Steve Baker – Blues Harmonica and Beyond

STEVE BAKER

Steve Baker is the author of The Harp Handbook, the Interactive Blues Harp Workshop CD-ROM, Blues Harmonica Playalongs vols. 1 - 3 and several other seminal works on the instrument. He began working as a consultant for leading harmonica manufacturer Hohner in 1987 and has been teaching and writing ever since. Steve gave the first ever harmonica courses at the renowned Schorndorfer Guitar Days in 2000 and 2002 and also taught classes for several years at the Mediterranean Music School. In 2003 he initiated the Harmonica Masters Workshops in Trossingen, now regarded as the premier teaching event for blues harmonica in Europe.

The course will concentrate on mastering the essential playing techniques on the diatonic harp and integrating them into a musical context. Steve has always placed great value on learning to treat the harmonica as a musical instrument like any other and this will be reflected in the course, which covers not only blues, but will also look at how to use the instrument effectively in a variety of musical styles. Exact content will depend on the interests and abilities of the students.
 

Course Outline

Topics will include some or all of the following (not necessarily in this order):

Improving your basic sound: How to hold the harp most effectively; Breathing, air column & resonance chamber; Lipping / Tongue block; Intonation, building tone, ear training

Improving your technique: Learning controlled note bending; The topography of the harp - which note is where, and why every note is different; Vibrato - the different types and how to create them; Enclosure, hand effects; Tongue blocked intervals (octaves & other intervals); Trills and double notes, playing “dirty”; Overblows and how to use them simply and effectively

The commonest positions and how they work: Cross harp / 2nd position, blues basics; 1st position folk and blues; 3rd position folk and blues; Other positions

Playing with others: Accompaniment; Timing & rhythm; Phrasing - how to make it swing; Improvisation; Harmony & the harp; The harp in other styles - rock'n'roll, country, funk, pop; Microphones & amps, other gear such as effects

Taking it further: Tuning & repair; Alternate tunings (Country/Major 7th, SBS, Natural minor & others)

Jamming: The last lesson every day will be spent jamming together, either to playalongs, guitar accompaniment or unaccompanied. Students can choose what they would like to approach in these sessions.

Course language: English with German translation if required

Musical requirements:
Students need to be be able to play clear single notes with correct intonation. They should also know how to bend notes on the Richter harp and be able to hit bent notes directly.