To get a real feel for the blues and how the harmonica adds to the music, check out my
Recommended Listening List

John Watts and I have put together a Harmonica Beginners "To Do" List . Check it out for some tips to make your learning easier.

To find out who is playing the blues in the Baltimore and Washington areas, check out The Baltimore Blues Society and The DC Blues Society pages.

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A discussion group for blues guitar players moderated by Doug Puls. Don't miss his "chord progression of the month".

 

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"Hi Doug,

I recently purchased your "CD #1" and am writing to let you know that I am pleased with your CD. I use it just about every day to jam along with.  I especially like that you included various speeds and rhythms to practice with. The metronome gives an effective cadence to play against also.  It was a worthwhile purchase for me.

Thank you,   Dom Galluppi, Toms River, NJ"

"Doug, I want to thank you for the class. I learned a lot, even though it's not apparent in my playing. I think that's just a matter of practice. Then maybe another few lessons. FYI, after the first session I walked out with a couple of other guys, and one of them said, "I've been playing harp for 10 years, read the books, etc., and I learned more in this first class than I ever knew." Once again, thanks for the music lesson. It is obvious you have a passion for the blues. Sincerely, J.D. Smith jssmith@erols.com"

CD #1

CD #1 is my Learn the Basics & Improvising CD for Harmonica. It contains instruction and tips for learning to work within the 12 bar blues structure, breaking up rhythm, how to improvise, and how to use target notes to build solos. The CD also contains a number of guitar music jam tracks, each at a different tempo (all in the key of G, so you can use your C harmonica). The CD also includes how to practice with a metronome to improve your sense of rhythm.

CD #2

CD #2 is my Learn How to Bend Notes for Harmonica CD. I have given all of the tricks and tips to help you bend notes that I have picked up in my years of teaching. This CD also includes an introduction to the blues scale, a number of different guitar jam tracks for practice, and tips on improvising and building solos. This CD is also done in the Key of G, so you can use your trusty C harp with it. My business partner gave it to his 15 year old son to try. He couldn't even get a decent note from draw 2 before listening. Within 15 minutes he was getting a full deep bend on hole 2 draw whenever he wanted to, and then moved this new skill to holes one, three, and four within minutes!

CD  #3

CD #3 is the one I like to call Hey, What Key Are We In? for Harmonica  I give you some review tips on cross harp playing style and soloing, 15 guitar rhythm tracks in different keys with tips for finding the key, and an introduction to third position with some tips on finding the target notes and harps to use. The guitar rhythm tracks range from slow to fast in a whole variety of blues styles, and are played in the six most common keys used for blues music. I recommend a chromatic pitch pipe to help you find the keys, and the box set of Suzuki Bluesmasters which contains 6 different keys of harmonicas most commonly played in Blues.

CD #4

CD #4 combines lessons for harmonica on a number of topics that my students have asked for over the years. It includes an introduction to the Eight Bar Blues in three keys with rhythm tracks and suggestions for improvising within the eight bar structure. The CD also includes tips on playing and phrasing behind a vocalist. There is an introduction to amplified harmonica playing with demonstrations of various amps and mics, and tips on developing your own unique harmonica sound.

CD #5

CD #5 is my first blues guitar instruction CD covers the basics of rhythm guitar for blues, an often ignored subject, but a must for a well rounded background in music. This CD is recommended for beginning and intermediate students. Good rhythm guitar skills are very much in demand on the professional level, and if learned properly, will virtually guarantee you a job in a band. The CD covers topics such as basic chord forms, applying these chords to the 12 bar blues pattern, and metronome practice to develop a good sense of time. The CD also covers chord layering and methods to learn a variety of rhythm patterns. The package includes the CD and two pages: the 12 Bar Blues Pattern, and accompanying chord diagram sheet.

CD #6

CD #6 is my second blues guitar CD covers the essential Boogie Woogie rhythm pattern and an introduction to the Blues Scale. I also include my personal method for making the scale sound musical, and a method to show you how to transpose keys and apply the examples to other rhythm patterns. This CD continues from my first guitar CD (CD #5) and is recommended for beginning and intermediate students. Both CDs together cover what I feel are essential and authentic sounding ideas and patterns to build up and enhance your blues guitar playing. These CDs will increase your understanding and functional musical knowledge of the great music form, the Blues!

CD #7

CD #7 covers Slide Guitar and is recommended for beginning and intermediate students The CD covers two popular slide tunings, G and D. and features tuning method, tips for using slide, examples of Chicago Style and Delta Style. Also includes picking methods for best effect and includes a list of my favorite slide players for recommended listening.

CD #8

CD #8 is a playalong which can be used with either harmonica or guitar! I play rhythm guitar on 10 tracks to put harp players and guitar players through the paces! Each track is at least 5 minutes long and is in the style of several classic blues. It is a real chance to work out your riffs. I have given you the guitar song key and the corresponding harp to use so you can dive right in! I suggest you listen to each track first to get the feel of the rhythm pattern to help you get an idea how you will play your solo. A must for beginners and intermediates! Great for advanced players who want to warm up before the gig!

CD #9

CD #9 Jam with Doug’s Band! I’ve created another fabulous playalong for you in my 'Got the Blues? Learn How to Play ‘Em' series! A playalong that really has the complete band thing happening and it’s a perfect workout for harp players and guitarists alike. The tracks are in a variety of blues grooves that I know you will enjoy working out with. I play all the instruments on the CD except the drums. That job was covered by using drum loops by Mick Fleetwood and Christer Jansson. The CD contains 10 instrumental tracks. Each track is about 5 minutes long, and has a catchy hook and rhythm pattern that will be a challenge and a blast to play along with.

 

You can download this Jam Track in G from my tape (use your C harp to play along in Cross Harp), just load it into a .wav editor like, hit the continuous play or "loop" button, and you have a jam track!  This is just a small sample of what is on my tapes and CDs.