How to play a simple rhythm accompaniment on harmonica

Jan 6, 2016 | Advanced Beginner Harmonica Lessons, Intermediate Harmonica Lessons, Licks

Hello, this week’s harmonica lesson shows you a simple chordal accompaniment idea which you can play in the background of a band.

You will need a harmonica in the key of C.




Lick 1

Click below to hear me playing through the first lick slowly. This lick fits over the I chord.

Lick 2

Click below to hear me playing through the second lick slowly. This lick fits over the IV chord.

Lick 3 and Turnaround

Click below to hear me playing through the last 4 bars slowly. V-IV-I-Turnaround

Don’t forget you can play a clean 4 draw instead of a 3 draw whole step bend over the V chord.

Experiment with different styles

Now that you can play through this, try playing it over as many different 12 bar blues backing tracks as you can. You may need to change the rhythm up a little bit to make it fit but this is a great exercise.

Now, when you are backing up a singer you can play this kind of thing underneath them to fill the band sound out.

Thank you

Thank you so much for taking part in this lesson. I hope it was useful for you. If you enjoyed this lesson, please share it with your friends.

See you again for the next harmonica video!

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