Lessons Appendix

Appendix A: Suggestions for further reading.

• Before you spend any money, check the Links page, you will find a lot of  information from experts and some other's reviews and suggestions.
• I strongly recommend "Complete Classic Chicago Blues Harp"(c)1995 by David Barret - Mel Bay Publications Inc - Includes a CD, you will learn to bend, some music notation, playing techniques, a lot of licks, understand the most used positions, and more. Also includes complete scores of three blues songs. Level: Medium to Advanced. As you'll get used to his notation the you can try some of his harp masters transcriptions.
• "Building Harmonica Technique"(c)1994 by David Barret - Mel Bay Publications Inc -. It's a mix of an earlier version of the book above with more advanced techniques and theory. Includes a tape or CD. Level: Medium to Advanced.
• Mel Bay's "Complete Harmonica Book" by Phil Duncan. It covers from how to hold the harmonica to music notation, Diatonic harmonica, Blues, Rock, Country, Gospel, Chromatic harmonica, Jazz and Bass harmonica. Not much Blues Harp but it's a great reference. Includes a tape. Level: Basic to Medium.
• "Blues Harmonica Masterclass" by Jerry Portnoy.
• "Jazz Harp"  1980 by Richard Hunter - Oak Publications -. Excelent book, Jazz fundamentals and styles analysis, interviews, techniques.
• More suggestions later, drop me a note to add your suggestions.

Appendix B: The big ones, famous blues/jazz harp players.

Little Walter
Sonny Boy Williamson II
Walter Horton
Paul Butterfield
Toots Thielemans
Charlie Musselwhite
William Clarke
Rod Piazza
James Cotton
Carey Bell
Kim Wilson
Howard Levy
Paul DeLay
Gary Primich
Annie Raines
Mark Hummel

Appendix C: Positions cross-reference.

Note that you can get this information from the circle of fifths. On that circle you have consecutive fifths, starting on C until you get again the C note. The notes are: C G D A E B F# C# Ab Eb Bb F C ... For example if you play a Bb instrument in 3rd position, you go to the circle on the Bb position and count 3 (to the right) starting on Bb, and you get the C (compare with the table above), then you're playing in Key of C.

Appendix D: Song keys.

Appendix E: Sound files.

Here we have two audio formats: MIDI and RealAudio.

You MUST configure your web browser to handle these formats.

• Can-Can, Middle registers, C Harmonica, 7.30 sec. MIDI , RealAudio.
• Can-Can, Low registers, Bending 2th and 3rd holes, I'm still practicing this, 7.80 sec. MIDI , RealAudio.
• Bluesy sound, Bending low holes. RealAudio.
• Bending the 2nd hole, 8.20 sec. RealAudio.
• Bending the 3rd hole, 8.15 sec. RealAudio.
• Bending the 8th hole, still practicing, 2.20 sec. RealAudio.
• Ending lick, SBW II or LW style. 6.30 sec. RealAudio.
• Ending lick, classic blues style (uses -2' and -2''). 12.15 sec. RealAudio.

Note that the sound is not like the Chicago style blues, because I've recorded them putting the mic on my shirt. Please check the files using the mic inside the hands cup, and note the diference... you can ear a distorted and very Chicago style sound.

Appendix F: Tips and suggestions.

• Always carry your harmonica. Try to keep it inside the case when you don't use it.
• Warm your harmonica before you start to play hard, remember that a sudden temperature change on a metal can accelerate its fatigue, and you can break or detune a reed.
• Learn to read music, it's very important if you want to play with other musicians.
• Don't be afraid to open and clean your harp. Maybe you must adjust the reeds gap for your particular playing style.

Suggestions from the users.

• Play softly for a couple of weeks before trying to bend on a new harp. ( Steven Jones ).
• Try to use diaphragmic breath control to control the loud and soft tone. If you do, you will not overblow the reeds, which causes reed fatigue. Use breath control to get the better tone quality. You can use the shape of your mouth, tongue to get the different tonal changes. ( Richard Martin, The Harmonica Educator newsletter ).
• Start light on the harp. Don't go blow and draw like crazy on the harp till you know what you're doing. ( David Rosenberg ).
• Work on breath control to keep the harp full of air, both drawing and blowing with equal facility.( T.T. Wilson).
• Use just enough force to achieve the desired sound.
• For repairs: Be careful when handling the harp with covers off. Also use a good technique for tuning. (Anonymous ).

Some congratulations from you (the users), for the diferent pages (thanks!):

• This page is wonderful! Outstanding for a beginner like me! ( rwhite@kaiwan.com ).
• Good work, your page is looking great! ( Gary, BluesWEB ).
• Thank you. ( Verner Blindheim ).
• Thank you for this page. ( PaulKatz@compuserve.com ).
• I enjoyed your instruction page very much. I have been having the same problem with my ProHarps. The middle draw notes tend to break first. I chose the Pro series because it seemed to have less resistance than the others. I found this important for I, I'm a trumpet player and tend to over blow the harps. Thanks for the help. ( Bruce Chidester ).
• Nice page,  needs more riffs I'm a begining bluesharp player.( appollo@satnet.com ).
• Thanks for the timely information. Your's is the best page and information on the harp that I have seen. ( Kent Kincey ).
• (For the repairs notes) A very interesting piece. Great photos most helpful. (John Whiteboy Walden).
• Wonderful!! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and photos!! ( E.Marx ).
• Cool page, man! BTW Sonny Terry died recently. He was from the city I live in -Knoxville, Tenn.- (John Kindt)
• You sound pretty good for someone who's only been playing for 18 months! Keep up the good Work (Ev Meagher).
• Diablo, Lo Mejor!! This is quite the harp page! Keep up the good work, I'd say you put quite a bit of time into this project. My compliments.(Peter Guggenheim).
• I enjoyed the page.I appreciate the effort you put in to it. I've been trying to get better at the harp for a number of years now. You sound pretty good. Thanks. (Steve Noonan, Connecticut, USA).
• Javier, This is great, I've been looking for a site like this for a year now and I've finally found. I will return many times. love the info on the Blues tracks with the keys. (Adrian Day).
• I am a harp lover from way bach! I like your web sight. It has some great tips and lots of very usefull information. (Charles Potter, check his page).
• You have come a long way in just a year and a half. You have a great website. Thanks.(Jack Earl creator of the Free Gospel Harmonica Lessons).
• Great page. Keep up the good work (Greg Preston).
• I have just began to work with a harp I have here at school and your page has been an incredible resource. It is not only a tribute to technology that I can even access beginning blues harmonica tips from a person in South America but a tribute to blues players across the world. You have put time and effort into providing a pace for begginers like me to come and have a place to start learning how to play the harp. Thank you so much. Your work has not gone in vain.(Craig Henderson)
• Very good page, excellant info, well presented! (Anonymous)