Important scales to learn on the harmonica

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My recommended scale practice. Also work on finding the scale notes in as many other registers as you possibly can. 3rd position is wonderful for working the entire range of the harmonica with no overblows or overdraws needed.
Major Scale: 1st pos: 4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 -7 7
Blues Scale: 2nd: -2 -3' 4 -4' -4 - 5 6/ 3rd: -4 - 5 6 -6' -6 7 -8
Pentatonic Scales: 2nd: -2 -3" -3 -4 5 6/ 3rd pos: -4 -5 6 -6 7 -8

[@endlessadventure541]

Ronnie, thank you for opening my eyes to the second octave of the blues scale with the bending on the 6 hole. I love your vids. You always shed some new light on a weakness I have.

[@MrSupersidewinder]

You are a very solid and patient teacher, I really enjoy your efforts. Thanks loads.

[@scottjagodzinski9593]

Thanks Ronnie, gonna get these down pat....thanks for sharing techniques of all kinds , definitely helping with progression.

[@tnysteph]

Looking forward to the class, Ronnie.

[@Harmonica123]

One slight correction..I do use the 6 overblow occasionally and can overdraw a bit but I'm not using it much at all. If you're working with other positions (4th, 5th, 12th position etc.), of course you'll want to find scale for those positions as well.

[@johnhensley220]

It says a whole lot to start with the major scale Ronnie, thanks..

[@2sifus976]

Love this! Thank you very much! I will be sure to get the class later.

[@Harmonica123]

Right on! Thanks.

[@pandamanzak2191]

Great video!!!

[@docsharmonicablues]

Just for clarification to the notes to this video: the pentatonic scale listed for 2nd position is the major pentatonic (on a C Richter harp: the G major pentatonic scale), and the pentatonic scale listed for 3rd position is the minor pentatonic (on a C Richter harp: the D minor pentatonic scale). Both of the blues scales listed are the minor blues scales (the one for 2nd position on a C Richter harp is the G minor blues scale, and the one for 3rd position on a Richter harp is the D minor blues scale). The major blues scales (some people call them the soul scales) are not listed. They consist of a major pentatonic scale with an additional note: the flatted 3rd. By adding yet another note to the so-called soul scale (the flatted 7th) you get the seven note soul scale. Both are really cool to play.

[@jonbeckleymorrisblues]

I'm really glad I found your channel. I've been playing years and pro with many country Blues players including R.L. Burnside for 12 years and am on a couple of his MC Records Cds. I bring it up to say it's never to late to keep learning. And I completly agree with you knowing scales leaves you understanding the harp so much better similar to learning how to drive. At first we learn basic driving skills, then we don't think about it anymore we just drive. Same with playing harmonica building a foundation by practicing scales so you can take off and fly with it. I mean know no-one wants to live in a house with a crummy foundation. 😎 thanks again.

[@Harmonica123]

Right on.. R.L. Burnside has been a big influence on me. I love his music. Would love to hear any recordings you're on man. Thanks for tuning in and leaving a message.

[@jonbeckleymorrisblues]

@@Harmonica123 Appreciate your comment Ronnie. Many years ago I learned well really learned how to play harp from Curtis Salgado in Eugene during his Robert Cray days. He still gives me a hard time and makes me angry enough to work on getting better.🐐 Harp boot camp pretty much what it was. But because of that I had some years playing with R.L., and Eddie "Guitar" Burns from Detroit as well as tours in Europe with Robert Belfour, and several other country Bluesmen. It would not have happened without doing the kind of hard work you offer to the folks you teach. There is so much wealth of knowledge out there that wasn't available even just 20 years ago all of us need to take advantage of it. Redoing harmonica scales has also helped me with other instruments guitar, piano, even blues ukelele. Once you practice them enough it just becomes automatic. By doing scales the mask comes off. Just recently realized how relatively easy it is to play in the key of E on a C harp starting with the blow 2 note for E, then the blow 3 for flated 3, full step bend 3 hole draw for the 4, half step bend on 4 5 flat, draw 3 for the 5, draw 4 for the flated 7, Blow 5 for the 1 or E, or back to blow 2 for the 1, or E. I wouldn't have understood how to do that without practicing scales. Is that 4th position? For R.L. I'm on ACOUSTIC STORIES under John Nurmburg and they forgot I'm playing guitar on "Kind Hearted Woman," and "Meet Me In The Bottom" just to let you know. I use my first and middle names these days Jon Beckley Morris. Much simpler. Also on WELL...WELL....WELL....created from tapes I had. Some recorded for me to practice with in front of a "Ghetto Blaster" by R.L. at my old "Shotgun house" in New Orleans way back at the beginning of 1986. All are available online as well as various videos of R.L. and I along sometimes with Richard Ray Farrel who's not on the recordings. There is also a seperate track of "Stack O Lee" done by R.L. with both Curtis and I hanging around at my house in New Orleans. They were fun days. In between hard touring. Nothing is for free as I'm sure you understand. And with some luck R.L.'s incredible voice will ride again sometime this year. When you're in the Western Oregon area I hope I can meet you Ronnie. You gotta fine way of showing people how to play this incredible instrument that can do so much if you blow the dust off it and are willing to work at it. And can sound great just playing simple things on it. The Harp may just be the coolest music making machine ever created! Or sometimes truthfully the most unhip sounds on planet Earth played by someone who doesn't appreciate what it takes to play the harmonica well which doesn't have to mean fancy playing As you say just using the major scale between the 4 and 7th holes with no bends can create wonderfully sounding music Thanks again for getting back to me and best luck with your teaching and traveling.

[@Harmonica123]

@@jonbeckleymorrisblues right on. those are some great experiences you've had. BTW< E on a C harp starting with the blow 2 note would be 5th position. For 4th position on a C harp, you'd be in Am. Appreciate the words amigo! I'll let you know when I make it out your way.

[@jonbeckleymorrisblues]

@@Harmonica123 Thanks for the explanation Ronnie. Ya know I picked up a low old style G 12 hole harp and realized how easy it was to play in 1,2,3 positions all I had time to try for but anyway it seemed easier to bend the notes on a low G than on the same type C. 4th position is also something by accident because of scale practice I'm getting down. On a C harp the minor A full bend on the 3 hole being the 5 when in 3rd position already used to so knowing the D drawing 1, or 4, blowing E on the 2, or 5 hole and then continuing on...finally making sense after all these years. I think some of the stuff on the videos out there of R.L. and I well I sound better and now certainly than on the Cds. But it's constant learning and I don't have access to a time machine to go back and redo my part on them. But I'm just grateful for the chances to have been able to play with R.L., and everyone else. I'm glad he had real success later in his life. And I really miss the man. He lived a hard life. No surprise there. Yes, please let me know when you're on the West Coast even. Much luck.

[@ikust007]

Thank you very much !

[@cincinnatipedalsteel4347]

On that last “Sonny boy” section were you using the minor pentatonic scale?

[@fasteddie8782]

Awesome man I've been playing harmonica since I've been 5 years old play mostly cross hop I guess it's called second position but really opened my eyes to different skills man in this video very informative thank you I don't know how you get the scale from the bottom though the major scale

[@ikust007]

9:00 absolutely right .

[@musikhausortel8035]

Yes, you should!

[@colincampbell4261]

Hi Ronnie - a bit of your topic, but, have you ever listened to Lester Butler? Could you do a video showing us some of his riffs, please?

[@bobbybluefancher8181]

Hope your good man ! I hope you know how many people you influence! 👍🏻😎

[@Harmonica123]

Thanks Bobby

[@synapsebomb1]

Ronnie - where is the Help Me backing track from, please? Not had any luck finding that on Spotify!

[@Harmonica123]

Ultimate blues jam tracks. They’re on sale at Harmonica123.com

[@lindarogers9575]

If 2 draw is the root note of 2nd position,can you please tell me the root notes of 3rd and 1st positions. Thank you,and good morning.

[@Harmonica123]

3rd pos: -1 -4 -8 and 1st pos: 1 4 7 10

[@lindarogers9575]

@@Harmonica123 thanks so very much.

[@MrJOHNMICHAELVEGA]

So you can play the guitar and harmonica at the same time and play these positions?

[@Harmonica123]

Yes, but if you don't change the key that you're playing in on the guitar, you'll have to change harmonica keys, which might not be easy to do while you're playing both at the same time. You could instead use one Harmonica in multiple positions, but that requires you adjusting the key you're playing on the guitar or at least the chords. Sometimes focusing on the bridge, when the chords change is perfect for moving to another position.

[@wncproperty4592]

Hello. What do you mean about from the bottom when playing the major scale

[@Harmonica123]

The bottom of the scale, also referred to as the root or tonic note. I guess I was talking about starting on 1 blow.