Two-Hole Shake Harmonica Lesson

[xXxAr7ur0xXx]

why do you hit the harp on your leg?

[xXxAr7ur0xXx]

i think im awesome :D

[MrJasonc77]

12gaugedan is the shit an awsome teacher and does it for free thanks man

[GuitarOcarina64]

is it 4 and 5 draw? or blow

[bheadh]

Great job! I've learned alot...thank you!

[Actingskint]

I was just starting to sing My babe at the end of that.Great session cheers.Now i know where to aim for

[wyllianneo]

Great video man. Thanks for record this for help us, begginers. Hugs.

[Levatron]

"which embouchure I'm using at the moment"!! Thats funny Dan coming from my perspective. I'm a complete beginner for blues, 'have no idea, but would you believe I've been playing the chromatic on and off for 50 years but only lately started playing the harp when I could hear properly for the first time with the aid of modern science. Thanks again and again Dan

[12gagedan]

@Levatron I'm glad you're in a better place to play music. It's a lifelong thing. I'm currently struggling to do a type of shake where you just move your tongue back and forth. I'm struggling, for sure.

[Levatron]

Q. is the two hole shake with tongue block or pucker?

[12gagedan]

@Levatron Yes. (either or, it depends on what embouchure you're comfortable with or which one you're using at the moment)

[mgiant12]

Hey man i've got a thirty two hole harmonica trying to learn it

[2100abhishek]

are u blowing on 4th hole n drawing on 5th hole??

[12gagedan]

@2100abhishek no, either or. Shakes are all in one direction.  The most common ones are 3-4 draw and 4-5 draw. You can do them on the blow (I can't remember if it's 3-4, 4-5 or both) as well, but don't overdo them. Also can do a sweet 1st position blow shake (again I can't remember if it's 7-8 or 8-9).

[luigginacho]

Did he said "low hanging fruit" ?!?!?! O_O?

[sarsky9]

harmonica while driving! ME TOO! ha ha!

[101rabit]

WickedMann.

Puttin it all to words is difficult.

Ive a bitta stuff too check out mine dude.

[101rabit]

WickedMann.

[HolyFuckDaniel]

should you shake the harmonica or your head and the answer is yes?

wtf

[12gagedan]

@HolyFuckDaniel Why limit yourself to one way if both ways work?

[RambOFreAc]

@HolyFuckDaniel Harmonica!

[LeonStagg]

Great video, best advice and technique I've heard on shakes.

Mine have improved drastically in just a few days. Thanks for sharing.

[Hanibaltherogue]

Because of you im really thinking ybout to learn Harmonica...

I love music but since now i suck at guitar and piano, but i can realy good wistle (?)

sorry my english is really bad.

But i habe a question! :-P

You use 2 Hands to play, but your problem with playing it while driving is to keep your eyes on the road?^^

Anyway i like your vids and will try my luck with this awesome instrument!

[12gagedan]

@Hanibaltherogue drive with knees or harp w/ 1 hand in car

[baadshah0001]

fantastic - thanks for the help :)

[whakawhakapapa]

your vidseos are fantastic mate

[rbaleksandar]

Shaking head is great when you play another instrument at the same time (guitar) and using a harmonica-stand. Your hands are occupied and you can only shake your head. :) Doing the two-hole shake is faster when done with hands (hands are more flexible than the neck).

[12gagedan]

@rbaleksandar good points.

[12gagedan]

@rbaleksandar good point

[Ledvolta]

@12gagedan hi, dan. that last/final 'shake lick' u played was cool. what is it, please?

[danipavalache]

ure da man

[fixumm]

Interesting ! You make it sound doable..... Have to watch more and possible get started..?? Would love that.

[12gagedan]

@fixumm just do it, man.

[gunitar0000]

bro i have a longer harmonica chromonika II m.hohner...May be out of tune?..its old type ...

[arab90210]

hey man, im trying to do the shake but i got a problem on breathing. how does that work? where am i going wrong? thanks

btw i love ur vids :D 5*

[12gagedan]

@arab90210 It takes a while to build up breath support. You also have to refine your single notes so they don't use so much air.

[doofrick]

you remind me of jim from the office mixed with seth rogan, haha thanks for the tips

[doofrick]

you remind me of a mix between jim from the office and seth rogan. Ps thanks for the tips

[doofrick]

so you remind me of seth rogan mixed with jim halpert from the office.

[machineheart1]

How do I play an individual note? I am trying and trying!! I have a small mouth too so i thought Id be able to do that!!!?? Thanks.

[Landliebelexikon]

How the heck do I bend? May you somehow show it without the harp? Somehow?^^ I have no idea how it works. But it sounds so cool.

[lieblicherherrfrosch]

bro, my harmonica is longer than yours.. will it make any matter to play it?? btw, your skill is truly amazing bro...

[12gagedan]

@lieblicherherrfrosch if it's a different type of harmonica, yes it will be very different to play. Basic techniques apply to any harmonica, but notes are arranged differently for different harmonica types.

[MusicManJTR]

ur fkn amazin dude

[mussoperative]

i just started playing harp about a year and a half ago. i can play single notes and bends and am working on different licks. im a guitar player since 10 and im 26 years old. love the Blues!!! your videos are great! well rounded and really helpful. just wanted to show appreciation. good luck everyone!!!

[jocossio2]

Should I use my tongue ? or just adapt the shape of my mouth??

[Lavittz01]

Is it a constant draw? or are u doing draw-pause-draw between each note?

[castalibre13]

i like it. please send to me the first lesson

[abishek5432]

thanks 4 ur instructions... really super...

[jalen77232]

are you doing it in 1 breath? or you breathing through youre nose and blowing?

[jovieeer]

felicidades desde argentina amigo

[alyshablack66]

are u breathing out then in?

[12gagedan]

@alyshablack66 shakes are played most often on the inhale between 3-4 or 4-5

[Cinasso90]

yeeeeeeeaaa man i very like your videos ! Great teaching :D

[kumPetro]

thank you man this is so cool but i need to practise it more

[xXMrSpriteXx]

i'm 12 years old, and i'm getting really good in front of my friends, thanks for all your help :)!!

[66thejman]

I gotsta get me one of dos harps

[amplimax]

That's it, I'm getting a harmonica, damnit.

[legopoof]

I think i overbent my harmonica trying to do this. Ooops

[suneet18]

Thanks you are amazing

[nutrregan]

cOOL : o) Thank You

[bloodlynard]

WTF????

[dominieksv]

This is great thank you! I have owned harmonica for a year an have fooled around a lot since then.

[buggernuts100]

Oh he's sucking holes 4 and 5... Im such an idiot!

[12gagedan]

@buggernuts100 "draw" = suck air in. However, I never tell people to "suck" because that usually leads to poor technique. You want to draw the air through, not suck it.

[adamhopper7]

Your no idiot buggernuts100! Just like any skill there are a set of words that are used which you will learn throughout the process.

Don't give in to self defeating attitudes (even if they are a joke) because they can wear you down over time....trust me, I know :)

[budstep]

i hate you dan !!!...not really lol..its funny how you can screw a note up and still make it sound so damm good !!...Dan....you ARE the man !!!!.. thanks for taking the time to show us all

[cliffyuno]

Nice

[jjparro]

Thank You

[shnazer1]

thanks for that.Are you using your tonge between the 4 and 5

[12gagedan]

@shnazer1 I can't do the tongue shake. It's awesome if you can, though.

[mkst10]

me refiero a q no s nuestra lengua madre, obvio q aki si exist gnt q hable n ingles sino yo no hubiera escrito eso!

[Masimirrimies]

How you put your lips while playing?

[laltuna]

Thank you very much for your availability to post this great instructional videos.

Question: What do do you mean by 'first and or 'second' position?

Thank you,

[mkst10]

hi, i want to learn how to play my harmonic, mines can play it for both sides.. i hope you can show me how! thanks for be a really good teacher and sorry for my English, I'm from Costa Rica and we don't speak in English here!!!

[czhoafr]

mae... sea serio en costa rica si hablamos ingles...

[dazzablue68]

brilliant, really good leason

[BobandWobitt]

draw or blow does it matter

[12gagedan]

The most commonly used shakes are 4-5 draw and 3-4 draw. you can do a little bit on 4-5 blow (listen to whammer jammer) but it's mostly draw. In first position, 7-8blow is really cool. (trouble in mind off of the big walter w/ carey bell record)

[oconnaugh]

Awesome instruction.

[victor15751]

thnx a lot!

[tewright77]

thanks for these vids dan. i have been playin for 6 months or so...got some stuff down,,,but you are helping me clean up my playing...

[taylorsam51]

tNKS U ROCK

[ylley]

great teacher! 5*

[wonderchop]

Oh right so its just playing a 4th up from the root?

Or as you say it a step blow the 5th.

Thanks, it makes more sense now!

[12gagedan]

yeah, just make sure you go the right way. If band is in "C" Then, C,D, E, F, G, A = 1,2,3,4,5,6. You go up a 4th and pick up ur "F" harp. The 2D on F harp = C. Viola, second position. If you start with a harmonica, and want to figure out what key you can play second position over, go a 5th. Say you have an "F" harp. F,G, A, Bb, C. You can play second position over music in "C" 2D on a "F" harp =C. or just memorize it. ha ha ha

[wonderchop]

What do you mean when you say first position?

I play guitar so its meaning a bit more to me than I think it needs too?

Cheers

[12gagedan]

1st position = playing the same key harmonica as the key the music is in. So, A Harp over band in A. Most blues harp you hear is played in second position. That's using a harmonica that's one step away on the circle of 5ths. For ex. you play a D harp over band in A.

[Angel8795]

wow, your right hand was moving so fast that the camera couldnt keep up...nice

[mikeart7]

Your videos are the best, not sure i still need my music teacher ?

[cozymonk]

unless your teacher is shitty, I would keep your teacher. There's nothing like one-on-one music lessons. Your teacher is right there to give you personalized lessons and to coach you on your mistakes and give you advice. Videos are static. Live lessons are dynamic. Dynamic is better for learning music. But the videos provide good hints and you definitely shouldn't avoid them.

[mikeart7]

I agree with you, i was trying to be light hearted with my comment, the guy that teaches me is great and he also recommends your videos, thanks for the reply cheers Mike.

[coldaddiction]

yep, money is great alright.

[henry26a]

To much talking!

But when finally play is great! Ml Henry

[binzing]

Its a LESSON, not a performance.

[magocebolinha]

great lesson... thanx

[pen39]

hes good

[dudeeee76]

I have an 24-hole tremolo diatonic,can I learn form your videos how to play it since you have a 10 hole harmonica?

[12gagedan]

I know very little about tremelo harmonicas. I don't think (but I'm not sure) they are tuned the same as diatonics. The basics of technique (embouchure, percussion, hand wahs) all apply.

[robertbaldwinxu]

The bending shake made my mouth wide open! Great video!

[puff91761]

This got me laid...

[lucian70musaafir]

ya-man.., driving and playing...., is ok. i do the same here in spain mostly on highway, average speed 100 mile/hour, with the harp on my right hand and left hand o put th directional-blinkinglight. and i'm still alive ...... a salude.

[Geetar2112]

Nice to see someone advocating moving the harp, it´s much easier and doesn´t make you dizzy:) I think if it sounds good it can´t be wrong.

I´ve also heard it called tremolo, but the 2 hole shake sounds much cooler! Cheers Dan.

[12gagedan]

It's tough to head-shake while driving. I've heard people calling shakes "warbles". That sounds really cheezy/campy to me. I guess in my mind, hips "shake" but birds "warble". or something like that.

[Geetar2112]

Ha ha, playing and driving, a bit dangerous in the city - and illegal;) Try playing a Strat and driving, now there´s a challenge! I think I´ll stick to "shakes", and moving the harp is much faster anyway. Thanks for all the classes - your band sounds great by the way. Cheers!

[sourav777]

still, extremely awesome video :)

[sourav777]

talked about it in my low hanging fruit...video haha. :D

[sapayito90]

comprate un perro...

gracias

[puika1987]

Hey

wonderful lessons, helpful vids, well done, great. Just got my first harmonica so here goes :-D

oliver

[Taimlar]

That was good I a new player and when I play at one note its work good when I like follow you 4 , 5 , 4 , 5 , 4 ,5 The and that but when you do the fastes it hard :P I can do it like more fast but not fastes. and I have a D harp. But if you have a D harp can you do a lesson of it ty.

[lostcause525]

i caught on to this pretty quick... the jazz band found out i fool with a harmonica ( i generally play trombone, haha) i only have a C harp which i got with a video game of all things, but i'd really apprecieate some advice on blues. you could respin or PM, it dosen't batter, but i'd like to try soloing on something different, which is why i'm suddenly so interested in learning, and it might get me a few more solos in the next 2 years. but i'd really appreciate some help.

Thanks.

[mellowasroma]

Thank for the tip mate!

[womackjl010]

really really useful

[andyactive]

very useful vids....hopefully my playing should improve from here on!

[toomyg155]

Thanks for the lesson. I watch some of your videos over and over untill it SINKS IN ;)

[FabriceKerg]

Excellent recommendations and explanations! Thank you Dan!

[john5dav]

Excellent, as always. Do you recommend playing while driving?

[12gagedan]

I cannot recommend doing anything that is illegal. As adults we must all make our own decisions. I played a lot while driving, however, traffic was pretty light, and the roads were only 2 lanes per side. I play very rarely here in Southern California, while driving. 6 lane highways and much more traffic seem too dangerous to me most of the time.

[tmrmansr]

I love your videos. I have been wanting to start playing for a while now. I actually went and bought one after watching your videos.

[DDevin7]

Awesome. Thank you.

[ranashley]

Thanks Dan. Another helpful video. I mentioned to you serveral months ago about a lesson on the various vibratos, specifically the throat vibrato. I think you used one in the "Funky Duo".

Thanks again, Dan.

[12gagedan]

Dan Ridgeway was doing an awesome throat vibrato in the duo video. I only do vibrato from my diaphragm, as far as I can tell. I never really loved the throat vibrato sound enough to develop it.

[Tsutsomu]

thank you very much Dan.

Steph.

[MICROBIAL]

Good Job

[McGueuze]

as you said, it's very easy... just need to practice

[arturaz]

Hey, you made it! Thanks a lot ;)

[12gagedan]

No problem. It was a good idea, and the timing was right for me.

[thenotself]

Great video Dan

[Tryharp]

Nice in depth lesson Dan.

[pinkushn2]

Dan: You are a great teacher! Thanks for helping us along.

[Polentao]

thanks, i'm working on the warbles and this was very helpful.