BOOKS and DVDs
at Harmonicas Direct

This all round tutor is suitable for the diatonic and chromatic harmonica, and it's easy to use style makes it ideal for the beginner.
It covers various playing styles, including blues, rock, pop, folk and country. This book is great for people who don't just want to learn the Blues. This is one of the most comprehensive tutors we have seen, and the last chapter includes licks in the style of the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springstein, Stevie Wonder, Huey Lewis and Billy Joel.
The included CD accompanies the excercises, and can be viewed and played in the CD Rom drive of your P.C.

Starting Blues Harmonica... 'The number one method for young blues harp players' Stuart 'Son' Maxwell designed this enjoyable introduction to harmonica with the young player in mind, it can be used on it's own or in a group/class setting.
Just listen to the CD, practice the pieces in the book, and then play along with the backing tracks. Contains original blues tunes, and the ability to read music is not necessary.
Choose a key of C harmonica with this book.

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The CDRom is PC and Mac compatible, and minimum system requierments are PC with Pentium III 300Mhz Processor running Windows 95/98/NT/XP, or PowerMac running OS 8.6 to 9.2. 64 RAM.

Peter Madcat Ruth's method is for beginners young and old. All you need is a ten hole harmonica in the key of C, the ability to breath in and out, and you'll be playing in no time.
Turn natural breathing into a basic "train rhythm" exercise, and play vibrato and "wah wah" sounds. Learn to play in an enjoyable way, popular tunes with single notes, and then onto my complex rhythms and tecniques.
40 minutes play time and includes a booklet. For harmonica in the key of C.

William "Billy Boy" Arnold has been a respected fixture on the Chicago blues scene since the mid 50's, and has learned from, and played with all the Chicago greats. This is a guide to the classic amplified harp sounds of William Lee Williamson, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson and Billy Boy himself. Also covered are playing first, second and third positions, note bending, trills, backup accompaniment and minor blues.
Billy plays diatonic and chromatic harps in this 57 minute DVD, and an included booklet shows transcribed examples of the tunes.

A Video and DVD version of this Book is available in the [ Starting Up] section

Basic Blues Harmonica Method -- Level 1 by David Barrett is the opening volume in a brand new series, David Barrett's Harmonica Masterclass from Mel Bay.
The book takes a beginning player from a standing start with good advice from page one, including how to get good tone from 2 draw! As your technique is developed through the book, with audio support from the accompanying CD, you will learn to jam in 12 bar style, tongue block, play octaves and play in first, second and third position. All this, and not a bent note in sight -- that is one of the joys waiting for you in Level 2...

Blues Harmonica Jam Tracks and Soloing Concepts -- Level 1 by David Barrett is a practice manual that should be used in conjunction with other books in the Harmonica Masterclass series.
The book, and its accompanying CD show you how you can begin to put your own solos together, studying the form and structure of the Blues.

To play along with all the backing tracks on the CD, you will need harps in G, A, B^b, C and D.

When you have mastered the material in Basic Blues Harmonica Method -- Level 1, you will be itching to progress further down the road to blues harp mastery -- this book and CD represent the second step! After a quick review of the material in Level 1, you are introduced to some new techniques, including note bending and the use of throat vibrato. These techniques are then practiced in original compositions by Barrett and classic Chicago Blues songs by such legends as Willie Dixon. There is a load of brilliant stuff in this book. Very highly recommended!
To play along with all the examples on the CD, you will need harps in C, D and A.

Blues Harmonica Jam Tracks and Soloing Concepts -- Level 2 by David Barrett, follows on from book one, and shows how to construct and solo over a complete song. A song is analysed with the emphasis on the beginning and end.
To play along with all the backing tracks on the CD, you will need harps in G, A, B^b, C, D, E^b and A Nat minor .

When you have mastered the material in Basic Blues Harmonica Method -- Level 1, you will be itching to progress further down the road to blues harp mastery -- this book and CD represent the second step! After a quick review of the material in Level 1, you are introduced to some new techniques, including note bending and the use of throat vibrato. These techniques are then practiced in original compositions by Barrett and classic Chicago Blues songs by such legends as Willie Dixon. There is a load of brilliant stuff in this book. Very highly recommended!

To play along with all the examples on the CD, you will need harps in C, D and A.

Second Position or Cross Position. The usual way to play the Blues! It is also favoured by Rock and Country players. The licks are centrered on the 12 Bar Blues format, and therefore usable in any blues song. Next it's time to jam.
Confidence and playing speed will soon be developed, and you are encouraged to improvise you own licks and style.
The excercises are mainly for the key of C, however the A, G and D harps are required for the jam tracks.

Third Position, with the most complete blues scale available of the three common positions, third position is a real winner when it comes to dark and minor sounding blues solos.
The natural pitch set (without bending) in this position is the Dorian Scale, which is relative to the major scale, and has a flat third and seventh scale degree. Even though this is a slight difference in pitch, it makes all the difference in the world, so you can play along to a song in a minor or major tuning.
C, D, and G harps are used with this book

This DVD is a comprehensive study of harmonica tecniques and blues soloing concepts designed to hone the player's skill and the musical thought to become a great player. Packed full of tips for the beginner to advanced player, and covers bending, vibratos, two hole shakes, tongue blocking, acoustic and amplified playing. See below for Volumes 3 and 4.

Volume 3 and 4 of Building Harmonica Tecnique continues with different playing positions, chords, soloing tecniques, phrasing, song construction and much more. Packed full of exercises and examples for the intermediate to advanced harmonica player.

The C Harmonica Blues Play-Along Trax takes the player from a slow tempo of 40 and goes up 200 for progressive lick study in and 2nd position; three full band Play-Along Trax in 2nd Position; six Play-Along Trax for 3rd Position with full band examples on either your C diatonic or chromatic harmonica; three Play-Along Trax for 1st Position study; one Play-Along Trax for 4th Position study.
These thirty Play-Along Trax are an indespensable aid for the the harmonica player in both private and group setting. Also included is a booklet and a bonus play-along song with David Barrett himself.

Classic Chicago Blues Harp #2 takes you well beyond the first book! Explore the styles of the Blues legends Among the exercises are , single note Tongue Blocking, quarter note bending and Octave playing. 1st, 2nd and 3rd playing positions are explored in fuller depth.
The C harp is used with this book and CD

Blues Harmonica Jam Tracks and Soloing Concepts -- Level 3 The third book in the Jam Tracks and Soloing Concepts series. This book will complete the full range of the Harmonica Masterclass series by DAVID BARRETT, who must be the most prolific writer of harmonica tutors for the Blues player.

Scales Patterns and Bending Exercises #2, follows on from the first book, but goes into more depth. Scales are a never ending quest for the musician, and this covers the most common scales and modes used on the entire Lee Oskar Harmonica System.
Extensive exercises, with the aid of two CD's, help develop agility and speed

Exploring 1st Position -- Level 3.
The 1st position has it's own unique context in blues. The upper register ( 7 - 10 blow ) has a complete C blues scale available to it, making almost any passage possible. David Barrett explores the possibilities of this great position!

Basic Blues Chromatic for the Diatonic Player by David Barrett at level 3 in the Masterclass series, helps the diatonic player master the chromatic fast. The first section of the book covers the tecniques and 3rd Position playing common to both instruments.
Section two focuses on the chromatic harmonica, with each chapter covering increasingly more advanced tecniques and types of articulation.
Harmonicas required for the book are the diatonic in C and G, and a 16 hole four octave chromatic. However a 12 hole three octave or a ten hole two and a half octave chromatic can also be used.

David Barrett is one of the hottest harmonica teachers and transcribers currently working out of the USA; Serious Intentions is a transcription of William Clarke's album (originally on Alligator Records) of the same name. Intermediate to advanced players can follow David's authentic transcriptions of Clarke's harmonica lines.

For less advanced players, David offers a simplified line which still conveys the flavour of the original. As you get more into Clarke's style and technique, you can gradually incorporate more of the full strength version into your playing! It is an ingenious concept that allows even relatively inexperienced harpists the chance to play some really cool material!

The CD, available through us, is great listening and shows you what the blues should sound like! To play all the tunes in the original keys, you will need harps in C, D, Bb, Eb, Low F and a 16-hole chromatic.

If your sole ambition in life is to play the blues like Sonny Boy Williamson II, Little Walter and the other masters of the Chicago sound, this book is the one for you.

This book is the one used by David Barrett himself for his own teaching and masterclasses. Bending, hot licks, blue notes, quarter-note bends, control, blues scales, octave playing and many more essentials are covered in this great book!

If you study this book in conjunction with Building Harmonica Technique you will be well on the road to blues harp mastery... Don't rush it though -- these two books have months, if not years, of work in them.

'A Harmonica Book', don't be put off by this seemingly simple title! It refers to the key of the harmonica, and in fact, there is one for all the twelve key range - from A flat to G.
This book is writen for beginning, intermediate and advanced players, in an easy to use format for both music readers and non readers. It's a quick reference guide to easily accessible notes, bends, positions, modes, chords and scales for any ten hole harmonica, with a book for each individual key.
A must for all serious players who want understand and get the most from their harmonica.

Norton Buffalo is widely regarded as one of the most versatile and talented harmonica players in the music business. Although best known for his twenty five year tenure with the Steve Miller Band, he has played on over a hundred albums by artistes as diverse as Bonnie Raitt, Kenny Loggins, The Doobie Brothers and Johnny Cash, to name but a few.
This lively and comprehensive course, Bag of Tricks, gives a wealth of information, and covers all the basics; breathing, tongueing, single and chordal note playing, bending, vibrato and other essentials.
Norton demonstrates powerful exercises for breath control to help develop complex rhythmic patterns for blues, R&B and rock accompaniment and so much more in this ninety minute DVD and booklet.

A super collection of songs by some of the great bluesmen -- Jimmy Reed, Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson and Little Walter among others! The book is presented as a melody line with guitar chords above, and easy to follow harp tablature below and full lyrics.

If The Harp Handbook is not enough for you, you can now get interactive with Steve on his Interactive Blues Harp Workshop and Harmonica CD-ROM!

Every harmonica player with a PC can now benefit from desktop instruction with this CDROM and harmonica package. There are over a hundred essential exercises with printout support that will assist harpists from beginning to advanced level.
The CD-ROM has an easy to use interface, and is chock-full of picture and sound files which are very well recorded. The CD-ROM also includes a metronome and chromatic tuner!

There are also sections on harp maintenance (tuning, repairs, etc.), amplification for harps, and an extended recommended listening list of essential harmonica music.

If English is not your first language, the CD-ROM can also be accessed in German. Hey, it's a language course, too!
For use with a harmonica in C.
Steve Baker's Interactive Blues Workshop costs £19.95 and it's well worth the money!

This collection of original instrumental pieces is directed at the intermediate level harmonica player who is looking for practice material in a variety of modern blues styles. Each tune is designed to demonstrate the verse structures and grooves popularised by top harp players. This is not a "how to play the harmonica" book -- it assumes familiarity with basic concepts of blues harmonica techniques such as single note bending, as outlined in The Harp Handbook (see above).

Every song in the book is heard in two versions on the accompanying CD; once with Steve's lead line, and once without, for you to jam along with, playing the transcribed solos, or improvising your own.

To play along with the CD in the original keys, you will need harmonicas in the keys of A, C, D and F.

This is the long awaited volume two from Steve, aimed at the intermediate player, which covers a range of styles, not strictly the blues, but the harp themes are chosen to illustrate typical approaches to these styles to enable you to understand how the top players create their exciting sounds.
This volume contains twelve new, original and exciting songs to jam along with.

As in Vol 1 every song in the book is heard in two versions on the accompanying CD; once with Steve's lead line, and once without, for you to jam along with, playing the transcribed solos, or improvising your own.

To play along with the CD in the original keys, you will need harmonicas in the keys of A, C, D and F.

To play along with the CD in the original keys, you will need harmonicas in the keys of G, A, C, D and F.
Intermediate level.

60 Hot Licks for Harmonica by Lonnie Joe Howell is a compilation of the hottest licks around. The licks range in difficulty from very simple to very challenging.
Some of the licks are combined to create a complete song, and once the excersises are mastered, the player has great scope for improvisation.

This book is for a C keyed harmonica, and a good follow up to books and videos featured in the 'Starting Up' section.

Play along with Ralph Agresta and his band to twelve brilliantly arranged tunes. You carry the harmonica part playing along to rock, blues and country, and progress further down the road to blues harp mastery -- this book and CD is a great for beginners taking the first steps to eventually playing live, and for experieced players wanting new ideas and techniques, or for warming up before gigs. Jam Trax is a great follow on from 60 Hot Licks

To play along with all the examples on the CD, you will need harps in C, D,A, and F.