Jerry Portnoy - Blues Harmonica Masterclass (CD)

3-CD box set with with instructional CDs & accompanying book is a comprehensive & easy-to-use lesson on how to learn to play the harmonica. Portnoy, who's been in the Muddy Waters & Eric Clapton bands, realized other instructional materials put all of the explanations into the text of a book, and the accompanying sound reference consisted only of playing examples, so Jerry put everything on the CDs so you don't have to switch back & forth between the two. He starts at the very beginning on how to hold the harmonica, all the way to milking special sounds & effects out of the harp, and finally includes blues guitar jams to play along with.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. Introduction
2. Holding the Harmonica
3. Chord Rhythm
4. Tongue Blocking
5. Changeover Scale
6. Syncopating Chords
7. Back Rhythm
8. Octaves
9. Draw Octaves
10. Simple Songs
11. Pursed Lips
12. Lip Blocking
13. Bar Structure

Disc: 2

1. Intro to Bending Notes
2. Bending Techniques
3. Bends with Syncopating Chords
4. Bending Exercises
5. Upper Register Blow Bends
6. Transitions
7. 2 Draw Vs. 3 Blow
8. Intro to Special Effects
9. Vibrato
10. Warbles
11. Flutters
12. Growls
13. Barks
14. Kiss Pops
15. Rips and Glisses
16. Double and Triple Tonguing
17. Turnaround Figure
18. Tongue Switching
19. Special Chords
20. Shaping Notes
21. Use of Hands

Disc: 3

1. Breathing and Diaphragm Attack
2. Positions
3. "Saints" - 5 Positions
4. Boogies - 3 Positions
5. Mics, Amps, and Playing with a Band
6. Closing Remarks
7. E March with Harp
8. E March
9. E Shuffle with Harp
10. E Shuffle
11. E Blues with Harp
12. E Blues
13. A March with Harp
14. A March
15. A Shuffle with Harp
16. A Shuffle
17. A Blues with Harp
18. A Blues
19. B March with Harp
20. B March
21. B Shuffle with Harp
22. B Shuffle
23. B Minor Blues with Harp
24. B Minor Blues