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These are songs that have a highly recognizable, repeating riff that shapes the personality of the song. These include the Boogie, Box Shuffle, Rumba, Tramp and others.

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1 P Blues Download

This song is a study of 1st position or straight harp blues in the straight eighth note rumba groove.The very first known recording of blues harp was actually played in 1st position on January 31, 1924,and up until John Lee Williamson and SonnyTerry started recording in 1937, the percentage of 1st and 2nd position recordings was almost the same . . .

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4-P Blues Download

This is a study of 4th position and how it relates to the minor key sequenced riff used in “Green Onions” and “Help Me.” Minor keys are more challenging on the harp than standard blues keys. 4th position is a good option, especially if you have some skills bending the high exhale notes . . .

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5-P Blues Download

This song will help you to play in what is know to most hrp players as 5th position. Instead of having the 2 hole inhale as your root, it is now your 2 hole exhale. The "postiion" is great for minor keys as the flat 3rd, flat 6th and flat 7th are readily available. . .

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6-P Blues Download

This song is a study of 6th position with a nod to Rice Miller’s “Help Me” and Booker T’s “Green Onions”. Please do make note that “Help Me” was NOT played in 6th position nor am I implying that it should be. . . .

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Big Jim's Blues Download (Archived)

Intermediate Instruction - This lesson is a five chorus instrumental designed for an intermediate player to help develop techniques and abilities that can put the player on a path to better understand the traditional blues harmonica sound. This piece is a slow, low-down, Delta type of blues that exclusively uses the 6 note blues scale and heavily focuses on full bends on holes number 2 and number 4.

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Boogie Instrumental 2s Download

The goal with this LEVELII instrumental is to continue to build upon the Level I & Level II “mini” songs with an added harp solo. I suggest 4 months of experience before atempting this. Everything except the chords should be played using tongue blocking and tongue switch to play hole #1 without moving your jaw if you can.

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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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Boogie 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, more advanced breathing challenges, more advanced bending, and more advanced phrases

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Boot Camp Tramp (Archive)

This song is a study of the straight eigth (NOT a shuffle) groove most commonly known as the "Tramp" groove from the song "Tramp," popularized by Otis Redding and Carla Thomas.

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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 decending or like this version, ascending. The advantage of this is that it is highly recognizable . . .

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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 & Roll. It’s an Afro-Cuban clave rhythm. Most often you will hear this groove faster and used over a continuous I chord like the song “Bo Diddley.”

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First Straight Shuffle Download

This is a study of how to begin to start and 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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Little Boogie Download (Archived)

This song is a study of one of the blues harmonica essentials, playing a boogie riff. In the late 1940’s and early 50’s, this style of piece was recorded by Walter Horton, who appears to have called himself “Little Walter,” Forrest City Joe and Jimmy Rogers with more to follow. If you are able to play the first few bars with confidence and good rhythm, you will be able to start the song without a count-off and signal the band in at the IV chord. This song is also a warm-up for the study song “Shakey’s Boogie,” which is a warm up for the classic instrumental“Walter’s Boogie.”

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Mannish Blues Download

This is a study of the riff played in the Muddy Waters song, "Mannish Boy,' first recorded May 24, 1955 as a "I" chord tune. Certainly one of the most recognizable blues harmonica riffs of all time.

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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 light.”

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N-P Blues Download (Archive)

LEVEL III - This song is a study of the technique that I call the Nose Push (NP). The simple explanation is
releasing air through your nose simultaneously to playing an exhale note, split or chord. Failing to use the (NP) will make this tune nearly impossible to play. Playing an exhale note in place of the notated inhale ones will make the song less bluesy sounding. . .

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New Slow Blues Download - New July 2024

This song is a study in the guitar riff used in the Little Walter song “Just A Feeling.” It’s blues-lite as it uses the major third and the major sixth and also perfectly sequences over the IV chord. This is one of the easier level-three songs, but

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Out of the Box Download (Archive)

This song is a study in the "box Shuffle." It is an instantly recognizable classic blues riff that is the same groove as the "Jimmy Reed" but tends to sound a little more modern. It should be an essential part of all harp players repertoire.