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!
Happy harping!
