93 Lessons & Counting

The video series formerly known as Meat and Potatoes Harmonica Lessons

An archive of harmonica theory lessons, in order, on Michael's YouTube channel.

1) Introduction

Lessons 1–20: Fundamentals — keyboard, harp layout, bends & overblows
  1. Oct 14, 20101) Introduction
    An introduction to a series of lessons and philosophies concerning playing vs. practice and how we are all equals at music.
  2. Oct 22, 20102) Keyboard
    A lesson about basic music theory by explaining the white notes on a keyboard.
  3. Oct 25, 20103) Keys cont.
    A lesson explaining there are no black keys between E and F as well as between B and C. It also names all 12 keyboard notes as sharps.
  4. Nov 1, 20104) Keys cont.
    A lesson explaining enharmonics, how each black key on a keyboard has two names, a sharp and a flat name.
  5. Nov 2, 20105) C Harp Layout
    A lesson explaining the notes that are built into a C diatonic harmonica.
  6. Nov 10, 20106) Blow Notes
    A lesson explaining the blow notes on a C diatonic harmonica.
  7. Nov 11, 20107) Draw Notes
    A lesson explaining the draw notes in holes 1 through 4 on a C diatonic harmonica and the basics of cross harp.
  8. Nov 15, 20108) Draw Notes cont.
    A lesson explaining the draw notes holes 1 through 10 on a C harp, a way to remember them, and what chords they create.
  9. Nov 16, 20109) Bends
    A lesson explaining bending logic that uses note location information to find a C major scale in the second octave.
  10. Nov 16, 201010) Bends cont.
    A lesson explaining that holes 1 through 6 have blow notes lower in pitch than draw notes, and holes 7 through 10 have draw notes lower than blow notes.
  11. Nov 17, 201011) Bends cont.
    A lesson explaining the two rules of bending: you can only bend on draw notes holes 1–6 and blow notes holes 7–10.
  12. Nov 23, 201012) Bends cont.
    A lesson using the two rules of bending to find the names of the bent notes in holes 1 through 3 on a C diatonic harmonica.
  13. Nov 26, 201013) Bends cont.
    A lesson explaining the bends in holes 4 through 6 draw on a C harmonica and how to bend to get microtones.
  14. Nov 29, 201014) High Note Bends
    A lesson explaining high note bends.
  15. Dec 1, 201015) Overblows
    A lesson explaining the two rules of overblows.
  16. Dec 2, 201016) Overblows cont.
    A lesson explaining which notes are created by overblowing holes 1, 2 and 3 on a C diatonic harmonica.
  17. Dec 6, 201017) Overblows Cont.
    A lesson explaining how to find the names of the overblows in holes four through six on a C diatonic harmonica.
  18. Dec 9, 201018) Overdraws
    A lesson explaining overdraws.
  19. Dec 13, 201019) Half Steps and Whole Steps
    A lesson explaining half steps and whole steps.
  20. Dec 20, 201020) Major Scales
    A lesson explaining how to use the C major scale to find the major scale formula for any key.
Lessons 21–30: Major Scales & the Circle of Fifths
  1. Dec 23, 201021) Major Scales cont.
    A lesson explaining how to find the C, C# and D major scales.
  2. Dec 28, 201022) Major Scales cont.
    A lesson explaining the pitfalls of creating the twelve major scales.
  3. Jan 5, 201123) Take 2 Major Scales cont.
    A lesson explaining the importance of learning all twelve major scales.
  4. Jan 10, 201124) Chromatic Layout
    A lesson explaining the key of C chromatic harmonica layout.
  5. Jan 19, 201125) Chromatic Layout cont.
    A lesson explaining the notes on a C chromatic harp when the button is in.
  6. Jan 25, 201126) Chromatic cont.
    A lesson explaining how to write out the tablature for the 12 major scales on the C chromatic.
  7. Feb 1, 201127) Circle of Fifths
    A lesson explaining how to write out the circle of fifths.
  8. Feb 9, 201128) Circle of Fifths cont.
    A lesson explaining a rule for using the circle of fifths to remember a major scale.
  9. Feb 23, 201129) Circle of Fifths cont.
    A lesson explaining how to use the circle of fifths rule to remember the names of the notes in major scales that have sharps.
  10. Mar 7, 201130) Ab has 8 Sharps
    A lesson explaining how, using the circle of fifths, you can prove the Ab major scale contains 8 sharps.
Lessons 31–40: Positions & Progressions
  1. Mar 22, 201131) Circle of Fifths Flat Keys
    A lesson explaining the rule of the circle of fourths.
  2. Apr 7, 201132) Positions
    A lesson explaining what positions are and how they relate to the circle of fifths.
  3. Apr 13, 201133) Positions cont.
    A lesson explaining positions.
  4. Apr 27, 201134) Circle of Fifths and Positions
    A lesson explaining how the circle of fifths relates to positions.
  5. May 17, 201135) Choosing Harp and Keys
    A lesson explaining how to use the circle of fifths to choose the right harp for the right key while playing cross harp aka second position, including finding 1, 4 and 5 chords.
  6. Jun 2, 201136) Finding the C Major Scale on a C diatonic
    A lesson explaining how to find the C major scale on a C diatonic.
  7. Jun 8, 201137) Diatonic C Major Scale cont. G Note
    A lesson explaining how to find the C major scale on the C diatonic, pontificating on which G to use, 2 draw or 3 blow.
  8. Jun 16, 201138) C Major cont. & Tongue Articulation Rules
    A lesson explaining how to find the C major scale in the first octave of the C harmonica and Michael's take on when to tongue articulate a note.
  9. Jun 24, 201139) C Major Scale cont.
    A lesson explaining how to find a C major scale on a C diatonic harmonica.
  10. Jul 5, 201140) Progressions
    A lesson explaining what a progression is.
Lessons 41–50: G & D Major Jams, Transposition
  1. Jul 19, 201141) Progressions cont.
    A lesson explaining progressions.
  2. Jul 28, 201142) Jamming in 1st Position Major
    A lesson explaining how to take inventory of which holes will sound good using a scale, with tips on jamming in 1st position major.
  3. Aug 2, 201143) G Major Scale on a C Harp
    A lesson explaining how to locate the G major scale on a C diatonic harmonica.
  4. Aug 22, 201144) G Major Scale cont.
    A lesson explaining the G major scale on a C harmonica, or cross harp aka second position major scale, and three things to think about while learning a scale.
  5. Aug 30, 201145) G Major Scale cont.
    A lesson explaining finding the G major scale on the C diatonic harp and how to play it.
  6. Sep 8, 201146) G Major Jam
    A lesson explaining how to jam using the G major scale on a C harp.
  7. Sep 13, 201147) Transposition
    A lesson explaining how to transpose a song from C major to G major while remaining on a C harp.
  8. Sep 20, 201148) D Major Scale
    A lesson explaining how to find the D major scale, or third position, on a C harp, and an introduction to minor music.
  9. Sep 27, 201149) D Major Scale cont.
    A lesson explaining how to find the D major scale in the second octave of a C diatonic harmonica.
  10. Oct 4, 201150) D Major Jam
    A lesson explaining the D major scale and how to jam with it.
Lessons 51–60: Modes & Positions
  1. Oct 14, 201151) Modes
    A lesson explaining modes.
  2. Oct 18, 201152) Modes cont.
    A lesson explaining modes.
  3. Oct 25, 201153) Modes cont.
    A lesson explaining about Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian and Lydian modes.
  4. Nov 1, 201154) Modes cont.
    A lesson explaining Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian modes.
  5. Nov 8, 201155) Modes and Positions
    A lesson explaining how modes and harmonica positions are related, jamming in first position Ionian.
  6. Nov 15, 201156) 2nd Position Mixolydian and Jam!
    A lesson explaining how the 2nd position Mixolydian scale lays out easily on a diatonic harmonica.
  7. Nov 29, 201157) Dorian Mode and 3rd Position Jam!
    A lesson explaining how the Dorian mode and third position are a good fit.
  8. Dec 6, 201158) Aeolian and 4th Position, Jam!
    A lesson explaining how 4th position and the Aeolian mode are a good fit.
  9. Dec 13, 201159) Modes of the 2nd position Major Scale
    A lesson explaining how to take the G major scale on a C harp and play in 2nd position major and 4th position Dorian.
  10. Dec 21, 201160) Modes of G Major 3rd and 5th Position
    A lesson explaining how to use the second position major scale, G on a C harp, to play in 3rd and 5th position using the Mixolydian and Aeolian modes.
Lessons 61–70: Mixolydian, Dorian & Blues Scales
  1. Jan 4, 201261) Modes Not Based on the Major Scale
    A lesson explaining that there are as many modes as there are notes in all of the scales in the world.
  2. Jan 13, 201262) Modes in Any Key the Easy Way!
    A lesson describing how to find a mode in any key.
  3. Jan 20, 201263) 1st Position Mixolydian
    A lesson explaining how to create the Mixolydian numbers pattern that turns any major scale into a Mixolydian scale in the same key, and the layout of 1st position Mixolydian.
  4. Feb 15, 201264) Detour New Use for Circle of Fifths
    A lesson describing how to use the circle of fifths to know the name of any note in a major scale in any key.
  5. Feb 29, 201265) The 4 Dialects of Blues Harmonica
    A lesson demonstrating the four dialects of blues harmonica.
  6. May 11, 201266) Two Licks that Define 1st Position Blues
    A lesson explaining how two licks define playing blues in first position in the first octave.
  7. May 17, 201267) Second Position Mixolydian
    A lesson explaining second position Mixolydian.
  8. May 23, 201268) 3rd Position Mixolydian
    A lesson explaining how to use the third position Mixolydian scale as a way to begin playing blues in third position.
  9. May 30, 201269) First Position Dorian Blues
    A lesson explaining how to play blues using the first position Dorian scale.
  10. Jun 4, 201270) Major vs. Minor
    A lesson explaining the difference between playing major and minor, an introduction to playing diatonically.
Lessons 71–80: Diatonic Chords & Deconstructing Slim Harpo
  1. Jun 13, 201271) Chords Diatonic to a Major Scale
    A lesson explaining how to find the chords that are diatonic to the major scale.
  2. Jun 20, 201272) Playing Dorian Diatonically with Jam!
    A lesson explaining how to find the chords diatonic to the Dorian scale and jamming in first position Dorian.
  3. Jun 26, 201273) Cross Harp Dorian
    A lesson explaining how to play cross harp Dorian, with an educational discussion of Canned Heat's "On the Road Again."
  4. Jul 11, 201274) 3rd Position Dorian and Jam!
    A lesson explaining how 3rd position Dorian is one of the easiest ways to play harp for blues or minor music.
  5. Jul 16, 201275) The Blues Scale Deconstructed
    A lesson pointing out important aspects of the blues scale.
  6. Aug 23, 201276) 1st Position Blues Scale
    A lesson explaining the advantages of the first position blues scale.
  7. Sep 5, 201277) Cross Harp Blues Scale
    A lesson explaining the cross harp blues scale.
  8. Sep 17, 201278) 3rd Position Blues Scale
    A lesson explaining the third position blues scale.
  9. Sep 20, 201279) Deconstructing Slim Harpo
    A lesson deconstructing a blues solo, using Slim Harpo's "Baby Scratch My Back" for educational purposes.
  10. Sep 27, 201280) Slim Harpo Finding Position
    A lesson explaining how to find the harp and position Slim Harpo uses in "Baby Scratch My Back," for educational purposes.
Lessons 81–93: Transcription Templates & Slim Harpo Analysis
  1. Nov 9, 201281) Low to High Order
    A lesson explaining that to find notes another musician is playing, move chromatically from low to high, plus the low-to-high rules of a diatonic.
  2. Nov 15, 201282) Spidey Sense
    A lesson explaining how to use "spidey sense" to figure out what notes Slim Harpo is playing in "Baby Scratch My Back," for educational purposes.
  3. Dec 6, 201283) Educated Guesses
    A lesson continuing to transcribe Slim Harpo's "Baby Scratch My Back," for educational purposes.
  4. Jan 16, 201384) Horizontal and Vertical Playing
    A lesson explaining what horizontal and vertical playing is about.
  5. Feb 6, 201385) In and Out of Blues Scale
    A lesson explaining how to use the blues scale to make educated guesses as to what notes are being played and to pay special attention to notes outside the blues scale.
  6. Mar 18, 201386) Know the Note Names On Any Harp
    A lesson explaining how to know the names of any note on any harp.
  7. Apr 5, 201387) Know the Note Names on Any Harp cont.
    A lesson explaining how to use chromatic scale degrees to know the names of the notes on any harp.
  8. Apr 15, 201388) Straight Harp Numbers Template
    A lesson explaining the straight harp numbers template.
  9. Apr 23, 201389) Straight Harp Numbers Template cont.
    A lesson using the straight harp numbers template to fill out the names of the notes on a Bb harmonica.
  10. Jun 26, 201390) Cross Harp Numbers Template
    A lesson explaining how to create the cross harp numbers template.
  11. Jul 2, 201391) Cross Harp Numbers Template Cont.
    A lesson explaining how to find the names of the notes on any harmonica using the cross harp numbers template.
  12. Jul 31, 201392) Why Did Slim Harpo Play THESE Notes?
    A lesson analyzing the first verse of "Baby Scratch My Back."
  13. Sep 4, 201393) WHEN Did Slim Harpo Play These Notes
    A lesson discussing when Slim Harpo played the notes he chose.