Things You'll Need:
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Step 1
Breathe into the harmonica gently but firmly; do not blow or suck.
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Step 2
Breathe deeply, from your diaphragm, not from your lungs.
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Step 3
Make your breathing controlled and natural.
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Step 4
Keep your lips moist to facilitate sliding.
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Step 5
Relax your mouth.
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Step 6
Pucker your lips as if you are giving your mom a kiss on her cheek.
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Step 7
In this position, slide your lips over the top and bottom plates of the harmonica.
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Step 8
Tilt the harmonica about 45 degrees upwards, so that the comb rests comfortably on your lower lip. This will give you a fuller tone.
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Step 9
Blow, then draw on hole 3. Play a single note on one hole - not including notes on either side of the hole.
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Step 10
Play that note without a hiss.
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Step 11
Practice getting a clear, single note out of your harp on each of the ten holes of your harmonica.
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Step 1
After you have mastered single-note playing, practice your skills on a song you probably know, no matter what key your harmonica is in. Here it is (numbers correspond to numbered holes on the harmonica; 4 = blow, 4d = draw):
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Step 2
4 4d 5 6 6d 6 5 4 4d 5 4d 4 4d
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Step 3
Well I come from Alabama with my banjo on my knee
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Step 4
4 4d 5 6 6d 6 5 4 4d 5 4 4d 4
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Step 5
And I'm going to Louisiana oh my true love for to see
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Step 6
5d 6d 6d 6 6 5 4 4d
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Step 7
Oh Susannah, oh don't you cry for me
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Step 8
4 4d 5 6 6d 6 5 4 4d 5 4 4d 4
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Step 9
For I'm bound for Louisiana oh my true love for to see.
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Step 1
See what you can do with your tongue to create rhythm now that you know how to play a melody.
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Step 2
Make a single note on the 3-hole blow.
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Step 3
Flick your tongue against the comb several times while blowing, as if singing ta-ta-ta.
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Step 4
Use your tongue and make rhythms like taaa-ta (long-short) or taa-taa-ta (long-long-short).
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Step 5
Experiment creating different rhythms.
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Step 6
Use your hands as tools for changing the sound. When the hands are closed around the harmonica, the tone is muted; when opened, the tone gets sharper and louder.
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Step 7
Hold the instrument in your left hand and use the right hand for effects.
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Step 8
Close both hands around the harmonica.
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Step 9
Blow or draw on any hole.
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Step 10
Open the left hand; the harmonica goes "waaaah."
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Step 11
Open and close your right hand around the harmonica several times.
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Step 12
Flutter one hand against the other with a clapping motion; this creates the warbling effect.
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Step 13
Try this on holes 4 and 5 to get the train-whistle effect.
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Step 14
Use your hands to color the tone. Make your harmonica talk!








Comments
monaamos said
on 12/6/2007 I purchased hamonicas for myself and two grandchildren but I felt bad because I could not play anything. I am going to try this song and if it works, I will play it on Christmas Eve for my grandchildren unless you can teach me a Christmas carol, especially "Silent Night" Thank you so much, Faye