How to Play Bluegrass Harp
Although harmonica is not part of the traditional bluegrass ensemble, the sound of the harp fits in well with bluegrass. The important thing is to understand the music. If you go in playing Chicago-style blues licks, you'll stick out like a sore thumb and get more than a few dirty looks. Learn to play fast, melodic and clean in the bluegrass style. Understand when it's your turn to solo and when you're supposed to step back. If you respect the music, you'll fit in as well as any banjo picker.
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Instructions
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Learn chugging. Playing short rhythmic chords to keep time on the harmonica is called chugging. It is also known as choogling, shuffling or the train song. Follow the link in our Resources section for more information.
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Practice playing fiddle tunes. Probably half of the bluegrass tunes out there are fiddle tunes. Learning to play them will teach you a lot about the genre. Fiddle tunes are also good practice because they require you to play quickly and cleanly using your entire harp. Those skills are essential for a bluegrass player.
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Learn the layout of a bluegrass song. Most bluegrass songs have a verse, a chorus and a solo section where everyone solos for a set period of time. This usually goes around in a circle. You can tell when it is your solo because the song leader will make eye contact and nod at you.
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Learn what to do in a bluegrass song. During the verse, play quietly with an emphasis on chugging. During the chorus, you can take it up a notch, playing a bit louder and more aggressively. In the solo section, play very quietly until it is your solo. When it's your turn to solo, blow your heart out for 8 bars.
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Hear as much bluegrass as you can. Listen to old bluegrass albums and see live acts whenever you get the chance. Pay particular attention to what the fiddle is doing.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are playing along with a fiddle tune, you can simply play the melodic line as a solo.
Don't try to play blues harp style with bluegrass. It will sound awful and irritate the pickers there.
