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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 until John Lee Williamson and Sonny Terry started recording in 1937, the percentage of 1st and 2nd position recordings was almost the same. Players generally have avoided the middle range of the harp in 1st and play either on the low or high range. This 1-P Blues arrangement actually utilizes the full range of the harp . . .

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251 Blues Download

This song is a study in using a form that has a ii chord on bar 9 and then goes to the V chord on bar 10 in stead of the usual V, IV, I change . . .

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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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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 note that “Help Me” was NOT played in 6th position nor am I implying that it should be. . . .

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ABC Shuffle Download

This Filisko song is an improved version of “Aurora Shuffle,” which itself evolved from “East Aurora Shuffle,” originally an improved form of “Buffalo Shuffle-O.” It is named in honor of Rick Nicotra and friends in the Buffalo, NY area. This has a Big Walter sound to it and the head hints of “TD's Boogie Woogie,” common in Chicago Blues . . .

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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 2 Download

The goal with this LEVEL II instrumental is to continue to build upon the Level I & Level II “mini” songs. I suggest 4 months of experience before attempting 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. Memorize the key, tempo and groove of the song. . .

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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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Cha Cha Slim Download

This is a study of the Cha-cha-cha groove that originated in Cuba and was used by Junior Wells’s in his 1957 song “Cha Cha Cha in Blue” and also Slim Harpo’s song “Buzzin'” . . .

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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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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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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 lite.”

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New Slow Blues Download

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 is challenging due to the sequenced riff moving over so many holes . . .

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Rumba Blues Download

This is a study of the commonly heard blues rumba. One big advantage of knowing a song like this is that it is highly recognizable to any band that is familiar with blues. This allows you to start the song off and signal the band in at the IV chord if your rhythm and playing are strong . . .