Things You'll Need:
- Chromatic Harmonica
- Harmonicas
- Music Stands
- Sheet Music
-
Step 1
Hold the harmonica firmly in your left hand with the first hole (the lowest note) on your left side.
-
Step 2
Place your left index finger on the upper part of the instrument and your thumb along the bottom.
-
Step 3
Cup your right hand around the back of the harmonica.
-
Step 4
Position your right index finger on the slide button.
-
Step 5
Pucker your lips as if you were about to kiss grandma on her cheek.
-
Step 6
Close your lips over hole No. 4 of the harmonica, making sure that no other notes are sounded (lip blocking).
-
Step 7
Repeat lip blocking for all 12 holes of the harmonica.
-
Step 8
Practice lip blocking both blowing and drawing.
-
Step 9
Or use this technique: Put the harmonica into your mouth as if to blow four holes (holes Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5).
-
Step 10
Bring your tongue forward covering all holes (tongue blocking).
-
Step 11
Move your tongue to the left just enough to allow air into only one hole (hole No. 5).
-
Step 12
Prevent air from escaping through the sides of your mouth.
-
Step 13
Breathe deeply through the harmonica; do not suck!
-
Step 14
Practice tongue blocking on different holes of the harmonica.
-
Step 1
Blow on hole 5 (b5) - slide out, which is the note --> C. Count 1-2-3-4 holding each note (4/4 rhythm).
-
Step 2
Now, move up the chromatic (12 half-tone) scale step-by-step:
-
Step 3
b5 -- slide in --> C#(Db)
-
Step 4
Draw on hole 5 (d5) -- slide out --> D
-
Step 5
d5 -- slide in --> D#(Eb)
-
Step 6
b6 -- slide out --> E
-
Step 7
b6 -- slide in --> E#(F)
-
Step 8
d6 -- slide out --> F
-
Step 9
d6 -- slide in --> F#(Gb)
-
Step 10
b7 -- slide out --> G
-
Step 11
b7 -- slide in --> G#(Ab)
-
Step 12
d7 -- slide out --> A
-
Step 13
d7 -- slide in --> A#(Bb)
-
Step 14
d8 -- slide out --> B
-
Step 15
d8 -- slide in --> B#(C)
-
Step 16
b8 -- slide out --> C
-
Step 17
Practice this scale upwards ands downwards in 4/4 rhythm.
-
Step 18
Make sure the single notes come out clearly!
-
Step 1
Hold the harmonica in your left hand and close the right hand over the left.
-
Step 2
Open and close the right hand over the left. A wavering tone will begin.
-
Step 3
Make the right hand move back and forth smoothly. A rich and mellow vibrato will result.








Comments
tonitones said
on 3/16/2009 concise yes..but isn't it tonque blocking and not lip blocking?
scheoffrey said
on 3/4/2007 Clear, concise and easy to understand