Videos!

Here is an index for my videos, including links:

 

1.  How to Tune a Harmonica, Part 1

2. How to tune a harmonica, Part 2

3. How to tune a harmonica, Part 3

4. How to tune a harmonica, Part 4

5. How to Back up a Harmonica With a Guitar 

This video gets into how to play rack harmonica, but it is also how to play guitar to support any vocal or lead instrument. Watch this video and the next one with your guitar player or band, and find new ways to unclutter and focus your music for more power at the same volume…

6. How to Play Rhythm Guitar for Rack Harmonica 

More info on clearing out space for rack harmonica, vocals or other lead instruments. Both video # 5 and #6 are about how to use silence, vertical and horizontal space, and timing to become a great back up musician.

7. Black Magic Harmonica

This video is an example of playing a minor key blues in 5th position. I am playing in C#minor on an A harmonica using the minor pentatonic scale as the main pathway. This position is one of the great secret weapons that you can have in your bag of tricks for jamming. The really cool thing about 5th position is that you can play cross harp licks (2nd position) and they work really well most of the time. Once you get used to coming “home” to blow 2, you can crash around a lot and sound great.

The real trick to jamming blues in 5th position is to get comfortable playing the minor pentatonic scale. Once you have this hard wired in your playing, you will naturally skip over the one big fat clam note in 5th position- draw 5.

8. Dennis Gruenling Interview, Part 1

9. Dennis Gruenling Interview, Part 2

10. Honest I Do – R. Sleigh

11. I Don’t Care No More (Rice Miller) – R. Sleigh

12. Playing With Fire (Stones Cover) – R. Sleigh

13. Auto Valve Blues in A

14. Fox Chase – “Georgie Buck” Madcat & R. Sleigh, SPAH 2008

15. Fox Chase – Brendan Power & R. Sleigh SPAH 2008

16. Folk College 2012-Richard Sleigh-iPhone

In May of 2012, I taught some courses in harmonica and vocals at the Huntingdon County Folk College at Juniata College near Huntingdon PA. This is a version of Joe Liggens “The Honeydripper” with an old Irish reel I learned from Rick Epping “Pol Hapenny” hitching a ride at the end of the solo.

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  • Testimonials

    Dear Mr. Sleigh, It’s been a few months since I bought your book. Today I was able to alter the tuning on a couple of my harmonicas. Nothing fancy, just Paddy Richter tuning. I am just so pleased with the book, the instruction is so clear: the graphics are well drawn and the text is to the point and easy to read. Prior to attempting this, I had no experience working on harmonicas. So far, I have learned with your book how to set up my harmonicas to play well (reed offset, etc) and now how to alter the tuning to fit my own needs. That is just great!. I also have found your videos on youtube very easy to follow and very informative. I would like to thank you for the effort you have put into the book, I can tell you truly love what you do! ---- PS- In the past, I thought the price of the book was a little high but I no longer do, I believe it is worth it’s weight in gold! — Franklin A. Villanueva Ironwood, M

    Hi Richard, I just read your article re: Just Intonation. It’s the first time I’ve read an understandable explanation. It was concise. I am slowly going through your book, “Turbocharge Your Harmonica”, which I purchased from you at SPAH’s ’09 convention, and it, too, is pretty easy to follow. I am just beginning to try my hand at rejuvenating my old collection of diatonics, so understanding what method I’m trying to tune for is important. Thanks for putting it out there. Regards, — Doug Parrish