Mike Fugazzi Breaks Down John Popper’s Harmonica in No Woman No Cry

Подробнее о видео

If you play harmonica, this breakdown will help you—no matter your genre.

I dive into John Popper’s solo in this performance to show what makes a truly great improvised solo. I break down the phrasing, the choices, and the mindset—and give you tools for building your own solos.

Popper is polarizing in the harmonica world, but not for the reasons you’d think. The only cliché about him is his hat. He doesn’t stick to blues, doesn’t use the usual gear, and doesn’t follow the riff-to-riff approach most harp players lean on. He plays the whole harmonica, with phrasing that’s melodic, surprising, and musical.

Where most players bend notes to cry, he bends them to shout. There’s joy in his playing—a welcome break from the moody, minor-heavy harmonica stereotype.

Most people want “the same, but different.” That’s why The Force Awakens hit hard—it echoed A New Hope. Popper gives you that with harmonica: familiar emotion, totally fresh delivery.

Here is the full video of my sitting in with Blues Traveler:


Here is where you should buy your harmonicas:


Here is where you see my gig schedule and send me a tip: