Harmonica Lesson: Clean Clear Single Notes

[nightmarenet]

Whats a good type/key of Harmonica to buy if you wanna play just a lot of folk rock like the song Heart of Gold by Neil Young?

[Dedicednu]

I'd rather hear it takes time than that I just plain suck lol I'm just proud of the fact that I almost have Amazing Grace and When the Saints Go Marching In memorized. My goal is to just not break eardrums by the time camping weather comes around.

Great video and thanks for posting!! :)

[gamer12902]

wow your tecneque is so amazing i have been waiting video for like a week and i bought a harmonica my self and i finally get a much clear note after the video thank you!! i totally recommend him !! awesome video

[jthomison]

Great great video man!!! It's so awesome that you take the time to make and post these!!!!

[mathiosdad]

dude you're sick i just bought my harmonica and without u id b lost. only thing is id love to see a simple tutorial video about playing the blues step by step!

[gbsstone]

saludos de tijuana mexico

[666abee]

man.. i just bough a harmonica..

thanks for lessons you give.. :)

[12gagedan]

Try harder, for a significant amount of time.

[leif573]

@12gagedan How long do you think is significant? I can play the first and last notes (holes) clean the 1 and 10 holes..how long shoud it take..i thought after a few minutes..

[TruthHasComeTHC]

I'VE BEEN TRYING THIS FOR 30 MINUTES AND I JUST CANT GET IT!

[ktnator1]

I have a B harp instead of a C, will that be a problem?

[12gagedan]

@ktnator1 you will be able to learn all the basics. However, since most blues players default to "second position" or "cross harp" you'll find it challenging to find people or recordings to play along with. In cross harp, B harmonica plays over music in F# (a rare key indeed)

[CRAIGARRR]

Inspirational.. Nice tutorial! Thanks

[bugo121]

im using u blockin to teach myself to play the harmonica so thank you for showing it in this

video :)

[Mkbevington]

Thanks!

[marterburn]

BIG gap filled on how to get one step farther...

Thanks bro!

[Dukethecrazy419]

Man I finally got my C harp tuned to where its sounding just as sweet as yours minus the skill on my end but I'm going to keep practicing! Thanks so much Dan! I really appreciate the video's!

[12gagedan]

@Dukethecrazy419 cooll! Thanks for the nice comment.

[codybarnhartmusic]

"this is going to be a short video" hehehe

[12gagedan]

@codybarnhartmusic It's amazing how seemingly simple subjects can warrant a lot of discussion. I tend to over-do it a bit, but you'd be surprised how many folks miss the fundamentals of this instrument.

[forbushcrew]

Hey Dan, this is Dan :). Well, I've been wanting to learn harmonica for some time now, and finally purchased a Hohner special 20 (C). Kinda scared for how long it's gonna take me to be able to only play clear, single notes, but I'm willing to be patient and PRACTICE. Keep the instructional video's coming, as I'm learning from YOU. Thanks so much, and look forward to viewing more videos.

[scrubbler23]

dan sliding around on my harmonica keeps plucking my mustache hairs out man it hurts like hell!

[2100abhishek]

hey Dan sir..i got my harmonica on the last christmas,n i am listening to u frm december...now i am able to play clean single notes,on the inhale and on exhale,bt i am having trouble with playing the different chords on my honher goldn melody of c scale....how can i improve my playing?? i mean, i want to play like you,the way you have fun with notes,the way you improvise.. n yes,your videos are really awesome... :D

[shaunWOH]

Sorry Dan : )))) And thank's for all your instructional video's. Take my hat of to you, giving free advice. And to other's who do it. And Jon is fantastic, along with his band camp, wish I was in the States. And at 35 don't worry, your still a baby : ) lol

[alexguiry1]

your my motivational harmonica speaker

[twocanplayatthat]

Great video Dan! I have only been playing for two years, the one thing I always remember is to have fun! Relax and enjoy the music, everything else follows.

[jtdbs]

Dan I am so greatfull that you made another beginer video.I hope you make some more :D

[shaunWOH]

Hi Dave,well done, take my hat of to all you guys who give free lessons

[12gagedan]

@shaunWOH  Who's Dave?

[apxitektop1985]

Is it a big river major of C ?

[12gagedan]

@apxitektop1985 I used a special 20 in this video.

[apxitektop1985]

@12gagedan thx

[meradu2]

Hello Dan you are right on the money. Unless you have natural music talent ,you have to practice ,glad to see more from you.

Radu

[dmanbiker]

Thanks, your tutorials are great. I play trumpet and pennywhistle well and since my dad has a harmonica set, I decided to start learning harmonica and your tutorials help a lot! It's unlike any instrument I've ever played, but totally awesome.

[12gagedan]

@dmanbiker It's different because you have to breathe in, too.

[tagbag2]

@12gagedan by breathing in, you mean breathing in with your nose too?

[12gagedan]

@tagbag2 notes are played breathing in. Most wind instruments only go one way (breathing out)

[tagbag2]

@12gagedan oh you mean that. but the problem i have is when i do draw notes. esp on the 3rd hole draw, i tend to get a muffled sound. and i watched one of your videos regarding the problem and you demonstrated breathing in through your nose simultaneously while drawing the note. it sure works, but i have very little stamina to continue playing as too much air goes into my lungs! thanks for the comment btw ^^v

[OkieJohn1950]

Thanks for the update for beginners. I'm an old geezer who is set in his ways. I practice when I can but get frustrated. Patience is not one of my virtues. I'm going to try to make 30 minutes a day for practice, practice, practice. I know it will help. It damn sure won't hurt.

[12gagedan]

@OkieJohn1950 John, The older I get, the more difficult I find it to find practice time. I love and live this stuff, so if I have trouble. . .Somebody once told me to set my target at 5min a day. Why? Because it seems like nothing to plan for 5min. The trick, is that once you start, 5 min becomes 30. Starting is the barrier.

[75ironhead603]

Dan you are so right on the money. Unless you have that rare natural music talent that some people are just born with, we simply have to practice our ass off.

Every good harp player I’ve meet locally in the passed two years that I’ve been playing have inevitably answers me the same way.

I’ve been playing for 15-20 years. I haven’t meet ONE decent harp player that said I just started last year.

Great lesson by the way

Thanks

[12gagedan]

@75ironhead603 I've seen people make great progress in the first months. I often wonder about the idea of "talent" vs. practice and how much of either one needs. It's a curious philosophical exercise to be sure. Talent or no, practice/work will lead to improvement. It's tough to make a lesson whose main thesis is that "it just takes time" but that's the only answer I know to this problem.

[ravl1010]

Thanks for the video, glad to see you're back on the net :)

You are definitely right, I thought playing the harmonica would be a piece of cake when I started in November last year but despite its unassuming appearance, the harmonica is a full-blown musical instrument.

It's been 5 months and I am finally getting single notes and getting the muscle memory to find the right holes and I am working on bends. It's been great fun and I think this will be a lifelong hobbie :)

[Handlevognable]

Hi, I bought my new harmonica after deciding to pick up music again from when I was younger, I am making some progress, but I keep breathing abit unnatural while I am practising on this slow song

5 -6 -7 7 -7 -6 6 5 4 -4 5 -5 5 -4 4 -4 5 -4 4 -3

5 -6 -7 7 -7 -6 6 5 4 -4 5 -5 5 -4 4 -4 5 -4 4 -3

Is it normal to be taking a break to breath out while all those "breath inns" come?

Sorry if the English is abit bad by the way, regards 17 year old norwegian guy trying to learn harmonica:)

[1RAVENGANG52]

thanks dan