OMG!!! You have totally opened me up to a new perspective of appreciation and understanding of my world of music. I do this!!!!! But I didn't KNOW that I do this. Now I do. It's the middle of December 2017. I'm 65. I'll come back here in a month, the middle of January 2018 and let you know what has happened to my musical experience now that I KNOW I am seeing the possibilities of my harmonica as a mental construct, a brainstrument. I am the music. But now I really C that I am the music. Thank you!!!
Hey Hugh, glad this resonated with you. Similar journey myself, I played for many years before consciously connecting to my mental model - brainstrument. Cheers, Lee
Lee, I have done this a zillion times on the major scale. But doing it across the harp is a real challenge and stretching the skills. Thanks bro. Wonderful lesson given straight up and friendly, no wasted time. One of the best lessons. I transcribed the tabs into my little 3 by 5 book I carry with my harps. Nice man. Much appreciate your style of teaching. The 10' is really a challenge. Now I have a structure to motivate me and get it! Don Schmitz
+Don Schmitz Hi Don, thanks for watching and for your high praise. Yes this is great way of playing through the 3 octaves and getting on top of the fact they are all laid out differently and require different approaches. As I say in the video, practising this will pay dividends in helping you utilise the full range of the harp and also honing those low end bends down. Cheers, Lee
Lee, I'm so glad I found you here on TH-cam, you're really a great teacher certainly one of the best I've found. This is an incredibly useful and productive exercise! Thank you so much for all your time and effort. Jerry Lee
+JERRY LEE Thanks for posting such nice feedback. I have plenty of other videos on my channel as well as a 15 lesson course on Country Blues to rent on Vimeo. Cheers, Lee
A cracking lesson Lee and thanks for sharing it. This will open doors for a lot of people's techniques. Around hole 6 and 7 where everything changes can be a weird place to be if you're not well trained there!
+TEG7651 Ah thanks for your interest. Glad my videos have helped you. If you want to show support, you could pick-up my albums on iTunes, try renting my country blues course on Vimeo or just spread the word. Thanks again! Lee
+Lee Sankey I've got your music from iTunes. S'picious Woman," My Day is Just Beginning" is what I listen when I start falling into a rut. I'll check out your Vimeo course..I always spread the WORD!! Tim
+TEG7651 Hi Tim, that's great. Very flattered that S'picious Woman provides some inspiration, that's very cool. Thanks for trying the Vimeo course. Let me know how you get on. You can mail me at info@leesankey.com
Lee, this is a fantastic exercise. Thank you. Below I posted the tab. I got lost a bit so I had to make a chart --and thought I would share. Thanks again
Man, was this a great lesson👏 I loved how you related the musical notes in a physical way😝 Thinking of playing the exercise in both a visual and auditory example helps to think of the exercise👍🏿 What's more,is using both a visual and auditory perception enhances how the music should be played.😁 It helps me think about what I'm playing and where to go when needed.
Lee, as you mentioned in the replies below, using a lower key harp helps on the blow bend 10. I had no joy (at the moment...) using a C harp, using a G and it now works, cool ;-) Again, thanks for all those lessons, sure helps!
Thanks for the feedback. It helps me to know when a piece of advice connects with someone. Now are getting a basic grasp of banding the 10 on a G harp the basic technique will be the same on the C harp however it requires more precision and subtlety due to the shorter length of the reed. But by the sounds of it, you're on your way!
Hi Lee, thanks for posting and no offence taken. I don't typically provide tabs in my vids. 1. I try to explain things clearly in the video 2. It's super, super, super important that people learn to use their ears which you won't if everything is constantly laid out for you and 3. I don't have time. Sorry. Not the answer you wanted. But if you go back watch this again and put the missing pieces together using your ears and trial and error, it will definitely make you a better player. Use those ears! Lee
Great lesson as usual Lee,it is very difficult to master at the high end at hole seven upwards where the sequence flips,i'll stick with it,i can't do the bend on 10 hole,i might try it on a G harp.
+LuvBlues64 THanks. Yep the high end is tricky especially that d10*. Good idea to try on a lower harp. It will make controlling the reed a bit easier. The hardest part though is playing through all 3 octaves smoothly, in time, in one go. That requires navigating all the bends and the change in of layout in each octave. That's the point of the exercise. Cheers, Lee
bravo on the videos just started at christmass and i am able play a few song's. Would you do a video on train rythem please. it is one thing i would love to try and get to grips with. phil
As a beginner this is great! Any advice on identifying when you hit the bends? I have a hard time distinguishing between the half step and full step on practically all bends and overblows. Cheers.
+usmcecb Thanks. As a beginner stay away from overblows and focus on the basics which provide the foundations for making music. E.g timing, phrasing etc. Learn some tunes. Don't be seduced by technical wizardry that sounds shit in the hands of a beginner. That can come later. In terms of bends there are three things you can do to help train your ears. A) if you play a second instrument like the guitar or piano, hit the note in question then try to match on the harmonica. B) use a tuner - there are mobile apps you can use C) Use an app which replicates keyboard sounds and use that to play against. Essentially you are looking for a reference note. Cheers, Lee
Hi Lee, great exercise as always! Have you ever thought about doing something similar with a different scale like Blues scale in 2nd? The blue 3rd would be missing on the high octave, but it still makes sense in my eyes...
You could certainly give that a go, but there would as you say, be notes missing. But being able to play up and down smoothly and consistently in a variety of scales is the hallmark of learning to play an instrument IMHO. Lee
Hi Lee thanks for another great video. I usually use Bendometer software in my exercises, it can see the notes graphically. according to your method The Brain Instrument model, do you recommend using such a these software?
I think this exercise has great value, but I am confused. There are references to a draw bend on hole 10 and tablature posted in the comment section, but isn't the only bend available in the 10 hole a blow bend. Can you clarify?
Hi Wayne, thanks for posting your questions. Yes, references to draw 10 bend are incorrect. The 10 hole has two blow bends, a semi tone and a tone. Also there's an overdraw. For this exercise however you need the semi-tone (half step) blow bend. Cheers, Lee
I got through many tutorials on TH-cam and found that 1st and 3rd octaves can not be played completely on a diatonic harmonica . Can it be Being a beginner it's a query from my side Pls reply
This is a great exercise, similar to exercises on other instruments I've learnt, but fuck its confusing. I'm gonna have to go through this vid and make a diagram or something.
+Stratocaster893 It's good it's stretching you. Stick to one octave first. Once you have the sound pattern in your mind, taking on the other octaves will be easier, even though the breathing patterns will be different. But that's the point of this exercise. It really highlights how confusing the layout of the harmonica is. Cheers, Lee
OMG!!! You have totally opened me up to a new perspective of appreciation and understanding of my world of music. I do this!!!!! But I didn't KNOW that I do this. Now I do. It's the middle of December 2017. I'm 65. I'll come back here in a month, the middle of January 2018 and let you know what has happened to my musical experience now that I KNOW I am seeing the possibilities of my harmonica as a mental construct, a brainstrument. I am the music. But now I really C that I am the music. Thank you!!!
Hey Hugh, glad this resonated with you. Similar journey myself, I played for many years before consciously connecting to my mental model - brainstrument. Cheers, Lee
Brilliant lesson Lee.
Cheers, this is a great one for building control
Thanks Lee, amazing lesson, 👏🙌,
Much Appreciated
Lee, I have done this a zillion times on the major scale. But doing it across the harp is a real challenge and stretching the skills. Thanks bro. Wonderful lesson given straight up and friendly, no wasted time. One of the best lessons. I transcribed the tabs into my little 3 by 5 book I carry with my harps. Nice man. Much appreciate your style of teaching. The 10' is really a challenge. Now I have a structure to motivate me and get it! Don Schmitz
+Don Schmitz Hi Don, thanks for watching and for your high praise. Yes this is great way of playing through the 3 octaves and getting on top of the fact they are all laid out differently and require different approaches. As I say in the video, practising this will pay dividends in helping you utilise the full range of the harp and also honing those low end bends down. Cheers, Lee
Really like this exercise Lee. Hope we can find a time to record an interview in the future :)
You are a great teacher. You are on my top TH-cam harmonica guru. Thank you Lee.
You made my day
Lee,
I'm so glad I found you here on TH-cam, you're really a great teacher certainly one of the best I've found.
This is an incredibly useful and productive exercise!
Thank you so much for all your time and effort.
Jerry Lee
+JERRY LEE Thanks for posting such nice feedback. I have plenty of other videos on my channel as well as a 15 lesson course on Country Blues to rent on Vimeo. Cheers, Lee
Thanks Lee, another great technique builder, finding this difficult but can see how useful it will be for improvisation
when it's nailed.
+Andrew Findlay Glad to suggest something that will stretch you a bit! Lee
Lee, this is a great lesson / exercise ! Thanks !
+Mike Robbins As ever MIke, thanks for watching! Lee
A cracking lesson Lee and thanks for sharing it. This will open doors for a lot of people's techniques. Around hole 6 and 7 where everything changes can be a weird place to be if you're not well trained there!
+Gary Sellars Cool, glad you think it's useful. Can seem a pain at first but it will become easier and ultimately help your blues playing etc. Lee
I feel like I should send you a check since you have given me the tools and techniques to massively improve over the years.. Thank You!!
+TEG7651 Ah thanks for your interest. Glad my videos have helped you. If you want to show support, you could pick-up my albums on iTunes, try renting my country blues course on Vimeo or just spread the word. Thanks again! Lee
+Lee Sankey I've got your music from iTunes. S'picious Woman," My Day is Just Beginning" is what I listen when I start falling into a rut. I'll check out your Vimeo course..I always spread the WORD!! Tim
+TEG7651 Hi Tim, that's great. Very flattered that S'picious Woman provides some inspiration, that's very cool. Thanks for trying the Vimeo course. Let me know how you get on. You can mail me at info@leesankey.com
THANK'S AND WELCOME BACK!!
+las18golondrinas I never left? I just find it difficult to post monthly or bi-monthly these days. Lee
+las18golondrinas Also, I post other content to my Vimeo channel now too. Lee
+Lee Sankey when videos are great help couple months seems to be an eternity
Great lesson Thanks
Lee, this is a fantastic exercise. Thank you. Below I posted the tab. I got lost a bit so I had to make a chart --and thought I would share.
Thanks again
Hey man, well done on posting the tab, hero. Glad you dig the exercise. The feedback from players has been positive
Where is the tab you mentioned?
Thanks!
Finding this very, very useful. Apart from not having a hope in hell of hitting the blow 10 1/2 step bend! Thank you.
+Huw Davies Hi Huw, yep that B10* is a killer.
this is a great exercise ..thanks ..
Great lesson, have it all marked out except the lower holes 1-3.
is this it?
B1 - D1 - B2 - B1
D1 - B2 - D2b - D1
B2 - D2b - D2 - B2
D2b - D2 - D3 - D3b
Nice and usefull lesson.
I'am giving the mental image a try, i like the idee. Thx.
+Aart v G Cool, let me know how you get on.
Man, was this a great lesson👏 I loved how you related the musical notes in a physical way😝 Thinking of playing the exercise in both a visual and auditory example helps to think of the exercise👍🏿 What's more,is using both a visual and auditory perception enhances how the music should be played.😁 It helps me think about what I'm playing and where to go when needed.
+Vince Farabaugh Nice comments, thanks for posting and your interest in my channel. Lee
Lee, as you mentioned in the replies below, using a lower key harp helps on the blow bend 10. I had no joy (at the moment...) using a C harp, using a G and it now works, cool ;-)
Again, thanks for all those lessons, sure helps!
Thanks for the feedback. It helps me to know when a piece of advice connects with someone. Now are getting a basic grasp of banding the 10 on a G harp the basic technique will be the same on the C harp however it requires more precision and subtlety due to the shorter length of the reed. But by the sounds of it, you're on your way!
Thanks so much for making this tutorial.please don't take this as criticism but could you please put all of this as tab please please please.
Hi Lee, thanks for posting and no offence taken. I don't typically provide tabs in my vids. 1. I try to explain things clearly in the video 2. It's super, super, super important that people learn to use their ears which you won't if everything is constantly laid out for you and 3. I don't have time. Sorry. Not the answer you wanted. But if you go back watch this again and put the missing pieces together using your ears and trial and error, it will definitely make you a better player. Use those ears! Lee
Nice!
Glad this helped you.
Great lesson as usual Lee,it is very difficult to master at the high end at hole seven upwards where the sequence flips,i'll stick with it,i can't do the bend on 10 hole,i might try it on a G harp.
+LuvBlues64 THanks. Yep the high end is tricky especially that d10*. Good idea to try on a lower harp. It will make controlling the reed a bit easier. The hardest part though is playing through all 3 octaves smoothly, in time, in one go. That requires navigating all the bends and the change in of layout in each octave. That's the point of the exercise. Cheers, Lee
Good lesson man...
Cheers Christian, thanks for watching.
bravo on the videos just started at christmass and i am able play a few song's. Would you do a video on train rythem please. it is one thing i would love to try and get to grips with. phil
+papa pansh Hmmm could make a good video. Thanks for the suggestion. Meantime, check out Joe Filisko for train songs, he's the master. Lee
Will do many thanks subbed
As a beginner this is great! Any advice on identifying when you hit the bends? I have a hard time distinguishing between the half step and full step on practically all bends and overblows. Cheers.
+usmcecb Thanks. As a beginner stay away from overblows and focus on the basics which provide the foundations for making music. E.g timing, phrasing etc. Learn some tunes. Don't be seduced by technical wizardry that sounds shit in the hands of a beginner. That can come later. In terms of bends there are three things you can do to help train your ears. A) if you play a second instrument like the guitar or piano, hit the note in question then try to match on the harmonica. B) use a tuner - there are mobile apps you can use C) Use an app which replicates keyboard sounds and use that to play against. Essentially you are looking for a reference note. Cheers, Lee
Hi Lee, great exercise as always! Have you ever thought about doing something similar with a different scale like Blues scale in 2nd? The blue 3rd would be missing on the high octave, but it still makes sense in my eyes...
You could certainly give that a go, but there would as you say, be notes missing. But being able to play up and down smoothly and consistently in a variety of scales is the hallmark of learning to play an instrument IMHO. Lee
Fine stuff....... Haps!
Hi Lee thanks for another great video. I usually use Bendometer software in my exercises, it can see the notes graphically. according to your method The Brain Instrument model, do you recommend using such a these software?
+Ebi Molaei Whatever works for you. If the software helps you hit better bends then all good.
Third exercise:
B7 D8 B8 B7
D8 B8 D9 D8
B8 D9 B9 B8
D9 B9 D10 D9
B9 D10 D10(half step bend) B9
D10 D10(half step bend) B10 D10
I think this exercise has great value, but I am confused. There are references to a draw bend on hole 10 and tablature posted in the comment section, but isn't the only bend available in the 10 hole a blow bend. Can you clarify?
Hi Wayne, thanks for posting your questions. Yes, references to draw 10 bend are incorrect. The 10 hole has two blow bends, a semi tone and a tone. Also there's an overdraw. For this exercise however you need the semi-tone (half step) blow bend. Cheers, Lee
Thank you, Lee. You're killer on playing and teaching.
I left the video at the start cause it took so log for the guy to really start teaching useful stuff....
I got through many tutorials on TH-cam and found that 1st and 3rd octaves can not be played completely on a diatonic harmonica . Can it be
Being a beginner it's a query from my side
Pls reply
You are correct. Because the diatonic harmonica is diatonic it, by definition, has notes missing. Lee
@@leesankeygroup can somehow those missing notes be played on it
This is a great exercise, similar to exercises on other instruments I've learnt, but fuck its confusing. I'm gonna have to go through this vid and make a diagram or something.
+Stratocaster893 It's good it's stretching you. Stick to one octave first. Once you have the sound pattern in your mind, taking on the other octaves will be easier, even though the breathing patterns will be different. But that's the point of this exercise. It really highlights how confusing the layout of the harmonica is. Cheers, Lee
I need you to come and move next door to me please