How to Play Blues Harmonica

Hi, my name is Marcus Milius. I play harmonica. I got a degree at the University of Southern California, a Bachelor's of Music, in Jazz Studies - Chromatic Harmonica. I play and teach harmonica here in New York City, and I'm happy to show you what I do.

To play Blues on the diatonic harmonica, you want to be doing more draw notes. You want to play in second position, so if you've got a C harmonica you're playing in the key of G , 5 notes up. Uh, you'll want to resolve to 2 draw now, because this is your tonic now, and use more draw notes. Here's your 2 draw, and here's your draw chord, and that's your tonic note, uh, and your tonic chord. So you'll want to resolve most of your melodies and your notes to the draw. Simply by playing in second position, playing in the key of G on a C harmonica, and playing with accompaniment in the key of G, then you're automatically going to sound a lot bluesier. Second position, or cross harp is a bluesier sound. And to make sure you are doing that, you want to resolve to the tonic of the new key, which is 2 draw. So you're going to be up doing a lot more draw notes uh, on the low end of the harmonica so you can get that tonic chord for the key of G. Um, so do lots of bends as well, which are all in the draw on the low end. Holes 1, 2, 3, and 4. And that will give you a bluesier sound. And you want to bring the air in, for instance, for 1 draw, like you're gargling water. So, so the back of the tongue would go up, in the back of your mouth, and the front of the tongue goes down and back. And then for the two draw, bring the air in more like you're snoring, and that will help you bend that note. And then the 3 draw is a little more in the front of your mouth. Like you're uh, got a thick milkshake through a straw. And then four draw, like an SH. And adding those bent notes into your playing will help give you a much bluesier sound.

Category:

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• Harmonica
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• c harmonica
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[willynilly42897]

does anyone understand what hes talking about?

[rrrtttwww000]

Well Marcus, you are a very good teacher. I have been struggling with bending the notes but the way you explained it has helped me very much. Thanks.

[AzureDreamz91]

Thank your marcus, you're a great teacher but i'm still greatly confused on what EXACTLY is bending the harmonica.

Anyone here to help?

Great thanks to you! :)

[MizzMoxie]

@willynilly42897  Heck no!

[chrisdavies23359]

is there such a thing as breaking in a new harmonica, or should thee harmonica bend straight out of the box? cos i am struggling with bending, I have a hohner silver star

[IceAges14Aces]

Jesus Christ playing blues harmonica is extremely hard to do because of the damn bending I'm trying to make!!!

[RagdollLauncher]

i cant do what he does at 1:44, someone help in need it for my band!

[mrpappasmerf]

hes great at video editing but im not sure that hes the best at teaching on youtube but i found it really esey but thats coz i know what im doing thanks alot man really helpful

[DannieAnne1]

@willynilly42897 omg D: i dont. but i like what his doing O.o i wanna do that

[cce121]

nice explanation....!!!

[lordlemmingman]

@willynilly42897 yes, yes I do

[Valozm]

thanks.. but I a have a problem.. I need subtitles =(