Harmonica lesson: Learn a solo over Autumn Leaves

Hello! Here is a solo I wrote out over the chord changes similar to songs like Autumn Leaves. I tried to build the solo on the chord tones of progression, using some chromatic approach notes and different rhythmic fundaments. You will see a score and tabs while I play the solo. The tabs are for C chromatic harmonica.

My tips for learning this song:

1. Listen a few times. Hum along to the solo focus on the rhythm of the melody first.

2. Pause the video and play through the song by yourself either using tabs or score.

3. Play every melody bit by bit and then put it together. For example:

Learn bar 1. Then learn bar 2. Put them together. Learn the 3rd and 4th bar. Put those 4 bars together. Move on using the sample principle.

4. When you are through the whole melody - there are two ways to go:

4a. Try to play the whole piece through. If you make mistakes, move on. Just to get through is the goal.

4b. Try to play the whole piece through. If you make mistakes, stop the video and repeat that line until you have it.

5. If the tempo is too fast - lower it! If you are doing misstakes and practicing in a too high tempo - you are practicing your mistakes. That is bad. Lower the tempo until you can play the music in a musical and nice sounding way. When you have that - take it up to the correct tempo.

6. Play through the piece in the correct tempo.

7. Take notice to my articulation. Some notes are shorter, some longer and some have an accent. I do these with my tongue and my throat. I have not written that out because it is easier to learn it by ear I think. To learn the articulation, sing along when I play so you get the rhythm and accents of the articulation before trying it on the harmonica.

8. Have fun! And take breaks. Go for 25 min sessions.

Just write me here if you have any questions,

Best,
Filip

Do you want to develop your harmonica playing? I have video lessons, sheet music, tablature and mp3s at my Patreon page:
https://www.patreon.com/filipjersharmonica

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Filip Jers is an internationally known harmonica player from Stockholm, Sweden and one of the most sought-out harmonica players in Europe. At the age of 34 he has performed in almost 30 countries all over the world.
In 2011 Jers graduated with a Master Degree in Fine Arts of Music from The Royal College of Music in Stockholm. He has also studied privately with Toots Thielemans, Howard Levy and Robert Bonfiglio.

Jers has been given numerous awards through the years. In 2005 he won two gold medals at the World Harmonica Festival in Trossingen, Germany. In 2014 his jazz quartet Filip Jers Quartet was selected as "Best Group" at the European Jazz Competition in Rotterdam, Netherlands and in 2015 the quartet received a Swedish grammy for the album ”Plays Swedish Folk”. In 2016 Jers was awarded the title ”Jazz musician of the Year” by Swedish Radio.

Jers works regulary with Filip Jers Quartet, with his duo with guitarist Emil Ernebro and as a guest soloist in different projects. He has been a featured solist with many cutting edge jazz big bands in Sweden as well as performing with two of Scandinavias finest string orchestras; Musica Vitae and Camerata Nordica. Jers has been featured on more than 50 CD's as a recording artist, playing harmonica.

Besides playing concerts Jers has extensive experience as a harmonica teacher. Besides teching privately and giving workshops in different countries all over the world he is also engaged as harmonica teacher at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen, Denmark and Sibelius Academy in Helsingfors, Finland.

Jers is an "International Suzuki Harmonica Artist", he is endorsing and playing harmonicas made by Suzuki Harmonicas from Japan.

He also runs Fojablue Records, an independent record label that has released Spiro (FRCD01, 2011), Filip Jers Quartet (FRCD02, 2013) and Duet with Emil Ernebro (FRCD03, 2019).

Besides music, Filip likes coffee, yoga and running in the nature.