Added: 3 years ago
From: 12gagedan
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  • This is a Great video for beginners, an Excellent way of talking somebody through the First phase, and the Video is Exactly about what the title suggests. An Excellent piece of work here, I take my hat off to You!! Carry on the good work, let's bring the harmonica to the World...

  • wow something "interesting"

  • haha yes the classic junck box where all of ower fails are geting dust haha...

    on contrary of you i am a guitar player and just got a harmonica for a present also... in fact the exact same "marine band" M.HOHNER its so awsome...

    good videos keep rockin with that harmonica dude cheers n beers

  • Marine Band's are way cool.

  • I like you. Thanks for the help. I wish someone would give me a sweet harmonica for Christmas! Guess that just gives me more reasons to make sweet harmonica blues songs.

  • you have inspired me to purchase a harmonica. no joke

  • I bought a flying eagle harmonica (really cheap) but i really don´t know what to do with it :(

  • Ill also send a Video Reponce about what it looks like ...

  • @12gagedan ... Okay i have NO CLUE what type my harmonica is and i need some help on knowing what to do .. i listened to your videos and your AMAZING when it comes to harmanicas and i was wondering if you could help me by telling me what type it is like (Blues,Country)

  • I did not put mine in the junk thing. Opened it said harmonica in the bin

  • The harmonica is probably the most overlooked instrument, its a shame more people dont play

  • I just bought a C diatonic- big river harp and a book- How to play the pocket Harmonica by peter pickow andjason shulman. I was reading the beginning on how to break in the harmonica and it said something about dunking your harmonica into a glass of liquid for 10 - 20 min from plain water to draft beer to whiskey to Vodka. They said it is a tradition and can increase volume up to 100 percent. Is this true?

  • @joheshy55 old, wood-combed harmonicas were known to swell when soaked in water. For a short time, they'd for a better seal to the reed plates, and the sound was good. However, soon after the soaking, the comb dried out and shrank, making it worse than before the process was started. Soaking is generally frowned upon in modern circles. It doesn't matter, though, because you have a plastic combed harmonica. Even if the old way was right, soaking would do nothing for yours.

  • Hey I just got a harmonica from my grandparents that they have had since my dad who is 45 was a baby. it has 48 holes. 2 up and 24 across. can you tell me how to play that kind of harmonica.

  • What do you think of the Hohner Golden Melody? looks like a comfortable harp to play.

  • @journeyquest1 they're cool, but not for me. They are tuned to make more accurate single notes, and the chords suffer as a result. As a blues guy, I like the chords to sound good.

  • @12gagedan Ya, i like blues also. I ordered a special 20 in key of C. The GM looks like it has a lip that curves over the comb. Not sure if that is a problem? The suzuki promaster hammond looks nice, also. It has phospher bronze reed. I use bronze strings on my acoustic guitars and they sound warmer than the 80/20 brass.

  • @journeyquest1 I've never tried the suzuki. Some claim that Hohner's reeds are the secret to their success (their specific alloy). Many folks seem to like the Manji and the promaster. Next harp you get, try one of them out, maybe.

  • i would like to buy a harmonica i am from greece and i don t know nothing about harmonica so which harmonica you think is the best for an amateur like me ????

    and how many holes should this harmonica have???? my first harmonica had 16 holes and it was very difficult to handle for an amateur like me

  • @mrsisse13 Depends on what kind of music. If you're into Rock, Folk, Blues, Country, then a 10-hole diatonic is going to be most common. Any type that costs more than $15 should be a good starting point. Hohner, Seydel, Bushman, Suzuki, Herring, Huang are all brands you might come across.

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  • hahaha i have a guitar and a toy harmonica {that i bought at walmart for 2.50}...but now im looking into getting an actual harmonica, its really fun. i enjoy playing the guitar but its a guitar and i cant always take it with me.

  • Hi Dan, i've just bought suzuki harmonica major 5 metal - it has 5 holes in it...and i've got confused to how played it, since it is my first serious studying playing thhis stuff...would you suggest me how to play it as a beginner. Thanks i'm from Indonesia and it is nice to watch your video.

  • @ngagoda4 your harmonica is tuned the same as the middle of a regular C diatonic. So, therefore, any Tab you play from your hole "1" corresponds to hole "4" in the tab. Honestly, I'd get a 10-hole diatonic if I were you. The 5-hole is a bit of a novelty.

  • Hi I found a hohner comet harmonica in my house, it hase 20 holes and is double roled so a total of 40 holes, seems like it has a C and a G scale-

    It looks a bit odd to me and I have no clue how to play this, how come it's so different to the rest of the harmonicas on youtube?

  • @CrazyPerson03832 Those are really cool, but I know very little about octave and tremelo type harmonicas. The basics of playing any harmonica are the same (strive for single notes, holding the harmonica, breathing, not sucking. . .etc.) however, I pretty much only play and teach to the "diatonic" harmonica (commonly called "blues harps"). I can't really help much more. d.g.

  • Just finally picked up a Harmonica yesterday which I had been wanting to do for quite a while. Got myself a Hohner Marine Band in C and judging from what I've seen so far, I made an excellent choice here.

    Thanks for the video. :)

  • Hi Dan! I'm italian and i received a 32 hole harmonica and I'm a totally beginner! What do you suggest?

  • lol my brother had got a chromatic hohner harmonica once for christmas and it was in his junk drawer n i decided to take it out

  • dan, im looking to buy my first harmonica and want to get a good one in key of c $30-$50,what should i go for lee oskar or hohner or other??? thanks

  • @12gagedan i just got a harmonica for xmas. a bluesband honer international, a lower end hamonica, but needless to say, i think im in love, thanks for making these how to videos!!!! it came with the music oh when the saints go marching in... love love love it!!!!

  • I've been a Dylan fan for a while and so when I saw a five dollar harmonica at Target, I figured I'd give it a go. I blowing in and out of it but I really don't have a clue what I'm doing! It is a 16 hole diatomic. I don't even know what key it's in! I am assuming C. Sorry if you've been asked this already!

  • That's pretty much the best intro video I have seen, on Harmonica Instruction. Well done Dan. I can play ok-ish, but I wish there'd been YouTube around in the nineteen-fifties. I might not have been playing left-handed all these years!

    Thanks buddy.

    John

  • Pick it up and play it!

    Don't do what I did. That is, picked it up and played it 'upside-down'... Bass notes in my right hand.

    Now I'm stuck with that after 60 years! :)

    Nice vid. Thanks.

  • @beatles906 I've never played a 24 hole harmonica. Do you know anything more about it? If you give me info, or email me a picture of it, maybe I can get one and make a video. If you want to play folk/blues/rock, you're most likely better off with a diatonic harmonica, though.

  • @12gagedan I also got a 24 hole harmonica. It's from an estate sale and I had no idea how it even worked. It's Brazilian Gloriosa, think it's a Venetian setup, but haven't found much on the web about it. The wood comb and riveted steel cover plates makes a great sound.

    / 1 b 2 b 4 b 6 b 8 b 11 b \

    \ b 2 b 3 b 5 b 7 b 9 b 10 / b = blank hole (no sound)

    I think it's B flat scale, but note 2 is a half step, 3 is a third, and the end is 9, 11, 10. Any thoughts or advice?

  • Hi Dan, thanks for replying so quickly! I take your point that I have to WANT to practice (and I really do!) but as I am not what might be described as a typical 'Blues harpist' - I'm 52, English, living in Wales, with little or no discernible talent and no experience - then I guess the odds are against me somewhat! However, I found your videos really enjoyable and informative and Im determinined to give it a go! Thanks for the support!!!

  • @MrRobHowell You're more typical than you think. I think the secret is wanting to make music. If you can find musical examples that you love to hear, then working on playing them will drive your practice. I'm a blues guy, so working from recordings and learning the techniques were the biggest elements of my education. There is so much info (books, websites, CD's) out there for an aspiring harmonica player. Try to play what you love and you'll just do it.

  • I've watched a lot of harmonica videos lately and I'll be the first to admit, I'm a complete noob. Your videos have helped the most for me so far. Thanks a lot and keep harpin'!

  • hey man im planning on buying my first harmonica and i was wondering which you thought would be a good one to get

  • @alanpoohbear21 I think anything Hohner for more than $10 is good to start with. Big River is a good mid-priced harp.

  • @12gagedan Hi Dan, Ive just accessed your video as Ive just got a harmonica and Im keen to learn to play. Can you suggest how much practice I should put in? I know that the more I practice the better I should get but what is a practical amount to practice each day? Thanks for your help!

  • @MrRobHowell Everyone's experience is different.  I cannot say how much practice an individual will need. Generally speaking, more is better, however, you need to WANT to practice. There is also a point at which not practicing can help. Taking breaks for a day or two can help after periods of intense practice. I used to find that I made leaps if I let my subconscious process w/o playing.

  • why does a harmonica have 10 notes when a scale has 8 notes??

  • @lean99zz what? There are ten holes, each with two natural notes, plus there are many other notes attainable with bending.

  • hey there, i recieved have a 16-hole harmonica but i cant find any videos teaching to play a 16-hole harmonica... do 16-hole harmonica exist? are they good? if they do can you help me find any videos???

  • love your teaching dan, you got a great manner best wishes..........steve from england

  • @laurenosborne1 lol "from england" makes it just that more special =P

  • culd u plz do a harmonica video where u use a 24 hole harmonica as that is the one i have

  • hey!

    i got my first harmonica today from my father as a stress buster and this vid helped me to get a hook of it... :)

    will proceed to the beginners lesson next... :)

    and, i got a HOHNER 10 hole C note Harmonica...

    thank you... :)

  • what is a 16 hole harmonica called?

  • so when u breathe in, are you breathing in anything harmful? Can harmonicas be bad for your health?

  • @8000cheese you breathe in air from the room.

  • @8000cheese harmonicas can be very bad for your health, example. a friend of mine was riding his bike & somebody was evidentally very upset with his harmonica & tossed it from his moving car, striking my friend right in the face & he crashed breaking his arm!

  • hey .....i would appreciate it if you could write down the names that you say at the video because i wanna search for them, but i don't know what's the correct spelling..... thankkssssssssssss

  • thank you for your help!!

  • The instructor you mentioned "John Gendig"? Is this the correct spelling" Can't seem to find this name on the internet. I know I must be spelling it wrong. Could you help me out please? Thanks. BTW, this old dog is learning something from your videos.

  • @Dan0ization Jon Gindick. He's a master at teaching "everybody" to play the harmonica. His handle is "Jamcamp06" on youtube. Tell him I sent you.

  • Hello, I purchased on harmonica D with twelve holes, do you think is the right choice? What is the difference between one harmonica with 12 and another with 10 holes?

    Very good basic lessons you show, thanks.

  • @timmhg depends on what type of harmonica it is. Many harmonicas come in 12-hole versions, including chromatics, octave, tremolo, and I think diatonics (can't remember if diatonics have a 12-hole version, or just a 14-hole version)  Go onto a harmonica website and ID your harmonica type.

  • hey when im trying notes and what not on my harmonica and when it says go from note 7 to 4 how do you know how to get there so quickly? i often have to look of just guess

  • @CheffProductions it takes lots of practice. you build up a sort of muscle/sound memory. harmonica is an invisible instrument, so you have to go by other senses.

  • omg my brother has an american ace and we still have it. i think he got it like 12 years ago so it's kinda old.

  • what brand is good for a 10 year old

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  • Is a bluesband a good brand

  • @gabbyf171  bluesbands are difficult to play, because they are so cheap. you can play them, and they do bend, but you will struggle more with that particular harmonica.

  • Great!!!

    Thank u men!!!

    Greetings from Mexico!!

  • i want to buy a hormonica by myself, but i don;t know which one.

    should i buy a diatonic or a chromatic harmonica?

    and which tone is the best?

  • @HardcoreAFCA it depends on what you wanna play

  • @HardcoreAFCA it depends on what you wanna play

  • I love the build up! lol

    You actually showing and unwrapping a little, red gift. Well played, good Sir, well played. :D

  • 1:43

  • haha ; ) junk drawer ; )

  • That is a very clean kitchen.

  • I am having some MAJOR trouble in blowing only one hole in my harmonica ...

    Can somebody help?

    No U blocking please ....

    Thanks ^^

  • I am having some MAJOR trouble in blowing only one hole in my harmonica ...

    Can somebody help?

    No U blocking please ....

    Thanks ^^

  • i have a bushman does it matter if its not an hohner harmonica i heard those were the best.

  • @jacobboy98 nah. Bushman is fine.  There are many good harmonica brands.

  • See these, these are called holes. Thats what she said

  • u have a lot of harmonicas and were do u get them

  • @jaredhockeyplayer23 online, mostly. I like coast2coastmusic

  • u r good at stuff were do u get all of the harmonicas

  • Hey thanks so much for the video. I really mean it I've been watching these and you're a great teacher. i just bought myself a harmonica finally, ive been wanting to learn to play. How long have you been playing? And I've been wondering about the lip positioning on the harmonica, do my lips go over top of the cover plates or just sort of in front of them? thanks so much fro your help.

  • can you make like a video just specifically about how to make a clear sound? you know like so you can only hear one note and not like 3 at once, seeing as you say thats one of the most important things :)

  • @tombokickass my beginner video talks about the techniques to get single notes. The real secret is to practice and correct yourself when it doesn't sound clear. It takes time.

  • I'm learning and also a kid and I can't hold it right. I try get as close as I can but what should I do?  Thanks!!!

  • Hi! i just got a harmonica from my grandpha, i dont know anything about it but i like it :D, i saw some of your video... I got a hohner international weekender harmonica, i has 16 holes at 2 rows ( 32 holes alltogether). So any advice for a novice player? thx

  • @morskaneman that's a different type of harmonica than the kind I teach about. I can't help much, unless you get a diatonic harmonica.

  • @12gagedan thx for quick reply, well it is an old harmonica, probably older than me, anyway i guess ill get a diatonic one...

  • @morskaneman you probably have a tremelo harmonica. The basic techniques all apply. They're just more often used for music other than blues/rock/country. If you want to wail or rock, diatonic is the way to go.

  • @12gagedan yep, it has a folkish sound, and thats logic for the area im from (balkan) :D. Anyway i think i could practice techniques on it, then get a diatonic one if i get the hang of it, u think its a good idea? thx fot thoose advices

  • This is exactly what I did. I got one, blew the holes and put it away ;-)

  • thanks alot for your lessons dan

    your doing a great thing, keep putting videos out

    you should make a video called Harmonica Basics: Diatonic

    just go over the things people should know, explain but not too much detail and compact it

  • well it says AI BEI~made in china~UC520~Happy~ on it i also found a like 24 hole one with a button that changes the notes i dont know what that is to it says chromatic harmonica and it says tower on it please identify them for me =)

  • i got this harmonica that has 10 holes but it is wood and is cheap (i won i t at an arcade) is it good enough to play it sounds way seaker then urs?!help?!

  • @ThePivotCenter are there any markings on it? I can't be sure without more info.

  • you just can't be more basic than this :D good job

  • thank you for your lessons.

    im from spain and i understand most part of these lessons but not everything.can anyone write the names of the 4 or 5 guys who have youtube lessons too¿?thanks

  • @bluehand0  Jon Gindick, Ronnie Shellist, David Barrett, Jason Ricci, Adam Gussow

  • so i got a music store giftcard in 3o dollars and i thought WTF am i gonna get there i mean i dont read notes and i dont have a specific musical instrument in need of gadgets so i went and bought a harmonica "BLues harp" hohner one nad im sitting at home like WHAT IN THE HELL DO I DO and i find ur vid!!!!!!!!!!

  • LOL.  Junk drawer...I suppose everyone has one.

  • this happened to me yesterday, got a new marine band harmonica.

  • i have a harmonica but i think its really a toy cause dont have numbers or key in anywere. i try to buy someone

  • Do you have a vid explaining how to handle a huge harmonica with 2 rows of 24 holes? I just got it as a present..

  • haha that was exactly what happened to me

    nice vid btw

  • i love your advice on sucking and bllowing holes!

  • thats a nice harmonica whats the name ?

  • I unwrap a Hohner Marine Band in this video. I usually play Marine Bands or Hohner Special 20's.

  • you inspired me to play ....thanks

  • Thank you. I got a "Swan" harmonica in key C. but it sounds more melodic, and the videos including yours sound more cowboyish. is it because of the method of playing or should I change my harmonica, cause this difference is driving me crazy.

  • So, Do Harmonicas Have Musical Notes or Just Tabs?

  • Both, it's just the tabs are easier to learn and read; if you see a partiture (and you know the notes that you're playing in every hole that you blow -or draw- air) you can play them as well.

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  • Ahh @ 2:20 man I totally saw that coming. Why? Well actually I put it in my room. the floor is like a really big table right?

  • there's a whole world full of harmonica "owners"

  • Thanks for the vid, man. Really helps!!!! A+++

  • Mine came in a 3 park, they're made of plastic but sound okay. 3 keys, C, D and G.

  • lol,dan,,,lol,and then you can buy more harps,,lol class

  • fucking amazing man i got one from my grandfather its about 40 years old and this has helped me alot

    thnx

  • Your harp could be collectable. Check ebay.  You might be able to make some money, and then buy even more harps.

  • hmmm never thot of that

  • when did you start playing? im 15..is that to late to get good?

  • 15 is a perfect age. I started when I was 12, but did not take it seriously until I was 18

  • Lol im 19 and i just bought my first harmonica, hope to get able to play some aceptable music :S

  • hello i want to question you this i have 11 years old and my dad gift me this harmonica parrot blues years 30 pocket C DO its a good year for start playing or not ? thx i lov the music at the end plz makea tutorial or something like than for play like than

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  • teach me the 11:00 song...before you leave...the christmas song...i cant remember the name,,,can you giuve me the tabs please?

  • yo dan...im diego from colombia...ive been playing in the key of c since i started(about year and a half ago) and i dont know what else to play with it,i both a big river hohner harp in jkey of A...and i dont know what else to go for further harp mastering, i know how to bend and im starting to master the overblows...do i have to master this C harp before going to another key?...thanks for posting....keep on posting

  • do you have some lee oskar harps??

  • I've played Les Oskars. I don't currently own any.

  • where do you buy your harps?

    just wondering, but which website/store has the best prices?

  • same problem with adrianmer666.. please reply!! thanks!!

  • different type of harmonica. I only really know how to play diatonic harmonicas. The tuning differs on the harmonica you have.

  • hey sir i'm a beginner, i have a long harmonica which has double holes which makes same sound, how do i deal with it?

  • That sounds like a tremelo harmonica. I've never played one. They have different tuning set-up. I only know how to play diatonic harmonicas.

  • ohw that's ok, you're good sir, please play johnny b goode in your harmonica thanks

  • good vid..i can play the guitar (and i play more than once a month haha) and i was in my local music store today getting some new strings put on my guitar and i was looking at harmonica's and i walked out with a weekender hohner harp in the key of C..

  • Hey dude..I like your videos. I play guitar and just picked up a pretty cheap harmonica. (Hohner Pocket Pal). I'd really like to play well but I'm wondering if this harmonica is good enough, should I buy a better one? What do you think?

  • I had a Pocket Pal as my first harmonica too. The damn thing still works after 20 years. I think it's a perfectly ok instrument to start with, however, a slightly better harp may be easier to play. It's up to you.

  • Wow, these videos are extreamly professional. You could start a TV show and have better ratings than most other stuf that cabel gives us!

  • aggreed!

  • Thanx dude great tips THANX!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Hello Dan, I received a "C harp" just today.

    I've been watching your videos all day now, and I'd just like to say thank you. I have only one question, and I'm not sure if you had mentioned it but will I have to tune my harmonica? You can reply to me on here just send a "personal message" or what not.

    Thanks again Dan.

  • harmonicas are tunable, by filing the reeds, however, they should come from the factory in pretty good tuned shape. There are different tuning compromises that people make with the harp, but I'm not an expert on the subject. You can find tons of info online if you get into it.

  • your videos are long but gives a lot of info

  • seems like I'm watching a tv programme, very interesting

  • THANK YOU your videos are awesome,very easy to understand and very instructional.keep it up please.

  • I've found your videos really helpful.. I'm a guitarist and singer and have started trying to play around with the harmonica aswell.. You're vids have been a HUGE help to me! If I end up getting good enough to use the harmonica in one of my gigs, I'll let you know! haha..Thankyou x

  • My son was given a harmonica for a gift several years ago. He has never showed interest. I was cleaning his room and found it. I decided to try it and I really enjoy it. I found your videos and you have inspired me to begin learning. Thanks - I will continue to watch and learn from your videos!

  • Thank you for the video.

  • you remind me of harland williams, your funny, and very helpful. thank you.

  • Awesome video! Thanks for the info!!!! Are there any other web pages you recomend with beginers tabs????

  • Hey, great video, just wanna ask, what do i do, if my harmonica is a 24 hole one instead of the usual 10 hole?

  • I can't really say. I only really play/teach to the ten-hole diatonic. Sorry.

  • Im getting m A cross harp today.. if correct:D WOO

  • Wow. My harmonica just says 'harmonica'. (lol)

  • Thanks Dan,

    I have just got a couple of harmonicas for my birthday and I am going to watch all your vids.

    Thanks Mate, keep 'em coming.

    Dax

  • Sounds like my kind of birthday.

  • dan, you're the man

  • Dude I want a harmonica bad. Any suggestions on which ones are good quality and that are relatively cheap?

  • i dont think it was, i did the same thing today, and they told me that it was pretty much the same thing, atleast for beginners, it's in C, that's the most important thing for a beginner i guess.

  • i went to music store and they where out of special 20's, so i bought a hohner blues harp. was that a mistake? D:

  • blues harps are fine to learn with.  I personally don't like them, but that's a matter of taste, not utility. I suggest trying a bunch of different harps when starting out. As you buy different keys, buy different types. This way, you'll learn what YOU like in a harmonica, while learning to play. There's no rule that you need to start with a C harp, however, it's just easier to find instruction that uses that key.

  • I did that exact same thing, lol...

    I love mine... it's a little harder to play (so I'm told) but I think it sure looks good and sounds good too.

  • Hey Dan. What harp are you playing at the end of the video? The American Ace or a Special 20?

  • I pulled my harmonica out of the "junk drawer" today and i've watched a few videos but I still think i'm either holding the harmonica wrong or something, because when I move my right hand (im holding with left like you are) it doesn't seem to be vibrating much...at least not enough to make a significant difference in my attempt at playing.

  • you have to seal the harmonica like you are trying to hold water in your hands. If it's airtight, and then you open your hands, the sound difference will be notable.

  • thx a lot man!

    i dont have my own harmonica yet but i've seen some for 25euros (about 30$?) in the local guitar store, and im very interested cause ive seen some guy playing the beatles on tv with it and i think its a great waste of time on holiday or whenever i dont know what to do =) im really considering to buy one and check out every single video of you =)

    thx!

  • It is Jon Gindick

  • Anyone, how to spell "John Gindich"??

  • I actually did get a harmonica this christmas and that's why I'm watching your videos! You're very helpful.

  • Thank you again for all the vid's, need more people like you

  • very good tuto

    thank´s

  • Is there a way to convert harmonica tabs from C to A. Like if the number is 4 can it be another hole on the harmonica?

    So far all I can play is the alphabet song on it. I rather be playing Air on the G String by JS Bach but it's a start. Is there a complete harmonica or do you have to own different ones?

    Help me Dan!