Raw Beginners Start Here!.mov

For RAW BEGINNERS--novice players who come to the instrument with little or no prior experience. With Adam Gussow, a professional harmonica player best-known for his extensive work with blues duo Satan and Adam.

If you were my private student and you arrived for your first lesson having just purchased (or been given) your first harmonica, I would spend much of that first hour showing you the things I show you here. The difference is this: a private lesson would cost you $60. This video costs you $4. I take apart the harp and give you a quick-hit lesson on how it's put together. I show you how to make single notes with the proper embouchure (mouth-shape). I show you the two ways that the majority of pro harp players hold the harp. I teach you a basic diatonic scale in the key of C, and I give you another exercise that will help familiarize you with every hole on the harp. I help you troubleshoot the problems that crop up when raw beginners try to play an ascending or descending series of notes involving multiple holes. I also give you a sample of my own playing.

In short, I do my best to frame the fundamentals in the clearest and most accessible way possible; to set priorities that can guide your future development; and to inspire you.

Harp key: C

Note: Unlike the great majority of the video tutorials available at Modern Blues Harmonica, this video has NO corresponding tab sheet.

Running time: 48:53 (long!)

Another Modern Blues Harmonica production (www.modernbluesharmonica.com)