Blues Harmonica Riffs / Blues Harp licks, Jamming, and Improv Instruction

Basic Blues Improv

[Blues Riffs]

BASIC
BLUES RELATED
IMPROV AREAS:
Beginners
Blues RiffsStart Here
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(Improv Blues CD's
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Tips)"
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Simple blues riffs are perhaps the most common way for one to begin
Breathing
improvising on the harmonica. Use repetition of a single riff and pauses
More/Jamming
between these riffs to create a more melodic feeling to your playing. Sound
Adv. Techniques
files examples, explanations, and instruction are directly below the blues
Song Lessons riffs.
Tabs
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Blues Harmonica Riffs / Blues Harp licks, Jamming, and Improv Instruction

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■ "Number and Arrow" system of notation- The "up" arrows indicate blow
(exhale) notes and the "down" arrows are for the draw (inhale) notes- The little
"b's" under the bent arrows are flat signs. One "b" is a half step bend and two
"b's" are a whole step bend (as shown in the graphic below).

The number and arrow system.

■ All riffs are played in the 2nd position- For more information on 2nd
position, visit the General Overview section.

■ Use your own timing- Except for the triplet riffs, you can use your own timing
with these riffs to make them fit into whatever song you are playing with. Listen
to the sound file below the riffs to help get you started.

■ For Intermediate and Advanced players- you can add a 4 draw bend
between the 4 blow and the 4 draw of the "Almost Blues Scale" riff. This will
make it a complete one octave blues scale.

■ "Jam-To" Blues MIDI File- If you would like a quick, easy background song to
begin jamming to, you can use the "Jam-To" MIDI File in "G" to try out the
different riffs and ideas outlined here. Additional MIDI files are also available.

■ CDs to play along with- You'll also want to take a look at the CDs: Song Keys
section which contains a listing of albums with each track "keyed" so that you

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Blues Harmonica Riffs / Blues Harp licks, Jamming, and Improv Instruction

will be able to jam to the songs found on it. Most of the CDs can be purchased
via our Store: Buy Music CDs page. Beginning jammers will find the
"Recommended for Beginners" CDs page a great place to start.

Click here to learn about the "Techniques Improv" or "Target Notes"

approach to jamming.

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armonica Playing Info-Harmonica/Blues Harp Terms & Definitions

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Basic Blues Improv

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and get started.

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