Moving between Notes - Tremolo Lesson 4

Learning harmonica is like building a wall. If the blocks are too big they cannot be moved into place. However if each block is just a pebble, then, added one by one, the wall can be any size. Each lesson here is a small step, a pebble. The combined lessons build a good musician.

This lesson shows how to move between blow and draw notes, a skill needed for every tune.

Play the C blow note from the previous lesson. Use the mark on the harmonica to align it correctly. Now take the harmonica away from your mouth, bring it back and play the same note, without looking at the mark. Keep trying until the correct note sounds every time.

Now place the harmonica on your lap. Lift it to your mouth and play the C note, again without looking at the mark. This is harder, and may take a few days to get right. After a while the harmonica will always land correctly. When finding the light switch in a familar room there is no need to look, your hand works automatically. In the same way, with practice, your harmonica will always find the right place.

Now play the C, draw in to play the D, then move your mouth slightly to the right and blow the next note. This third note is called E, the three notes together sound like this.

If the second draw note is lower than the first blow note (the C), then move your mouth slightly to the right before starting.

Play the same three notes again, then come back down, first with the draw D, finishing with the C. It sounds like this.

Now try the exercise with a backing track. Listen a few times before joining in. Note that the exercise is played 4 times, finishing on a C.

When you can play it well, then try with the accompaniment only.

Music often has repeating phrases, like the exercise here. Skilled musicians play each phrase slightly differently, while keeping the same notes. Our ears detect these differences and like them. This is one of the secrets of good music.

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