Absolutely superb lesson, the comment about feeling like you'll never understand it rang so true for me, music theory seems like a never ending pit of confusion... But, it does slowly go in if you don't give up. 'Don't be a quitter, no one likes a quitter' is what I have to keep telling myself. At 58 it is harder but not impossible. Thanks Jason.
I never saw anybody teaching music theory without using any music theory before, and as a person who do knows music theory, I can say this lesson is so amazing! Jason, you're the best!
During COVID-19, I saw a video where Jason instructed the viewer to learn the Major scale in the middle octave. You can apply a random rhythm once you have that down smoothly, ascending and defending. For some reason, this terrified me. I did this last night and thought, "Damn. Jason has me improvising on the harmonica!" Turns out my subconscious has been mulling over the blues harp for 4 years, and now I can do something that once terrified me. Now, onward! There is much more to learn, but theory is starting to inform what I hear, and I can pick out riffs. Can't stop, won't stop! Thanks, Jason!
Thanks, I learned guitar the same way. I'm now learning harmonica. The "just do it" method. 😂 Loui Loui on guitar. 1, 4, 5 cross harp = (4). I never heard of positions until now. We didn't have UA-cam when I was a kid. Draw to get (4). Wow so that's called 2nd position? Cool.... You opened up a whole new door for me. Thanks again.
Something that was helpful to me is placing my harmonicas up in my case in the circle of 4th s. So I placed them in order, B E A D G C F Bb Eb Ab Db F# Then whatever the key of the song is in that is 1st, then go in order for 2nd, 3rd and so on. i.e. for readers (song is in G; G harp is 1st position, then next harp in the circle is C (2nd position), F is 3rd harmonica in the circle (3rd position) and so on. I hope this is helpful, and maybe it isn't.
This was a great lesson sensei! I ❤️ how you went about it in a practical way! I wise man once said it takes an intelligent man to make a difficult subject in a way that is easily understood (at least it was somethin’ like that)-that’s one of your graces. God bless you! This was also a tune up for my own teaching to my students. Your God given compassion was dope! Anyway, God bless ya brother SOLI DEO GLORIA (To The Glory Of God Alone) Father, Son & Holy Spirit -Ronnie
Jason my name is not Salba but he or she might be my twin. Great class. Slowly sinking in man. The playing is a gas...............the learning is WORK, just like life!
I've been following you for years, & this is one of the best lessons that you've ever taught. Although I've been playing harp for 40 years, I don't understand theory. So this lesson gave me a much greater sense of comprehension. In short, I understood the content much more clearly. Thanks Jason! All the best, Greg Gordon 🎵
Paul and I used to play with Eric Sardinis in the very beginning in So. Cal. in the 90's. If you would, please say hello to Paul for me! Thank you! Eddie Clark
This is going to be one of the most educational videos that help me alone with Selba and others.Just want to know what harp harp and let me go make my mistakes and not hear a lot of bulls-- Thanks for this Jason I hope I will be saying after watching whole video.
Gracias j.r mientras trabajo no puedo dejar de mirar tu viernes gratis 😊 te agradezco de ❤ buen fin de semana. A seguir tocando Saludos desde Argentina j.r
Moon Cat !! yeah had a perfect example of this happen last night. Was playing Heartache tonight by the Eagles. I had my High G harp go out on me and standard G sucks for cutting through the mix. So I grabbed a C and stayed in the middle of the harp and it sounded good. So yeah no theory just did what sounded good. ALL HAIL FREE FRIDAY!!🌛🐱 !!
Lil` story from Little Dre: once i was on a blues jam session, one of our famous older harmonica players, who is also a singer and a guitarist told me the key of the song and then asked what harmonicas do you have? I said that i have C, D and A, i can play this tune in 3rd or in 2nd. Then he told while knowing i play fancy with overblows and stuff: ''Play in whatever possition you are able to, even in 7th, 12th or whatever is there i don`t know". Than i said: "Even in 69th?". We laughed and he said better not to do it 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣
For a "Zero Music Theory" lesson I had a theory epiphany watching this! The blues scales 1st, 2nd, and 3rd position for playing on a 2nd position track is connection I never made.
I remember Howard Levy trying to teach me the 12 positions when I was a kid, but back then Lee Oskar gave me a set of LOH for Christmas each year and I got spoiled having each key and I only learned second position. Nice explanation Jason.
The biggest REVEAL for me is that there is NO SECRET, and that you CAN'T just pick up and play tabs in 2nd/3rd/etc position, you need to either find the tabs specifically for that position or use the Sydel tab converter online tool. The videos you mentioned made me think there was some super-complicated secret to it.
I love that you made the connection of I IV V in crossharp easier to understand. I touch on this in my positions lesson at SPAH. Great mini-lesson, Jason.. Spring Harp Fest 4/19/2025. You coming?
Alright, did I learn any after the watching the whole video, short answer yes but and there is a but I am 66 playing 18 months and not or never interested in playing in a band I just enjoy playing and learning and a lot of teachers are to smart for there own good. If you have been playing for 20 years you better be good so don’t show the fu- off. People are trying to learn.I play by ear now I give you 5 dollars month cause you are one of the good ones.Rex Ragland and Adrian Forsberg are the the other ones and they have no tabs that’s for me is old school and I am still clean going on 25 years. Jazzi smith like him to. I’ll always watch u Jason thanks
G blOke I'm not learning to play the harp as I'm a guitarist. I was sent your vid buy a mate whom is learning, I must say I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed even though I'm the highest on the tool board, I understand exactly what you are saying without knowing sh*# about the harp. I've always wanted to learn it and always thought a harp plyr just picked up and Sharp for key of A. I know now how to choose the harp to play in, I take it for the different feel e.g happy, sad, angry ECT. Which are called modes on guitar. I now have a more insight on playing what mode over what chord by watching your bloody vid on the harp positions. You explained for me what I couldn't quite understand what I was watching n learning on guitar vids. Way to go bloke n cheerz for the lesson, I understand more on the feel/ mood of the paragraph or phrase of music I'm playing👍 Whom would have guessed a bloody harp plyr enwhitenin a bloody guitar plyr on what he's trying to learn on guitar buy explaining harp POS nbr 2-3. I also now on-top of guitar know how to choose the right harp for the mood/feel and how to play it. Exelente hombre harpi. ⚡⚡⚡⚡/5 For the vid n harp lesson for theblunt tool in the shed no matter where U r on the tool board..... Cheerz Chalki 🧑🎤🎸🎵🎶🎶🎵☮️☯️♾️🏴☠️🥳⚡
Never thought I could play different positions on each chord in one song 😮 But I was always wondering why some notes like 2” are not in the 2nd position, but still sounds good. What a discovery!
Jason, do you do any audio editing to your videos like effects or equalizer? When I record myself playing and I listen to it, I feel my microphone pics up alot of strange frequencies or undertones from the harp. I’ve noticed when other players upload videos of themselves, it often sounds like “studio quality”. I like to think my tone isn’t THAT bad, so what gives? I record everything on my iPhone and don’t do any kind of editing on it
Hi Not really. I just use one microphone and some out board speakers for my computer. Sometimes I might have to do a treble boost, bass boost, voice enhance or hum reduction thing depending upon how badly I placed the microphone or forgo/ignored it's input level at the time of recording. but basically if I put the mic in the right place, not to hot, not to cold I don't have to do anything! Also imovie allows me to add Delay/echo it's set at one setting so I only really use it on the 4 second chapter intros etc...
ZERO Music Theory! That's me. The hardest part of playing by ear was finding the right note. So I just played them all and then block the wrong notes. Blow chords have no wrong notes but draw chords need at least one hole blocked to sound right. Some draw chords are Implied chords. All blow chords are true chords.
You’re able to use zero theory because the designers of the richter tuning did it for you. It’s not because it’s an ideal way to play, it works because it’s an open-tuned instrument.
@@jasonricci It takes as long as it takes to count to 6, 11, or 9. Point to the song key, say E. Count "1". 2nd position, count to "2" starting with song key. Then 3, then 4...6...9...11. I've only used that for 1-5.
I had my yearly checkup last week and I have lost an inch since last year. I'm now 4'9" tall. I told the doctor " I think I'm shrinking. He told me not to panic. I would just have to be a little patient.
Pick up a harmonica in a key that's not the same as the band and try playing it. in the description box below there are three backing tracks provided, use those first with an A harmonica and then get back to me. 💜
Early on in my musical journey , in trying to figure the what’s and why’s of positions, what helped me somewhat understand was likening positions to a literary sense. Like when Hunter S. Thompson, Jack Kerouac or any other decent book author or story teller composes they have the option of telling their story from 3 different perspectives/ positions. 1st person, 2nd person, or 3rd person depending on what best suits the story. And 1st, 2nd, and 3rd position are the most commonly used with our beautiful little tin sandwich instrument Are ya tracking with me on this ? Or as Jr. Wells says “ Pick up, pick up on dis man.” 🥁🎸🪘🎷😎
Absolutely superb lesson, the comment about feeling like you'll never understand it rang so true for me, music theory seems like a never ending pit of confusion... But, it does slowly go in if you don't give up.
'Don't be a quitter, no one likes a quitter' is what I have to keep telling myself.
At 58 it is harder but not impossible.
Thanks Jason.
I never saw anybody teaching music theory without using any music theory before, and as a person who do knows music theory, I can say this lesson is so amazing! Jason, you're the best!
What a kind and lovely comment to read! Thank you!
free Friday always feels like paid personal lesson friday
All hail free Friday!
During COVID-19, I saw a video where Jason instructed the viewer to learn the Major scale in the middle octave. You can apply a random rhythm once you have that down smoothly, ascending and defending. For some reason, this terrified me. I did this last night and thought, "Damn. Jason has me improvising on the harmonica!" Turns out my subconscious has been mulling over the blues harp for 4 years, and now I can do something that once terrified me. Now, onward! There is much more to learn, but theory is starting to inform what I hear, and I can pick out riffs. Can't stop, won't stop! Thanks, Jason!
Thats IT!
@@jasonricci Thanks Jason!
Honestly I attribute my music theory knowledge to Jason just slowly dripping it into my brain over many years.
Music theory Osmosis.
Thanks, I learned guitar the same way. I'm now learning harmonica. The "just do it" method. 😂 Loui Loui on guitar. 1, 4, 5 cross harp = (4). I never heard of positions until now. We didn't have UA-cam when I was a kid. Draw to get (4). Wow so that's called 2nd position? Cool.... You opened up a whole new door for me. Thanks again.
Something that was helpful to me is placing my harmonicas up in my case in the circle of 4th s. So I placed them in order, B E A D G C F Bb Eb Ab Db F# Then whatever the key of the song is in that is 1st, then go in order for 2nd, 3rd and so on. i.e. for readers (song is in G; G harp is 1st position, then next harp in the circle is C (2nd position), F is 3rd harmonica in the circle (3rd position) and so on. I hope this is helpful, and maybe it isn't.
I might rearrange my harps now!
@@jasonricci I think you will like doing that. Saves a lot of time on the fly.
This was a great lesson sensei! I ❤️ how you went about it in a practical way! I wise man once said it takes an intelligent man to make a difficult subject in a way that is easily understood (at least it was somethin’ like that)-that’s one of your graces. God bless you! This was also a tune up for my own teaching to my students. Your God given compassion was dope!
Anyway, God bless ya brother
SOLI DEO GLORIA
(To The Glory Of God Alone)
Father, Son & Holy Spirit
-Ronnie
God Bless You!!!
So far I'm pro efficient in only three positions. Fourth is this week's focused practice.😊
You're right on time once again Jason. 👍🤘
Or was it proficient? 😅
Maybe not huh?😂
Jason my name is not Salba but he or she might be my twin. Great class. Slowly sinking in man. The playing is a gas...............the learning is WORK, just like life!
Beautiful!
Excellent lesson today.
I've been following you for years, & this is one of the best lessons that you've ever taught. Although I've been playing harp for 40 years, I don't understand theory. So this lesson gave me a much greater sense of comprehension. In short, I understood the content much more clearly. Thanks Jason! All the best, Greg Gordon 🎵
That's awesome!!! Thank you for taking the time to write!
He's not the only one confused. Hell we play harp.
Paulie Loranger has been telling me I need to get lessons from you for years…. I’m sold. You’re a fucking phenom!
Paulie is the Phenom!~ Holler at me sometime I'm too busy but lets talk. Stay on me.
He sure is! We toured with Paul Nelson together. Paulie taught me a whole lot! Hope we cross paths soon.
Paul and I used to play with Eric Sardinis in the very beginning in So. Cal. in the 90's. If you would, please say hello to Paul for me! Thank you!
Eddie Clark
@@drums_clarksure will!
@@drums_clark will do!
Just what I needed! Thanks.
This is going to be one of the most educational videos that help me alone with Selba and others.Just want to know what harp harp and let me go make my mistakes and not hear a lot of bulls-- Thanks for this Jason I hope I will be saying after watching whole video.
PS thanks, my favorite kind of lesson.
Hi Jason!
Your tone is NICE AS USUAL!!
And sametime,I can FEEL your passion to teach SO MUCH!!!.
JUST BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
Wow, thank you! 💜
Gracias j.r mientras trabajo no puedo dejar de mirar tu viernes gratis 😊 te agradezco de ❤ buen fin de semana. A seguir tocando
Saludos desde Argentina j.r
Great lesson Jason!!
Jimmy Reed was an absolute MASTER at playing 1st Position.
I got a couple fun Jimmy Reed Lessons on this channel if you want more. 💜
@@jasonricci I will definitly have to look those up. Is Jimmy Reed mentioned in the video titles?
Wait...Oh yeah, I just found at least one.
Moon Cat !! yeah had a perfect example of this happen last night. Was playing Heartache tonight by the Eagles. I had my High G harp go out on me and standard G sucks for cutting through the mix. So I grabbed a C and stayed in the middle of the harp and it sounded good. So yeah no theory just did what sounded good. ALL HAIL FREE FRIDAY!!🌛🐱 !!
another great lesson cheers mate
Thanks Jason for taking the bucket off my Head 😊
I love it, no shit just plane common sense.😉👏👏👏
I ran into Watermelon Slim in Rentiesville, Oklahoma. Turns out, we have mutual friends in Eugene, Oregon. Slim gives you Jason high praises!
Love him too!
Lil` story from Little Dre: once i was on a blues jam session, one of our famous older harmonica players, who is also a singer and a guitarist told me the key of the song and then asked what harmonicas do you have? I said that i have C, D and A, i can play this tune in 3rd or in 2nd. Then he told while knowing i play fancy with overblows and stuff: ''Play in whatever possition you are able to, even in 7th, 12th or whatever is there i don`t know". Than i said: "Even in 69th?". We laughed and he said better not to do it 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣
HAAA!
Thanks for the link to the chart. I need to add that to my wishlist.😎🌙🐈⬛
For a "Zero Music Theory" lesson I had a theory epiphany watching this! The blues scales 1st, 2nd, and 3rd position for playing on a 2nd position track is connection I never made.
Amazing!!!!
Awesome video!!! You explained this so well 🔥
My bro. I had no idea what I was gonna say really 😂
Thank you Jason! Explain a lot for me
I remember Howard Levy trying to teach me the 12 positions when I was a kid, but back then Lee Oskar gave me a set of LOH for Christmas each year and I got spoiled having each key and I only learned second position. Nice explanation Jason.
Thx "Moon Cat!" 🙀
Thanks
The biggest REVEAL for me is that there is NO SECRET, and that you CAN'T just pick up and play tabs in 2nd/3rd/etc position, you need to either find the tabs specifically for that position or use the Sydel tab converter online tool. The videos you mentioned made me think there was some super-complicated secret to it.
I love that you made the connection of I IV V in crossharp easier to understand. I touch on this in my positions lesson at SPAH. Great mini-lesson, Jason.. Spring Harp Fest 4/19/2025. You coming?
Maybe next year. Thank you!!~!
@@jasonricci We would be so happy to have you. We can set up a seminar and you could give lessons while here.
@@harmonicajohn call me!
Alright, did I learn any after the watching the whole video, short answer yes but and there is a but I am 66 playing 18 months and not or never interested in playing in a band I just enjoy playing and learning and a lot of teachers are to smart for there own good. If you have been playing for 20 years you better be good so don’t show the fu- off. People are trying to learn.I play by ear now I give you 5 dollars month cause you are one of the good ones.Rex Ragland and Adrian Forsberg are the the other ones and they have no tabs that’s for me is old school and I am still clean going on 25 years. Jazzi smith like him to. I’ll always watch u Jason thanks
Thank YOU Rodney my big bro for watching, your story here and your supprt!
G blOke I'm not learning to play the harp as I'm a guitarist. I was sent your vid buy a mate whom is learning, I must say I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed even though I'm the highest on the tool board, I understand exactly what you are saying without knowing sh*# about the harp. I've always wanted to learn it and always thought a harp plyr just picked up and Sharp for key of A. I know now how to choose the harp to play in, I take it for the different feel e.g happy, sad, angry ECT. Which are called modes on guitar. I now have a more insight on playing what mode over what chord by watching your bloody vid on the harp positions. You explained for me what I couldn't quite understand what I was watching n learning on guitar vids. Way to go bloke n cheerz for the lesson, I understand more on the feel/ mood of the paragraph or phrase of music I'm playing👍
Whom would have guessed a bloody harp plyr enwhitenin a bloody guitar plyr on what he's trying to learn on guitar buy explaining harp POS nbr 2-3. I also now on-top of guitar know how to choose the right harp for the mood/feel and how to play it. Exelente hombre harpi.
⚡⚡⚡⚡/5
For the vid n harp lesson for theblunt tool in the shed no matter where U r on the tool board.....
Cheerz Chalki 🧑🎤🎸🎵🎶🎶🎵☮️☯️♾️🏴☠️🥳⚡
Beautiful! Thank YOU for taking the time to write that! 💜
Never thought I could play different positions on each chord in one song 😮 But I was always wondering why some notes like 2” are not in the 2nd position, but still sounds good. What a discovery!
I'm glad I through that part in there. Might do more on my Patreon.
Jason, do you do any audio editing to your videos like effects or equalizer? When I record myself playing and I listen to it, I feel my microphone pics up alot of strange frequencies or undertones from the harp. I’ve noticed when other players upload videos of themselves, it often sounds like “studio quality”. I like to think my tone isn’t THAT bad, so what gives? I record everything on my iPhone and don’t do any kind of editing on it
Hi Not really. I just use one microphone and some out board speakers for my computer. Sometimes I might have to do a treble boost, bass boost, voice enhance or hum reduction thing depending upon how badly I placed the microphone or forgo/ignored it's input level at the time of recording. but basically if I put the mic in the right place, not to hot, not to cold I don't have to do anything! Also imovie allows me to add Delay/echo it's set at one setting so I only really use it on the 4 second chapter intros etc...
Jason. On St James Infirmary are you playing an A harp in third position key of B minor?
❤
Fantastic lesson. Thank you.👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🌙🐈⬛93/93
Sounds like the Ipman is hanging with you in the latter part
Like, share and subscribe. Thank you.
ZERO Music Theory! That's me. The hardest part of playing by ear was finding the right note. So I just played them all and then block the wrong notes. Blow chords have no wrong notes but draw chords need at least one hole blocked to sound right. Some draw chords are Implied chords. All blow chords are true chords.
You’re able to use zero theory because the designers of the richter tuning did it for you. It’s not because it’s an ideal way to play, it works because it’s an open-tuned instrument.
Cool ⚡⚡⚡
Fender Mississippi sax case is on sale again on the fender website. Health and prosperity to you and your family.🌙🐈⬛93/93
The easiest chart is just to arrange your harps in circle of 5ths order.
Thats awesome. Real question though? So can you easily figure out in seconds say 6th, 11th or 9th position that way? If so can you teach me big bro?
@@jasonricci It takes as long as it takes to count to 6, 11, or 9. Point to the song key, say E. Count "1". 2nd position, count to "2" starting with song key. Then 3, then 4...6...9...11. I've only used that for 1-5.
dont play harp but this is interesting , play a little guitar -- so is position like modes on guitar?
Very similar
I had my yearly checkup last week and I have lost an inch since last year. I'm now 4'9" tall. I told the doctor " I think I'm shrinking. He told me not to panic. I would just have to be a little patient.
😂😆😂
Eh?!? 🤔🤦♂️🤷♂️sorry, but lost as lost can be. 🤷♂️
Pick up a harmonica in a key that's not the same as the band and try playing it. in the description box below there are three backing tracks provided, use those first with an A harmonica and then get back to me. 💜
Early on in my musical journey , in trying to figure the what’s and why’s of positions, what helped me somewhat understand was likening positions to a literary sense. Like when Hunter S. Thompson, Jack Kerouac or any other decent book author or story teller composes they have the option of telling their story from 3 different perspectives/ positions. 1st person, 2nd person, or 3rd person depending on what best suits the story. And 1st, 2nd, and 3rd position are the most commonly used with our beautiful little tin sandwich instrument Are ya tracking with me on this ? Or as Jr. Wells says “ Pick up, pick up on dis man.” 🥁🎸🪘🎷😎
Very cool!