SEYDEL Advanced Handbook

Between Chaos and Structure - A Practical Guide for Advanced Harmonica Players!
*Delivery time: 1 working day

Are you an advanced harmonica player who feels like you're not really making progress?

Are you lacking confidence in playing along with more complex pieces?
Or do you just want to broaden your horizons,

Then you want to understand exactly what you are playing and why some notes fit and others don't!

This tutorial is designed specifically for you as a harmonica player and will help you lay a foundation for your musical progress by helping you sense and learn structure that can easily be lost in the fog of improvisation.

music theory explained step by step
specially written for Blues Harmonica
no musical training required
didactically well prepared
reading music not required
playing in different positions
analyze and understand music in general
extensive exercises
the book refers to a Blues harmonica in C (book without harmonica for a suitable model see Extras + Accessories)

Knowledge of music theory (not just reading sheet music) is key to understanding musical structures—this applies to all types of music and musical instruments. The authors explain music theory step by step and provide practical playing tips with exercises specifically designed for harmonica players.

Peter Volksdorf is a multi-instrumentalist who plays harmonica and many other instruments, including accordion, guitar, banjo, and trumpet, in various bands. Bertram Becher is a product specialist at SEYDEL Harmonica Company and has played both harmonica and keyboards in bands since the young age of 15. He has written numerous tutorial books on blues harmonica, including the SEYDEL SOUNDCHECKs and Interactive Blues Harp Workshop.


"Between Chaos and Structure" is the result of years of experience as a musician and extensive conversations with harmonica players who were looking for more freedom and control while playing the harmonica.

English A5; spiral binding; 108 pages



First assessment:

Are you still blowing holes or playing music?

I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of the book "Chaos and Structure" about a year before it was published. I hesitantly began reading and playing the exercises. Initially, I felt like a complete beginner, but the deeper I delved into the subject, the more I truly wanted to understand music theory... and as I followed the book and played, I succeeded!

The book explains harmonics step by step and gradually gives you more confidence and structure for your own intuitive playing. If questions arise, I can now answer them myself with my harmonica. I've developed other playing positions on the instrument and am encouraged to play pieces I never thought I could. Since working through this book, I haven't felt like I can't develop my playing any further—thanks, Peter and Bertram.

I highly recommend "Chaos and Structure" because it delivers so many "Oh, that's how it is!" moments—besides all the theory, it's genuinely enjoyable. This is specialized literature that will help you progress in a lasting way.

G. Horst ``