What's Wrong With My Harmonica? (Why Doesn't the 2 Draw on My C Harp Work?)

[WeryPowaman]

Thank you a lot! :)

I was really stressed that something is wrong with my harmonica :)

[gorkiisnear]

And what do you recommend?

[12gagedan]

@gorkiisnear Check out my harmonica buying guide videos.

[gorkiisnear]

I thought my harmonica was damaged or something. I was about to buy a new one. Mine is a new Silverstar hohner in c, is that a good brand to start playing?

[mmacritics]

Glad you took the time to make this video!.



[hazzzzzzzzzzar]

just bought a special 20 in C but one of the screws is loose is it supposed to be?

[peachypika]

josh is cute

[chrisdavies23359]

how about a lesson on bending for beginners please, I can only bend on hole number 1

[12gagedan]

@chrisdavies23359  I have a lesson on bending. Try searching.

[chrisdavies23359]

nice one, how about a LOT more basic tutorials please. Most teachers on the net only show extreme basics and want you to pay up to 250 dollars for the rest of the course

[inneedofsomething]

You saved my life I was going to buy a new one.

[JohnnyBazooka]

Theres no problem on my C-harp. But the third hole on my G-harp sounds like this. The first two holes are difficult, but not as horrible as the 3rd hole.

Is this the same problem?

[MrDeconstructionist]

I dont think its that man. My harp played perfect but once i cleaned it, it just stop drawing man. Its not only my 2 its my 7 and 9 as well....Can it possibly be that i bent the reeds inside the harp while cleaning??

[ohadbasan]

I'm so glad I've seen this video.

I was sure my harmonica is broken.

[74alicecooper]

in mine, a suzuki bluesmaster in C, holes 2d, 3d and 6d used to sound horrible and "beep" like a distorted guitar amp. But its going away with practice. I also thought it was broke! :P

[dcalstring]

i can get all d draw notes in my harp . But i can't get f # and a flat from 2 n 3 draws respectively. So should i consider my harp ok if i can get all the unbent draw notes n practice more. Or is it my harp? Ps - harp in question is always a cheap one. Lol

[dcalstring]

hey dan! that was awsome . I have a cheap harp. But i know guitar so i'm aware of the basic layout of harp. While playin i got an a from 3 hole draw bend . But it sounds like crap. N when i tried out 2 hole draw bend i could only get an f#. No matter how hard i tried. Help me out. I love playing harp. Is it my harp or me? i don't have your mail id . Pls be kind to let me know. N i'd love it if you could make a video no bending the 2hole draw this way

[Strangetownplz]

Oh, man. I'm really glad it's not my harmonica that's the problem, but still. That note is driving me nuts. I've been trying to learn to play The St. James Infirmary Blues on my new Hohner Pro-Harp MS and that 2-draw is just giving me all kinds of trouble.

[12gagedan]

@Strangetownplz relax and breathe. relax and breathe.

[Nonstickron]

2 draw is driving me crazy.

[ZealousAnubis]

Hole 6 doesn't work on my C harmonica; makes no noise whatsoever.

[kaylashalaylaaaaa]

@ZealousAnubis i've got the same problem! although i bought mine for $3 at target in the kids toy section so... yeah hahahahaha

[ZealousAnubis]

@kaylashalaylaaaaa Ha ha, I got mine from this computer game based on trying to find the harmonica in the game; the real harmonica came with the case...got it a few years ago so maybe it just got old(?)

[Saxohouse]

hi dan. Im having that problem on hole 1 draw. Almost the same sound as at 2:28. I have no problem with hole 2 so could it be broken?

[12gagedan]

@Saxohouse It's possible, depending on the condition of the harmonica. If it's at all new, then it's probably not broken. Sometimes pocket lint or gunk gets in between the reed and the reed slot. It's always a good idea to check that the reed isn't stopped up. Otherwise, you have to just breathe, and try to increase/decrease air pressure. It's difficult to troubleshoot a harmonica over the internet. . .

[Saxohouse]

@12gagedan yes it's almost new i just havent played on it a lot since i bought it. all notes sound ok but the draw 1 is so flat and does not even sound like music. its marine band deluxe. i will check if something is stopping the reed and we'll see. tnx

[12gagedan]

@Saxohouse That harp should be great out of the box. What key?

[Saxohouse]

@12gagedan its C. i kinda figured it out, seems that my hole 1 needs that special approach and not hole 2. if i suck air in all other notes they all work fine, but for hole one i gotta just breath in gently. weird

[Slears]

Dan...how tall are you?!?! In this Vid u look like a Giant..

[12gagedan]

@Slears 6'6" I am taller than average.

[Cntiede22]

bromance!

[jameslgeerling]

OK... so I've been learning blues harp for a couple of years now. Most of my harps are Hohner Blues Harp. I have one Big River (Bb) and one Marine Band (F). I can play the 2-hole draw perfectly on my C, D, E & F harps. But my G, A & Bb harps give me all sorts of problems with drawing on 1, 2 & 3 holes as well as bending. I even try your suggestion of using my fingers to block the other holes and it still doesn't work. What up?

[jameslgeerling]

@jameslgeerling - Correction: There is nothing wrong with my 1-hold draw on those harps. Only 2 and 3 holes.

[12gagedan]

@jameslgeerling lower key harps need more air to fire the reed. Can you open your mouth and breathe in on holes 1-4 and get the whole chord? I'm thinking about starting some skype lessons. If I do, this sort of thing would be much easier to discuss than by email.

[bookworm1818]

It worked!! You've saved me from a world of 2 hole confusion and frustration; Thanks, Dan!!

[krazygyal]

lol i could not draw in hole 1 and 2 but i when i tried to draw more gently it worked lolll n i had opened the harmonica twi already to see if something was broken in it

[heebedee]

I cant thank you enough for posting this video your videos are actually relavent to someone learning the harmonica



[SlackBabbathTs]

Ok, now play this!

[Rockers1957]

must be your twin brother - DAN!!

[Rockers1957]

Dave having WAY too much fun yet again!!

When ya coming to Boston, man??

[12gagedan]

@Rockers1957 Who's dave?

[guitargasim101]

Hey any feedback would be greatly appreciated, my harmonica isn't like every other harmonica i see on any instructional video. Its got like 16 small holes, no spacing between them. Could you give me some info on what type it is so i can search for videos relating to my kind of harmonica? Thanks for your time

[ravl1010]

thanks for all your videos, they are very helpful for beginners. i haven't had a problem drawing on the 2, but since a couple of days ago i get no sound from the 6 draw by drawing as i usually do. the only way i get it to sound if is i cover the 5 & 7 holes with my fingers and draw hard. i have heard/read about blowing out reeds, and i was hoping you could explain what that exactly if this is the case, or if my harmonica is dirty or if it's just technique. I have a Hohner Old Standby in key of C

[12gagedan]

@ravl1010 very difficult to diagnose via the internet. you can open up the harmonica and look at the reed in question. Sometimes a bit of gunk gets in the reed slot. Sometimes the reed is moved so the gap is too big. If the reed is sticking way up, that's a gap issue. Again, this sort of thing is very difficult for me to help with through email.

[LovelyObscurities]

Thank you for clearing the issue with all my harmonicas. I have a Lee Oskar, a Special 20, a Pro Harp MS and they all have trouble with the 2 and sometimes 3 hole draw. However, I still feel the trouble is with the HARMONICA even though you can show us how to get around it. I can't believe that there is not ONE manufacturer out there who can solve this problem and make a harmonica with a number 2 (or 3) draw hole that is consistent with all the other holes. This IS 2010 I think...

[12gagedan]

@LovelyObscurities Better harmonicas will be easier to play all notes, however there are natural differences between notes. The reed length determines the pitch, and your airflow moves the reed. Just as the lower pitched strings on a guitar feel different than the high pitch strings, so do the reeds of a harmonica differ. The 2D on a C harp is notorious for being tough to play, but that's what a little bit of pracitce and technique are for. Just have to relax and practice.

[ElFoz99]

phew, that's saved me looking a right idiot taking my "broken" harmonica back to the shop. Thank you so much. Practice starts here, that 2 draw is a bugger but am getting there.

[DesiFern]

Great video. I normally play a C harp - and I haven't had any problems, but I just picked up a new G harp, and I'm having a hard time with the 3 blow, draw is easy. I have to softly exhale to get it to make noise, any pushed blowing is pretty much silent - is that normal?

[12gagedan]

@DesiFern the gap may be too tight. Reed gap can vary from reed to reed, or from harp to harp. Gap is the distance the end of the reed sticks out of the reed plate. There's a really good gapping video for beginners on youtube somewhere. It's worth watching.

[DesiFern]

Great video. I normally play a C harp - and I haven't had any problems, but I just picked up a new G harp, and I'm having a hard time with the 3 blow, draw is easy. I have to softly exhale to get it to make noise, any pushed blowing is pretty much silent - is that normal?

[jalexrosh]

Wow Dan youre a real big help and inspiration for us beginners!

[1RAVENGANG52]

hi dan thanks for all the vid's it help me out a lot keep up the good work

[esox2525]

I was in my basement at 1 am last night with my harp apart trying to figure out why the damn 2 hole draw wasn't working. THANKS for this vid and all your others. You're teaching us all a lot!

[12gagedan]

@esox2525 That's awesome. I made this video for folks in that situation. I'm so glad it helped.

[casetopia]

You just fixed my biggest problem in seconds. I have a C and a G harmonica. on my C 2 didn't seem to work and on my G 3 didn't seem to work. Now i can play them both.

[w1nzard]

hey i love ur vids !

nice job

but can u recommend a good harmonica

that posibly isnt too pricy ?

[ishouldplayzelda]

"the harmonica works, he's broken" haha, you kidder

[Emilhiggsmass9]

Your home looks great! :) :) :)

[12gagedan]

@Emilhiggsmass9 Too bad it's gone. Moved out two weeks ago. 

[lazzapie]

can the same thing happen on a 3 draw of a G harmonica? because thats what mines like

[12gagedan]

@lazzapie probably. it's not so commonly noted, but some notes take some technique to play. Just try to relax and feel the air going through the harmonica. huffing and puffing won't do you any good. YOu have to breathe.

[caosato]

HELP! you are gonna b my teacher LOL but i dont know the order of your videos.. i mean the order i should follow... . so.. any idea of how i can see your videos? i mean from easy to difficult

(sorry for my english.. thank u so much for the videos and ur time)

[noonecetm]

i have some probs with my 1draw. Same thing here?

[12gagedan]

@noonecetm probably. most new harmonicas work. old harmonicas are another story. reeds can fail.

[Pameltje]

Is it true that every key of harmonica has it's own "hard-hole"? ;) cause I think I have the same problem with the A-key harmonica on the third hole.

[bywayofmedia]

thank you!

[peacefulcali]

I love you guys!!

-Monica

[almister]

how do u do throat virbrato whilst bending it seems impossible to me any tips ?

[soloymon4]

@almister same here

[jondreauxlaing]

Haha, when i first started playing, i was convinced that my 2draw was busted, and out of tune, because it was the same note as the 3 blow. So i sat there trying to learn how to adjust it to sound properly, barely being able to play a singe note. it wasn't until researched tuning a harmonica that i learned that i was being retarded. it's too bad this video wasn't around when i started playing.

[Dohful]

Thank for the tip, i thought there was something wrong with my harp, but now i know.

[12gagedan]

@Dohful It's so common, I'm surprised this video wasn't made by someone else. Just keep trying, and relax. Once you get the 2Draw, it will seem perfectly natural.

[hockeylvn]

hey dan where you moving? r u still in san diego?



[12gagedan]

@hockeylvn near Durham, NC.

[75ironhead603]

Love it Dan!! what a great light hearted video. Very funny and informative.

Are you moving to the East coast? I lived in San Diego (Ocean Beach) for a bit back in the 80’s didn’t much care for it myself.

Thanks for video

Todd

[12gagedan]

@75ironhead603 moving to North Carolina. Much cheaper. I enjoyed San Diego, but not enough to live here forever.

[grappler321]

LOL

[DanRidgeway]

I think Josh is a better sideman than me. Too funny, Dan!

[12gagedan]

@DanRidgeway he's a ham. perfect for this vid.

[joshtoschi]

Wow that guy on the left sure is CUTE! Also youre a great harmonica player Dan. thanks for the info

[zev007]

thanks for making this vid, i haven't been able to figure this out!

[DesertRatDan]

Kids, wait 'til you're 21! Way to throw a little responsible PSA in there Dan. You're a good man.

[Tsutsomu]

Great lesson. I like a lot the really cool presentation.

Friendly :

STeph.

[YouAreBewitched]

I can play every draw but the 4'th one, sometimes I can but sometimes it sounds like in this vid, Thank you though this is really helpful

[questmaster9]

haha funny and helpfull, youtube needs more vids like this one

[DekenjaEntertainment]

holy cow thankyou so much! i never thought to looking into why my harmonica does this, i didnt think it was a technique... SO GLAD I SUBSCRIBED THANKYOU!