How to Play the Harmonica : Playing the Train on Harmonica

[omega1231]

@nilbud you mad bro?

[DevilShroom]

This one was a really great exercise! Finally getting the right kinda sound on my harmonica, I think this will help me learn how to bend too.

[renaissanceman165]

Great advice Jim. Thanks much!

[xmnemonic]

dude wear sunblock

[lanceroberthuff]

that was really cool. Im going to practice that like crazy. I mostly play my guitar in my free time. But the harmonica is a pocket instrument. I can pull it out anywhere and play. Thanks for the lesson.

[annmuse]

thank you for your video!!!

[nickrolfe69]

Hi thanks for sharing, just started to play the Harmonice and will benefit from your instructions.

[teleman55]

That is great - a classic rendition with great instruction. The technique is likely used in countless songs but I always think of "Train, Train" by Blackfoot when i think of that technique. Thanks. RR

[grbtza]

What´s the key of the harp he´s using?

[duendeflamenco87]

@grbtza key of D

[Javibarrax]

mirad esto " Solo de armonica por Bartolome Del Viejo"

[Recon680]

who is this again?

[SilverFoxFan101]

Holy Shit that was AWSOME!!!!! :3

[jakestevens0]

It is useful for songs that transpose, but I would rather have lots of diatonic's for blues and a chromatic for other styles, as you can really tell which harmonica is being played

[FreakyFarinFan]

Wow xD

[burningblaze0058]

Dude i love your work it's really helping me but what i have is a chromonica, one that has the little push thing that changes from the higher holes to the lower ones and i was wondering if i'd use that in this kind of thing.

[jakestevens0]

Get a proper blues, harp, much easier to do on a diatonic than cromatic

[tirid89]

tous les commentaires sont en Anglais ?

et pour les Français ?

[kishanabear]

are you playing on a C harp? thanks

[jizay147]

Magic Dick, ha ha

[ferrynator15]

:O tnx mate :D

[5EJO5]

where can find musical letters for the harmonica

[00dlsgur]

how do you do that wawa??

[Serouns]

anyone know what kind of harmonica Yuri Lane jams on?

[hmoogler]

Yuri lane plays junk. Forget that poser. Get a Hohner brand harp, marine band or special 20. Later on, check Lee Oscar brand. Blow easy not hard always when possible and practice playing scales with bend at 2 and 3 hole, do re mi fa so la ti do

[three6zachary]

u are drunk az fuck my mayne!!!

[pevols]

he is loaded,if he was on stage he would not have good stage presence

[Friikk1]

he is fucking drunk

[joehancock01]

im wanting to buy a harmonica can u yell me 1 that would sound good with motown and soul music plz

[blazedale2007]

Hohner Marine Band

[LandGproduction]

ya i got marine band, works great

[joehancock01]

lol i bought 1 now lmao. thats was 3 month ago i bought the blues harp. i wish i bought a marine band.. lol

[00Never00]

I agree ^^

[hmoogler]

Joehancock try a chromatic for motown. Stevie Wonder style. Takes more practice but ultimately MUCH BETTER than a diatonic. Can play Jazz as well as blues. Diatonic is only for blues and country style music. Chromatic has a button and plays all styles of music, however, doesn't bend as easy as diatonic harps. This guy plays diatonic. Listen to Paul Butterfield, Magic Dick, Lee Oscar, practice with early Stones tunes. Start with b flat, G, A and F for easy bends.

[jakestevens0]

Nobody uses chromatic! Cant play blues without bending notes!

[Paddoman05]

wtf? Nobody's uses chromatic?

[titostacos]

William Clarke played chromatic sometimes. So did Little Walter. So does JT Ross the Harmonica Boss...

[jakestevens0]

I know, I play both types myself, but the train is hard on a chromatic, and you cant get the "whistle" as well. I like playing along to Stevie Wonder and that kind of music on chromatic, and fast paced blues on my diatonic's. Technically speaking chromatic is an orchestral instrument and is better for slower more soulful songs,both great fun though!

[8223Studios]

whoa man u have high blood pressure

[halbudd]

your assuming that because his face gets red when he plays an instrument that requires you to breathe alot that he has high blood pressure?

[8223Studios]

His face is obviously red before he starts playing though.

Im assumeing that he does indeed have high blood pressure.

[panthro555]

this is just the kind of thing i need to progress the harmonica skills.

thanks!

[LifeSucksSoberOrHigh]

Great stuff!,.  check out a harmonica video called,.. AL just wrote the theme to the State of Alabama!

[strawwoodclaw]

hung over the other 2 are fine

[kellectrik]

Key of C??? Try a "D"

[robocorpse]

Thanks, now I can play an awesome Inspector Gadget on my Bluesband.

[SasukeKilla1998]

in the end his face turned red

[rodriguez1034]

it would.he's old.really old.

[hankicheif]

He isnt that old.

Bet you cant play the harmonica as well as he can.

[red051090]

what key is that harp

??????

[alsyapal19461946]

Key of C - try playing along and you will see its the key of C hey I'm a poet

[jobjob76]

the anus

[muclesmarinara]

I want to know what are your disadvantages if you pley with a holder because you also play guitar.

[nirvana1717]

i dont know a whole lot about the harp yet, but i do know that when you play with a holder instead of your hands, you lose the cave that you form with your hands. getting a good cave will make your harp sound fuller and better

[muclesmarinara]

Thanks nirvana1717. i have been playing guitar for ten years so i have always used a holder for my harmonica.

[IJAiken]

What key is that harmonica?

[JDFF7]

Yall need to remember... when your trying to talk to this guy you're actually trying to talk to expert village.

[ranchosdancingbull]

I think I saw you at the hotel today. How was your dessert?

[fjortishaterhater]

wtf?

[confused1247]

Looks like he's using a Lee Oscar Diatonic

[echocompany540]

what kind did you use for this.

[jakesummer]

hey guys check out a video on my page called music for listening and tell us what ya think sound isnt the best quality cause of the laptop recording but tell what ya think thanks

[Loxleiev]

it actually works, great :P, i recentrly bought this harp only 20 pesos, that is like, 6,66U$D, and it woth it :P:P:P

[ukenate]

Thank you sooooo much

[yougiro]

thanks

[yumcake88]

if you like this you should listen to "crazy train" by the waifs, it is a wonderful song and has great

[yonik7772]

wow

[cruising1on]

Guys got good info but I learned at 13 Yrs old from a Blues Harp music book with a 45 of Sony Boy Williams II, Sony Terry, and others in the book and 45. I'm now 43 and still play. Play by EAR! When you first bend a cord, keep working it and listen to the Masters as to how to make that into a blues rif, the breathing, mouthing of sounds, and styles. My advice, buy an old Harp book written by a Master and listen to their music which usualy comes inside but you will need a turntable.

[bemental]

Or you could try to find the Norton Buffalo tutorials. Good advice. I'm electric now and play only hand drums, and harp.

[patriciatess]

see what you think of my hap playing

[bugandflea]

I was told to boil my harp in water and at first I THOUGHT I had ruined it, but then I found out that I could easily play yellow submerine with my aqua lung on; does this mean it is a scuba divers harp?

[cruising1on]

I found the same info from Blues books in the late 70's. I tried and WRONG idea. If you boil a "wooden" Marine Band Harp, the wood will swell outside the playing area and only option is to SHAVE the wood down. I never thought that harp was any LOOSER. Nowdays you buy a Special-20 which is Pre-Bent! So easy to bend a cord! and others are available. Look at the best harp vids. YOU SEE BLACK NOT WOOD. These are Special 20's! There Great!!

[TomPaine56]

wonderful ... very instructive ... thanks a lot for it ...

[PhilipZahnd]

It doesn't really matter. You're just creating any dominate chord-not single note melody. Just toy around. I'm learning, too.

[CapnViktor]

It'll take me some time, but I'll think I'll manage it.

Good video! Only that I think he could've told us which holes the whistle is at, and if it's either I or V (suck or blow)

Great anyway! :)

[vikasmp3]

it not D key its a E key harmonica

[ipalindromei]

no, it's a d harp

[Obctg]

i disagree with you both, i think its an A harp

[TomHughesMusic]

it's definately a d

[binnie89]

D. im using a D and it sounds the same :P

[javitali]

Hello. I am a saxophonist -and harp amateur- from Argentina. You explain everything so clearly. Congratulations for that, and for your generosity.

[stepcollegno666]

great lesson bro, really good.

ùhey if somebody can leave a commente on my harmonica improvisation video on stepcollegno666. thank you. harmonica forever

[OneWayTrip1]

The Best harp for Beginners (in my opinion) is a Hohnner Special 20 in either a C or D keys (if you're only getting one)

[AEIOU1628]

what a red head man

[vernmoore]

Hey, I think you did a great job and I learned a lot from this video, please post some more.

[richardflo2flo]

I agree there is alot going on here

[finchisgod]

he doesn't really explain it well enough to me

[epitoky]

I just wanted to tell you that you've inspired me to make a pact with myself to play at least 15mins a day for a week and just see where I'm at at the end... Well, today was my third day (playing well over 45mins each session), and I FINALLY got the sound! It was like that 'train' was a part of me!! Crazy! I've always wanted to learn an instrument, and that was my first experience/taste of what it can feel like to be a part of music like that! Really, thanks for posting all you have! :)

[shmico]

im kinda just learning and i can tell this guy is no pro

[oosafreekin]

Sounds more like a wanna-be harp player than a train. I feel bad for you.

[SaltwaterBand]

lol his face gets so red

[Alorse10]

@SaltwaterBand lol it is a little red-er afterwards but its actually pretty red throughout the whole video. it still sounded awesome though

[pomcq]

It's probably chromatic then

[GPTgroup]

i found my harmonica..

its a parrot and has 16 pairs of holes..

makes me confused :s

[godmanisking]

need to buy a real harmonica, i just have a schylling piece of crap toy.....

[gibsonlover12]

same here schyllling sucks

[Geek92]

yup i got one too lol. mine is the green clear plastic one with metal top and bottom. it really sucks but i like the sound

[axe600]

Thanks a lot man!! I done be learnin'!

Redshaw

[crazyghetto978818]

what key is that in?!?

[kfijatass]

Most likely a C.

[OneWayTrip1]

He Plays on a D Key Harmonica

[iversonneversleeps]

huh I'm just trying to play it. diiifficult

[emoxmasochist]

nice. my harmonica is the same. hohner.

[Deathcoptertrick]

I love his dedication; he keeps playing despite his obviuos agonizing pain.

[hilouette]

substilles french its possible ?

[BluesmanharpVintage]

Sos malísimo tocando armonica, ladrón anda a aprender y despues recien enseñá!!!

[JoKeRike]

Nice be better if it was Blackfoot's version.

[GrandmasFruitdrops]

Hey im kinda new at this, and my english isent perfect... so i just wanted to know is: When you make the train go "That thing where your breathing in and out." Just want to know, is that all 4 tones at the same time?? Thank you ^^

[ashtongrist]

The harmonica is the musical choice of the anti-social.

[pazzmanmusic]

you are the musical choice of the anti-social

[TrueMusou]

What instrument isn't if you wanna get good at?

[dropthumb2]

Drafter 3,

He's using a 'D' harmonica. I agree, people should tell the student/listener what key they are using.

If you're serious about harmonica, buy several keys. A,B#,C,D,G,E for starters. That will allow you to attempt to play along with so much that you hear. Plus it's fun and useful to have several keys.

Have fun!

[deth2zod]

why the hell would you buy a b# and c...did you mean Bb...thats alot more common...right......;)

[dropthumb2]

I just wanted to make sure you all were paying attention.

What's with the 'in your face' belligerence, Deth2zod? Lighten up. This is just a harmonica site.

[P00king]

what did you smoke man? xD

[Drafter3]

why does barely any of you people on youtube tell which Note Harmonica your all useing. I dont get it. At least if i knew what kind of harmonica you were all useing, id know wether or not i should be sounding like this.

[aaronkoul]

yes ur right'

[banjobarry]

he gets increasingly redder lol

[mulletor5000]

haha yeah

[emocacac]

hi everyone,well im a beginner with the harmónica and i have one but its a very bad harmonica,please tell me which harmonica can i buy,a good harmonica please.

[solracforlife]

im going to buy one soon and i hear that a hohner special 20 is good. im getting that one it costs 20 dollars

[davidbassplanc]

its a Lee Oskar D harmonica. I used a Hohner blues harp D harmonica and got the similar sound.

[beatgoof]

looks like a lee oscar

[Ziggy2k]

what harp are you using?

[Bugsy0001]

Thank you

[bugandflea]

Excellent!

[Splooshiba]

dear god, how red is his face?

[rkgrau]

ZOMG! LOLZ!

[richardflo2flo]

didnt realise you could do so much with diatonic.

[riecket13]

airstreamed, i think it's just in c

also does anyone know how he gets the sound at the end of the first 'choogle' 4 2 draws fully bent, and then it kinda fades up and vibrattos. anyone? is it an overblow? I have no idea. please help cause it sounds awesome

[washingtonetos]

muito bom ajuda bastante!!!

[honeydawg]

riecket... not an overblow; he's just scooping the 2 draw full bend up to the natural 2 draw. It is a cool sound.

For what it's worth, you don't usually use overblows on the lower octave; they're most effective in the middle octave to get those missing blue notes.

[Geek92]

this really helps thanks

[ZuzkaSG]

brilliant. it hepls me:)

[airstreamed]

im new to the harp but enjoying your tuition...is it an A your using

[UnderCrimsonSkies]

i dont get it..

[blueharp]

What key harp are you using?

[belleray2]

thanks Jim,need all the help i can get to master the harmonica.

[Dionysis62]

Great teaching!!!

[Scottthebot]

Jim Luke you rock!

[silentshouting]

holy mother of god hes red!

[grjls]

yey this excercise works!!

[jbearden]

share that knowledge! SHARE! give it up! hell, i'm doing it. made a lot of good friends!

[ChrisBenoitFan]

sweet sound!