A step by step course in playing Irish, English and Scottish traditional music on the harmonica. Based on the incredible successful instant tin whistle series, each page's tasks are achievable and satisfying but, more importantly, realistically and steadily graded. With conventional notation and harmonica tablature, chords and a discourse on the harmonica this book will get the student off to a flying start.
 
Suitable For Any Key Harmonica
 
Breathing techniques.
Music and tablature.
Holding the harmonica.
Play 24 folk songs and tunes.
Complete with guitar chords.
Ideal for absolute beginners.
Suitable for any key harmonica.
No musical knowledge required.
Learn essential skills playing easy tunes.
Step by step music and harmonica tuition.
 
Do you know a few of these traditional songs and tunes?
 
Annie Laurie
British Grenadiers
The Campañero
Carrickfergus
Cockles and Mussels
Coulters Candy
Doctor O’Neill
Fare Thee Well Enniskillen
Henry the Poacher
John Barleycorn
The Keel Row
Little Brown Jug
Lizzie Lindsay
My Bonny
My Love Is Like a Red Rose
New York Girls
Old Woman from Wexford
Phil the Fluter’s Ball
Sally Gardens
Scarborough Fair
Skip to My Lou
The Skye Boat Song
The Wearing of the Green
The Wild Colonial Boy
 
If so, then you can easily learn to play them on the harmonica by following the simple instructions in this book. Or you can familiarise yourself with the tunes by listening to the attached CD.
 
The tunes in this book and CD are pitched in the key of D. D and G are the most popular keys you will encounter in traditional music sessions. If your harmonica is pitched differently, it doesn’t matter. If you are reading the music, just pretend your instrument is pitched in D. If you are reading the tab, just blow or draw the hole indicated. No problem.
 
Harmonicas, like tin whistles, are transposing instruments. When there’s a change of key, as often as not, you change harmonica. Harmonica players usually have at least two or three instruments and serious players will likely possess the full range of twelve. Harmonicas are small and light, so it’s no trouble to take a few to play along with friends at music sessions. If you’re heading to a pub session of traditional music, you will also need a G tuned instrument, as well as your D. If you’re heading for a sing-around or blues session, you would be wise to also add at least a C to your collection.
 
Steve Jennings began playing music at the age of six; he studied the piano for around twelve years and was closely involved in church music, both as a chorister and organist. Damage to his right hand in an accident made playing the piano both painful and frustrating for him and, for some years, he gave up playing altogether.
 
However, the bug bit him again and after a brief flirtation with the bass guitar, around 1985 he finally found the harmonica. He studied the instrument with South Carolinian blues legend, Johnny Mars whilst building his technique and performance style, working in, and with, many bands in the London area.
 
Steve often performs under the alias Sonny Jay. This came about as the result of a meeting with ex-Muddy Waters’ harmonica man, Mojo Burford. Mojo said of his playing “... just like Sonny Boy, just like old Sonny Boy!” This is the second nicest thing anyone has said to him in his life. (The nicest thing came when ‘Wild Child’ Butler heard him play and told him “You’re black inside boy!”) They are both, says Steve, kinder than he deserves.
 
Steve has appeared on local and national radio and television, including the Radio 4 arts programme, Kaleidoscope. He has performed at several festivals, including Glastonbury.
 
Steve was editor of the magazine Harmonica World for seven years and in 1994 received the International Harmonica Organisation’s Peter Janssen award for ‘Outstanding dedication in promoting interest in the harmonica’.