Hello and welcome to this week’s harmonica lesson where I am going to show you what a turnaround is and how to play 3 fun turnarounds.
You will need a C harmonica and we will be playing in 2nd position in the key of G.
Click here to download lesson resources
What is a Turnaround?
This is the lick at the end of a 12 bar blues which announces to the listener that you are about to start the 12 bar chord progression again.
What Does it Entail?
The crucial element of this kind of lick is what note you are ending on. It almost always is the root note of the V chord.
The band play the V chord and we play the root note over it.
Why the V Chord?
The V chord is not the home chord (I chord) which is why it makes us feel unfinished. This is why it leads so well back into the I chord at the beginning of the next go round the 12 bar sequence.
Turnaround Lick 1
Slow
Turnaround Lick 2 – Too Young To Die (Sonny Boy Williamson)
Slow
Click here if you want to learn the rest of the song.
Turnaround Lick 3 – Just Your Fool (Rolling Stones)
Slow
Click here if you want to learn the rest of the song.
How to Play an Ending
Turnarounds and endings are very similar. In fact, the only difference is the final note you play.
Instead of playing the V chord root note (1 draw) for a turnaround, you need to play a I chord root note (2 draw) for an ending.
Click here to download lesson resources
Thank You!
Thank you so much for taking part in this lesson!
Please share it with your friends on Facebook and/or Twitter.
Happy harping!
Tomlin
I have found your lessons 2B very well delivered, well done mate…
Whale’n somewhere in Ky, cause its fun,
yours,
ole fergie
Your Tabs are really helping with my sight reading.
Slightly puzzled as to why tab 2 & tab 3 haven’t been transposed into G so that the pitch of the notes corresponds with what you are playing.
I found “Watermelon Man” very good.
By the way, what’s happened to your guitars?
Tomlin….Your are a great teacher! Your lessons are so complete and thorough. I have learned a lot from you in the videos. The vibes I get from you are that you really love what you are doing. Not many people can say that. Thank you for sharing what you do with everyone. John
Simple. The best always is. I’ll be back.
Tomlin thanks for another great lesson!! I am a little confused, please help. In the introduction you say, “You will need a C harmonica and we will be playing in 2nd position in the key of G.” I notice that the first turnaround is in the key of G but turnaround 2 is in they key of D and turnaround 3 is in the key of A. Will each of these turnarounds only work in their respective key? How can they all be plaid with a C harp in second position?Thanks so much… you are a great teacher!
Tomlin thank you ever so much for the lessons you put out for me ! I enjoy them greatly! I am amazed sometimes by the things you show me.Sometimes I think I am not going to be able to this or that and I practice the way you show me and I find I can do it! Thank you so much,But for some reason this 12 bar blues thing leaves me in mystery? Any suggestions! Help! I have been over and over your lessons and others,I still feel lost!
Hi David, apologies for that; I don’t have a way to transpose the tabs at the moment. Glad you enjoyed Watermelon Man. The guitars are in a different room 🙂
Hi Chuck, apologies the turnarounds originally come from songs in different keys which is why the stave shows a different key.
Hi Dan, I’m glad you enjoy the lessons. Have you tried this lesson – http://www.tomlinharmonicalessons.com/how-to-count-through-a-12-bar-blues-on-harmonica/