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The Level III player is generally someone who has learned at least most of the Level II songs and --
- with six months or more of playing experience
- who has developed a degree of confidence with, and repertoire in
              - twelve bar blues structure
              - shuffle rhythm
              - who can play from memory and with competence, at least one tune from Level II or equivelent.

The goal of Level III material is to introduce the student to the wide variety of challenging repertoire with basic bending and intermediate tongue blocking.

Below are all LeveI III titles and general info

Level III Study Songs

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5-Hole Instrumental 3 Download

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5-P Blues JR Download

This song is a study in both minor blues and fifth position. This 5-P Blues Jr is a little shorter and easier version of another study song called “5-P Blues.” It’s similar to playing the major pentatonic scale in cross harp, but instead of the home root note resolving on the 2-inhale, this position resolves on the 2-exhale. . . .

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Aurora Shuffle Download

This study song is a revised and easier version of “East Aurora Shuffle” which is a revised version of “Buffalo Shuffle-O,” and was named in honor of Rick Nicotra and other friends in the Buffalo area. It has a Big Walter Horton sound to it. . .

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Bird Instrumental 3 Download

The goal with this LEVEL III instrumental is to continue to build upon the Level I & Level II versions of this song that you have memorized. It’s quite likely that you will need a minimum of a year of experience before attempting this. The new techniques you will use are vamping (v) and the rapid vamping (RV) chordal effect heard on tracks 4, 8, 10, 12, 16 & 18. . .

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Bird Instrumental 3-Plus Download

The goal with this LEVEL III plus instrumental is to continue to build upon the previous versions of this song. It’s quite likely that you will need about two years of experience before attempting this. The new things you will be introduced to are ghost chords used in between the vamping/slapping and other challenging places, more advanced breathing challenges, and use of the nose push (NP), more advanced bending and more advanced phrases. All the usual techniques are here . . .

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Boogie Instrumental 3 Download

The goal with this LEVEL III instrumental is to continue to build upon the Level I & Level II versions of this song that you have memorized. It’s quite likely that you will need a minimum of a year of experience before attempting this. The new techniques you will use are dirty notes, ornamental bending, vamping and the split-4 block. . .

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Chicago Box Shuffle Download

This is a study of the riff often called the “Box Shuffle” by guitar and bass players. It can be played descending, or like this version, ascending. The advanta

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Cubano Cha Cha Download

This is a study of the Cha-cha-cha groove originated in Cuba and used by Muddy Waters in the head of later versions of his song, “Walking Thru the Park,” Slim Harpo’s “Buzzin,” and Junior Wells’s “Cha Cha Cha in Blue” are other recorded songs using this type of riff driven groove. . .

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Did-lee 12-Bar Download

This LEVEL III instrumental is a study of the Hambone groove very often associated with many songs by Bo Diddley and early rock 'n roll. It’s an Afro-Cuban clave instrument rhythm. Most often you will hear this groove faster and used over a continuous 1 chord like the song “Bo Diddley.”

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Down Low Blues Download

This song is a study in how you can make your playing more bluesy sounding. It is the result of a talk I give about how you can increase your Blues Horse Power (BHP).

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E-Z Instrumental 3 Download

The goal with this LEVEL III instrumental is to continue to build upon the Level I & Level II versions of this song that you have memorized. It’s quite likely that you will need a minimum of a year of experience before attempting this. The new techniques you will use are dirty notes, ornamental bending, vamping, rapid vamping and the split-4 block . . .

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First Straight Shuffle Download

This is a study of how to start to incorporate the skill of first position or, straight harp ,blues playing. Up until 1937, about half of the blues playing was in second position and the other half in first. Currently, blues harp styles are taught starting off with second position. This is a beginning approach to playing straight harp blues while using all 10 holes. .

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Greazy Bluez

This is a study of two iconic riffs seen in the previous study songs, “Big Jim’s Blues” and “N P Blues.” I believe that both of these blues scale riffs radiate intense, dark, ornery blues. Folks know it within a few seconds of hearing. If you don’t like blues, this is not for you.

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Inhale Blues Download

This is a study of how inhaling is one of the secrets to where the deepest and darkest blues is to be found on the harp. The inspiration came from the slow blues recordings of Little Walter and how, after carefully transcribing many of his recordings, I came to realize that frequently more than 90% of all the notes he played were only inhaling notes . . .

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Jerry's Cajun Blues Download

This is a study of the Cajun approach to playing the harmonica which seems to have first been recorded by Arteleus Mistric on November 7, 1929 and later by players like Isom Fontenot and my dear brother Mr. Jerry Devillier, for whom this song is named. Key to the Cajun approach is playing lots of splits that outline the chord changes and keep the rhythm pumping accurately with the breath pulse. This is exactly what the single row Cajun accordion is doing. It is basically tuned just like the harmonica. Check out the Filisko Tongue Block Trainer if you need help developing accuracy with your splits.

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John Lee's Blues

This song is a study of the style of John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson #1 who recorded from 1937 to 1948. If you already have my study song “Jail W. Blues,” you may not need this as it is easier, but has an accompaniment part behind the guitar solo. His driving aggressive big sound & tone playing approach is the foundation of the Chicago Blues playing style. . .

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Keys to the Highway Download

This is a study of the very common blues melody known as “Key To The Highway.” It’s an easier arrangement of the older FiliskoStore study song, “Key To The High Weigh.” The song is associated with Big Bill Broonzy and Jazz Gillum and was first recorded in 1941 . . .

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Mississippi Groovin' Download - New July 2024

This Mississippi groove study song is likely the very first of its kind. The structure is similar to the Filisko study song “DeFord’s Dream” and how it’s put together. You should start with DeFord’s Dream if you have not already. It’s much easier. . . .

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Monday Blues Download

This song is a revised version of an earlier song called "B1 Blues." The riff is based off of the major pentatonic scale and also sequenced over the IV chord. It is tonally very “major” sounding and could be thought of as “blues lite.”

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Need More Walter Download

This LEVEL III instrumental is another in the style of Big Walter “Shakey” Horton. It’s also a simplified and refined version of an earlier study song called “I Need My Baby Blues.” . . .