How to Play the Harmonica

Learning how to play the harmonica can be a very rewarding experience. Thanks to its compact size, once you learn how to play the harmonica, you can take it with you wherever you go and you will always be prepared to give an impromptu performance at the drop of a hat.

 

Instructions:

1. Many people believe that a harmonica is played by sucking or blowing. However, this is incorrect; the harmonica should be played by breathing. When you are practicing, you need to focus on breathing deeply from within your diaphragm (instead of shallowly breathing from your lungs).
2. If you are having trouble adjusting to the type of breathing that is required for playing the harmonica, doing activities that involve breathing, such as Yoga, can help you master the necessary breathing skills.
3. As you are playing the harmonica, you should exhale slowly and inhale slowly (if you have experience singing, you should follow a similar breathing pattern). You should also focus on keeping your cheeks, lips and mouth relaxed as you play.
4. The easiest harmonica songs to learn for beginners are those which are diatonic and can be successfully learned and played by ear.
5. When you begin playing basic songs, you should play them in the first position of the harmonica. This position is known as straight harp, which means that the key of the harmonica is also the key of the song.
6. Once you are comfortable playing basic songs in straight harp, you can progress to middle range. This position is known as the middle octave, and does not require you to use any bends, but does allow you to play the entire diatonic scale.
7. When you are playing chords, you will put your mouth over multiple holes at once. By changing the way you breathe, you can successfully create a variety of rhythms (this practice is known as chugging).
8. Although single notes are normally the easiest element to play on most instruments, because of the size and position of the holes on the harmonica, they are actually the most challenging. Therefore, you should become comfortable with Steps Four through Seven before attempting single notes.
9. Once you are prepared to play a single note, you need to learn the proper technique (which is known as embouchure). To accomplish this: place the harmonica at a forty-five degree angle, and put half of your upper lip over the harmonica’s top cover. The note you plan to play should be positioned in the middle of your mouth.
10. Once you upper lip is properly positioned, allow the harmonica to rest against your lower lip. When put in the natural position, this will block the holes on each side of the note you want to play, and allow you to isolate and play your desired single note.