Valuable, printable, FREE insights penned by Joe Filisko.
These learning guides should downloaded, printed and used. Check back occasionally for revisions.
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Fundamentals - New 6/4/20Chords
Active Blues Breathing
Chords and Tongue Blocking
Notes and Tongue Blocking
Riffs, Licks, Hooks, Songs
NEW!! Train Rhythm and Imitation Guidelines Revised 6/6/2020From my experience, it’s my strong belief that the best possible way to expedite ones playing progress is by *smartly practicing the Train. Committing 5 minutes a day to this is the most direct path to building better rhythm, tone, blues breath control, dynamics, relaxation, and throat tremolo. It’s also the easiest thing to do because it can be played using ONLY chords.
NEW! Maximizing Blues Horsepower - 1/5/20This outlines what you can do, and reveals what you probably aren't doing, to make your playing as bluesy as possible. Here's where the missing bluesiest notes and bluesiest sounds have been hiding.
Notational Symbols (Key)KEY to the symbols on the Instruction Sets Transcription sheets.
10/2/13
18 Harmonica Insights - revised 1/5/20I have been deeply involved in just about everything harmonica for some 30 years. Here's 18 things that I wish I would have known when I started out.
Insights for BENDING on HarmonicaReasons for bending notes - Skills necessary for controlled bending on harmonica - The 5 levels of bending
Updated 8/6/2013
BREATHING When Playing Harmonica and Illustration - 1/5/20BREATHING! Skillful harmonica breathing, especially when playing blues, is much more difficult that nearly everyone thinks. Here's why you probably look distressed and are unable to relax when playing.