How Do I Play Harmonica Over Non-Blues Songs? | Ask Tomlin
You're at a jam, you've practised all your blues licks, and then the band calls a folk tune. In this episode Hana asks what to play when it isn't a blues, and we work out a plan she can use on the spot. Hana plays at folk and country sessions where she gets handed a solo on a song she's never heard, so we build the cheat sheet. Forget chasing the chord progression when you're thrown in cold, stay in second position because that's where all your muscle memory already lives, and start with the minor pentatonic scale - the blues scale without the four draw bend. If that doesn't quite sit, try the major pentatonic. Between those and the blues scale you'll cover most of what gets called. From there it's about resolving your phrases to the two draw, leaning on repetition rather than trying to say a million things, and remembering that the harmonica isn't there to carry the song. Hana shares how she uses double stops and space to work around a three draw bend she's still developing, we get into a couple of useful cheap tricks, outlining chord changes with single notes, and where third and fourth position fit for minor tunes. If you're an intermediate player who wants to feel less lost when the music isn't a 12 bar blues, this one is for you. ⏱ Audio Chapters 0:00 – Hana's question: playing non-blues at a jam 3:27 – Forget the chords, focus on your scales 4:26 – Minor and major pentatonic 5:49 – Why I'd stick to second position 7:41 – Resolving to the 2 draw, and the power of repetition 9:26 – Hana's own strategies at the session 12:07 – Trusting your ear and working around your limits 13:45 – Cheap tricks: the warble and the slow bend 15:15 – Outlining the chord changes, and playing in rhythm 17:42 – Minor tunes: third and fourth position This episode is brought to you by the ever-growing Tomlin Harmonica School - where you get a proper step-by-step curriculum, real feedback from real teachers on your own playing, and a genuinely warm community of fellow Harmonicats. Try it free for 7 days at https://bit.ly/4iVcwQn
