Skip to content
UdemyMusicPaid courseAll LevelsCertificate

101 Blues riffs - learn how the harmonica superstars do it! (Udemy.com)

Pick up the harmonica and play music immediately with guitar, bass and keyboard players, singers and other instruments

Created by: Ben Hewlett

Last updated February 2024

icon
What you will learn

  • You will learn chugging riffs - really easy and fun
  • You will learn basic but effective riffs you can use in any blues music
  • You will learn classic Muddy Waters licks
  • You will learn single note riffs
  • You will learn to play blues harp like the harmonica superstars. Learn amazing riffs as played by the great blues harmonica players and make them your own!

How it compares

Against the other 270 rated Udemy courses in Music on CourseDuck:

  • Rating4.8 out of 5higher than 84% of them
  • Reviews317#101 of 271 by number of reviews
  • Length6.5 hourslonger than 74% of them
  • Last updatedFebruary 2024more recently than 52% of them

icon
Course Description

*updated March 2022*  Udemy's BEST SELLING BLUES harmonica course - with over 4,500 students.

No harmonica experience? No problem, I'll walk you through nice and slow.


Do you ever feel you play the same stuff on your harmonica over and over?

I've felt that at times and, to get my mojo back, I study other players - and now you can as well.
 
You need 101 Blues Riffs - and here they come! 

We've broken them down so you get all the notes, all the tab and I'll even play them for you at three different speeds.


This course will increase your musical vocabulary; it will teach you how to play simple riffs in the styles of De Ford Bailey, Sonny Terry, Little Walter, Sonnyboy Williamson 2, William Clarke, JJ Milteau, Brendan Power, Big Walter, Charlie McCoy, Charlie Musselwhite and more...
 
By learning these riffs you will be a much broader musician and able to impress your audience and bandmates.
 
Every riff is written down as harmonica tab and normal music notation on a pdf and I'll play it for you at different speeds with a click track as well on an mp3.
 
All you need is a 'C' diatonic harmonica and you're away!
 
I'll walk you through every riff in order before moving on to the next one.
 
If you want to free up your playing and explore the styles of some of the most successful blues harp players you've come to the right place! 


Did you ever fool around with a harmonica as a kid?

Would you like to learn to play the harmonica better now?

Do you play guitar, piano, ukulele or are you a singer and want to add harmonica into your act?

Do you want an instrument that's easy to pick up, store and carry?

Did you inherit a harmonica and want to pay respect to the original owner??

Where you inspired by Bob Dylan, Sonny Terry, Little Walter, Mick Jagger?

Would you like to play in a church, campfire, band or jam session?

Do you think harmonica will help with COPD or other health issues?

Is this a retirement 'bucket-list' project?


If you answered yes to any of those who are in the right place.

This course will help you become a great harmonica player. All you need to do is follow the lectures in order plus some practice and you will start to feel a surge of confidence as you see your skills increasing daily.

This will be exciting, fun, and challenging – I think you will thoroughly enjoy it!

I think people recognise my passion for the harmonica. I’m not someone who plays bass, guitar, piano, drums and sings, records, gigs…I just (mostly) teach harmonica.

Sure I perform sometimes, gig with friends, go to jams, do corporate harp demonstrations but MOSTLY I focus on playing, learning and teaching harmonica.

So if you have a Hohner harmonica, a blues harmonica, hohner special 20, a chromatic harmonica (ok, not that one) a blues harp, a hohner big river, a harmonica holder, a harmonica set…you can start to play now.

Give me a shout if you need any help please.


icon
Udemy Discount

The discount is applied through our link. Open the course from here and Udemy's current promotional price is applied at checkout on most courses, no code to type.

Some courses are excluded from Udemy's promotions. If the price does not drop, clear your browser cookies and use the button again.

icon
Instructor Details

Ben Hewlett

Wow, I can't quite believe this - over 60,000 students, and 70,000 courses purchased...they can't all be wrong!

I am your HARMONICA SPECIALIST.

If you are new to harmonica please take the '30-day challenge' or the big 'Learn Harmonica - the easiest instrument to pick up' course to get you started.

If you are into Blues look for any course with the word 'Blues' in the title.

I also have three percussion courses for you on Bodhran and Washboard. 

*Ben is the former Vice-President and a former Chairman of HarmonicaUK - formerly known as NHL - The National Harmonica League in the UK  

        *Professional Harmonica Instructor since 1996 

             *Ben qualified as CTABRSM in 2002 (Certificate of Teaching - Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) 

             *Certificate of Music Workshop Skills (Goldsmiths University of London) in 1995 

             *Accredited Diatonic Harmonica Teacher 1993 - HTAB (Harmonica Teachers Accreditation Board, supported by Lee Oskar Harmonicas, the National Harmonica League of UK and the International Harmonica Organisation). 

icon
More courses by Ben Hewlett

$109.99

$13.99

$49.99

icon
More Music courses

$16.99

$109.99

$15.99

$16.99

$19.99

$69.99

icon
Reviews

4.8

317 ratings on Udemy

Select a bar to show only those reviews.Select the bar again to show every rating.

By Chip Spear on 12/5/2022

So much great material. It will take me years to really, really learn and be able to integrate all these great riffs into my playing, and I am not even half way through them. So fun!

By Arvind Naravaneagn1010agn on 11/27/2022

Overall it was good but the timing was not clear (no notations showed ) how can I get pdf chart for chugging riffs e.g. for first chugging example -- on wholes1234-- inin outout in --- is it 1 2 3 4 , 1& 2& 3 is 4th beat not there? please explain,

By Bob Mang on 12/10/2020

Yes.......I am enjoying learning & playing the riffs & licks. It is what I needed to motivate me to start playing again....I am a big fan of all the artist you have provided licks from.....I also Love the training video's. I can hear the licks done in several speeds and stop & start to go at my own pace. I also like the method you teach in...no pressure...Come & go as I see fit........Thanks again for your expertise and style.........Bob M.

By Philip Bant on 11/18/2019

up to now i am still struggling with the draw notes, but definitely getting there . and the instruction is very explanatory and easy to follow . i just practice , go back and reprat. till i have it .just great. phil

By Gary Crouch on 4/27/2019

I am loving this course and completing it alongside another 'beginners' harmonica course. I have gone from not being able to play anything to some really great riffs and sounds in just a couple of weeks. Loving it and finding the course easy to follow - although single notes are proving a bit or a challenge to master :)

By Rick Morgan on 5/19/2017

I have been playing for a good while, but going over these riffs is good practice. Liking Ben's approach. I'm not half way through but confident it deserves the stars.

By Alan Corbett on 1/7/2017

As a guitar player wanting to learn harmonica and add a bit more to my bag of tricks, I have to say Ben and his course is excellent. I tried harmonica years ago and didn't get very far. This time I've purchased a set of harmonicas which included a voucher for this course. Learnt more in one hour than I did with my first attempt, total. Ben is an excellent teacher, with a terrific sense of humour which makes this whole experience great fun and gives me a great sense of achievement with every lesson. I've since purchased his other course as there were clearly a few gaps in my knowledge and ability and happily recommend both to any one wishing to progress with this great instrument. SUPERB THANKS BEN.

By Nathan Prentice on 8/3/2016

The course is well spread out, which allows for easy learning! Instructions are easy to understand and his style of teaching is very engaging. The background information Ben includes in each lecture about the players is fantastic! This course is 5 stars because the downloadable resources mean you can practice anywhere!

By Shaun Dickson on 3/23/2016

Great course. Would like some suggestions on licks Say some whole 12 bar blues runs with a few different Licks in the same style. To get the feel for a whole run. With a blues jam track at different speeds

By Herb Levin on 2/6/2016

Very well done program, I like the video that goes along with the PDF file and the Tabs to help get going. Ben is also a GREAT player as he shows and demo's each riff!

Showing all 10 reviews on CourseDuck

Read all 317 reviews on Udemy

icon
Quality Score

No CourseDuck member has rated this course yet. Taken it? Give each part a thumbs up or down.

Content Quality
/
Video Quality
/
Qualified Instructor
/
Course Pace
/
Course Depth & Coverage
/

Overall Score : 96 / 100