Blues Harmonica
Do you play blues harmonica - but think you need to know more to go to the next level in your playing? Here is your chance to sound even better - understand the hows and whys of good playing.
This course is to help you understand what you are doing on your blues harmonica, so you can build on it and expand your skills even more.
AGE: Suitable for ages 16 to adult
SKILL LEVEL:Intermediate - Suited to those who have some experience, but are looking to learn new techniques and explore more complex projects.
SCHEDULE: Half Days - Monday 13 to Friday 17 January 2025 - 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
VENUE: Bellingen High School
Check out the courses below that could be paired with this half-day course…
Do you play blues harmonica - but think you need to know more to go to the next level in your playing? Here is your chance to sound even better - understand the hows and whys of good playing.
This course is to help you understand what you are doing on your blues harmonica, so you can build on it and expand your skills even more.
AGE: Suitable for ages 16 to adult
SKILL LEVEL:Intermediate - Suited to those who have some experience, but are looking to learn new techniques and explore more complex projects.
SCHEDULE: Half Days - Monday 13 to Friday 17 January 2025 - 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
VENUE: Bellingen High School
Check out the courses below that could be paired with this half-day course…
Do you play blues harmonica - but think you need to know more to go to the next level in your playing? Here is your chance to sound even better - understand the hows and whys of good playing.
This course is to help you understand what you are doing on your blues harmonica, so you can build on it and expand your skills even more.
AGE: Suitable for ages 16 to adult
SKILL LEVEL:Intermediate - Suited to those who have some experience, but are looking to learn new techniques and explore more complex projects.
SCHEDULE: Half Days - Monday 13 to Friday 17 January 2025 - 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
VENUE: Bellingen High School
Check out the courses below that could be paired with this half-day course…
course info
Please read all course information below before purchasing tickets for this event.
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By the end of the week, you’ll be able to:
Understand what cross harp means, the first five different positions and play the minor pentatonic scale in 2nd, 3rd and 4th
Play the scale blues scale in 2nd position smoothly
Improve your tone using vibrato and hands
Play a range of moveable riffs and fills up and down the first six holes
Play 2 + shuffle rhythms
Understand and play along to a 12-bar blues progression
Improvise to a blues backing track using the learnt scales, and patterns, and add your own free style
Combine all of the above to either play on your own or jam with others
Sound like a legend!
DAY ONE
Explore the first five cross harp positions. Understand the holes and notes on your C harp
Practice bending
Develop and practice the best hand position for you
Learn the minor pentatonic scales
Play a shuffle rhythm in 2nd position
Practice a basic improvisation
DAY TWO
Learn the blues scale in the second position
Learn a vibrato technique
More minor pentatonic scale work
Learn a ‘Pat Ramsey’ lick and practice in different positions
Practice playing an F on hole 2, a Bb and A on hole 3, and a Db on hole 4 (bending)
More improvising
DAY THREE
Recap and practice what’s been learnt so far
Learn a moveable triangle lick and play in different position
Learn how to play along to the 12 Bar Blues
Start to develop your own favourite licks
Add holes 8, 9 and 10 to your licks
Improvise in 3rd position
DAY FOUR
Learn some new scale intervals Add some hand wah wah
Mix some different licks together with some sustained notes
Understand and practice turn arounds
Practice increasing speed on licks
Learn some new blues licks in various positions
Improvise in 4th position
DAY FIVE
Review and practice all of above
Talk about home practice and what to do
Talk about mics, amps and effect pedals
Prepare own solos for concert
Practice as a group for the concert
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Please bring the following on your first day of class:
MUST have a good quality blues harp in the key of C – Hohner (Marine Band), Special 20, Pro Harp, Blues Harp, Tombo – Lee Oscar or Seydel (Session Steel)
Having a backup harp is a good idea – either C or an F harp can cover you
Two notepads – one for scribbling notes and one for transcribing
Pencil and a rubber
A clipboard for handouts
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People who already play a blues harp but would like to improve.
People who have attended a previous blues harp course
Ukelele, banjo, piano players etc. who would like to add another instrument.
“Tutor Neil Buckley is a great asset. He helped amazingly with a well structured and planned program. Understanding and thoughtful, he took a class with little or no musical knowledge from zero to moderate competence as an average. An extremely versatile musician, himself he really did “ turn himself inside out” to achieve a result.”
YOUR COURSE TUTOR
Neil Buckley
Neil started out as a brass and keyboard player, from his start in music at the age of six.
After gaining a Diploma Music Specialist in 1974 from Alexander Mackie CAE, he taught high and primary school instrumental and concert bands from 1975 to 1984 on the northern beaches in Sydney. At the same time, he played sax with a rock and roll band, with gigs all over Sydney.
Over the years since leaving the public school system, he played with A Grade brass bands and concert bands here and in the UK.
He took up blues harp as an aside to jam with guitars in the 80’s while he was playing sax. This was after doing a gig with an amazing blues player – before that, he didn’t know anything about them.
His main gigging these days however is solo – looping a 4-string CB guitar and percussion while singing and then playing over it with harp and keys.
