Harmonica Beginners
Course Overview
Get to know how the harmonica works and learn how to play harmonica rhythms and simple melodies!
This 4-session Harmonica course is structured to allow you to learn different skills in each session, practise between the lessons, and then revise and learn new songs in the next class. Thus you build on your knowledge and skill base each lesson.
Start at the basics – a nursery rhyme – so that you don’t have to worry about the song. Just concentrate on getting to know the harmonica. After 4 sessions, you’ll finish playing one of the best-known blues songs ever – 'Hoochie Coochie Man'!
You will need to practise each day in between the classes in order to become proficient – about 30 minutes a day minimum. But who can stop at 30 minutes?!
Course Breakdown
Week 1
- The Diatonic Harmonica and how it works
- Producing a single note
- The major scale
- Simple tunes (nursery rhymes & 'Amazing Grace')
Week 2
- Multiple notes and playing chords
- Being expressive: The Wah and the Slide
- Introduction to bending notes
- 'Heart of Gold' (Neil Young)
Week 3
- Train sounds (obligatory for a blues player!)
- Chugga Chug
- The Whistle
- 12-bar blues xtructure
- Practise bending
- Mystery Train
- Harmonica etiquette
Week 4
- Bending
- Head rolls
- 'Hoochie Coochie Man' (Muddy Waters)
- Tongue blocking
- Harmonica history and great players
This outline provides an overview of what may be covered during the course; however, changes may occur based on various factors and the needs of the class.
Term Dates
Term 1 runs from Sunday 8 February to Sunday 2 March
Material List
- 10 Hole (Diatonic) harmonica in key of c.
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About the tutor
Graeme Druce
Graeme is guitarist and harmonica player who for many years played in the Doggn It Blues Duo, playing in festivals up and down the east coast and was a semi finalist at the 2013 International Blues festival in Memphis. Currently he plays in the guitar & harmonica duo The Throwbacks, plus is the guitarist in the much loved Sydney blues band the 12 Bar Dudes. This course will be based on the teaching methods used by harmonica legend Jim Conway.
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