How to play harmonica: Bending Notes

[DantehMan]

I do it just like all videos like these explain but my harmonica still won't change notes. Is it possible it's broken? I'm using a fairly old harmonica my grandfather bought and never used.

[JonPaul92]

i have been trying for weeks to learn how to bend notes... i think you need to have played a harmonica for a while to break it in before the notes will bend... i've done everything i can to make it work and so far... 1 will bend with ease... 2 is getting there 3 is impossible and 4 bends if i tilt the harmonica down on my lip... but i heard that's "cheating" lol... eventually i'll get it though. And i have a Hohner Big River Harp. Key of C

[JonPaul92]

i have been trying for weeks to learn how to bend notes... i think you need to have played a harmonica for a while to break it in before the notes will bend... i've done everything i can to make it work and so far... 1 will bend with ease... 2 is getting there 3 is impossible and 4 bends if i tilt the harmonica down on my lip... but i heard that's "cheating" lol... eventually i'll get it though.

[BasSOAD]

Everyones saying they learn bending when they watch a video tutorial... ive watched all of them in youtube but it just downt work -.- I it because of my hohner bluesband harmonica?

[thekhalil366]

@BasSOAD got the same harmonica and is not workin either lol..... i dont think is the harmonica but it might b harder or i dont know....if u find an answer let me know lol

[MetalMexican13]

I just started playing harmonica like 3 hours ago. ive been trying to learn to bend really bad, i watched this and bended my note on my first try :D

[MicH1g4N]

Great tutorial man thanks!

[999Twilightfan666]

i have this really crapy harmonica it's a make called golden cup and no matter what i do it always sounds crappy do you have any suggestions on what make to get

[gregorisgod]

I am finding note bending so hard, I wish it was as easy as on guitar.

Great videos mate.

[dvdsmlprstylr]

Thanks, I've realized that I've always been able to do this! It's funny how the easiest thing to play on the didgeridoo is seen difficult in harmonica playing.

ur a funny guy! keep makin more vids. Think I might subscribe

[bamfhannah]

"UM" x5.

[pazzmanmusic]

@bamfhannah is that a running comment of how many "um"'s I said at 1 part... haa...

[sk8kyd]

lmao this guy doesnt eve try to be funny, " im not wearing nay pants" lmao. i love not wearing pants, just wacking out without pants

[gustavwilhelmsson]

hello, im just started playing the harmonica.. i think i've learned how to bend when im inhaling but i keep making this weird sound in my mouth like a wah-wah sound is it suppose to be like that? it's very hard for me to bend when im blowing to..

[loozah]

your hilarious...techmologies!!

[StairwayToHevin]

thankyou!

[camaradarojo]

hey! thanx a lot, i was having a hard time with the bending notes but with the whistle example its all a little bit easier, thanx again man

[LeftForBlues]

Worked excelent for me, thanks!

[RemingtonLMarkham]

I love your videos! They are really helping me learn! I've been reading how to bend notes in a lot of places, I still can't do it.

Am I supposed to be modifying the amount of air (blow hard, blow softly, inhale, etc.)

Or am I supposed to be moving my lips and tongue with a steady stream of air?

[cire2457]

Try clucking your tongue while inhaling on the harp and comparing the sound to when you don't cluck. You might understand then.

[garowice]

I cant whistle so i don't get a shit

[Velcrix]

Im not wearing pants either, lets shit on our selves.

[JansenHalim]

I got Hohner Blues Harp, the store guy told me that it would gave me the bending, but it sound different... wonder if I got the right harmonica to play the blues music...?or may be I didnt get it?

[bemolable]

yes, it`s perfect for blues. you could check people who have Hohners Blues Harp on youtube if you want.

[minion882004]

man you are good thanks

[WarrenCain]

So THATS how you do it! I was seriously like physically bending the harmonica hahaha

[Shifty3651727]

@WarrenCain of course! that's why it's called "bending".. don't you find?

[Toveij]

I did it! Thanks for the help!

[MeandmyAndTheGuitar]

WAAAAAAAAAAAA x'( I CAN'T DO IT

please somebody help me

i got one for my birthday and i want to learn the basics at least...

[pricemonkee]

@MeandmyAndTheGuitar

drop ur jaw

[patton0008]

i have a weird harmonica it has like 16 holes split in two how do i play that?

[Scrial]

You have a Tremolo modell. That much can i say^^

[UnseenSpirit]

I have just ordered a hohner marine band c. I havent played any instruments before but I shall be looking at this. thanks

[kanekewl14]

hey im gona post a vid repsonce to see if its im doing it right

[halo2norden]

It took me 2 DAYS to do it!!! I got my first harmonica yesterday and now i can bend the notes! :)

[MrJeekz]

Wow,you are an amazing person.

[redsoxfan245]

hey man,

i have learned from your videos i am just dying to learn the harmonica... but i have a question somtimes spit gets in and makes it sound all werid.. its a harmonica submersible?

- thakns

[pazzmanmusic]

not really... but im not the best on that subject.. i always make sure to kinda shake/knock mine out when im done though .. and wipe it

[ronniedavid]

hey uumm.. this is kinda weird saying this publically.. but what if you don't know how to whistle.. i'm the only one in my family that can't soo uumm.. yeah.. it'd be great if you could teach me how to bend notes despite my inability to whistle.. thanks a lot.. your vids are awesome :)

[thegamerman7]

Hasnt anyone ever showed you how to wistle? Or do you have a more complicated prblem?

[flamincow12]

thanks man, now I know how to bend!

[pazzmanmusic]

soooo bendy!!

[rajgoulab]

it works

[pazzmanmusic]

hooorrray!!

[iJason111]

Been wondering how to bend for ages, and have watched loads and loads of video's thankyou very much for this, you simplify it just enough for beginners :)

Thanks.

[pazzmanmusic]

@iJason111 thanks soo much man..glad to share the loveof music with ya

[iJason111]

And you reply to posts!

Amazing, not many people do that hahaa

One question, do you know anywhere i can get a simple beat for 12 bar blues that i can just play along to at my own pace?

[pazzmanmusic]

sorry man... im not sure where to get something exactly like that...

[MyTimone]

I still cant do it it very hard any other tipes

[Tariqalhajri]

Thanks man i got the inhale bending pretty good, on exhale needs a little work. I already learnt so much of you and i ve been playing for 4 days. I just made up wonderwall by oasis on the harp last night.

[mattssonman]

Hi again. last time was a week ago and iv been playing the harmonica now for just about two weeks and you are a very pedagogy teacher. can i send you my progress and get some feedback man?

[pazzmanmusic]

Sure... post as video response here.

[lipamil]

is it posible to bend if you are using a u blocking

[formerJIM33333]

I think I'm gonna pass out from this, but this is helping with bending. Great tip from RoaMaoR, also. That helped a lot!

[JayRocFly]

can you only bend when you draw in air or can you bend blowing too??

[timmins1994]

its funny how he wants to talk about bending when he has got no pants on

wheeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy lol

[kanekewl14]

hey man i just started playing the harp and u have helped me so much thanks alot for starts and when bending noted when u say to make like an E with ur mouth how lol? im really trying to work with it and it is dificult but i just started, but im learning fast.

[frogmonster8]

damn i cant whistle too lol :/

[Alimaleo]

lol then look up a video on how to whistle. XD

[aombrad]

I cant Whistle. Does this mean i won't be able to bend ???

[RoaMaoR]

how the hell did you whistle inward?

[pazzmanmusic]

Same way as outward I think??

[RoaMaoR]

hey i kinda figured it out, you don't really need to whistle as much as just change the airflow from like a smooth stream to a like RAWR I'm really sucking in air kinda thing and your tongue sorta just goes up. Thanks for the tips though!

[luis26scorpion]

wat if i cant whistle???

[WalgreensWubby]

This is great! Thanks!

[gettoballer12]

OH SHIT! YOUR RIGHT!!

[randommfilms]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

[guitarraycanciones]

YOU´RE JUST GREAT.

[nobodyanybodyknows]

I got a question,

Im a beginner, well lower then beginner i dont know anything about harmonicas, but i want to learn so i want to ask why doesn't my cheap harmonica sound anything close to yours ? :D

It might be a stupid question to you but i would like to know..

[intolerence]

Probably in a different key

[aslak78]

It could be that your harmonica is a different key than pazzman is using. Pazzman is using a harmonica in the key of C

I hope it could be a helpful fact also for others on this site

[ACE33338]

you rock

[InBy9OutBy5]

The reason why you caught a cold is because you don't wear pants.

[Salthewelshgirl]

You get a cold from infections. Being cold or being in the rain doesn't make you catch a cold. Having a cold nose can open your sinouses to being more suseptable to a cold, however.

[totalmalfunction]

true, but when you are cold your immunity drops

[leozingy]

"I'm not wearing any pants... and I'm going to try and teach you about bending notes." Ok, you've got my attention.

[Memoryscreen]

curious huh?

[pazzmanmusic]

I suppose I could ask you the same thing?

If the chainsaw is imaginary, why mention it?

[Kays3r]

Great, I don't even know how to whistle....

[BeeeAitchPeee]

Yes.... there`s a dash of the Chevy Chase ..how unfortunate, as the only amusing line he used in National Lampoon`s Vacation was the german doorstep scene.. "I want sex"

[pazzmanmusic]

haha... i get this comparison all the time! I like his earlier work, like "land shark" and caddy shack, but think he's pretty funny, though some.. less then stellar films

[krebzy]

i love you

[Lundvalnaden]

you look like CHEVY CHASE !!! HAHA i love him !

[gregorisgod]

Good video, but I'm really struggling with this.

If only it was as easy as it is in guitar. =)

Cheers for the video, I'll be watching it a lot.

[zachdhodge09]

hey guys try just making a whistleing pose with your lips then push ur toung back and fourth. then blow and do it at the same time. make sure you tighten up your tounge and push it bacvk and fouth. it should help a little

[theonlydanzig2000]

i'm straining all my face muscles pretty hard while attempting this. should i be relaxed?

[theonlydanzig2000]

i got my first harp set yesterday and i've been practicing bending for about 4 hours and i'm beating myself up already. i feel like this should be easy

[LiftedElephant]

yeah...im with callmeE209...i cant wistle either...lol...wat den?

[CallMeE209]

what if you can't whisle?

[Hellozan11]

Thanks man!

[chrisbear08]

woo hoo going commando great harp playing

[RoseKatana]

Hey I play a 12 hole chromonica .. . could you do a video for that please? . . .and I can't whistle, lol. But i do think i've got the bending down to a point. I play trumpet too, so that's helping.

[pazzmanmusic]

Sorry Rose.. I dont teach on that one really.. dont knows it all that well... check out the harp group

[daveweaverjr1]

funny yet educational keep em coming

[Axmanjacks]

Hey man, Im learnin the harp. I only just started learning. But each video tutorial I go to who teachers a different style of learning has done well.... . I still can't get the bending.

What am I doing wrong?

[pazzmanmusic]

what kind of harmonica do you have?

[Axmanjacks]

I bought one of those 12 piece harp sets for $60 so there pretty cheap I imagine around 5 dollars . But heck they sound OK. The make is Jambone by AXL not sure if you've herd of that make b4? I also have a Hohner Marine band in E.

Cheers

[Marco81MX]

would paying with no pants make me a better player too? o.O

[pazzmanmusic]

absolutely!

[shoawkahn]

sick no pants

[DrRoryMagowan]

"Hello again Youtube i'm back i have a little bit of a cold i'm not wearing any pants but you can't see that so that's ok" another Classic line

[zachdhodge09]

lol well it was litterall like 4 minutes after i posted that last comment i got it down so THANK YOU SOO MUCH

[zachdhodge09]

it seems like bending the notes is the hardest part of playin harmonica for me. any more tips? i feel like im getting close

[Deadcat323]

I have the same exact harmonica. 5$ at Duane Reade lol

[dreiRiffs]

thank you so much

[pazzmanmusic]

so much welcome! glad to help!

[kazarific15994]

i cant whistle.. :(

[pazzmanmusic]

no worries.. just fake it till you make it

[slipknoter01]

do you have to draw with more intensity because i can do the 4 hole draw bend no problem but when i come to the lower notes like the 2 hole draw my whistling becomes weaker

[pazzmanmusic]

more intensity!!

[CalebTheGuitarist]

PAZZMAN! what is a good harmonica? like brand wise??? i wanna get one, i have no knowledge of them though...

[discgolfjockey]

nice i have played for 10 years and i still have some stuff to learn from you .

[pazzmanmusic]

everyone can learn from everyone i think

[Ceh913]

i cant whistle...

[em3100]

wow i suck i cant get this at all :(

[pazzmanmusic]

practice practice (and make sure your harp isnt cheap-o)

[FuckinGreaser]

I need a harmonica but im strapped for cash. What is a good brand and what should i be lookin at if i have around 40 bucks?

[lmfaoatnubz]

try honer(i dont know if spelled it right) but they do have pretty good quality type harps, and they dont cost much i just bought one for $25 usd yesterday.

[FuckinGreaser]

Thanks

[timothyo1963]

you are the best mate. can you please send me the tabs played in blues style not startin on blow 8 startin on the lower draw notes and what harmonica do i play it on. trust me mate you are the best and your the only decent teacher on the internet and your down to earth and i can see u know what your talkin about.

[joshyboy152]

As if who would buy a $5 harmonica when you can buy a hohner for $20 USD or $40 - 55 Australian Dollars.. I got mine for $40 which is a bargain.

[lukdregon]

thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!!

[oskarfeldkatze]

I like the stuff you do. You have got some easy stuff still there 5's bridges and 3lines. I just have got the blues down like it cool. I have got a Hohner A. It's alright???

[kuzcoandahalf]

when you are bending a note how do you keep from blowing other notes which you are covering up with your tongue?

[titto3d]

Hey friend: that is most comprehensive that I see. Super- teacher

[jmhendrix101]

your pretty.

[Edvachien]

Nice video; I've read millions of tips saying that "bending is so hard to explain, you can't teach it, you just gotta toy with it till you figure it out"; but when I first got my first harp, the book it came with explained it as making the E and U sounds while playing, and I've never had trouble.

[gskolbjorn]

Ah. My two draw isn't working, but I got it on the 4 draw. Then again, my harmonica isn't so fantastic, so yeah. I feel really good though, now that I got that bend on the 4 draw. :-)

[gimmenit]

I was watching your videos last night, and I really like your instruction. Can you play the harmonica part of Led Zeppelin's When the Levy Breaks? That's the most awesome sound from a harmonica I've ever heard!

[MrsMrsBecky]

didnt work :(

[pazzmanmusic]

try again?

[fiddycent2]

are you supposed to play with your toungue in a hot dog bun shape?

[pazzmanmusic]

kinda... like en "E" sound and then an "O" sound.. the O sound which is the bend is not too hot-dog-ie

[madiisaysmeow]

i love you. you're my best friend.

[pazzmanmusic]

woo hoo! I have a friend!

[pazzmanmusic]

you suck!

[laika1100]

é um bom professor

[jollywood999]

Thanks for this!

(you look a bit like Chevy Chase xD)

[Sofiaforfucksake]

höhö dude, you rock!

[jajajavih]

hahahaha

[anbuninja17]

umm I can't whistle T__T

[bilos1993]

There's more here than meets the eye... like your pants...

[surrealIdeal]

how can you play the difference between the long (lower) bends and the half (higher) notes?

[Knoxvicious]

Ummm...what if you can't whistle? :(

[varfare]

same question here

[skinnerc06]

thats when u kill urself

[dsxx0]

what make of harmonica do you have?

x

[metaldetectingguy]

TNX a lot. Very helpful.

[Serouns]

Thank you for that explanation.....just started today.....you were a very big help!!!

[joshidkwut]

cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooooooooool

[gringolazlo]

Can you bend on the blow?

[svaldes88]

yes, but only in the 7 to 10 holes

[yani099]

do u have 2 know how 2 wistle 2 play?

[Zeehta]

Wah, it's impossible!!! :D

[xxxLovexAndxDeathxxx]

but i can't whistle!

[steadybeau]

I don't think you have to actually whistle. You just have to go through some of the motions of the blowing. I am sure that people who are unable to whistle can play this.

[slctdmbntwrx]

UHM!

[jdbedient]

pants hhhhaaa heh eh

[Gigglesnurf]

what would be the average price on a decent harmonica? I just have an old hohner that I got when I was like 8 (im 14 now) and I feel like learning to play it. To give you an idea of how cheap it is... it says pocket pal on the top, lol

[thebends2554]

you can get decent hohners for about 20-30 dollars. i have a hohner pro harp ms that i bought for like 25 and it doesnt sound too bad especially if your just starting

[viniciusxisz]

nice vid. sorry to be asking questions here, but i want to know what's the harmonica you're using in this vid. I have a bluesband hohner international (C) and i'm following your instructions to the blues and to bend the note and it doesn't sounds like yours. thx again

[Marzuk665]

Is it possible to do it with the blowing to?

Because I made it only with the... draw :S

Wow.. This is really hard to do it liek you do =\

BTW -

I really like your videos, I just started to learn how to play, and your videos are my only reall teachers.

[pazzmanmusic]

there is something you can do when blowing.. kinda like a little bend.. but its really mostly on the draw... there is something called overblowing which I am not very familiar with, and that is like a fancy bend while blowing... kinda tricky from what I hear.

[Marzuk665]

Well.. Thanks allot =] I don't know if I'll succeed doing what you said, but for now as a beginner I think I'll be fine with what I learned =]

I wanted to ask if you have a... Website or some place with your video lessons?

As I said befor, I really like your videos, and I learned only from the so far.

[thebends2554]

only holes 7 and up bend on the blow (not counting overblowing)

[PageandPlant4Life]

it would be nice if note bending came to me as easily as whistling.

[pazzmanmusic]

all in good time... you will get to a point where they are just as hard... if you can pick up changing pitch while whistling you can pick this up

[UttAnton]

it's easier with the high blows

[pepsi343]

i don't get it :(

[farsaliotis]

Τι παπάρας είναι αυτός ρε;

Γιατί μας είπε οτι δεν φοράει παντελόνι;

[jnyceism]

make more videos. you do a great job!

[armedola84]

Mannn.. after days training, I found you and could learn in few minutes how to bend... Amazing... and u are a funny guy.... thanks again.

[shockerzzz87]

perhaps not as robust? haha. thanks for the help brah

[kitealmelo]

haha the pants joke was funny yeah

[PlayHarmonicaEasily]

haha no pants

[2020callum]

i have the smallest playable harmonica

[daniellefarrar]

gah! inward whistling! frustration!

[cordonsport6m]

that thing about whistling was a good advice! i think i'm getting there... :) thx for the vid!

[brits73]

hey i am just starting out but i have a question i have taught my self to play single notes by using the U shape tounge but i cant bend this way why?