RHYTHMIC CONCEPTS + PHRASING

FEN SPECIAL – masterclass on how to develop strong rhythmic concepts & phrasing

(Registration link below)

The harmonica is full of untapped potential. While there have been – and still are – incredible players such as Larry Adler, Toots Thielemans, and Stevie Wonder, the instrument hasn’t yet reached the same level of innovation and recognition as instruments like the piano, guitar, or saxophone. That leaves a lot of exciting ground to explore.

One area I’ve found especially challenging—and less commonly developed—is rhythm and phrasing: playing with a strong sense of time and groove, whether it’s swing, funk, Middle Eastern, or any other rhythmically driven music. I believe this has a lot to do with the harmonica’s inhale/exhale mechanics, which naturally shape how phrases are constructed and can make rhythmic control more complex, especially when you add the slide use which adds more coordination challenge.

In my own development as a harmonica player, I’ve placed a lot of focus on this. I’m always looking for ways to make my phrasing feel more grounded, grooving, and closer to what I hear in my head. In this workshop, I’ll share some of the ideas, practice concepts, and exercises that have helped me develop in this area, and that I continue to use today.