Music Lesson 3: Exploring Valved and Non-Valved Bends

Hi, everybody. Welcome back!

In this lesson, we're going to be using both valved and non-valved bends to explore the entire range of the instrument.

Chromatic Scale Practice

I don't know of a better way to do this than to practice our chromatic scale. We'll see what it's like to play:

• Regular notes
• Bent regular notes
• Valved bent notes

Our objective is to:

• Play the scale accurately
• Stay on pitch with the bends
• Make everything sound as even as possible between regular notes, regular bends, and half valve bends.

Starting the Chromatic Scale

Let's go ahead and play the chromatic scale in three different octaves, starting on hole one. This is in first position, so we're playing an A flat on an A flat harmonica.

Here we go:

• Octave 1

Now we'll start where we left off and we'll play Octave 2. Make sure you follow along on your PDF on the tab that I've sent and understand how I'm achieving those notes.

Now we'll finish on the top octave, noting that we have to get two blow bends out of hole 10.

Cool! Now let me play the whole chromatic scale again from start to finish, starting at the bottom and working my way all the way up.

Don't be afraid to practice that and try it at different speeds. You can also go from back to front, start at the top and work your way back down. All these things help us familiarize ourselves with where the notes are on the harmonica. It will help down the road, I promise.

Leapfrog Exercise

The next exercise is called the Leapfrog Exercise. This is similar to what a trumpet player might do to practice their intervals. It moves us from the two draw note all the way up to the end of the harmonica.

This is great practice because it keeps us moving and requires us to use:

• Regular notes
• Valved bending
• Conventional bending

Let's give it a try. Follow along on your PDF!