Over the Waterfall

Title: Over the Waterfall

Style: Bluegrass/Old Time

Type of Harmonica: Diatonic

Notes: In this teaching track from Chapter 15 of Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition, I play a bluegrass classic using both simple note playing and harmonized melody using a technique called “splits.”

 

Windermere

Title: Windermere

Style: Blues

Type of Harmonica: XB-40

Notes: This blues-inspired tune brings out the humor – familiar to every touring band – in a small-town bar scene. It also demonstrates the extended bending capabilities of such all-bending harmonicas as the Hohner XB-40 and the X-reed MB30.

Lammen Laine

Title: Lammen Laine

Style: Folk Ballad

Type of Harmonica: Chromatic

Ensemble: Winslow and Tuula Tossavainen on violin

Notes: I team up with violinist Tuula Tossavainen to play a jazz treatment of a beautiful folk ballad from her Finnish heritage. This video was shot as part of the 2009 West Coast Jazz Harmonica Summit DVD. Learn more here.

 

This Train

Title: This Train

Style: Gospel

Type of Harmonica: Diatonic

Notes: In this gospel classic from Chapter 14 of Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition, I show you how to integrate train sounds and how to add rhythm with tongue blocking techniques.

Spanish Changes

Title: Spanish Changes

Style: Jazz

Type of Harmonica: Diatonic

Ensemble: Winslow and Tuula Tossavainen on violin

Notes: In an exotic Spanish-tinged approach to the 12-bar blues, Tuula and I heat up the stage at the Jazz Harmonica Summit. Note the special use of a handheld metal cup to alter the sound of the harmonica. This video was shot as part of the 2009 West Coast Jazz Harmonica Summit DVD. Learn more here.

 

Tom Tom

Title: Tom Tom

Style: Rock Blues

Type of Harmonica: Diatonic

Notes: In this track from Chapter 13 of Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition, I play a blues rock tune inspired by Bo Diddley that shows how to play in D on a C harmonica (third position).

All I Want

Title: All I Want

Style: Blues

Type of Harmonica: Diatonic

Notes: This teaching tune from Blues Harmonica For Dummies is inspired by the light swing of Little Walter’s “One More Chance with You.”

 

Saskatchewan Crossing

Title: Saskatchewan Crossing

Style: Folk-Jazz Fusion

Type of Harmonica: Chromatic

Notes: This tune from the CD Harmonica: Northern Traditions Reimagined fuses Scottish-inspired melody with French-Canadian foot rhythm and jazz chord changes for a unique portrait of the epic river journeys of the Canadian west.

Note Bending

Title: Winslow’s teaching interview on note bending with David Barrett (snippet)

Type of Harmonica: Diatonic

Notes: David Barrett interviewed me for his bluesharmonica.com subscription site. In this excerpt we discuss bending the high notes on a diatonic harmonica.

 

Bat Wing Leather

Title: Bat Wing Leather

Style: Bluegrass/Old Time

Type of Harmonica: Diatonic

Notes: This original, written for the harmonica, has the old-time flavor that you find in films such as O Brother, Where Art Thou. It’s in Chapter 15 of Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition.

Wildwood Flower

Title: Wildwood Flower

Style: Folk

Type of Harmonica: Diatonic

Notes: This much-loved folk/old-time tune is fairly easy to play and is included in Chapter 14 of Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition.

 

Little Brown Island in the Sea

Title: Little Brown Island in the Sea

Style: Celtic

Type of Harmonica: Diatonic

Notes: This haunting Scottish melody helps you get familiar with third position (key of D on a C harmonica), which opens up all sorts of tunes in folk music, fiddle tunes, and blues.