Choo

Just whisper 'choo-choo-choo' into the harmonica as I show you on the video (first out then in) and you will find this very easy and satisfying – a nice east start!

Choo Chacka Choo

Just whisper Choo Chacka, Choo Chacka, Choo Chacka Chooooo into the harmonica as I show you on the video (first out then in) and I think you will manage this well and enjoy the rhythm it produces. If you find that the playalong track is too fast you can always practice it without the track to begin with.

Have a go at this phrase - Doo chicka chacka chicka.

Say it over and over.

Whisper it slowly and loudly breathing out twice then in twice.

Introducing the idea of triplet feel.

Follow the video and demo mp3 to whisper the phrase into your harmonica so you get chugging on this 12/8 groove.

Sublte difference to the precious lecture with completely different music.

Bit of a tongue twister but have a go! I sometimed wonder who writes this rubbish and then remember it was me.

Try this one as I teach it on the video but if it's too fast you can miss out bits until you get it. Try saying 'took, tack, took, tack' to make it easier at the start.

Nice easy groove. Listen to beautiful music that is written for it.

Have a go at this phrase - Drr agga lugga do.

Say it over and over.

Whisper it slowly and loudly breathing out twice then in twice.

Now play with the backing track.

Another nice groove. Get lost in the music!

'Chicken Tikka'. Whisper this into the harmonica for a fantastic groovy rhythm.

If you can say it you can play it. In fact it's easier to play than say.

This lecture has the most amazing backing track for you to play along with. You will enjoy sitar, tabla, shruti drones and a special bonus - me playing three-part Baroque trumpet!

Later in the course I'll be showing you how to play the trumpet part on your harmonica but for now just play the rhythm and see if you can keep going for the entire track.

Use the additional resourses so see it written down, hear instruction and most importantly play along with the backing track we wrote specially for this chug.

Here are some ideas for using the right hand - or I should say the 'free' hand. Right handed players should generally hold the harmonica in their left hand leaving the right hand free.

Lefties should try both ways and see which works best for you.

This is a fantastic warm up and tone producing exersise which I learned recently from Joe Filisko. Best on a G harp he says but you can do it on any harp.

For the first one I want you to whisper the word 'ZZ-acka', first out then in through your harmonica. It is like the steam produced by a steam train as it is departing.

The second one is very easy when you do it slowly and slowly is how you should start. Say 'Tikka' breathing out and allow the air to come back in as you say 'Hoo'. You don't really need to pull the air back in because the act of pushing air out on Tikka will lower the air pressure in your lungs and demand air to be replaced.

Try a few 'Tikka Hoo's and then gradually build up speed.

Tikka hoo extended and the fourth train sound added.

Train whistle.

Everybody likes to play a train whistle and here comes yours.

Grab holes four and five, exhale to prepare (not through the harmonica), breathe in, and articulate the word 'WOWW' as you do it.

Now do the same thing but on holes three and four.

As you breathe in try to 'chew' they sound by moving your tongue and jaw around a bit.

Don't forget to pull the imaginary steam train whistle chord as you are coming round the mountain Casey Jones style.

Nice easy bluesy groove with surprise ending

The hardest track of the lot. Seems like the easiest.

Here are the tunes if you would like to play along.

Well done - you can now get your certificate! You have just moved up a level in your harmonica playing.

People say 'Rhythm is the most important thing in music' and I agree.

This concludes Get Chugging but you should practice this stuff over and over.

After that have a look at the chugging style of Sonny Terry - you will find it in my 'country blues course' here on Udemy.