BLUES HARP TUTORIAL Volume 3 Riffs, bending and breathing.

[OZHARP]

When you listen to players on the net or live occasionally you hear a huff and puff at opportune times between notes, these are short breaths in and out whilst playing. Takes a long time to get used to this and running out of breath in or having the lungs fill and having to pause to breath is common in early practice.

[SharpshooterAce2]

Do u have any recommendations for breathing? I'm I'm running out of breath faste

[VrM1104]

the kid in the beggining is better than me xD

[TheJakolee1]

on my harp i find i get like a dud sound when i draw, am i drawing too hard or is my harmoinca gone?

[OZHARP]

@TheJakolee1 could be either, how old is your harp and what brand is it.

[TheJakolee1]

@OZHARP its reasonably new but i tried it on another harmonica and i get the same result. its much the same sound as the little girl gets when drawing on the harmoinca

[OZHARP]

@TheJakolee1 sounds like how your sealing your mouth around the single hole effectively as yet and have weak air flow across the reed. Try different ways of playing one note until you find something that works for you. Brian.

[TheJakolee1]

@OZHARP cheers mate

[samrocchi]

COLE CLARK GUITAR!!!! and shirt.... representative???

[OZHARP]

no exploited like most he he.

[Gozurtju]

So I was trying to bend, while playing one note at a time.

It's pretty hard to do that, so I thought: maybe i'm holding my tongue in the wrong way.

What I do is I shape my tongue in some sort of U-shape, so that an accurate stream of air goes to the hole in the middle. is that right?

[OZHARP]

@Gozurtju This is a technique I have heard a lot people say they use. The depth of reed bend can be achieved with the tongue being drawn backwards and forwards with an open airway to the diaphragm, the larger cavity formed the deeper the bend. Keeping your tongue on the bottom of your mouth it formes a U shape lipped up either side by your teeth.You may find what works for you by studying many people's ideas and putting them into practice.

cheers Brian.

[crookedmouth123]

your a good bloke.

[5panbboy]

awesome.

thnk u for posting videos!

i like it!

can u post here the tabs of the guiatr riff at the beggining?

thx a lot!

[jared9470]

I got a harmonica last year and started playing from the book I got for Christmas and you have been sooo helpful you are a natural teatcher thankyou for taking the time to teatcher

[borwoj]

is this C harmonica? I'm confused

[OZHARP]

Its that long ago since I did it I cant remember.

[empirecircle]

@borwoj its in E i think

[guillelorentzen]

NICE...

[iownyouchoob]

how do u make single notes sound all bluesy?

[aekhoo]

thanks that helps keep posting im sure we all appreciate the vids

PS it that a hohner silver star?

[OZHARP]

its a special 20

[cucopsicologo]

que onda carnal chido me late tu onda de harmoniquiar y guitarra yo igual me aviento con el sosten unas rolas chidas me laten las harmonicas hohner blues harp varias se me han hechado aperder como una hohner silver star, blues harp en A y otra gran rio en DO chido carnal aki desde mexico coatzacoalcos ver chido arriba el blues

[mpizetta]

Could anyone please give the tabs for that guitar loop in this video?

[birdstuckinchimney]

Shit dude I gotta tell ya, your an increadibly gifted individual and I'm not just talkin' about your harp playing. Your a consumate cummunicator and totally inspiring. Keep up the amazing work.

[jontrier]

Thanks for you help Brian, keep the videos comin.

[ccChild333]

When I play the 2nd note draw it bends, even though I'm not trying to bend it... am I sucking too hard? Because it seems like you put a lot of air through your instrument when you play, but it doesn't sound bend like mine in the riff.

Thanks for the videos, they're very helpful.

[OZHARP]

sounds like you have discovered how to overblow and bend a note. Overblows seldom sound the same.

cheers from Brian.

[MotifXSUser]

very good tutorials....thank you for this and greetings from germany

[Tony100]

I have a very important question. How are you supposed to separate the notes if they are in the same hole? I used to be in band for school and we used to "tongue" the top of our mouths to separate the notes. How do we separate them here with the harp? I tried tonguing the harp but it sounds funny

[OZHARP]

The reeds work in opposite directions one reed only vibrates when blown the other when sucked.

Cheers from Brian.

[Tony100]

Alright i think i get it. Thanks!

[dhlinard]

Hey man great stuff. Who are some harp players I should listen to?

[OZHARP]

This depends on what kind of music you like. You will learn more and play along better listning to the kind of music you like as there are so many diffrent directions in blues rock, blues country, traditional and contemporary blues. Search the net for blues music until you hear stuff you really like and take it from there. myspace is a good place ot start try ozharp on myspace lots of good music and bands there. cheers from Brian.

[viagrobelix]

Hi

I have got a Hohner blues harp in A(since Christmas), but the second hole doesnt sound like in the video when you suck, actually when you blow in the 3 hole it sounds like in the video ...Could the sound change, or shall I bring it back to the store? Best regards der Benny

[bundleofstix]

Hole 2 draw and hole 3 blow are actually the same note. The most common problem for begginers is getting the 2 draw to sound properly. Most think there harp is broken when it's really just a problem with their technique. try pushing the harp further into your mouth between your lips. Make sure your lips are puckered out and the harp touching the insides of your lips not the outer part. Also make sure your throat is open and clear as you draw in air, and not constricted.

[bundleofstix]

Another trick for learning the draw 2 is to tilt your head back and look staight up and then try to play the 2 draw. Hopefully this should allow to play the note clearly. this works because looking up helps open up your throat. Once you have the note slowly start moving your head back to it's normal position while maintaining the note. It takes practice but hopefully if you follow my suggestions and also try this trick you will eventually get it. 2 draw is the most important note on the harp.

[washingtonetos]

Brazilian'm not understand English. more your video helped me a lot! Thanks!.

[gibrantallavaz]

man probably i have not leaned more here than enyplace jajaja i have my harmonic like 6 years ago... i want to take some halp from anybody here... can someone make this video with subtitles???? i can understan all that he say

[jsilvatx]

i have watched your videos a 100 times over and over in sequence from start to finish and i learn something each time!!! thanks for your teachings!! you dont know how much gracious i am take care and god bless!

[MintEggs]

Thanks bro awesome tutorial, it's really helped me

[mergs8690]

man you rock i've always wanted to learn to play harmonica but i can't read music and i really have no idea what all the different keys and notes are [i know, i'm a loser], but this totally helped me out. thank you sooo much. you're awesome.

[fuz0r]

this video is really useful , but i have one question , i have a new harp ( which i bought today ) and for some reason it doesnt work properly when i inhale on the 3 hole , is it normal ? Thanx in advance .

[396ironworker]

WOW! That works, THANKS MAN ! ! !

[LiquidSatan]

Hey bro I really dig your contribution to the harp it is one instrument that is hardly mentioned anymore.

I do though have a question...

I have a Bluesband Hohner International in the key of C and was wondering the best way to clean it.

Also the second hole is very hard to draw from I am wondering if it is out of tune??? it sounds like it and I probably need to get a new one. Any suggestions on what kind?

Thanks!

[OZHARP]

Harps unfortunatly dont last forever. Soak the harp in water for a few minutes then blow it out, if it doesnt come good its probably blown out.

Cheers Brian.

[LiquidSatan]

Thanks man!

Best Regards.

[winnebago2]

I have a C harp that haven't really played much until I've watched these videos, but the 2nd hole also sounds like i'm bending even when i try to play it normally... is it finished or is that how they are?

[SoloBen247]

thats strange i picked up a C bluesband today and mine sound all in tune with my guitar

[gidtok]

the problem is not in the hole..2 draw is just quite a hard note to play. try to find the right angle and then you'll get it

[396ironworker]

I'm having trouble getting rid of my extra air, when trying to play the boogie. How can ya exhale, while drawing in ?

[Ledvolta]

try pulling your top lip up a little, relax your mouth or use your nose

[ronnieDiii]

you are an excellent teacher, thank you.

[ttt0]

Thanks you help me a lot.

[151dee]

vary cute...

[Joeybsmooth]

she is better than me.

[RobbieTheRipper17]

i'm havin some serious problems here i was wondering if someone could help me...

i bought a 5 dolalr Charp a few days ago and learned some tricks on it and had alot of fun

so i decided ill buy this starters kit with the keys c, d, e, f, g, a, b flat.

the only problem is on my A harmonica drawing on the 3 there just isn't any noise and i've noticed it with a few other harps as well

is this just because thats how those hoels happen to be or is there a problem?

[GermanHarpist]

I noticed similar problems. It is clearly the case that different harp types, but also harps of the same type (brand, model) play differently. However, I noticed: The more you play a harp the easier it gets to play. So just keep on playin. Cheers.

[yan02370]

very great thank you mister and mssss

[whestDJ]

tnk you!!

[barflew]

Where in the hell was this guy when I started blowing harp. He has a wealth of information, I'm gonna get out my Lee Oscars & Hohners and get down. I bought my 1st Marine Band 14 hole 40 yrs.ago for $7.00 but I think an old dog can still learn some new tricks. I have played with some of the folks here on You tube or with their opening acts. GOOD LUCK it can only get better,and then plug into a small tube amp keep your neighbors awake.

[harpsteruk]

Hi

This is really helping, any way I can get hold of some of your cd's from the UK

Regards

Andy

[randyds5]

i have a diatonic C harp, iam ok at learning riffs but having trouble bending the notes to sound more "blues" like, i heard of peopel opening up their harmonicas and bending the acually reeds very slightly to customize it, any tips?

[filipecasimiro]

I have an Hohner Blues Harp MS, can I use bendig wtih this one? It sound sounds a lot different from this one =/

What's he using?

[cheloespina]

aww boo! i just bought the D harp, cause the first tutorial said to get that key, but this lesson needs an A one!

[catchmeifucan7]

amazing real nice guy ive learned alot from you your well worth watching and i will keep watching thankyou

[leerunner]

Maravilhoso,thanks for your blues,escuse,but i dont speak english,but i love blues and you is a great blues man .thanks(obrigado) Osmar J. Assis

[kokoro86]

From the looks of it, is that a suzuki bluesmaster harp? I've heard good things about them being very airtight, but I've never tried one.

[tcritz]

great work, good intro

[Etoastio]

i cant do it at all, and i have a diffrent harmonica and i really want to play, and i reallly am trying but i cant do it

[mrRababi]

I've messed on and off with the harp for years, have never really got that far. I can bend notes at the lower end and at the higher end and I know the importance of breathing. What I was impressed with his your articulation and vibrato, my vib 'sucks' (pardon the pun). I try to do it with moving the harp from side to side quickly as opposed to controlling the flow of air to the harp, as I find this difficult. Any tips??

Thanks for your videos man, they have inspired me to pick up the harp again.

[dookis]

cannot bend for the life of me.

[OZHARP]

Keep trying

Phoenix

[Wasaw]

Is the riff he plays on his guitar from a zz top song?

[OZHARP]

This kind of Riff was originated by Carson in the 50s.

[Wasaw]

Aaah, because it sound a lot like the song La Grange...

[OZHARP]

Thats correct so you can see where it came from and thats not where you thought it came from.

[jd366]

you should get a special 20,or a Golden Melody in the key of C

I have one and it is great

[veiadodemonio]

thanks for the lesson I really like playing harmoica i play guitar too

[ivorynumber21]

id be interested in gettin some of this dudes tutorial cd's, hes amazing. does anyone know how i can get in contact with him  to get some????

[SEHD]

what kind of harp would you reccomend for playing blues?

I've got a Hohner chrometta 10.. but that's more for playing jazz and such so i should buy a new one.. but I don't know what to buy :S

please help!!

[OZHARP]

superdemolisher. I cannot answer your question you have your mail set to friends only

[wogacielo]

His Name is ozharp!!!

[wogacielo]

Fully Sick mate, love your new website too!

[OZHARP]

Everyone beware a madman is loose on the tube.

[Okskar]

when i suck in the lower 3 notes of my harmonica (a wooden Hohner Bleus Harp in C-key) i don't get a clear tone, but just a muffled ugly sound. I also notice that I have to suck/blow extremely hard in those holes. Could it be that harmonica is broken (I dropped it the other day) or am I just playing it wrong?

Thanks for the great videos !

[vic91218]

Very nice! Thank you very much.

-Victor

[DustyStallion]

I keep getting dry throat and a little dizzy....dizzy I can deal with, but what do you suggest for dry throat?

[joepiejoey]

Maybe you can keep you throat wet by drinking whater after each time you play?

[OZHARP]

I disolve vicks vapor drops in the mouth, keeps the head clear as well.

[SaltyHank]

I'm liking these videos. These tips are really helping. Thanks.

[mountainjv]

great video. Thanks!!