Category: Miguel Weissman

Page 2 Harmonica Book 2023

This next part of my series, learning to play more advanced harmonica, has to do with playing tracks, such as this one, the anniversary song, and using the different chords, and explaining the comparison between what we call positions on the Harmonica.

But although I’m going to give you the material to work with, if you’ve really studied what I’ve explain to you, you will be able to write your own tablature and work through these exercises without me, holding your hands… You might say! 

I’ve provided my version of the anniversary song, the music file itself, and the chord charts. 

This song as it is, is possible on a diatomic Harmonica without any overblows but you have to be very proficient in your bending techniques. 

My suggestion is first play the arpeggios of each chord, with the sixth or seventh note which is essential to the arrangement.

Above are the chord notes to follow along with the chord chart. 

The chord chart you see, here is actually in the key of C, or what we called the relative minor, which is a which is 6° above the tonic note. 

Then once you’ve practice that and got familiar with playing these arpeggios throughout the Harmonica, meaning all three octaves. 

Then work out the melody. Also think to yourself what position each one of these cords represents. And how some notes are not in the key of C.

You can learn how to solo over this. Using what we call leading notes, which means as the cords change, choose the corresponding or nearest note from the next cord to phrase with.

Then you are on your way to being a more advanced harmonica player that can conquer more difficult changes and choices of songs to perform or study.

This is my version of The Anniversary Song

Slow tempo

Faster tempo

My suggestion is to write out the tablature for the melody. This will help you develop your ear and also eventually it will help you solo over these changes.

There is a program called the amazing, slow downer. I suggest if the tempos are too fast for you, that you use this program to slow it down to a tempo you’re comfortable with.

Harmonica videos

Classic blues and pre war harmonica, there are to many to list here, but here is a good start!

Jazz and Classical harmonica

latin jazz

Harmonica players of today

Country, Folk and Irish harmonica

Middle Eastern harmonica

Harmonica Book 2023

Long Tones
Major Scale
Harmonica Stomp A & B

This is the piano chord notes that goes along with the tablature in the key of C. Play the harmonica with the piano to guide you and help with the pitch on the bend notes in this exercise. But the tabs above can be used on any diatonic harmonica no mater what key, click to enlarge.

Once you have mastered this exercise. You can use this scales and chord notes to play rhythm changes. For instance, a stranded blues progression 1- 4- 5, but here is a One {major} – six {minor} – 2 {minor}- 5 {Dominant seventh} progression. Here is a piano part to play along with. Play the chord notes and then improvise. You can use the scale notes in those modes.

Next, below are the scale and tablature for other position. They will work on blues, but once learn the other chord of the song you’re working on and discover whether it’s a minor cord or major chord. There will be adjustment. Use you ear and follow the chord progression.

Above is the scale and tablature for fifth and forth position. Soon I will have a video and an audio file for this page.

Student Portal/ Teaching

Composer sound designer and producer and Educator
Miguel composes, creates sound designs and produces music in a state-of-the-art recording studio using virtual instruments and harmonica for movies, TV, radio and theater.

For examples of Miguel’s theater sound designs, and detailed production credits go to sound designs.

For examples of ADR and sound designs created for those productions, go to video.

Member of the “top Reedsters Club” The Top Professional Harmonica players of the world.

Quotes; Junior Wells “ You is one Mother F##!%^^en  harp player.”1994

Multi-Instrumentalist: Harmonica, Flute, Keyboards, Saxophone
Miguel is best known as a harmonica player. He studied under the best in the business: James Cotton, Mark Hummel, Sonny Junior, William Galison and Howard Levy. Since his first jingle in the early ’80s, he has done countless sessions. carried a manhattan 802 union card for 10 years, with credits on TV, Radio and Film as well as music genres as diverse as Gyspy Jazz, Reggae, Blues, Americana, HipHop and Electronic.

Teaching harmonica: Taught harmonica at the New School from 1990-93, privately for 18 years. NYC Blues Harp Club 1993-2000 Founder: I created a teaching forum for famous harmonica players that were on road, to come in and teach to about 30 students. 

I talk over the class with Amy students so it will be successfully. Every harp teacher that came to the NYC Blues harp club taught me a books worth! Harmonica, flute and recording production videos and a Harmonica book are available on request.

Some of the teachers were Annie Raines, Paul Oscher, Adam Gussow, Steve Guyger,  Rick Estrin!

Music education/voice/flute/piano: Two years studying piano and music theory, privately with Chris Cheney. He has a Manhattan school of Music master degree. Two year studying Flute with Art Web and one year with Jean Cheney studying flute.  A year of voice and phrasing lessons with Sam Harkners.

Harmonica-Book-sample-copy
Major Scale
Long Tones
Harmonica Stomp A & B

Harmonica Lessons though Skype, $55 per hour, Session work $250 per track and he only takes payment though paypal.

Miguel plays the Super 64 Chromatic and the Blue Moon Hohner Special 20’s Corian®. A Octave bass harmonica made by Huang. Miguel learned to customizes his harmonicas from one of the best, Richard Sleigh in-order to get a professional in-tune tone.

He has a book on harmonica{ contact for copy} and taught at the New School, created the New York harmonica club who hosted 20 classes with notable harmonica players, Annie Raines, Paul Oscher, Rick Estrin, they taught classes to a group of over 100 harmonica students.

Dean Landew
Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Producer
“Miguel is the best harmonica player I’ve ever worked with. Not just the best blues player. The best harmonica player. His range is exceptional. He can switch styles on a moment’s notice, and he’s always willing to venture into whatever territory will enhance the piece of music he’s working on at the time. All this, and he’s a genuinely nice guy too.”

Marco Heiland
Private Instructor
”I met Miguel in 2008, when I was looking for a music and harmonica instructor. It was a unique experience. The lessons were the best I’ve ever had; the contents ranged from music history, production to actual playing instruction. The results I got were really great, and I have no words to thank him enough!”

Mark Tipton
Trumpeter, Composer, Professor at New England Conservatory
”Miguel Weissman is one of my favorite musicians to work with! His incredible harmonica playing, his vast knowledge of audio engineering and MIDI programming, and his vibrant creative spirit makes every encounter with him a joy, and a major learning experience. I highly endorse his work!”.

Richard Hunter
Harmonica instructor and musician
“I heard Dean Landew’s record “Indestructible Voices,” which features NYC-based Miguel Weissman on harmonica. Weissman is heavily featured, and this record plays like Springsteen with Magic Dick in the lineup. If you like rock harp, you’re going to eat this record up. Attaway to go Miguel!”

Electro Harmonica

One Eleven 111 Not mastered or final mix Work in progress.

Jason vocals and drums at Parcheesi Recording. where Bob did the guitar and bass. Aya kato Roads, Miguel did the harmonica hybrid, synths, programing and composition.

East Of Sweden Electro mix
East Of Sweden

Miguel Weissman programing and harmonica, David Langlois djembe.

The Love

Angie Stone Vocals, Brother Dave guitars all manipulated though programing by Miguel Weissman Copyrighted 2017

Blues Spirit Disco Mix

If We were President of the World

If I were The President of The World copyright 2020

Diego javier Cebollero Guitars, Brother Dave Solomon is laying down some guitar. Peter Maness bass, Miguel Weissman keyboard programing and composition.

“if We were the president of the world”

by henry Gibson.

if We were the president of the world

We’d choose people smarter to run it. 

so our capital will be shared and abundant.

we learn to abolish lies, Learn to distinguish if it’s attracting flies.

we’d argue from noon until dawn, I promised the curtains would not be drawn.

And hear everybody’s view. 

even people we considered,

would poison that stew.

Not punish them, but know that with time, they’ll learn to acknowledge their part in this crime.

With determination and resilience

 we could heal the world, 

my fellow earthlings,. 

we’d promise you this 

that

if We were president of the world

and the world was bold

We’d  write this in scriptures, 

so it would be foretold!

if you approved this message,

How wonderful the world would be, 

If we lived without mediocrity!.

“Let’s exist with the earth”!

Q radio voice: “Hey folks, get on the ground level of the creation of the song. 

listener “wow” how do I do that Mr. Radio announcer sir”?

this is the first draft of a song mr. Weissman is working on. If you have suggestions on how to help it rhyme better. Send your ideas out”

Oh and in the tradition of soupy sales, children remember that loose change in your parents drawers. 

Leave it there! Unless they have $100s,  a stack of them, then donate it!

End of”radio Transmission. You can take the tinfoil out of your mouth.

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