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 5th) 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!