This channel contains some harmonica instruction mostly regarding the chromatic harmonica but I am equally passionate about diatonic harp and you will also see some content regarding that instrument. You'll find a bit of music theory and jazz improvisation content here and in addition to performance videos. I love all the free music instruction on RU-vid but be aware that if you really want to dig in and go through a course I have some of those on my website. Improvising Chromatic Harmonica for the Modern Musician Volume 1 focuses on fundamentals in the keys of C, F, G, and D and we will also be playing blues in those keys. Volume 2 of the method covers Bb, Eb, E and A. Volume 3 has not been released yet. I'm REALLY into this concept of working on the harp in all keys and have broken the method up into 3 volumes to cover the 12 keys. There are other courses on my site as well. chromaticlessons.com/harmonica-courses/
Ross, great job, esp spreading the word about e# & b#... much better phrasing in scaler motion. FWIW, I always like to go up to the 9th degree on scale practice... the rhythms are always so much more pocket-landing on the 1. Great blowing on the jam track at the end. -professionals steal/amateurs borrow is what I say...and I will be a stealin...
Thanks for posting (subscribed), excellent lesson plan for me. Especially liked learning the alternate F and G. Just wrote the tab out and put it in my lesson binder. Please keep posting these great videos. I'm a 50 year diatonic player. Best regards from Stonington CT
Not meaning to leave a negative comment, but shouldn't the D Dorian end with 5 draw? 4 draw slide in is C and 5 blow is C. I'm in the middle of your Chromatic course and totally see the benefits of using the alternate F and C and have been using them in my song practice. Just wanted to point out the tab, it threw me off at first. Good to see you posting these lessons, thanks Ross 😊
Good catch! I'm so glad you pointed this out. You are correct it should be 5 draw. I made a note in the video description. I thought I tested all these out.
On the high D you need to reduce the volume of the mouth cavity. Raise your tongue or close your jaws a little bit, just like you want bend note, and it will sound great
Dabell Story does not have a plastic mouthpiece like LO I belive.I really like exploring alternative tuning in minor and 3rd.I am getting the chromatic instruction also.
I've got that book, just going through it now, got it cheap. Wow 1965, i knew it was old cos some of the words used & when recommending a harp to start with he didn't mention the Special 20 or Lee Oskar, etc but said to get a Marine Band, great harp but not often mentioned as a beginner harp now.
Obvious you are a skilled player. Thanks for the teaching, and Gods Blessings on you and your family as we continue towards an ever increasing evil world. My harmonica is my (voice) i use to play praises to Jesus. Xx
why is that? on my 64 chromonica B draw (12 draw) sounds kinda bad, it sounds weak or not at all and need so much air, the other three notes on hole 12 are just fine. the D plays amazing BTW!
Beware of the "Koch" chromatic harmonica, it has part diatonic and regular chromatic scales, hard to play. Bought mine by mistake many years ago. I'm curious why original harmonica designers arranged diatonic and chromatic harmonicas they way they did it.
I like your analysis albeit your knowledge of music theory is waaaay above mine....I'm mostly a play it by ear kind of guy albeit I do appreciate the fact that learning scales opens many musical doors and is the gateway to increasing one's repertoire. I just had my Larry Adler Professional 16 Hole chromatic restored recently after it was found in my daughters sand box in 1991. I bought this in 1975 and played it along with diatonic harmonicas.....but it was all by ear and with little reference to music theory. I've been following you lately and I like your methods and techniques so will continue to and perhaps introduce some structured practicing around it. Can you be contacted via email regarding some type of formal lessons?
Good one! I can't read sheet music, so it doesn't matter that I can't see exactly what you're doing on paper. It's a great exercise. Even though I've been singing and playing this song for a while, I always do it in the same key, so moving the first changes through several different keys is challenging.
That's interesting. It would be a lydian scale unless you bent that note down. But the other altered note would be handy to have in the first octave. The "A" note on a C harp. I think 3rd position would be nice on a MM tuning. Or did I already mention that in the video?
@@ross-harmonica I remember you mentioning that scale. I play mostly folk songs, that is why I ask, if one plays in first position melodies I would assume then it will sound off, unless one needs that note, then it is perfekt 👍🏻 choose melodies after harmonica
It sounds good on this recording when I listen back. I will say that my Suzuki SC-48 feels like it plays a little crisper in its response. Which makes sense when comparing the price of these two instruments.
At present the only key chromatic I am using on this channel is C. Generally chromatic players don't use position numbers except if they are talking about traditional blues chromatic in 3rd position. For this video you could say I'm in 5th position on a C harp.
