Blues Tunes for Pedal Harp - Brenda Dor-Groot

Standard: Intermediate to Advanced      Harp Type: Pedal Harp

This book offers six original blues tunes for pedal harp, spanning a variety of styles from slow blues to boogie woogie and jazz blues.

Each title offers up to three versions — including lead sheets, intermediate one-pagers and more advanced arrangements — so harpists of different skill levels can enjoy these tunes.

Drawing on years of exploring guitar and piano-based blues, particularly New Orleans blues piano,  I’ve crafted these pieces specifically for harp. They are inspired by legends like Jimmy Yancey, Pete Johnson and Dr. John.

My goal is to provide fresh, fun repertoire that encourages my fellow harpists to delve deeper into the blues. I hope these tunes will help you experiment with techniques to bring out the bluesy soul of your harp, and that you’ll take these pieces — maybe try your hand at improvising? — and make them your own.

• Y on a Harp - Yancey style slow blues

• B's Harp Boogie - Boogie on The Rocks a la Pete Johnson

• Grace's Flat Three Two-Feel
• a. Grace's Flat Three Two-Feel - Bass line, pedal change and articulation study
• b. Grace's Flat Three Two-Feel -the Sequel - extended bass line, pedal change and reharmonisation study

• Stride 'n' Slide - Medium swing 'Pseudo-stride'

• Booker in Heaven - Straight up Funky

• Walk to the Doc, John - Messing around with a broken bass