Harmonica Lesson For Beginners

[piano4soul]

When I blow into my harmonica one of the wholes doesn't make any noise

I washed it several times with water but it doesn't work

How can I fix it ?

[ketusia16]

those theme reminds me of "Crossroads" movie Willie Brown plays like this :)))) <3<3 i love it ...

[theboyaddo]

ANYONE KNOW THE SONG AT 2:47????!

[JerryColapse]

i had an old harmonica, i saw this video and now i'm thinking of putting her back to work

[chatamilan]

you r really GREAT man!!

[hydrohigh]

Great video! I guess my first step is to buy a harmonica! Lol. What type of harmonica did young play for the song heart of gold?

[tnysteph]

Sorry about the spelling in the other comment, I was in a hurry to get to work. Thanks for your stuff on YouTube. It is very good. What should I work at, after the single note.

[tnysteph]

I like who you do for us with your YouTube stuff. Question what learn 1st. I can get a single note, but I think rhythm should be 1st. What do think? Also what do you think of U-blocking. Thanks

[TheLouizianaWildman]

Nicely done.

[Officialbadassbacon]

Is harmonica easy to play? How long will it take to get better?

[KikoBG12]

this is amazing i want to learn it , i have the same harmonica , This that starts at 2:48 is amazing man :0

[ILiveMusicful]

For example. The River of Bruce Springsteen, the song is in Em, so the harmonica should be an E? But on harmonica sites they tell me the song is in C for the harmonica. Is that possible?

[12gagedan]

@ILiveMusicful In 5th position, one could play E minor on a C harmonica. I'm not sure what Springsteen did. You don't always play harmonica in the same key as the musical key. It's probably more common to play a different key harmonica.

[icecatseventyseven]

@ILiveMusicful not only is it possible, it's absultely correct.

[panizech]

@ILiveMusicful

I have a normal harmonica made in China 24 holes 12 in the upper row and 12 down can I use this to learn

[TheSilverfoxblues]

@panizech you wont really learn on that my friend unless it was of high quality-buy a 10 hole diatonic in the key of c ;easier to understand the theory side

[puikypunny]

I have a M.Hohner TANGO harmonika, can I learn it with it? 2 rowed, 40 holes in total.

[12gagedan]

@puikypunny Many of the basics apply, but it's a different instrument. Check out my "harmonica buying guide part 1" video for more info on types of harmonicas.

[josephfiennes14]

this guy is a beast!

[MrEdis777]

I have the Mississippi harmonica co. it 40 holes. two row 20 in each can you show me how ?

[chrisdavies23359]

I got C key Hohner Silver Star Diatonic for Christmas, is this suitable for leaning blues harmonica?

[simpsonmark]

I got lost at 3 blow 4 draw?????

[icuiun]

@simpsonmark BLOW into the 3rd hole and BREATHE IN on the 4th hole :)

[MrBluesman000]

I bought a harmonica in the key of A. What is the difference and does it affect the way i learn?

[Hypefiend]

@MrBluesman000 just in a different key. what this man does you could do the same. concept still applies just you are in a different key than what hes in.

[WCSkills]

Thanks for the tips. has helped me after one viewing. Good stuff!

[JoshuaMacNeilJohnson]

Iv been playing for like a year, I learend a lot in this vid. Thanks

[SahneSkateboards]

i can play single notes..when i go hole by hole... but when i skip some i can never play the right or a clear note..

do you use your tong to "feel" where exactly the hole is , or will i usually just develope a feeling for where they exactly are?

your doing great video! thanks for that

[kostas21925]

thanks man interesting information

[greenoptimus]

Man..u rock

[PaloukiLuke]

Hello,i am a newbie here, i got a silver star 504 20 c and in sound tottaly differend than yours, do you know why?

[12gagedan]

@bored2deathish Easiest to start, and to be terrible at. Difficult to get good at.

[bulletprooftofu]

Do you have the sheet music to River Flows Into You by Yiruma?

[jeroen0011]

Haha is that a hohner pocket pal harmonica? :)

[Habbo4good]

I have a 2 rowed 24 holed harmonica is that gonna be fine to learn with?

[12gagedan]

@Habbo4good The very basics are all the same, but you have a different instrument than I'm teaching to.

[zackgto77]

is it same thing to do with tremolo harmonica?

[GarbageGuyGary]

i have a hohner crossover on the way from the harmonica store im excited its in the C note im a beginner, thanks for the videos. I will subsrcibe.

[saltylambchops]

I have a Lee Oskar 10 Hole C harmonica, and I'm trying basic stuff, but finding it very hard to not suck or blow more than one hole at a time, also my lips are red and sore after practising. is this normal for a newbee like me?

[12gagedan]

@saltylambchops Totally normal. It's not as easy as it looks.

[tekktu]

Your tutorials changed my music life dude.

[MsSuperREDhead]

i was given a harmonica... its a hohner with 2 rows of holes, but 16 of them! :S is that ok to learn with? is it really different than a diatomic one???

[12gagedan]

@MsSuperREDhead It's a very different instrument. The basic physics are the same, but the sound and the note layout differ. You won't get a harp like that to sound like a diatonic.

[theSuperMeatMan]

Very great tutorial thanks a lot!!

[yesmnamesjess]

cant wait to get my first harmonica now :D

[syevaify]

thanks for the video. my son and i are learning how to play.

[hellobaba123]

Put your tongue on 3 or 4 of the holes lololol, Mine only has 3, And im not putting my tongue in the one in the back (;

[elraboso]

Thanks for your lessons,i just bought an harmonica :)

[hankoless]

wht key of harmonica diatonic is preferable to buy ?

[oscarshwartz]

I've played the harmonica a little, but only out of curiosity. Never tried to learn how seriously. Maybe I'll try it now to use with my multitrack recorder. Thanks for the lesson!!--Lee

[EarlSmithofWarwick]

You're awesome dude. Thanks for the help! :D

[101icedragon]

???

[Disco234jockey]

is there an exact way to blow harmonica or can you do it in any way or there are only several ways to do it?

[lyndanoyesj]

Thanks, cant wait to see more!!!!!!!



[Mebegee64]

Mine I've had for ten years...key of J...didn't get it back for 2 years

[toouglytoshowmyface]

Funnily enough, that's just the one I have :D A C Diatonic Harmonica :D And a german made one at that >:3

[MrPhoenis]

if this is a beginner video, why didn't you include how to turn it on..?

[piderpig]

@MrPhoenis hey you must be a yank are ya ha ha

[cosmicowboy111]

Dude ... the UBLOCK sweet!!! you just opened up a lot of doors for me brother thank you soooooo much!!!

[IrritatedBear]

just out of interest what type of harmonica is used in the Bob dylan song The Times They Are a-Changin

[wasimqur11]

Good lesson. I am totally unfamiliar with harmonica. Now I want to buy one...

Suggest me one please... And I also want to know the difference between the key I choose to go with... Thanks

[manwellsteak1]

@wasimqur11 go for a Diatonic harmonica keyed in C. great for beginners. dont spend less than $30 on it but not more than $60. i suggest a Horner C



[GMSamuelRhine]

@manwellsteak1 i'm new too and i have a harp in C but it has 15 holes could i still do the tutorials on here with it?

[taffysaur]

thx, this was a good place to start.

=0)

[krogaan]

play some blues

[edufresne1]

The best explanations for a rookie like me I've been through so far

Merci Mister harmoniciste

[Sirthirty30]

Is it weird that I play with my nose?

[MrWackystuff]

@Sirthirty30 can you please make a video of that

[Sirthirty30]

@MrWackystuff No.

[PloXskate]

hahaha this is funny!!but i stil want to start learning

[TERIN9567]

hey my harmonica contain 26 holes bt i dont knw to play tis plz help

[jazmin3636]

gr8

[Metusalem59]

my hands is to small! :P

[Addoisfly]

anyone know the tabs at 2:46 ?

[TmJc93]

Great video, made starting off a lot easier than other videos by relating to a beginner! Thanks a lot!

[Itisinthehand]

Thanks buddy. Liked the vid. I'll make a start this week. Just needed a little help.

[db7gn]

Sir,

I don't know anything about Harmonica. & I have purchased "HOHNER-Big VAlley". Can you please teach how to hold it & play it!!!

Thanks..:)

[waves1all1day1er1day]

Great starter video! Harmonica teacher

[blueskymincks1]

you did great. make more!!!!!!

[CheeryChan1243]

Lol welp...I have a 16 hole harmonica xDD

This is a completely pointless video to me c':

[8Dicecoldbaby]

@CheeryChan1243 same :s

[SuperDarkknight92]

@CheeryChan1243 you said it brother mines 32 holes....got it from my grandpa long time ago and just found it in storage and trying to learn and this dudes like youre gonna need a 10hole harp and its like I got that times 3 lmao

[iXB0X36O]

Hey, i was wondering if you could tell me how to play that tune you perfected from 5:12 - 5:23? Its an awesome tune but im not so used to listening by ear. If you could message me the draws, blows and numbers in that order, that would be great! Thank you! :D

[FMONK13]

I have no knowledge of the harmonica but i love bob dylan, so i thought i'd try it. I have a really shitty, probably toy harmonica that is 20 holes or whatever you call them, are there different types of harmonicas? Obviously, but can someone point me toward a cheap one that's still good? Thanks

[pizzaboy1506]

nice ring u faker

[DolittleMccoy]

Other then the way you hold the harmonica and the different tonge blocks,, Is the blowing and drawing about the same principal as whistling a song? I know its not the same thing, but in comparison, Its rather easy to mock a tune by whistling. Blowing and drawing. So i was wondering if it was similar? If so, I just might have to go buy me one and try learning. Thx for the vid.

[12gagedan]

@DolittleMccoy It's sort of like whistling, but you have to learn where the pitches are on the harmonica. When you whistle, you can simply make any pitch you want. Harmonica, like any instrument takes practice to make sound good.

[itcheewoohoo]

is it okay to start with a golden melody key of c?

[MrZeppelinfan100]

Great video man this really helped!

[alienkilla22]

is a hohner silver star harmonica a blues or a different because i bought this and it sounds nothing like a blues harmonica and i wanted a blues harmonica. im only a begginer.

plz help

[Emoxiouz01]

thank you so much.. everything makes sense now... love your vid...



[tonystarkZssr]

I have Chromatic harmonica which I just bought from a store and i don't even noe a bit abt it lol

[12gagedan]

@tonystarkZssr The basics of holding the harmonica and embouchure apply, however, the note layout is different. Plus, you have the button for sharps and flats. I'm more of a diatonic guy, myself.

[PlyrBoogiemn75]

You said on the video it was called a diatonic cause there were two notes on every hole! lol!

[12gagedan]

@PlyrBoogiemn75 I realize this. So goes my chemistry training and lack of musical theory training. Think: carbon dioxide, for example.

[pyr666]

@ the tongue roll thing, it's genetic.

if you cant do it, no amount of practice will let you.

[Addoisfly]

@pyr666 not with that attitude ;)

[TheCricketnerd]

Im the beginner so how i blow it of in short way

actually i want to learn a 30 sec presentation

so can you js8 help me out $ a short lesson

[12gagedan]

@TheCricketnerd Lessons on Skype are $30 each.  The first 30-min lesson is free.

[salemalslamah]

1:20

Oh, I thought it would disappear

[PlyrBoogiemn75]

Why do they call it a diatonic again??

[12gagedan]

@PlyrBoogiemn75 read the description.  On a C harp, you only get the white keys of the piano. google: "diatonic scale"

[cristydeck666]

I Bough a Hohner Silver Star Diatonic C Harmonica...shouldnt it sound like the Hohner Special C ( meaning same notes.... ? ) It doesnt have that blues feel to it...

[12gagedan]

@cristydeck666 there's a lot of technique involved. The blues doesn't just "come out" of the instrument when you buy it.

[CanaanSGl]

I bought a 16 holed double stack one recently. The only thing I can get off of it is a slightly Cajun-sounding accompaniment and some awkward "Like a Rolling Stone" . Should have looked harder for a 10 holed.

[12gagedan]

@CanaanSGl I just made a video on a 32-hole tremolo harmonica. You can check that out. If you want to play blues, diatonics are the way to go.

[TheCricketnerd]

@CanaanSGl

[gliddenlake]

you're the man!

[wanchastu]

@ keaten121, is it a double stack harmonica. 2 holes on top of another?,

[TedOfNod]

@wanchastu dang it, i made the same mistake

[bmr21021975]

stupid question... does a c harp have a range of 1 octave from c to c? i'm just learning btw...

[keaton121]

Mine sounds like an ocordan. (Sorry but I don't know how to spell that word). Its a C harmonica but it doesn't have that blues sound. Some tell me im not crazy.

[12gagedan]

@keaton121 you probably have a tremolo harmonica. IT's accordion, by the way. I made a video about a tremolo harp but haven't uploaded it yet.  The common blues harp is a "10 hole diatonic" You're not crazy.

[keaton121]

@12gagedan well the one im talking about is a 10 hole harmonica. but i do also have a tremolo harmonica that i have no idea how to use.

[BEFiiN]

if you wanna play blues on harmonica, what key is the best to use? I got an E from my parents, but do you prefer C?

[12gagedan]

@BEFiiN Many people will use an E harp to play over blues in the key of B. Notable tunes you can play along with include, "But Anyway" by Blues Traveler, "Johnny B Goode" by Chuck Berry, and "Cut that Out" (a cover of a jr. wells tune) by the Red Devils off their "King King" CD. E is not a harp that gets used all that much, though. Keys like C and A will show up more frequently, and help you find more stuff to play along to.

[bofeckingjangles]

how come I cant get mine to have bluesy sound to it, will it come in time?

[12gagedan]

@bofeckingjangles there is a lot of technique to learn in order to sound bluesy. It takes time and practice.

[journeyquest1]

My cousin was married to Norton Buffalo. I made a video of him before he died. I need to post it but it is in analog video. So one of these days i will go through the hassle. Thinking of buying one?

[12gagedan]

@journeyquest1 The harmonica world would like to see such a video. I hope you get it converted.

[journeyquest1]

@12gagedan I will work on it. I have stacks and stacks of 8mm video tapes that need put on DVD. A time consuming project. I am looking to buy a Hohner Special 20 in key of C. Any other suggestions?

[12gagedan]

@journeyquest1 T'would be a fine harp. Check out coast2coast music or harmonica411 to shop for harps.

[kradleamas]

nice video man.....a great video......it helps a lot...thank you very much!

[outlawrob316]

Very helpful! Many thanks.



[republican328]

great video man. question: if I can't whistle would that be an indication of why I am bad at getting single notes with the lip puckering technique? I just got my harmonica today so i haven't practiced much but it seems hard to get that single note. thanks man

[12gagedan]

@republican328 it's going to take a lot longer than one day, bro.

[MollyMaGs2009]

What does single, doulble and tripple bend mean?

and whats a tounge block?? :S thanks x

[12gagedan]

@MollyMaGs2009 single = 1 semitone double = 2 semitones = one tone. Triple bend = 3 semitones or 1.5 tones. Tongue block is when you use your tongue to help make single notes on the harmonica.

[MollyMaGs2009]

@MollyMaGs2009 thanks but what a semitone , i just wana play the harmonica :L

[12gagedan]

@MollyMaGs2009 a semitone (AKA "half step") is the term used to describe the musical distance between two keys on the piano. In most cases, you can think of a semitone as the distance between a white key and a black key. If you take a white key, the black key next to it, and a second white key for ex. Play the first white key, then play the black key (say, C,-> C#) That's a semitone. Play the next white key C->D and that's a whole tone. It's also a semitone from E->F There is no black key

[secretme127]

very impressive. not helpful at all.

[hitokiri900]

by 3 minutes in, I retracted my statement

[hitokiri900]

I stopped watching 52 seconds in, when he said "diatonic which means two sounds per whole". Completely wrong.

Diatonic means tones (notes) within a major key, as opposed to chromatic which has all the tones . Music theory fail

[MrHippyhead]

umm... so im 14 and play guitar saxaphone, and piano, and today i thought to myself "i think I'm going to learn how to play harmonica" so i brought out my old harmonica that i got a long time ago and right off the bat i have 16 holes in it. its a Victory chinese harmonica (just google it). My question is will it still work, or do i need a 10 holed one?

[lilcam97]

great video thank you so much :) can i ask are you self taught ?

[12gagedan]

@lilcam97 Isn't it obvious by my lack of musical theory knowledge? Yes, mostly self-taught. I would encourage new beginners to take at least occaisonal lessons, though. Would save a lot of time and frustration.

[Mednicoff]

Awesome tutorial man! Question, maybe a dumb one.....If I tune my guitar half step (Eb) do I absolutely have to play a harmonica on Eb or can I just buy one in C? Thank you in advance =)

[12gagedan]

@Mednicoff What key are the songs going to be in? If they're in Eb, you might want to try an Ab harp.

[bozzioisgod44]

Subscribed ^_^

[sportsbound1991]

i have a hohner chomonica 270. is that not a beginner harmonica?

[12gagedan]

@sportsbound1991 it's a chromatic harmonica that you have. I teach mainly to 10-hole diatonic harmonicas. They're both harmonicas, but vary different. Chromatics have all of the notes available without bending. If you want to play chromatic, you have a fine beginner harp. If you want to play diatonic, you need a diatonic.

[serbdetritus182]

how do i bend if i use my tongue while playing (shape it in the form of the letter U)

[12gagedan]

@serbdetritus182 You move the back of your tongue and execute the bend more with your entire mouth/throat. I can execute bends with U-Block, but it's not pretty. I find it pretty difficult, and I do most of my bends with regular tongue blocking. I suppose you can either work on adding another embouchure, or work really hard on U-Block bending, or both. It's up to you.

[serbdetritus182]

@12gagedan

Thanks for the quick reply.

One of the main problems is that I'm not sure if I did it.

You know?

I'm not sure it sounded right.

Any suggestions for that?

(guitar is easier, really xD)

[serbdetritus182]

how do i bend if i use my tongues while playing?

[blueshadows2]

love your style explain how to begin harmonica ... CooL (:

[HabaneroLongboarding]

really good video, i learned alot! keep on rockin man!

[Brenzilla4698]

when i try to play the sound is way different then yours and everyone elses sounds

[ZMW9]

are harmonicas hard to learn* like play simple music*

[fiddlemasta2000]

I seem to have a really hard time getting a single note out! I'm tryin and tryin! Any advice?

[Fulcanelli0]

thank you so much.

[cobrachoppergirl]

I'm having a real hard time singing while I'm playing at the same time.

[kainzzz5]

i have a 16 holes harmonica what i have to do???

[hendrixgroupie23]

so what happens if i have a 24 hole harmonica (x

[andreasmariosetiawan]

looks like i bought a very long harmonica -___- i have to buy the new one then

[allAboutDEADSPACE]

my harmonica is 3 times bigger!!.s help

[diandra21497]

I'm having a really hard time at holding it and moving my hand , I mean I could, buta it's kinda hard and it doesn't sound right . Helpppp

[12gagedan]

@diandra21497 Move more slowly at first, maybe? I really don't understand your question.

[diandra21497]

@12gagedan well the position of my hand is right, but when i tried to open and close my hand like you while blowing, the sound didn't come out right :(

[jman8295]

@diandra21497 ur probably not keeping ur left hand stable wen u bend the notes, try resting ur left arm on a table wen u play and lock your wrist

[bnannett0]

I have a 14 hole diatonic harmonica.. am i able to play the same with it or no? 

[12gagedan]

@bnannett0 What's the model/name of the harmonica? If it's a 14 hole Marine Band or SBS, then, yes. The difference should only be the addition of an extra lower octave. You'd have to adjust to different hole #'s for tab, but I think you can play along. First figure out what you have, exactly, then google a note layout chart for it. Compare that to a standard 10-hole diatonic, and off you go.

[bnannett0]

I have a 14 hole diatonic harmonica... and I never seem to find any help.. Do you know how to play this one?

[kulastrio]

HELLO. I'm sick. I bought a harmonica. Its got 16 holes and I can't seem to find a way to play it. I'm losing hope. I can't play it... The 1Blow is E, BUT THE 1DRAW IS A!!! :(( The 2nd Blow is G and the draw is A also!?!? how come? :((

[12gagedan]

@kulastrio I realy only play/teach to diatonic harmonicas. You have an octave or a tremelo harmonica. It's a different instrument, really. Like banjo vs. guitar or something. If you want to play folk/rock/blues/country, you need to get yourself a diatonic harp.

[MrViolero]

Which harmonica for the very beginning?? I mean ....the tune?? (silly question....?)

[xXlazze94]

@MrViolero The Key's gotta be in C :)

[geezusuck]

Thanks for the video. I learned some good tricks :) I am new at the game.

[Elite94A]

i have a 24-hole harmonica, can you make a video of it???