BeatTab Harmonica
BeatTab Harmonica
Blues
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BeatTab Harmonica Blues
BeatTab Harmonica Blues
A broad and eclectic group of about 25 great blues (mostly) pieces, that are fun to play while demonstrating the value of notated detail — particularly for that of rhythm.
Note that in general, most of these pieces are contemporary ones, done by players that you can still reach out and touch. You do not always have to go back fifty years to hear good blues music. And YouTube and similar has allowed everyone to enjoy what they have given us. So consider buying some of their CD's or attending their workshops and webinars for great instruction. There is a lot of help out there for improving our playing. We need to support these artists.
Detailed instruction and tablature is included from easy to intermediate pieces. Although this book has been written more toward seasoned players, newer players can easily benefit from its clarity that enables much faster advancement than most blues books allow.
Blues has unique elements of rhythm, without which, the blues is just not the blues. BeatTab easily captures most of these nuances that are normally difficult-to-impossible to transcribe concisely with precision. Be prepared to be surprised as to the help that this book can provide for learning. A very unique book!
Also includes:
Appendix:
Featured Players (and more per the above)
The Blues
Transcribing with BeatTab
Notation Comparisons
BeatTab Summarized
To review more or to purchase, go to:
Blues Tabs:
BUFFALO, Norton — Runaway (del Shannon / Bonnie Raitt)
CHARLES, Ray — I Can't Stop Loving You (Don Gibson)
EVERETT, Bruce — Hillcrest Mine (James Keelaghan)
GREY OWL — California Dreamin' (John Phillips)
GUSSOW, Adam — Comping - Shake Rattle & Roll (Calhoun)
GUSSOW, Adam — Crossroads Blues (Robert Johnson)
GUSSOW, Adam — Deadly Blues Harp Rhythm
KOLESNICHENKO, Konstantin — The Deb (Dave Therault)
PACLIN, Alex — Harmonica Improvisation #1 Arpeggios
PLATT, Roly — Put It Where You Want It (Joe Sample)
PLATT, Roly — Sexy Ways (Wayne Buttery)
PLOTNIKOV, Boris — Boris' Blues
PLOTNIKOV, Boris — Hip Hop Harmonica Jam
PLOTNIKOV, Boris — Sunny (Bobby Hebb)
RICCI, Jason — Basic 3rd Pos Octaves
SAYLES, Charlie — Mississippi Saxophone
SENOH, Ryuichiro — Digging My Potato (Cowboy Bebop)
SFAIR, Indiara — Improvisation in Cm
SHELLIST, Ronnie — Selected Blues Riffs
STEVENS, Mike — Devil's Bride (Matt Anderson)
THURSTON, Scott — Mary Jane's Last Dance (Tom Petty)
LECKIE, Tomlin — Georgia on My Mind (Ray Charles)
LECKIE, Tomlin — Easy 12 Bar Blues Harmonica Lesson
LECKIE, Tomlin — Tomlin's Frustration Lick on C Harmonica
ZAJAC, Andrew — Lose Your Money (Terry, McClinton, Pickett)
BeatTab Harmonica
BeatTab Harmonica
Blues Riffs of Ronnie Shellist
Blues Riffs of Ronnie Shellist
Learn to improvise via The Complete Blues Riffs Flashdrive (sold separately) through his website. Detailed instructions are included from Ronnie and transcribed here for beginning and intermediate riffs including 1st, 2nd and 3rd position blues.
Tons of riffs (roughly 150) will keep you busy forever. And now you can practice the more difficult rhythms — even when you are without the audio.
Ronnie's knows how to teach improvising. And now you can have well-notated and detailed instructions to assist in your journey.
Also includes:
Appendix:
Some Players of Interest
The Blues
Transcribing with BeatTab
Notation Comparisons
BeatTab Summarized
To review more or to purchase, go to:
Core Licks:
Beginning Blues Licks
5 Chord Blues Licks / Turnarounds
Ending Blues Licks
More Advanced Licks:
3rd Position Blues Licks
Intermediate Blues Licks
1st Position Blues Licks
Additional Resource Licks:
Bent Blues Licks
Call & Response Licks
Draw Licks Download
Fast Blues Licks
Also Available:
Also Available:
BeatTab Harmonica
BeatTab Harmonica
Blues Songs & Riffs
Blues Songs & Riffs
The complete contents of both:
BeatTab Harmonica Blues + BeatTab Harmonica Blues Riffs of Ronnie Shellist.
All-in-one book — save space AND pay less!!
Workbook - Love, Folk & More
This Workbook includes the first line or so of about 200 pieces found within the main books of the BeatTab Harmonica set— just enough to start you playing well. For more information, see the bottom section of the Love & Folk webpage. Note that only about 10 of the above Blues pieces and Riffs are included in the Workbook (the full set is not included).
Improvising the Blues
The whole concept of improvising intimidates a lot of newer players — that it is far beyond their abilities. Well, you will never know until you try, but in its simpler forms, experience shows that most anyone can manage it to a reasonable degree. But like any worthwhile skill, it does take some practice (and bravado) after learning the basics. Few things are free in this world.
Here is a list of a few basics for learning how to improvise:
Really know the chord structure well. Usually this is the 12 bar blues. Feel the changes.
Acclimatize yourself to these changes by listening to a lot of blues songs.
But actually jamming to those songs is what is needed to learn.
Know a few basic notes that fit for the chords for each section of the structure.
Practice and experience will expand those notes to more complex riffs.
Scales provide new and interesting riffs. Know and practice scales.
Listen to other players. When you hear something interesting — isolate and play it.
Write down a few favourite riffs and practice them to develop muscle memory.
Transcribing is an excellent method of analyzing riffs that you hear.
Listen for the empty spaces that can be improvised within.
Do not play over the vocalist. Do not play over someone else's solo.
Do not fill up every space. Do not overwhelm the listener. Take time to relax and breathe.
Choose the right position — 1st, 2nd, 3rd or whatever.
Pick the right harmonica. Play it quietly until you are sure it feels right.
For a few cursory notes per positions, see the end of the section on Transcribing in one of the books.
Do not get too fancy. There is nothing wrong with simple. Do not overwhelm the listener.
Listen to the lick you have just played. Then play an "answer" to that lick.
Create a motif — repeating some riffs to develop coherency.
Try some vocals. It makes you feel, own and understand the piece.
Whether you actually sing or not later, doing this will greatly improve your playing.
And you may not presently see yourself as a singer, but things change. Give it a try.
Feel the beat. Move your foot or body if necessary. Work the beat.
Learn by doing — with jam tracks and later with your guitar friends.
Consider attending a workshop if one is near enough to you.
Overall — just do it! Start simple. Just get out there . . .
Few things feel better musically than being able to improvise a song well. But it will not happen unless you try. You know what you have to do...
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