, and one-to-one in the comfort of the Harp Surgery itself in Brighton & Hove (UK).
Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or it’s just for fun, this is the perfect way to show a loved one how much you care. Simply purchase a lesson, or multiple lessons, in advance and we will email you a voucher to print out at home. (more…)
Don’t start me talking, I’ll tell you everything I know
Elwood reminded folks at the Harp Surgery it’s the anniversary of Sonny Boy II’s birthday this week. How about we tab out one of his monster tracks? he suggested. The Doc stroked his goatee and lifted his bowler down from the coat stand. No need to tab one number, young Elwood, we’ll do them ALL he replied. But how is that possible? quizzed Elwood.
The Doc raised a sagely eyebrow. Once you’ve mastered his trademark cross-harp licks and timing, my boy, you can tackle much of his material. Then it’s a case of studying the first position harp work, timing and tone. But always remember you will never sound exactly like the master, nor should you . Elwood started warming his favourite blues burger. So where do we begin? he asked. From the turn around, answered the Doc, it’s his signature lick. It goes like this…
The keys to success
Different players and tutors will give different answers depending on their experience and personal preference. The choice is subjective and may also be steered by budget. From a practical perspective however, there are keys that are used a lot and others that tend to gather dust. Here’s our take.
A complete set of regular tuned harps will have twelve keys : A Bb B C Db D Eb E F F# G Ab
Most players start with a C harmonica. This is mid-range tonally and most tutorial information is published in this key. Next up are A D G F and Bb. These keys are used most often on the band stand, when jamming and when learning from recordings by the greats.
We then recommend a Low F. A regular F is very high tonally. A Low F lends itself to blow bending in holes 8-10. It’s also good for familiarising with the feel of Low tunings. Then we’d recommend Eb and Ab, and finally B, Db, E and F#. From experience, these last four are used least frequently.
You might also like to supplement your spread with a High G. Tonally a normal G is the lowest of the regular tunings. There may be the odd occasion when you want to work in a higher pocket. Pencil Full of Lead by Paolo Nutini is an example.
How low can you go?
From here, and if you’re willing to splash out, you can add your choice of Low tunings. These are an octave below regular tuned harps. They are not only ideal for creating a darker mood, but also for occupying a lower pocket when accompanying, for example, slide guitar. Listen to recordings by Son of Dave for an idea of how great these sound, and also Mr Lucky by Gary Primich.