12’ Bar Ramblin’ #23 ‘More Blues Harp’ with Stefan Matussek

This episode revisits the instrument that is almost as characteristic to blues music as the guitar: the harmonica. The introduction of cheap diatonic harmonicas to the US provided a new avenue for blues musicians to express themselves in unique and creative ways. New techniques were developed such as “tongue blocking” and playing a 4th below the intended key, known as “cross harp” to further enrich the sound of the genre.