Category Archives: Hints And Tips

Irish Harmonica – Garryowen

Posted on March 16, 2011 by Wilf

Eireann go Brach ! Virtually forgotten in the post-war revival of traditional Irish music, Celtic and folk harmonica has recently enjoyed a massive rise in popularity. This is largely down to the work of Brendan Power and Mick Kinsella, both of whom joined us at the UK … Continue reading →

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Country Harmonica – First Steps

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Wilf

I’m going up the country, baby do you wanna go? So you’re a blues harp player and you’ve been asked to cover a country tune. Or perhaps the blues got you started on the harp, but now you want to try something different. Either way, … Continue reading →

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Amazing Grate – First Steps On Those High End Holes

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Wilf

How strange the sound Young Malcolm called into the Harp Surgery today, hot on the heels of our Harpin’ By The Sea event. Having witnessed Will Greener’s performance of Amazing Grace, he was keen to revisit the tune from scratch. … Continue reading →

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1st Position Blues Harp – An Introduction (Part 3)

Posted on September 20, 2010 by Wilf

A guide to straight blues harping In previous posts we considered why 1st position blues can sometimes be left in the shadows. We also touched on building a general awareness of positional playing, how some positions are interchangeable, the Ionian Mode, the low … Continue reading →

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Harping in Havana – a bluesman’s introduction to Latin diatonic

Posted on July 25, 2010 by Wilf

Latin American diatonic for the uninitiated To witness Cuba’s musical pulse first hand and sip Mojitos in the sweat of Havana’s Bar Montserrate is privilege enough, but to sit in with the house band Sabor de Cuba, play the diatonic harmonica and get out alive? Ay … Continue reading →

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1st Position Blues Harp – An Introduction (Part 2)

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Wilf

A guide to straight blues harping In Part 1 we looked at an overview of first position. We considered why it may be something blues players put off till later. We noted that 1st position blues mainly comprises deep low end draw bends and confident … Continue reading →

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1st Position Blues Harp – An Introduction (Part 1)

Posted on May 27, 2010 by Wilf

A guide to straight blues harping No force, however great, can stretch a cord, however fine, into a horizontal line which is accurately straight. Elementary Treatise On Mechanics (William Whewell) The classic blues harmonica journey starts with a crusade to the Holy Shrine of cross harp. Whereupon, … Continue reading →

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3rd Position Blues Harp – An Introduction

Posted on February 12, 2010 by Wilf

Anon they move, In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mode, Of flutes and recorders. Paradise Lost (Milton) When we first take up the diatonic harp, we’re on a mission from God. Nothing, but nothing’s going to get in our way. … Continue reading →

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Octaving The Blues On Harmonica

Posted on December 31, 2009 by Wilf

Putting double-barreled blues harp into your playing As a journeyman blues harp player listening to the experts, there were moments when those guys hit what I call the tickle spot and I shuddered with pleasure. For years I just couldn’t … Continue reading →

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Harmonica Effects 1 – Police Sirens

Posted on November 28, 2009 by Wilf

Our Lady of blessed acceleration don’t fail me now As we know, every Blues Harp player grows twitchy when they hear the sound of Cop Cars in pursuit. Unless, of course, they happen to be driving one themselves. But have … Continue reading →

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