5 Easy Steps To Learn To Play Harmonica

Always wanted to learn to play harmonica but didn’t know where to start? Can’t read music but always wanted to be a musician? Haven’t got the money for an expensive instrument? The harmonica can answer all these problems and is very easy to pick up. Read on for some simple tips to get you well on your way.

1) Buy yourself a standard diatonic harmonica – make sure its in the key of C. Most players start with this as it is the most simple version to help you learn to play harmonica.

As you progress you may want to experiment with other types. You can also pick up harmonicas very cheap so no need to worry about heavy start up costs.

2) So you’ve got yourself a harmonica. Now what? Well, you need to hold it properly – no rocket science here.

Pick it up with your right hand as if you are picking up a burger. Make sure you don’t obstruct the air holes at the front and leave room for your lips at the back.

Use your other hand to hold the harmonica steady – press the palm of your hand against the side. Note that you don’t have to use your right hand to pick it up initially. If you prefer to use your left hand then do so.

3) It’s time to make some sweet music. Notes can be created by blowing through the holes and also by sucking air from the holes.

Each hole represents one note. Practise making a crisp single sound through each opening – tilt the harmonica slightly downwards and rest your upper lip a third of the way down the upper casing.

There is no need to put much effort into blowing to make a sound. When you are good at getting these notes out reverse the process so you can make a single note from each hole by sucking air in.

4) By now you should be getting a good grasp of the basics. The next step when you learn to play harmonica is to put together a song.

The great thing about a harmonica is that you don’t have to spend years learning to read music. All songs are laid out in a simple number format with an indication whether to suck in or blow out.

If you have a good ear for music you may be able to recreate simple songs yourself now that you know what sounds can be produced.

Killer mistake – moving your mouth across the harmonica as you play a song. Use your hands to move the instrument from side to side – this is where your burger grip comes into play. When you improve this and know where your notes are, you are well on your way.

5) Practise. Practise. And Practise some more. Of course it goes without saying but as this is a simple instrument you will see results very quickly indeed. That’s when you will really start to learn to play harmonica well.