Tomlin Harmonica Lessons

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How to play harmonica with a backing track

This week’s lesson addresses a problem that a lot of my students have which is playing with a backing track. I will be specifically showing you how to lock in with a backing track.

You will need a harmonica in the key of C, and we will be playing in 2nd position in the key of G.

What key are you in?

It is really important to make sure that you are playing in the right key for the backing track you have got. For today’s lesson I am using a backing track in the key of G which means you will need a harmonica in the key of C to play in 2nd position over it.

Here is a lesson all about positions

Counting

Once you know that you have the correct key harmonica and backing track, you are not actually going to play yet. Before you play, you need to practice counting in time.

Start by counting the clicks before the track starts. This will give you the tempo of the track and the speed of the beats. From here, keep counting all the way through the track while tapping your foot.

Beat 1

It is now time to start playing some harmonica.

We are going to begin by hitting the 2 draw on beat 1 of each bar. Do this for at least a full 12 bars.

Every beat

Once you are comfortable playing on beat 1, I want you to try playing on every beat.

Remember to leave breaks in your playing to breathe!

Basic Licks and Blues Scale

Now you are comfortable playing a single note on the beat, you can start trying to play simple licks using 2 or 3 notes.

Another great approach to getting comfortable with the timing is to play the blues scale in time with the beat over the backing track (don’t worry about the chord changes for now).

Final thoughts

If you have trouble playing in time with backing tracks, don’t start by playing a complicated lick over it. Keep things really simple like I have outlined in this lesson.

Bit by bit as you get more comfortable you can make the licks more complex!

Thank you

Thank you so much for taking part in this lesson. I hope it was useful for you. If you enjoyed it please feel free to share it with your friends on Facebook and/or Twitter.

If you have any questions just send me a wee email.

See you next Wednesday for the next harmonica lesson!

Comments

  2. Rudi says

    Hi Tomlin,

    Love your lessons 🙂
    You suggest playing the blues scale over the backing track – which sound pretty cool to a beginner like me

    Can you please give me the tab of the blues scale

    Thanks so much

  3. Joe Watts says

    Even with melody I was havinh problems. This will fix it.

    Thanks for the lesson.
    (my draws are getting better)

    Joe

  5. Bob Harrison says

    I don’t use face book or twitter, but I do want to tell you how much I enjoy those lessons. I am part of a beginning harmonica class and share the lessons with the class. The instructor refers to them often.

  13. Thomas Griffin says

    Thanks man for the lessons,do you or I should say when will you be teaching a lesson with the harmonica in the key of D? That’s the only key I have at the moment,thanks.

  15. tomlinleckie says

    Hi Thomas, there are some lessons in the key of D but most of them are in the key of C as that is te harmonica that most people have. Cheers, Tomlin

  16. Cam Cole says

    Thank you I am feeling more comfortable with the harmonica now. The problem I have is with the 3 draw the note does not sound right .

  17. tomlinleckie says

    Hiya – good to hear you are feeling more comfortable. You need to make sure that you are breathing naturally rather than sucking otherwise the 3 draw will sound weak. Hope that helps.T

  18. Jack says

    Thankyou, I have had a couple years away fromantic music and your lessons are clear and concise helped me alot cheers.

  20. Rex says

    Thanks Tomlin, I’ve been playing in 1st position for decades but now my 2nd position is skyrocketing. Cool!!!!

  21. Glen says

    Hi, after a long time (decades) being only a guitar player, I’ve embraced the harmonica as my new direction.
    I enjoy your lessons and your clear teaching style.
    I also don’t see the link to the backing tracks.
    Can you send me the links.
    Thanks, Glen

  22. David MacNab says

    Thanks much for making these backing tracks available to us……… they make practicing so much more fun and productive……… thanks for being a good teacher……..

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