Making Music Even Better
Music creates great happiness and joy. So let's encourage more playing.
Could an improved notation help?
BeatTab Harmonica Series (4 books)
+ Alpha Beat Music Notation
BeatTab Harmonica
Campfire Oldies and More
All you need at a campfire except for the hotdogs and marshmallows. Or to relax and stroll down memory lane.
An array of over 50 tunes in the four categories of: Campfire, Cowboys, Golden Oldies and Holiday Favorites. Great for when December rolls around and you want to entertain your company.
And like all the books in this series, some easy music theory is painlessly injected into the mix.
A very popular book, particularly in the USA, UK, Australia and Canada.
Also includes:
Appendix:
Some Players of Interest
Transcribing with BeatTab
Notation Comparisons
BeatTab Summarized
To review more or to purchase, go to:
Campfire (15):
Banana Boat Song (Day-O)
Bottle of Wine
Cat Came Back
Drunken Sailor
For He's a Jolly Good Fellow
I's the By That Builds the Boat
I've Been Working on the Railroad
Jamaica Farewell
John Brown's Body
Little Brown Jug
Michael Row the Boat Ashore
Sloop John B
Squid Jigging Ground
Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport
Waltzing Matilda
Cowboys (13):
Billy Boy
Buffalo Girls
Clementine
Down in the Valley
Home on the Range
Oh Suzanna
Old Grey Mare
Red River Valley
Shanandoah
She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain
So Long, It's Been Good to Know You
Streets of Laredo
Sweet Betsy from Pike
Golden Oldies (9):
Bye, Bye Blackbird
Camptown Races
How Much is That Doggie in the Window
Polly Wolly Doodle
Que Sera, Sera, Whatever Will Be
Sentimental Journey
Swanee River
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
When Irish Eyes are Smiling
Holiday Favorites (16):
Auld Lang Syne
Deck the Halls
Frosty the Snowman
Here Comes Santa Claus
Jingle Bell Rock
Jingle Bells
Let It Snow
O Christmas Tree
Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Silver Bells
Twelve Days of Christmas
Up on a Housetop
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Winter Wonderland
BeatTab Harmonica
Fun for the Very Young
Here is a big collection of almost 50 favorites that children love to hear and sing. If it can be played easily on the harmonica — it's probably here. And now they are all transcribed for easy rhythm without needing to learn Standard Music symbols. At last!
Learn to play better, and at the same time entertain your children or grandchildren. Although these tunes are generally more basic, there are plenty of suggested variants that can challenge even the more seasoned players.
This has gotta be the best book you can buy for learning how to play from scratch.
Also includes:
Appendix:
Some Players of Interest
Transcribing with BeatTab
Notation Comparisons
BeatTab Summarized
To review more or to purchase, go to:
Containing (47):
A-Tisket, A-Tasket
Aikendrum
Alouette
Ants Go Marching
Baa Baa Black Sheep
Baby Beluga
Brahm's Lullaby
Corner Grocery Store
Day is Done (Taps)
Farmer in the Dell
Five Green and Speckled Frogs
Frère Jacques
Going to the Zoo
Good Night Ladies
Happy Birthday
Hey, Lolly Lolly
Hickory Dickery Dock
Hush Little Baby
I'm a Little Teapot
If You're Happy and You Know It
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Jig-a-long Home
Kookabura
London Bridge
And More . . .
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Michael Row the Boat Ashore
More We Get Together
Morningtown Ride
Mulberry Bush, The
Muffin Man
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
Oats and Beans and Barley Grow
Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone
Old McDonald Had a Farm
On Top of Spaghetti
Pop Goes the Weasel
Popeye the Sailor Man
Puff the Magic Dragon
Row, Row, Row You Boat
Sing a Song of Sixpence
Skidamarink
Skip to the Lou
This Old Man
Three Blind Mice
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Wheels on the Bus
You Sing a Song & I'll Sing a Song
BeatTab Harmonica
Love & Folk Songs
Full transcriptions of over 70 favourite Love songs and Folk songs). See the listing for what is a BOATLOAD of great pieces to enjoy.
These pieces have been selected and transcribed to easily be played on the standard 10 hole diatonic harmonica in any key. Any awkward bends have been minimized via careful and judicious means.
For beginners and intermediate players. There is some challenge here but most of these pieces are possible to be played by anyone who puts in even a reasonable effort.
As well, most songs have a plenty of suggested variants and detailed tips to assist the player. This is far more than any simple tab book that you will normally see.
And like all the books in this series, some easy music theory is painlessly injected into the mix.
Also includes:
Appendix:
Some Players of Interest
Transcribing with BeatTab
Notation Comparisons
BeatTab Summarized
Expected publish date - April, 2023.
To review more or to purchase, go to:
Love Songs (45):
5 Days in May
All My Loving
And I Love Her
Annie's Song
Bye Bye Love
Can't Help Falling in Love with You
Cecilia
Dance Me to the End of Love
Early One Morning
Eight Days a Week
Fire & Rain
First Cut is the Deepest
Georgy Girl
Heart of Gold
Hey Jude
I Can't Stop Loving You
I Will Never Marry
I Walk the Line
I Will
I'll Just Have to Say I Love You in a Song
I'll Never Find Another You
Just a Dream Away
Killing Me Softly With His Song
Kisses Sweeter Than Wine
Leaving on a Jet Plane
Log Driver's Waltz
Love is a Rose
Love Me Do
Love Me Tender
Marianne
Nights in White Satin
Rhythm of the Falling Rain
Scarborough Fair
Silver Threads & Golden Needles
Song for the Asking
Spanish Eyes
Time in a Bottle
Wonderful World
Wooden Heart
World Without Love
Yesterday
You Are My Sunshine
You Don't Know Me
You've Got a Friend
You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
Folk Songs (28):
Blowin' In The Wind
Both Sides Now
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Circle
El Condor Pasa
English Country Garden
Farewell to Nova Scotia
Four Strong Winds
Freight Train
Hallelujah
Homegrown (Barnyard version)
If I Had a Hammer
King of the Road
Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Tamborine Man
New River Train
Nowhere Man
Sailing
Sound of Silence
Take Me Home Country Roads
This Land is Your Land
Those Were the Days My Friend
We Shall Overcome
Weave Me the Sunshine
Where Have All the Flowers Gone
Worried Man Blues
BeatTab
Harmonica Blues
A broad and eclectic group of about 25 great blues (mostly) pieces, that are fun to play while demonstrating the value of notated detail — particularly for that of rhythm.
Detailed instruction and tablature is included for easy to intermediate pieces. Although this book has been written more toward seasoned players, newer players can easily benefit from its clarity that enables newbies to advance much faster than most blues books allow.
Blues has unique elements of rhythm, without which, the blues is just not the blues. BeatTab easily captures most nuances that are normally difficult-to-impossible to transcribe concisely with precision. Be prepared to be surprised as to the help that this book can provide for learning. There is nothing like this on the music stands. A very unique book!
For a preview of the actual notation, go to:
To see even more or to purchase, go to:
Blues Tabs:
BUFFALO, Norton — Runaway (del Shannon / Bonnie Raitt)
CHARLES, Ray — I Can't Stop Loving You (Don Gibson)
EVERETT, Bruce — Hillcrest Mine (James Keelaghan)
GREY OWL — California Dreamin' (John Phillips)
GUSSOW, Adam — Art of Comping - Shake Rattle & Roll (Calhoun)
GUSSOW, Adam — Crossroads Blues (Robert Johnson)
GUSSOW, Adam — Deadly Blues Harp Rhythm
KOLESNICHENKO, Konstantin — The Deb (Dave Therault)
PACLIN, Alex — Harmonica Improvisation #1 Arpeggios
PLATT, Roly — Put It Where You Want It (Joe Sample)
PLATT, Roly — Sexy Ways (Wayne Buttery)
PLOTNIKOV, Boris — Boris' Blues
PLOTNIKOV, Boris — Hip Hop Harmonica Jam
PLOTNIKOV, Boris — Sunny (Bobby Hebb)
RICCI, Jason — Basic 3rd Pos Octaves
SAYLES, Charlie — Mississippi Saxophone
SENOH, Ryuichiro — Digging My Potato (Cowboy Bebop)
SFAIR, Indiara — Improvisation in Cm
SHELLIST, Ronnie — Selected Blues Riffs
STEVENS, Mike — Devil's Bride (Matt Anderson)
THURSTON, Scott — Mary Jane's Last Dance (Tom Petty)
LECKIE, Tomlin — Georgia on My Mind (Ray Charles)
LECKIE, Tomlin — Easy 12 Bar Blues Harmonica Lesson
LECKIE, Tomlin — Tomlin's Frustration Lick on C Harmonica
ZAJAC, Andrew — Lose Your Money (Terry, McClinton, Pickett)
Appendix:
Featured Players (and more per the above)
The Blues
Transcribing with BeatTab
Notation Comparisons
BeatTab Summarized
BeatTab
Harmonica Blues Riffs
of Ronnie Shellist
Learn to improvise via The Complete Blues Riffs Flashdrive (sold separately) through his website. Detailed instructions are included from Ronnie and transcribed here for beginning and intermediate riffs including 1st, 2nd and 3rd position blues.
Tons of riffs (roughly 150) will keep you busy forever. And now you can practice the more difficult rhythms — even when you are without the audio.
Ronnie knows how to teach how to improvise your playing. And now you can have well-notated and detailed instructions to further assist in the journey.
For a preview of the actual notation, go to:
To see even more or to purchase, go to:
Core Licks:
Beginning Blues Licks
5 Chord Blues Licks / Turnarounds
Ending Blues Licks
More Advanced Licks:
3rd Position Blues Licks
Intermediate Blues Licks
1st Position Blues Licks
Additional Resource Licks:
Bent Blues Licks
Call & Response Licks
Draw Licks Download
Fast Blues Licks
Appendix:
Some Players of Interest
The Blues
Transcribing with BeatTab
Notation Comparisons
BeatTab Summarized
Alpha Beat
Music Notation
For all instruments to improve learning and playing. “Dots and tails” are no longer the only viable option. Welcome to the 21st century!
This may sound impossible — but simpler and easier can even be accompanied with additional precision for many common rhythms.
Remove one major excuse for quitting with sight-reading being perceived as too difficult. It is now possible to learn (and easily transcribe even) without much of the pain that students have had to endure.
No notation will make music happen overnight — but it can be made substantially better. Be ready for a surprise.
Although NOT in the BeatTab series, two chapters of Alpha Beat Music Notation cover important (advanced) features and theory of the rhythm notation employed within BeatTab.
For a preview of the actual notation, go to:
Alpha Beat Music Notation website
To see even more or to purchase, go to:
Alpha Beat Table of Contents:
Preface
Introduction
Part A PRELUDE
1. Roadmap
2. Criteria
Part B VERSE
3. General
4. Pitch
5. Rhythm
6. BeatTab Harmonica Notation
Part C OUTRO
7. Symbol & Modifier Comparisons
8. Evaluations
9. Recommendations
Appendix:
A Standard Music Notation Summary
B ABC Music Notation Summary
C Alpha Beat Music Notation Summary
D BeatTab Notation Summary
E Four Examples
Note that there are also some "combination" books available as well as a Workbook that presents (partly tabbed) challenges for nearly 200 harmonica pieces. See the BeatTab Harmonica website or the applicable Amazon websites below to investigate more.