Instant Harmonica - play Over the Rainbow + Skye Boat now!

Take a look at all the resources in this lecture please. They are in the top right of your screen - view resources > second tab in > downloadable files.

Here you will find a slow and a medium speed backing track to play along with.

Also there is a pdf of the whole tune and another called 'Top Line' which you will need for this particular lecture.

Start the video and pause anytime you need to.

The first few notes are what we will cover in this lecture and that takes you up to the the word 'Rainbow'.

Please follow the video now.

This lecture finishes off the first line;

Way up high

4blow, 6 draw, 6blow.

Please repeat those three notes with me as on the video - over and over.

Now play the whole of the top line looped over and over.

The video invites you to do this so just follow what I say and keep repeating.

Now we are ready for the second line.

Don't forget you can pause the video at any time or run it at different speeds to suit you.

The second line has lyrics like this:

There's a land that I heard of....

And the tab is:

5 draw, 5draw, 5 blow, 4 blow, 4 draw, 5 blow, 5 draw

Stop there please.

Let's play it with the band in a loop so you can practice it.

This lecture is all about finishing the second line.

Words:

Once in a lullaby

Tab:

4 draw, 3 draw, 4 blow, 4 draw, 5 blow, 4 blow.

Play it slowly and repeat lots of times.

Now play the whole tune up to this point with me on the video.

You can do it on your own using the backing tracks as well of course.

The next part is the same notes but with words - so for you it's the same, for singers it's different.

Here comes the B section.

This is the classic 'bridge' part of the song and is often also known as 'the middle eight' even if it has more than eight bars.

Words:

Some [actually this should really be in the previous bar] day I'll wish upon a star and

wake up where the clouds are far be-

hind me

Tab:

(6 blow) 5 blow, 6 blow, 5 blow, 6 blow, 5 blow, 6 blow, 5 blow, 6 blow,

5 draw, 6 blow, 5 draw, 6 blow, 5 draw, 6 blow, 5 draw, 6 blow,

6 draw, 6 draw

Here comes the tricky bit.

Well actually the first bit is the same as we just did and not tricky at all:

Words:

(Where) trouble melts like lemon drops a-

Tab:

(6 blow) 5 blow, 6 blow, 5 blow, 6 blow, 5 blow, 6 blow, 5 blow, 6 blow

Words:

way a-bove the chimney pots

(gap) 6draw, (gap) 6draw, (gap) 6draw, (gap) 6draw

- or you could play it with 6 draw throughout this line

Words:

that's where you'll find me

Tab:

7 draw, 7 draw, 8 draw, 6 draw

(this part is written slightly differently on the attachment so you can use either version - I prefer this one myself)

This lecture is about playing the whole the piece with me guiding you.

You should find this quite easy now but if you get lost please don't panic - just sing.

Then find a bit where you can come in again and join in again.

I also teach you the ending that used in the film.

Start the tune again now and play with the different speed audio tracks on your own.

This is a recap of the tune at normal speed so play along with me.

Can you close your eyes and do it from memory?

I'll show you a couple of different ways to play the tune in this lecture such as ways to embellish the tune somewhat by playing it differently.

I don't want to muck around too much with such a beautiful tune but this lecture has a few ideas for you.

You should also google other versions such as the one by Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I

There are many others as well but I think his is outstanding.

So keep playing it on your own and with other people when you can.

Have a go at the scale of C. It's a brilliant little Doh Re Me tune and will be very helpful.

Extend it by missing out notes F and B (5draw and 7draw) and you will have a different scale remaining - this is called the C major Pentatonic Scale and is your favourite friend when you are improvising. CDEGA are the notes.

Start those exact same notes on A and go up to A and you have there the 'A minor Pentatonic Scale' - ACDEGA. This is even more useful than the previous scale for improvising.

If you can already play this scale give yourself a challenge and start it from hole 1 blow.

You will find the bending requirements are rather intriguing!

Here is a trailer for this course. I did this when it was a standalone course rather than as it is now - part of a new course containing two tunes.

In this lecture I will tell you all about the course. 

You will see what you are about to learn and find out how you will learn it. 

This is a brilliant tune and I really hope you enjoy playing it with me. 

Hopefully you will want to play it with others and maybe even in public some time. 

I have added three versions of the backing track to this lecture - slow medium and fast. 

You will find these in the download section on the right of the main screen, look for the download arrow icon. 

Let's go - enjoy, and make sure you get right to the end and write a review please.

Here's the first lecture that starts the tune.

This lecture covers the first four notes of the tune.

Please look carefully at my face as I play and you will be able to see when I breathe in and when I breathe out.

You will also see which hole I am on if you are eagle eyed.

Certainly you will see if I move holes, how far and in what direction.

So study the face of a harmonica player to learn what they are playing.

In this lecture we pick up from the previous lecture - the work 'like' is where we start.

This lecture introduces the idea of playing with a band.

You will find three versions of the backing track in the introduction lecture on the right under 'view resources' and the download tab.

Let's finish the top line starting with the word 'wing'

Play it with me and also using the backing track - slow version.

Take a look at the phrasing as I describe on the video.

So now the first line is complete we find that the second line is very similar.

The only difference is the last note which is a 5draw instead of (in the top line) a 4blow.

5draw gives you a lift and leads into the second part of the tune.

Finding the first note of the piece is important.

If you want to know where 4blow is, knowing 1blow is an octave lower might help you.

The third line has a much more pensive feel. The words are different as well and it is a direct contrast to the first part. 

Practice the first phrase 6566 all breathing in - over and over.

The second phrase is much more tricky but if you slow it down enough it becomes quite easy. Start with 6blow 4blow back and forth and then add the rest.

Now an easy bit on holes 5 and 4 - 'Thunderclouds rend the air'

Let's play from the top to there now with the band.