How to Play a Folk Harmonica
The harmonica is an easy-to-play instrument, even for beginners with little or no musical training. This versatile instrument appears in musical genres as varied as country, rock, blues and folk. Harmonica playing is often categorized by musical genre; a folk harmonica player is one who primarily plays folk music on the instrument. Folk is a popular genre for harmonica, which was featured prominently on some of the early folk classics of Bob Dylan. Learning to play folk harmonica is easy once you have a feel for folk music and learn a few basic techniques.
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Instructions
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Observe your ten-hole diatonic harmonica. Note that each of the holes has two reeds; each reed produces more than one note, depending upon whether you blow into it or draw on it.
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Cup the harmonica with two hands and hold it to your mouth to get a comfortable feel for the instrument.
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3
Blow into the ten top holes from left to right. These are called blow notes, and they are: C, E, G, C, E, G. C, E, G and C. Blow gently and evenly until you produce a solid note on each hole. Repeat the process going from right to left.
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Play the bottom-hole notes from left to right by drawing (sucking air in). These notes are called draw notes: D, G, B, D, F, A, B, D, F and A. Play these notes ascending and descending until you can play them solidly, without wavering or squeaking.
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Examine harmonica tablature. Basic harmonica tablature consists of a graph with a line separating the blow and draw holes. A number placed above the line indicates a blow note, while a number below the line indicates a draw note.
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Play a simple folk song in tablature. You can purchase harmonica tablature songs in book form at a music store or visit a website offering harmonica folk songs free of charge. Follow the tablature and have fun---folk harmonica songs are simple and easy to master.
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Tips & Warnings
More than anything, play your harmonica. The more you play, the better your ear becomes and the more control you have over the notes you play. Just a half hour of practice time a day will improve your playing skills dramatically.
An alternative to harmonica tablature method simply shows numbers over song lyrics that indicate which hole to play.
