Tomlin Harmonica Lessons

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12 bar shuffle blues for beginners on harmonica

Welcome to this weeks harmonica lesson. We will be looking at playing an easy 12 bar shuffle blues. It is completely suitable for beginners. You will need a harmonica in the key of C to play it. You can also download the harmonica tab for it for free by clicking the button below.

Really spend some time thinking about the structure while you’re playing it. Listen to how the notes sound over the chord changes. These are chords I, IV and V.

Let me remind you of the structure of the 12 bar blues

12barstructureThe phrases in this 12 bar shuffle really outline the structure by focusing on the notes that correspond to the chords being played underneath by the accompaniment.

As a reminder the notes that correspond to the chords are;

2 draw – I chord

4 blow – IV chord

4 draw – V chord

Shuffle rhythm

Another thing that is important to work on while you’re playing this piece is the shuffle rhythm. This is used in a lot of blues and corresponds to how the beat is broken up.

The beat is split into one long note followed by a short note. However, that is a really complicated way to think about it. Instead, I want you to think about it sounding like “Humpty Dumpty Humpty Dumpty”

Licks

Play along with the audio clips below to get really confident with this tune.

Backing track

When you are confident playing this 12 bar blues, try playing it with the backing track below

Thank you

Thank you for taking this lesson. I hope it was useful for you. If you enjoyed it please let your friends know about it by sharing it on Facebook and/or Twitter using the share buttons.

Comments

  1. terry lydon says

    Tomlin how can I get tabs for this iam pressing tab but it does not come to my email it just says thankyou
    Many thanks Terry

  2. Andrei Ivushkin says

    Hi Tomlin! Looks like something is wrong with ‘Get tabs’ button on this page – it does not send email. Would you please check? Thank you!

  3. tomlinleckie says

    Hi Terry, I’ve discovered a problem with my tab delivery system. It is now fixed so if you try again it will work 🙂

    Apologies for the inconvenience.

    Cheers,

    Tomlin

  4. tomlinleckie says

    Hi Andrei – I’m sorry for the tabs not coming through. There was a problem with the delivery system which I have now fixed so you should be able to get them if you try now. Best wishes, Tomlin

  6. Ryszard says

    Hi Tomlin
    I’ve got the tabs already but can’t download this backtrack,
    maybe I do something wrong ?

    Best regards

  7. tomlinleckie says

    Hi Ryszard, You can’t actually download the backing track, you can only stream it.

  8. Alastair Fraser says

    Hi Tomlin,

    The notes on the stave in lick 1 don’t seem to tie in with the harmonica tab on the video and download or your play-through. I believe the low D (bar 2) should be G and the A at the end of the phrase (bar 4) also a G.

    All the best.

  9. Kyle Burditt says

    Thanks so much Tomlin. I have sort of stalled out in my progress and keep coming back to the basics. These lessons keep popping up at just the right moment.

  10. Charley says

    I also did not get the Tab. It says thank you and i get a confirmation email, but no tab. After clicking on the link in the email, i confirm the subscription, but nothing happens. When i click on download the Tab again, all i get is the same screen asking for my email again.

  13. miki says

    Hi Tomlin

    Any chance you can email me the tab too? I’ve downloaded one tab earlier today, and now the lead page won’t allow me to submit my details again.

    Amazing work you’re doing. Feels more like play.

    Best
    Miki

  15. tomlinleckie says

    Hi Radu, I’m sorry to hear that – can you tell me what tab you are getting? Best wishes, Tomlin

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