Basic Folk Harmonica Lesson

C Harp

This lesson is directed at people who want to start playing folk-style harmonica like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Bryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen. . . you name it. I get a lot of emails asking for tabs of songs. This lesson should give you the tools to figure many of those tunes out yourself.

Is there more to the story? Sure there is, but you have to start somewhere. This style of play is easily recognizable, and pretty easy to play. So give it a shot. You'll be playing along in no time. If you want to learn more, please check out my other lessons.

-Major Scale on a Diatonic Harmonica (middle octave) 4B, 4D, 5B, 5D, 6B, 6D,7D, 7B (C,D, E, F, G, A, B, C) where B= blow air into the harmonica and D=draw air through the harmonica.

C chord Blow on holes 1-4 of your C harmonica
G chord Draw on holes 1-4 of your C harmonica

Folk Lick: 6Db, 6D, 6B (b=bend. unbend quickly for this lick)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Harmonica
• Folk music
• mouth organ
• mundharmonica
• Bob Dylan
• Neil Young
• Bryan Adams
• Bruce Springsteen
• Dan Gage
• harp
• Harmonica Lesson
• neck rack
• rack harmonica

[anticompfolkilation]

Thanks a ton! I'll definitely use these tips in an upcoming show. I can barely play, but that's all right, it's an anti-folk / folk punk thing I'm doin' with a friend and just an open mic. The stuff we just recorded I just blew all over the thing. This'll definitely help :)

[12gagedan]

@anticompfolkilation Before deciding to play harmonica poorly in public, please consider the damage that you're doing. The world already has a low perception of the instrument, thanks to countless hacks "blowing all over everything". I make these vids specifically to encourage "better" harmonica playing.

[anticompfolkilation]

@12gagedan I understand that. Im not sure if you're familiar with anti-folk. The whole thing is a mockery of modern music, yet takes a lot of creativity to it. The idea is to not only shock the listener but also to have a humorous element to it. That's not to say that blowing all over a harmonica is funny, that's more within the lyrics. Look up the video antifolk cutz, it's a documentary. Also look at guys like Daniel Johnston, (early) Devendra Banhart, or jeff lewis. You might change your mind.

[12gagedan]

@anticompfolkilation I will check it out.  Thanks for the sincere reply back.

[therath94]

whats the best style to play with a Hohner 40 hole harmonica?

[12gagedan]

@therath94 I have no idea.

[RagingTampon]

WILL WORK FOR YOU!..................you sounded exactly like seth rogen 3:48

[amypinklover]

You're never too old to learn anything ;) Never give up!

[kelntony1664]

Dan, I am trying hard to learn to play the harmonica. I started at age 52, I have just turned 54. I can play the major scale, get single notes. You said to learn the basic things to play. Where do you find say the first 7 or 8 things to do. I have 3 books by Jon Gindick, they are very good. I started out as a u-blocker, I am trying to get lip blocking and then work at some tongue blocking. I want like to know the 7 or 8 thing you would learn after getting single notes.

Thanks, Tony

[CrazyBeatlesFanatic]

You do you do the rapid "duts" like in the Dylan song Gospel Plow and Sally Gal?

[landbertoo]

mixed with john krasinski

[hanesmanhimself]

Ha thanks u sound like seth rogan i love it

[biuemusic5]

dude thanks a ton for this video, this is exactly what i needed.

[poach4fun]

ha its like taking a lesson from seth rogen

[wajjaca]

Good work, had a C harmonica laying around the house since i was a kid. My 3 year old daughter started playing it and it got me interested in learning some Springsteen stuff. Videos like these are very helpful.

[zaq147369]

Amazing, Dan. I just bought myself a Hohner Marine band Harmonica. This was a lot of help. I am subscribing.