How to Play Soulful Minor Key Blues in 5 Positions | The Thrill is Gone|Losing Hand|Comin' Home Baby

What exactly is a minor key Blues? How do you choose the right harmonica to sound soulful and bluesy? I picked minor key Blues by BB King (The Thrill Is Gone), Ray Charles (Losing Hand), and Herbie Mann (Comin’ Home Baby), to demystify these questions.
You will see me use 5 different key harps for each of the 3 tunes. And hopefully, this video will give you a fresh perspective on playing minor key Blues.
The harmonicas I use in this video:
Hohner Marine Band with Special 20 coverplates customized by Joe Filisko in G, Ab, A, Bb, C, E and low F;
Hohner Crossover in D;
Hohner Marine Band Deluxe in Eb
► Howard’s harmonica books- Rhythms of the Breath, Vol.1+Vol.2: levyland.com/b...
► My Harps and Gear: levyland.com/m...
► Howard’s online harmonica school: artistworks.co...
► Website: levyland.com/
► Facebook: / howardlevyfanpage
► Instagram: / howardlevyland
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0:43 Major vs Minor Explained
1:58 The Thrill Is Gone in Bm
12:06 Losing Hand in Gm
22:25 Comin’ Home Baby in Dm

[@HowardLevyland]

0:43 Major vs Minor Explained 1:58 The Thrill Is Gone in Bm 12:06 Losing Hand in Gm 22:25 Comin’ Home Baby in Dm

[@canyoudigit183]

Howard, I feel that you are the only voice who not only reveals all that this humble instrument can do, but you always make me THINK music. You can teach music and explain it clearly, such an amazing gift. I can't think of anything I have heard on the harmonica that you could not play, but I can think of many things you play that sound impossible for most players. The best ever, period. I am so grateful for your sharing all this knowledge with us.

[@carlgrimsley7019]

This man is a musical genius !

[@harpothehealer]

Great tutorial. Actually I see something else demonstrated here. From trill 21.37 For me it's an out of body experience musos call it different things. it is what we strive for every gig and every playing session. It's why a lot of players keep playing I guess. . sometimes it digs in 5 min 10 min 20min and now and again a whole gig if everything is set right. There is risk involved and the muso is totally comfortable hanging a note for ever or totally going for it .The fascinating thing for me is a person who knows nothing about music at all will recognise it instantly, and react (man that's great) The whole tutorial is excellent but I think that bit from 21.37 is I think your in 2nd is a fantastic coaching point .What I love is that this is a tutorial but at times as you say your getting into it and on some of them you say you find it hard to stop. Enjoyed the video thanks

[@RichardGjems]

Probably the best harmonica resource on KZbin today. Hats off for the maestro!

[@robonecoolguy]

great video..! happy to have discovered it...will help after a long layoff ...THANKS, Howard...would enjoy lessons when ready....I played for 30-40 years on and off.

[@dariuszrygier]

How wonderful bluesy feeling ... How nice examples of blues you picked. It made my day for sure ! Plenty to learn and practice . You make these gruesome times more sunny - thank you !

[@HowardLevyland]

You are most welcome!

[@EmersonTanakaHarp]

your vocabulary on the instrument is mind blowing!

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

Amazing Lessons!

[@lavonnecarrick2238]

I can’t do this yet. I need more understanding of music theory I guess. But it’s wonderful to hear. This is the kind of music I want to play. I have enjoyed your looping KZbin video and I am target practicing at this time. Thank you for your Tutorials.

[@aramisst-gelais]

a 30 minute video!!! Howard is really spoiling us!

[@HowardLevyland]

Ha!

[@stephenkeanymarksph.d.7428]

Howard Is the man! He was the first over blower to really open up and start showing people how to do it. Back when the only good way we could learn musical techniques and licks from top notch musicians was thru discs that everyone else in the house had to listen as we played and replayed them. Now we can learn from Howard Levy with our earbuds in and access it, without having to turn on our television and DVD player, which was a royal pain in the ass in the key of Db minor.

[@javierf55]

A privilege being able to look for your videos and to learn from a master.

[@heiko6983]

Great Howard😊 I love your clear emotional playing. Your harp blues for me is close to trumpet or sax blues, may be because of playing predominantly beautiful single notes, seldom splits or octaves. Thanks for the blues

[@HowardLevyland]

Thank you very much!

[@prodoverjeff2876]

So many times I played songs in 1st position when as you show here a minor key would have worked better. It's encouraging to listen to a guy my age who plays so much better than me!

[@kyrenallen9382]

Oh my gosh! This man's tone is wonderful! Definitely the best I've ever heard.

[@williamdixon4812]

On Losing Hand, 3rd LF absolutely made all the hairs on my arm stand at attention. That gave serious chills. Thanks Howard.

[@baindon719]

Enjoy your wonderful playing and tutorial thanks for sharing .

[@eh5fv]

Estos sonidos son de otro planeta. Gracias Maestro Howard!!!!

[@Crushbandicoot-wv8xb]

Dude you are truly one of the greatest to ever play the harp

[@williamhoughton1484]

Howard I am lost for words ! All I can say is that was riveting 🧐 wonderful. Love your videos.

[@adddella7765]

Wow!

[@jeffboyer4204]

Bravo. Encore.

[@bobleach7313]

Gold

[@jgalicic]

Very inspirational Howard !

[@HowardLevyland]

Thank you!

[@MrSupersidewinder]

Wow, what a power lesson😮 Would have liked a taste of high F... Because you were right, most of us don't have low harps...😊 Thank you!

[@leftymagoo2710]

Thanks Howard! I recently “discovered “ you and I am glad that I did. Pretty amazing what you do with a “ plain old” harp. ❤️listening to your tutorials! Thanks for sharing!

[@terrysilverback8604]

YOU are awesome, 😉😁 Thankyou.

[@donaldneumeyer4423]

Outstanding Howard! Thank you for explaining these various positions for minor playing.

[@diment0857]

The thrill is NEVER gone when Howard Stern gives his masterclasses brimming with musical wisdom and performance tips. These videos are not only for harmonica players, every aspiring musician wishing to obtain a DEEP understanding of jazz and blues will reap huge rewards to say nothing of the masterful performances, much obliged Mr. Stern.

[@robknowles6152]

Awesome playing Howard, lots of interesting, useful information. Rob in NZ

[@frothybeaver4869]

5th is one of my favorite positions.

[@graemethorne4540]

Wow fantastic thank you 🙏

[@nandita896]

Awesome... nice instruction

[@gregmoodispaugh5396]

You are truly a master. Simply amazing.

[@319J039]

An Excellent outline with spectacular improv licks. Thanksgiving, H

[@nacoran]

Except for second I use positions exclusively for modal playing. I understand conceptually how to do more, but I don't do it in practice (mediocre overblows and all). I was trying to explain some music theory to someone on reddit on /harmonica today. I think I explained it correctly. I was explaining the difference between a C major chord, a Cmaj7 chord, and a diminished 7 chord. In the process it got me trying to think if I could play a Cmaj7 on a C harp. I certainly don't have the chops to play a CEG blow and bend down the 10 blow to get the B all at once. I don't know the name of the technique where you play blow notes on one end of the harp and get draw notes on the other (or vice versa). I can do it on a couple harps... particularly low tuned harps. I think maybe, possibly, if I thought about it, I might be able to do it that way, although I've never played around with getting anything besides the 8-10 holes to sound that way. I didn't want to say no one could do it though... and I specifically didn't say no one could do it because I'm pretty sure I've seen you bend one note in a chord before. So, Cmaj7, full chord, regular diatonic C harp... doable or not? Here is the reddit thread in question... (They were actually trying to work through David Herzhaft's book... I suppose I should have CC'd him to the thread from FB. www.reddit.com/r/harmonica/comments/si0zlx/encyclopedia_of_scales_david_herzhaft_theory_help/ Great playing as usual. I love 5th, but specifically for Phrygian. When I was just starting to play I was messing around with When the Saints Go Marching In and in trying to move it around I made a weird version where I changed modes. I couldn't bend yet.

[@christhemusicteacher]

Big Big Thanks, this video lays it out and helps a bunch! Much Appreciation!

[@timcraig1161]

I love this video, this video with all the different harps is great and a lot of food for thought recently I seen a video where you played one harp through 12 keys thanks Howard I really enjoyed this

[@johnanthonycafe2993]

Howard Levi is a master of diatonic harmonicas but as a hobby player I preferred the upside down Lee Oskar Melody Maker harmonicas. They have an overall mellower sound but can be ‘pinched’ if required to give a shrill sound.

[@makosmakos137]

Dear Howard, you obviously talk about Natural minor. What about Harmonic minor? I know there are Harmonic minor harps but they have to be played 1st position.

[@pierre-pauljean5416]

Tank you maestro see you soon

[@levargas3675]

You made my day! Just love all the lesson! Very thanks for this

[@maximfomenko469]

Thank you for exploring new possibilities of this small instrument and sharing it in your videos! Genius and inspiring! Спасибо!

[@HowardLevyland]

That’s the idea!

[@gortagnan]

Well first thing is I really enjoyed just grabbing the harps you suggest and trying to get a few (!) notes ‘along the lines of what I am hearing’.. Hopelessly inadequate as a beginner (still) but so interesting and fun even if I don’t get 99% of the theory side...but Oh that minor blues on all those harps...incredible...How or what do I need or where to get back on that journey ? Does Howard have a place or bunch of videos available for such as me ?? However this video gave me Very Happy frustration !!!

[@joeblakeukeman]

Hey, what’s a ‘cross harp’? 😵‍💫 -and, this was amazing!!

[@herbster22]

Howard, the challenge for me is hearing " the thrill is gone" in what you played? How does that come through you so that it somehow becomes the song? Or does it not have to be recognizable at all?

[@Horwellston]

Loving your videos! Was thrilled (so to speak) to have the chance to take the solo on Ball and Chain last night. Usually it's this slowly escalating angular hell storm guitar solo but last night that guy was off. Played plain old 2nd position, so much space, really having time to let different ideas and sounds play out and explore all the corners. However, when you play a wrong note it can be a real stinker ("oh boy" as you say), and unfortuanately I still always let a few slip in.

[@Flornmonk]

Really great phrasing!

[@patricia_marcoux]

Thank you, after listening this video I decided to try some 5 position. Can I ask you a question? Your harmonica are compromised tuning or equal? Do you have some harmonica tuned in each tuning? (Equal and compromised) Because mine his more Compromised but I am not sure that’s what I need. Sometimes I play piano too during playing melody on my harmonica. Thanks!

[@varnalofaro]

👍🎶Thank you again for such precious info

[@HowardLevyland]

Thanks for watching!

[@rajeev7898]

You have subordinated the harmonica.

[@tomcat6045]

Love your harp playin'. I mostly attempt to play blues cross style harp so I was wondering which harps you use that may help me be a better player and/or a harp that will withstand my hard crud playing. I am having harps break up or just hang up a lot. I play Hohner (Marine band, blues harp, and currently the Bamboo harps) which are great but I'm still having problems. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[@prakashspex]

Great playing and explanation for the positions. I am guessing all positions are played on a different scale which I am not finding here. Would be great to get some info on the different scales.THX

[@carlitosross1519]

Impossible be better

[@raymondallanwing]

Hi just a thought never see you using a neck rack ?

[@bethwilton8075]

Good question. I'm wondering also,thanks.

[@boaoliubluesharmonicaplaye2128]

Thanks so much dear sir！！！

[@fabianocerri]

Excelente❤

[@mastermind2633]

Please could you be so nice and show us the Tab. I mean the number of the holes where to Draw and where to blow. Thank you very much.

[@landztranz]

Beautiful! Please tell me, are you exclusively tongue blocking here or puckering some of the time?

[@sharkair2839]

i'm confused... the turnaround is bar 11 and 12.

[@janpitty7110]

Damm ghe fucking tshirts dont let me see the screen.