Billy Branch's Blues Harp
On this video lesson, Chicago blues master Billy Branch provides an easy-to-follow, 24-step introduction to blues harmonica and his impressive techniques. He covers: choosing the right harp • keys and basic theory • bending, hand vibrato, octaves, and other techniques • tips on amplification and playing with a band • and more! No prior experience or music reading ability is required, so this video is perfect for beginners!
Videos
• Opening Song & Intro (01:19) - In this first video, Billy Branch welcomes us to the course.
• Blues Harps (02:20) - Billy breaks down the Blues Harp.
• Choosing the Harp (01:26) - Billy talks about selecting the correct blues harp.
• Holding the Harp (00:47) - In this video, Billy discusses the proper way to hold the harp.
• Blowing the Harp (00:45) - See how to correctly blow into the harp.
• Notes on the Harp (01:41) - Billy shows us how to create notes on the harp.
• Simple Melody (01:06) - In this video, Billy teaches us a simple melody.
• Tongue Blocking (01:20) - Billy explains the tongue blocking technique.
• "The Train" (02:42) - Billy teaches us the 4 note exercise called "The Train".
• Bending a Note (02:20) - See how to "bend" notes on the harp.
• Hand Vibrato (01:06) - Billy shows us the technique for creating vibrato with our hand.
• Tremelo Effect (01:14) - Billy discusses how to create a tremelo effect.
• Playing Octaves (02:10) - In this video, Billy teaches us how to play octaves on the harp.
• Finding Your Tone (01:12) - Every harp player has their own distinct tone. In this video, see how to find yours.
• Keys & Positions (01:06) - Billy discusses the different keys and positions on the harp.
• Right Harp for Right Key (02:03) - See how to select different harps for different keys.
• Twelve-Bar Blues (03:56) - Billy discusses the most common type of Blues song, the Twelve-Bar Blues.
• Basic Blues Groove (02:26) - In this video, Billy shows us a basic Blues groove.
• "Billy's Blues" (02:49) - Billy teaches us a 12-bar Blues melody he created.
• Harp Mics (03:44) - See the different types of mics used on harps.
• Amps & Effects (04:39) - In this video, Billy discusses types of amps and effects that can be used on the harp.
• Amplifying a Harp (00:50) - Billy talks about how he amplifies the harp.
• Billy's Story (01:59) - Billy gives us a short version of his personal history.
• Great Harp Players (04:26) - In this video, Billy discusses some of the great harp players.
• Playing with a Band (01:54) - Billy shares some advice for playing harp along with a band.
• Closing Song (03:37) - In this final video, Billy plays us one last song.