Harmonica Lesson: Clean Clear Single Notes
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- čas přidán 21. 03. 2011
- C Diatonic Harmonica
One of the differences between mediocre and decent harmonica playing, is one's ability to play cleanly. In this video, I attempt to teach beginning harmonica players how to progress towards playing clean, clear single notes. - Hudba
Hi! I am a 64 yr old woman and trying to survive breast cancer side effects. I love all kinds of music and figured I could try keeping my spirits up with the harmonica So, I got myself one and ran across you and your video instructions. Just did this today and so very happy to "meet" you. Hope I can progress so I can have some fun. Thank you for doing this- looks like you are patient, kind, and knowledgeable!
Hang in there Stephanie. I hope the harmonica brings you joy and helps you through this. Thanks very much for watching and for writing. d.g.
I started on the harmonica for COPD therapy 2yrs, It works. Hang in, its rewarding
stephanie joyce Hi. I wish you got well now. Best of luck
Somewhat Questionable dude wtf
I got the best tip at 3:38 this method is surprisingly the answer to my single note problem ! Thanks for the excellent information, very helpful
.
i love you
Been trying to play for a year.........still not getting clean single notes but this video was very helpful in pointing out the obvious...........PRACTICE.......I wont quit. Only tune that I can play which is forgiving with my lack of clean notes is Love Me Do by the Beatles.
Dude, I've been watching hundreds of videos trying to understand what's wrong with my sound, and I have to admit it this one got me!! Thanks a lot!! I will keep practicing and watching your videos!
You make it sound as it should. Practice, practice and eventually perfect practice. Thank you for your dedication to us the beginners
Like Stephanie - I am just starting to play the harmonica. I ADORE music - I play the piano, a little guitar and a little accordion ! The reason I want to play the harmonica - is I am now 76 years old and the weight of instruments, my clumsiness, etc. Sooo, the harmonica is very easy to carry with me, NO weight, easy to handle and hopefully easy to play, because I love putting a little joy around me.. AND, as you said - I will practice and practice. Thank you so very much. Carole Scott - Quebec Canada
The best advice ever! You've made me feel a lot better about my pathetic playing. You've given me hope! Thank you.
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
Thank you for your time and effort, it is very much appreciated. I am a blues guitarist who needs to learn the harp to enhance the sound I am making with others. I am a complete beginner, so your lessons are of great help to me.
Just opened my harmonica and am thrilled to find your channel. Can't believe I've lived 53 years and have never played one. Thanks for the help. Scott
It's never too late to start! If you get into it, and have the means, I highly endorse Jon Gindick's Harmonica Jam Camps. Great way to kick the learning into high gear. Good luck! D.G.
12gagedan Thanks for that!
This is only my second day at it and I feel a lot better knowing that it's ok that I suck and can't get one single note yet. This was really helpful. Thanks!
@12gaedan - the reason you received so many "hits" is because non one wants to see virtuosos show off. Good teachers are rare. Never quit. Thanks, and be well.
Thank you so much I was beginning to stress about not able to play a single note with out hitting the next one. I've been practising for 3 days now. lol. I do however enjoy playing. :)
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.
Blues harmonica teachers are the best teachers on utube! I have watched several and haven't come across a dud yet! They have all been devoted, helpful and fun. Haha for real!
Hi Dave,well done, take my hat of to all you guys who give free lessons
Dan I am learning a lot with your videos. I will keep watching more. I just bought my first harmonica key C. Thanks
Just bought my first harp, first time checking out Dan's video's.
Absolutely hilarious, great teacher, very knowledgeable.
I have subscribed!
Been playing guitar and piano for years. Never thought about picking up a harmonica. Got a Honer for Christmas…so fun. Very helpful video. Thanks man.
Awesome stuff.
It's all so much clearer now. Thanks
Great great video man!!! It's so awesome that you take the time to make and post these!!!!
Watched two of your videos and they are both brilliant. You have amazing skills.
Thanks very much Dan. After three days I am just starting to hear some clear single notes, especially higher up the scale
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 :)
An encouraging and fun video. Thanks!!!
Dan great video. I have looking at this one a number of times. I play by u blocking. It works for me, it comes natural to me. I can bend using it. I work at TB & pucker also, but in up back with UB. Your best advice here is "Have Fun" and I am. Thanks
Thank you very much for spending your time doing this for everyone.
Dan I know its been a long time since you done this about 3 years but thanks i like your style there are not a lot of harp teachers here in the UK but i have just found one so there now hope, keep em comeing mate
Thank you so much. I learned something. I love those little nuggets.
I can watch your vids all day...keep going mate...you talk my language..thanks
You are such a good teacher...thanks for all these videos.
Thanks for the encouraging video. Starting a new instrument it's difficult to keep going, I'm listening to really good players on CZcams and then wondering why I sound so bad... I will go back to practising this morning feeling much more positive!
Started taking these lessons Dan! Nice one!
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!
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
Thanx Dan, Just started about a week ago, Iam 66 years old and am have fun trying C major scale as practice. Not sure my wife is enjoying it as much as me.
I can't believe the previous comment is dated 4 years ago! Anyway - thank you. What you have said is of great help.
Dan, you're great! Here's a trick that helps me play clean single notes: Doing "ta" with my tongue every time I want to play a single note; it seems to help direct the airflow into the hole. I'm sure it's not original, but I found it for myself and it works! I liken it to training wheels, which sometimes come off the ground/your parents raise 'em so they come off the ground while you're riding your bike until you can eventually ride without 'em. If you've already given that tip, my apologies.
Great advise. Very true.
I have a diatonic D harmonica, and this video really helped me to get started. And I actually got it in ~3 days :p.
Thanks Dan! Great video!
Really its a excellent topic it getting more clear about breathing and sound, thanks
Hey, just wanted to say that I LOVE your videos. You're so funny and also a great teacher. I love your comments, it just makes me more relaxed and not in a hurry to sound perfect. So thank you for this!
XxBo3eeDxX I bet you wish I would suck yours, but then, judging by the content of your comment, you must be a miserable good for nothing person with nothing else better to do than to be on the internet making shitty comments that aren't funny just to try to make you feel better about your shitty life. Just feel sorry for you. But I guess I don't need to because you already must feel sorry for yourself. ;)
XxBo3eeDxX Fell the burn. Need ice?
feel
i started to play harmonica today. at first it was really hard to play single nots, but i practiced today about 4 or 5 hours (its fun so i just did it without noticing the time) and now i almost got it. i can play single notes, sometimes i play more than 1 by mistake, but i really start to control that :)
thank you for help!
@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.
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!
Dan I am so greatfull that you made another beginer video.I hope you make some more :D
@Dukethecrazy419 cooll! Thanks for the nice comment.
the one tip helped me the most:
form your lips like whistling
after practising 5 min, i got the first clean note
this is exactly what is being done for asthmatics, older people, etc etc...in the world today...ab out slow easy, breathing, and such simple one to one, sounds....
thanks...
btw, nice mohawk hair ...!
@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)
Thanks man. Greetings from Ecuador
I did actually figure out how to bend notes following along to this video, playing a harmonica while it was running. That being said, I've been getting away with amatuerish harmonica soloing as an acoustic musician with a coffee house gig for a little over a year now. I did just go for it like Dan says and first focused on coordinating my breathing while strumming and improvising basic melodies on the harp. Everyone just follow Dan's advice and you will pick it up. Just remember that you can't really play a wrong note on the harp...some just sound better than others depending on what's happening in the music.
Great video it tought me to relax and not thinking i sound dum or ne thing.
Great info...Thanks Dan .
thanks i did it! XD single notes i also used the finger idea (by my own) and use the thong and lips tricks, now i can play also solo ,not only a chords ^^
Thanks for teaching me this 😊it really helps me alot
omg i have tried and tried and then you show me the tounge whistle form trick and i'm tottaly good at it ;p
im using u blockin to teach myself to play the harmonica so thank you for showing it in this
video :)
I have a HOHNER Chrometta 12, so toungue block should be on left side? or right?
I have just started playing harmonica in key of C. I just had doubt if I can apply Vaseline to the mouthpiece and play as it makes my lips move easily across it?
Hi 12Gagedan, I have got a Hohner Bravo but it has 2 rims instead of 1, what does it do? What is the difference? Thanks already!
@tagbag2 notes are played breathing in. Most wind instruments only go one way (breathing out)
man.. i just bough a harmonica..
thanks for lessons you give.. :)
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?
this is what I needed
Very agree. Practice is everything
@apxitektop1985 I used a special 20 in this video.
Very helpful, thanks from Prague. Petr
I'm 63, and on my bucket list is to learn a musical instrument.. I WILL DO THIS cause I enjoy it...
Hi 12gagedan . I am 68 and just bought a Golden Melody Harmonica in key of C. Is this a good one to start with? Also I will dedicated the time . If you have certain videos please keep me posted ...Thanks George
Hey bud, I just started playing and am getting good clean notes. I love the 3, 3d, 4, 4d 4d 4d, 4d, 4, 3d 3d 3d lick. I was scouring the web for a tune by red hot chili peppers but can't find it for the life of me. Would you be able to write out the tab for the intro to under the bridge? I think it would be a good clean easy rift for a intermediate player. Thanks! please let me know if you want my email to send it to me.
I got the shock of my life when first buying a blues harp and not being able to play like Sonny Boy Williamson within a week. Got good enough (after a year or so) with hitting single notes first time and bending the usual reeds to be able to earn a little bit busking (begging, really) BUT never progressed beyond that. I tried the tongue blocking thing but got so discouraged that I gave up altogether (that was 12 years ago). Well, just bought me a Special 20 (Bb) and have subscribed...
Thank you for explaining it so we'll great video! I have been trying to learn single note playing but I am still a beginner and will keep at it I love your sound I hope to be as good as you one day
It just takes time and effort. Keep at it.
12gagedan I am and thanks for the encouragement I'm starting to pick it up better note bending is kind of complicated but I'm working at it as well I've only been practicing for a few months I appreciate the reply
Early on the gains come quickly! Once you get good, you have to work hard just to maintain what you've built. I've been playing since I was 12 (almost 30 years) and I still practice 30+min almost every day, just to keep from getting WORSE! But if you like it, it's not "work". Play because you love to.
@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
If you want clear single notes, try tilting the back of your harmonica slightly upwards while playing. It worked for me & I started getting clear single notes within an hour. Hope this helps all the beginners like me.
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!! :)
i finally got it! thank you so much! thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!! : )
God Bless You!
great lesson
this guy rules.
Thank you !
I'm really new to harmonica and what I find works for me to hit single notes is to bend the harmonica like you would a guitar string to hit a single note. Is this going to be a problem when I get more advanced or will it be viable all the way up?
I've learnt to play clean clear notes, but I'm using U-blocking and it's really hard to bend and sound cool like without U-blocking. I just don't know if it's better to learn a new method or to stick to it and just really work on it. I suppose it's better to stick to it, but still... What do you think? Any of you guys or 12gagedan himself.
GREAT video.... mademe figure out how to make a singel tone... thanks
I've heard about two different ways of doing the "pucker" technique. First one: harmonica should be placed horizontally and the mouth sides (where lips meet) should be used to narrow the air flow to a single note. The second one: tilt back side of harmonica up, so that harmonica is blocked using our lower lip. Which method do you prefer?
Hey, I am 15 years old and I am blind. I really enjoy playing instruments, one of my goals right now is to learn the harmonica. I am having a hard time blocking the holes, when I try to block them, it's like it's hard to breathe through. I would love to speak with you personally, so maybe you can help me out more. I appreciate the video, and I believe you can help me. If you get a chance, please reply, because I look forward to working with you. Thanks
best of luck man on your journey!
Hey man, my life is pretty crazy time-wise lately. Couple tips: Make sure you have a decent harmonica; nothing cheaper than say $20-25. Cheap harmonicas are difficult to play. I used my fingers to isolate a single hole when I was just learning. You could also ask someone to tape off the harp temporarily, just to get the feel of playing one at a time. For breathing, you work up to it, and it gets easier. It feels like hyperventilating at first, but it takes time and effort. You just have to keep at it. Good luck.
Matthew Bazemore I
can you see yet?
How did you type that if your blind
@12gagedan by breathing in, you mean breathing in with your nose too?
thanks man. you help.
This is going to be a short vid.
*looks ate length of vid.* *laughs*
'Short' XD
Thanks though, it was a big help
What can you suggest to not slobber all over your harmonica. I seem to slobber up after playing 8 or 10 notes.
every time i am about to give up, i just come watch this vid.
Merci beaucoup l'Ami !!!
Thanks!
Just stumbled onto you since I started learning harmonica. I have a c diatonic Lee Oscar. I like when you give us 4-8 note riffs to play. Can you do more of that?
I have a B harp instead of a C, will that be a problem?
To play clear single notes i just U blocking the other notes with my tongue. Will i have any problem later if i keep playing the same way? Thank you for your videos, they really help me!
My harmonica has an A on its box... is this an A key?
i have a hohner silverstar which is diatonic c and i just cant get the 2D. GOD WHY.
Is a Hohner 550/20 C puck any good for beginners?
I just got the same one. 😊😊