Intermediate Harmonica Lesson: Singing and Playing

[CRAIGARRR]

Very encouraging!  Thanks!

[TheStrangestSara]

The things about cheese and singing is that it creates excess phlegm in your throat that can catch while you're singing. It's not that you can't sing if you eat cheese, it's just that eating cheese before you sing is not the best idea because you might get phlegm catching you by surprise.

[Tompey2009]

It's so hard to start singing though. It's like learning somethign from scratch again. :( You're right though, really useful for harp.

[12gagedan]

@Tompey2009 it's very scary to sing at first, but it gets easier with practice. I started off with voice lessons and I'm glad I did.

[mpalin11]

I think you're cool. Thank you for this video!

[mwclark7]

Loved the video. Thanks man.

[KINGSLIDEGUITAR]

Doc says; this is a cool video and a great teaching idea

[brettsbluesharp]

Great idea for a lesson Dan. I tell new harp players all the time that singing will help their harp playing in more ways than they can imagine.

[Tsutsomu]

REally cool.

Thank you very much Dan.

Friendly :

Steph.

[zkresch]

Do you know where I can find Ryan Hart's (spelling) video that you mentioned? Thanks!

[12gagedan]

Type: "Hand techniques for amplified harmonica" into the youtube search field. It will come right up.

[boufgreg]

Another great lesson Dan. But you are wrong about the cheese. You can't eat cheese and crackers and play the harmonica at the same time.

[hillspring13]

Another great vid Dan. You (and Jason, Adam, Dan 2, Harpsucker ... ) are all such amazingly cool and nice guys, your pupils are totally willing to be taken along on your journies.

Many thanks from the UK. I'm going to take your cue and write some blues lyrics on the 10-percent redunancies in my job sector. Only the blues & harp can find something positive in redundancy!

[DanRidgeway]

Is that a Harrison marine band?

[12gagedan]

it sure is I haven't tackled the editing of our "footage" yet.  I'll let you know when I do.

[alexdeduke]

fantastic. great motivation and advice.

you hope it was not to long? damn, such a great lesson is always to short.

[CHARLIEHARP]

Hello Dan nice to see you back around again. I think this is a great video because is very true what you said. If you sing you can get much more playing time with your own band or just by playing in some open mic. That isexactly what I am doing now is practicing my singing to finally get out there and show what I can do. James harman is by the way the best singing and harp playing, because he does both brilliantly. You know we both love James. Big Hug from London your friend Charlyharp.

[BigJimPope]

Great to see you back, Dan. You forgot the two most important points; alcohol makes everyone sound better, and if you really want more playing time, play the guitar, because then you don't have to listen to the band or ever let anyone else take a solo!

[12gagedan]

I laughed out loud Jim. Plus, the guitar players always get the chicks.

[nomoboy]

Good to see you back at full speed with a new video. Great timing (for me) Very much appreciated Dan!

[Doogeedoo12]

Well, I have the singing part down, I had a few lessons from performing in musicals and all. Now I just have to learn how to play well :P

[FabriceKerg]

Hi Dan, great your back!!!!! We missed your videos!!!

[tommror]

Nice to se a video from you again Dan. You`ve been missed. Love all your videos. Such a good teacher ;)

[12gagedan]

@tommror Thanks, man. I have some good ideas floating around. I hope to be more productive over the next month or two.

[tommror]

Sounds great. really looking forward to your upcoming videos. Hope there`s still a lot to come from you

[Kenneth1944]

Always enjoy your vids Dan, lots of great ideas. Yeah! I'm still around and trying to learn. Mostly just having fun with my set of Lee Oskars. Thanks, keep the info coming.

[12gagedan]

@Kenneth1944 glad to hear from you Ken! Glad you're still playing.

[jodanchudan]

This is a really helpful video - good ideas about how to start using the harp to fill in. Have been trying to learn simple bass lines as a way of learning to back singing with the harp. By the way, that rumba thing at 9:50 -ish - how are you getting that rhythmic stab without sounding a note? Just got hold of 'Vera Hall' by Dan Kaplan (which is excellent) and he also uses a rhythmic 'chuck' that doesn't seem to be a note. I've been trying to figure it out, but always end up producing a note.

[12gagedan]

I've heard it referred to as a "kiss pop". The old, and highly regarded harmonica masterclass set by Jerry Portnoy used to advertise all these techniques, including the kiss pop. Basically, you make the kiss/smooch noise with your lips/tongue while sort of barely pulling away from the harp. It's like you're giving someone a peck on the check. You do it with enough force to be felt, but not enough to suck much air through the reed. . You just have to experiment.