Chromatic harmonica lesson: How to play accompaniment on the chromatic, part 1

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Thanks for watching! 😊
Filip Jers is an internationally known harmonica player from Stockholm, Sweden and one of the most sought-out harmonica players in Europe. At the age of 36 he has performed in almost 30 countries all over the world.
In 2011 Jers graduated with a Master Degree in Fine Arts of Music from The Royal College of Music in Stockholm. He has also studied privately with Toots Thielemans, Howard Levy and Robert Bonfiglio.
Jers has been given numerous awards through the years. In 2005 he won two gold medals at the World Harmonica Festival in Trossingen, Germany. In 2014 his jazz quartet Filip Jers Quartet was selected as "Best Group" at the European Jazz Competition in Rotterdam, Netherlands and in 2015 the quartet received a Swedish grammy for the album ”Plays Swedish Folk”. In 2016 Jers was awarded the title ”Jazz musician of the Year” by Swedish Radio.
Jers works regulary with Filip Jers Quartet, with his duo with guitarist Emil Ernebro and as a guest soloist in different projects. He has been a featured solist with many cutting edge jazz big bands in Sweden as well as performing with two of Scandinavias finest string orchestras; Musica Vitae and Camerata Nordica. Jers has been featured on more than 50 CD's as a recording artist, playing harmonica.
Besides playing concerts Jers has extensive experience as a harmonica teacher. Besides teching privately and giving workshops in different countries all over the world he is also engaged as harmonica teacher at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen, Denmark and Sibelius Academy in Helsingfors, Finland.
Jers is an "International Suzuki Harmonica Artist", he is endorsing and playing harmonicas made by Suzuki Harmonicas from Japan.
He also runs Fojablue Records, an independent record label that has released Spiro (FRCD01, 2011), Filip Jers Quartet (FRCD02, 2013) and Duet with Emil Ernebro (FRCD03, 2019). In 2022 he released the album ”Filip Jers Quartet - Plays Classical” and in 2023 ”Filip Jers with Carl Bagge trio - ”In the Spirit of Toots”.
Besides music, Filip likes coffee, yoga and running in the nature.

[@FilipJersMusic]

www.patreon.com/filipjersharmonica 🎵🚀🎵

[@LouisTabosa]

Great! A few years ago, I started playing the diatonic after seeing your version of Black Orpheus (that's why I also use the Olive). And now I have just ordered a SCX-56. I believe the next step is to join your Patreon. Thank you, Filip. You motivate me to keep studying.

[@FilipJersMusic]

Thanks for your kind words! 🎶🌞🎶 Happy to inspire 😀 let me know how you like the SCX56 👌

[@LouisTabosa]

Update on the SCX56: It is a beautiful instrument. The images from the internet don't do it justice. It's my first chromatic harmonica, so I can't compare it to others, but I feel really comfortable playing it. The sound is great. I mostly use a G diatonic, so it's nice to have the same note on the first hole. The only downside is that I enjoy the lower notes so much that I might never try a 48 in C.

[@cpg5271]

This is great Filip. To me, one of the main things that makes the harmonica special is the ability to play some chords and double stops, but this is something that I see very little about. It’s also great to see someone covering accompaniment. I’ve been a drummer most of my life so being able to just play time and some harmony on the harmonica is something I find really appealing.

[@FilipJersMusic]

Thanks for your kind words! 🎵😀🙏🎵 and yes, the chromatic can really be cool as a rhythm instrument.

[@etaborya]

Thank you for the lesson! Really love that stuff, gut some ideas. A lot of things to practice. Bebop tuning gives a lot of more double stops for comping.

[@FilipJersMusic]

Cool, happy to inspire!

[@Svidge_123_]

Dear Filip, your imagination plus persistence, plus expertise, and plus hard work brings, again, something magical. And on the top of all is your talent and exquisite musical taste. Thank you for sharing! You demonstrated cords improvisations on your G-48. It sounds like it is tuned to traditional A-443. I know that you have SCX retuned to A-441. I believe that playing cords on chromatic presents limitations for articulation in terms of lowering pitch, unlike when playing solo on single notes. Assuming that the keyboards in your band are tuned to A-440.. how do you feel about coordinating your instrument with the rest of the band? Thank you so much!

[@FilipJersMusic]

Thanks for your kind words! 🎶🌞🎶 I play 442/443s chromatics all the time to keyboards and guitars tuning to A440. Also playing chords. So far, no one has complained 😅 I guess if everyone in the band had very good perfect pitch it could bother but it does not bother me. The chords are mostly played with short rhythms, I don't play long "pads-like" chords. Check my recent video with Emil Ernebro, there he is 440 and I am 442. kzbin.info/www/bejne/epC1hIZ7lsipbKc

[@sandolorsilverdollar]

thanx

[@FilipJersMusic]

No worries

[@JamesReily]

Great tips Thanks!

[@FilipJersMusic]

Thanks! 🎶🎶🎶

[@FilipJersMusic]

🎶🙏🎶

[@jltrem]

My first harmonica was a Hohner 64 Chromonica. I got it for Christmas in 1968 (I was a Stevie Wonder fan). It cost $20.00 at the time. I still have the Hohner pamphlet that came with it with the price list. A Marine Band was $2.95. The 64 Chromonica is now $325.00. I go with EastTop now. A lot less expensive.

[@FilipJersMusic]

Yes, prices has increased. Great with Easttop, which model?

[@jltrem]

@@FilipJersMusic Some EastTop diatonics and an EastTop T10-40 Chromatic. !0 holes is enough for me now.

[@MrSupersidewinder]

So good❤🎉

[@FilipJersMusic]

Thanks! 🎶🎶🎶

[@etaborya]

I am also practicing and searching for possibilities of 1->4 chug on each chord. E.g. instead of four bars of F7 I can play F7-Bb7-F7-Bb7 like Little Walter's "My Baby". F is 2-3 draw of 3--6 split, Bb is 2-3 blow or 3--6 split slide in (5th and 7th)

[@FilipJersMusic]

Yes, these are great. I think showed them in the video. On a 16 it is even better 👌 especially with a microphone close up.

[@etaborya]

@@FilipJersMusic I am trying to do those double stops on 64 and LowC, and I don't really like 1-2 holes for chords, too dirty. Do you feel the same?

[@FilipJersMusic]

On 16 or 12? For 12 ok but 16 depends on key and tempo. DF sounds good, CE sound too wonky.

[@etaborya]

@@FilipJersMusic on 16! I even don’t like DF

[@JokerJim23]

Hi Filip Well i was doing my usual "lazy" Sunday 🫣 & since iv'e had harmonicas all around the house since I was a child (60 now) , I guess I'm a "lazy " harmonica player too. Everything Diatonic, Chromatic, Tremelo , right down to my 1st harmonica a Hohner "Little Lady" in a split two piece box . No options for keychains or necklaces back then. Anyway Filip, why did I sub to your wee channel 🤔 ? Truthfully I think anyone who does like harmonica in whatever genre they fancy is a little bit mad/nutty . It's a tremendous instrument and in the right hands & mouth , it can leave you wondering "how is that possible". So thank you and who knows I may have to look out one of those Chromatics 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍😂🤣👋

[@FilipJersMusic]

Thanks for watching and being here!

[@joaotaveiros860]

Show... Brazil

[@FilipJersMusic]

Obrigado 🎶🙏🎶

[@Human_Herbivore]

Have you ever come across alternative tunings on chromatic, like the many on diatonic?

[@FilipJersMusic]

Yes but I did not find it usefull. I like solo tuning a lot, I think it is great!

[@Human_Herbivore]

Seems to me that the percussive nature of your playing here is also really important. For example the out breaths, some using the throat. Or is that more important because, although you are talking accompaniment, you are actually playing solo here?

[@FilipJersMusic]

Cool thanks for your thoughts. I think you call that "ghosting" a lot of rhythms. One can ghost play both notes and Rhythm. There is a thing called "ghost notes", search for that online and you read more!

[@catoninetails789]

Don't you go insane trying to memorize and learn all this stuff for all 12 keys?

[@FilipJersMusic]

Yes a bit 😀 it takes a while. The more you transpose, the easier it gets.