Wanna learn some hot country licks?
Most of this kind of playing is in 2nd position (so we are playing in the key of G on a C harmonica).
On some country songs, you really want to use a Country Tuned harmonica where the -5 is tuned a half-step higher. Many country melodies have that note, and it’s missing from a standard tuned harmonica.
Still, plenty of it can be played on a standard tuned harmonica.
Most hot country licks use notes from either:
The Blues Scale
-2 -3’ 4 -4’ -4 -5 6
6 -5 -4 -4’ 4 -3’ -2 -2” -1 -1’ 1 -1’ -1 -2" -2
The Major Pentatonic Scale
-2 -3” -3 -4 5 6
6 5 -4 -3 -3” -2 2 -1 2 -2
Or some combination of the 2 scales. In fact, most of my favorite hot country licks come from a combination of the 2 scales .
If you’re a beginner and you don’t yet know how to bend, here are some great country licks for you: -3 -4 -3 -2 2 -1 -2 . For more fun, try adding on a -3 or a 2 to the end .
And here’s a great ending, no bending: 6 5 -4 -3 -2
When I got together in the studio with my friend Jarett, I turned these licks into a little tune:
-3 -4 -3 -2 2 -1 -2 -3
-3 -4 -3 -2 2 -1 -2 2
-3 -4 -3 -2 2 -1 -2 -3
6 5 -4 -3 -2 (234 -123)
If you’re intermediate or advanced here’s a few killer licks:
Charlie McCoy style lick
-1 2 -1 -2 -3” -3 4 -4’ -4 -3 5 4 -5 -4 5 -4
McCoy style lick #2
-4’ -4 -5 -4 4 -3’ -3 -2
A Classic Ending
-2 -3” -3’ -3 -4 5 -4 6
To hear these in action, check out this rough ‘n’ ready video. And don’t forget you can slow down YouTube videos to 75%, 50%, or even 25% speed. I do it all the time! Just click on the gear icon > playback speed > and choose your desired speed.
Like these riffs? Have others you like better? Drop a comment…