HARMONICA BEGINNERS - YOUR EASY HOW TO PLAY GUIDE BOOK download
HARMONICA BEGINNERS - YOUR EASY HOW TO PLAY GUIDE BOOK download
Have you ever wanted to learn how to play the harmonica? The harmonica is a small, versatile, and fun instrument that can produce a variety of sounds and styles. Whether you want to play blues, folk, rock, country, or jazz, the harmonica can help you express yourself musically. Plus, it's easy to carry around and practice anywhere.
In this article, you'll learn everything you need to know to get started with playing the harmonica. You'll discover the different types of harmonicas and how to choose one that suits your needs. You'll also learn how to hold and breathe into a harmonica properly, how to play single notes and chords, how to read harmonica tabs and music notation, and how to play some easy songs and tunes. By the end of this article, you'll be ready to download your easy how to play guide book that will teach you more skills and techniques to improve your harmonica playing.
Types of harmonicas and how to choose one
Before you start playing the harmonica, you need to choose one that fits your goals and preferences. There are many types of harmonicas available on the market, but they can be broadly classified into three categories: diatonic, chromatic, and other types.
Diatonic harmonicas
Diatonic harmonicas are the most common and popular type of harmonicas. They are also known as blues harps or standard harps. They have 10 holes that can produce 20 notes (10 blow notes and 10 draw notes). Each diatonic harmonica is tuned to a specific key, such as C, G, D, etc. This means that you can only play notes that belong to that key on that harmonica. However, by using a technique called bending (which we'll cover later), you can also play some notes that are not in that key.
Diatonic harmonicas are ideal for beginners because they are relatively simple and easy to play. They are also suitable for playing blues, folk, rock, country, and other genres that use mostly major scales.
Chromatic harmonicas
Chromatic harmonicas are more complex and sophisticated than diatonic harmonicas. They have 12 or 16 holes that can produce 48 or 64 notes respectively. They also have a button on the side that can shift the pitch of each note by a semitone (half a step). This means that you can play all 12 notes of the chromatic scale on a chromatic harmonica, regardless of the key. You don't need to bend notes on a chromatic harmonica, but you do need to use the button to switch between notes.
Chromatic harmonicas are ideal for advanced players who want to play more diverse and complex music. They are also suitable for playing jazz, classical, pop, and other genres that use more chromaticism and modulation.
Other types of harmonicas
Besides diatonic and chromatic harmonicas, there are also some other types of harmonicas that have different features and functions. Some examples are:
Tremolo harmonicas: These have two rows of holes that produce the same note but slightly out of tune with each other. This creates a wavering or trembling effect that sounds like an accordion or a mandolin. Tremolo harmonicas are often used for playing folk and Asian music.
Octave harmonicas: These have two rows of holes that produce the same note but an octave apart. This creates a fuller and richer sound that sounds like two harmonicas playing together. Octave harmonicas are often used for playing folk and Celtic music.
Bass harmonicas: These have large and low-pitched reeds that can produce bass notes. They are usually played in combination with other harmonicas to create a harmonic accompaniment. Bass harmonicas are often used for playing jazz and orchestral music.
Orchestral harmonicas: These are specialized harmonicas that can produce specific sounds or effects, such as chord harmonicas, melody harmonicas, echo harmonicas, etc. They are usually played in ensembles or orchestras to create a variety of musical textures.
These types of harmonicas are less common and more expensive than diatonic and chromatic harmonicas. They are also more difficult to play and require more skill and practice. Therefore, they are not recommended for beginners who want to learn the basics of harmonica playing.
How to hold and breathe into a harmonica
Once you have chosen your type of harmonica, you need to learn how to hold and breathe into it correctly. This will help you produce clear and consistent sounds and avoid damaging your instrument or your health.
The proper way to hold a harmonica
The proper way to hold a harmonica is to use both hands to form a cup around it. This will create a seal between your mouth and the harmonica, as well as enhance the resonance and volume of the sound. Here are the steps to hold a harmonica properly:
Hold the harmonica horizontally with your left hand, with the numbers facing up and the low notes on your left side.
Place your thumb on the bottom of the harmonica and your index finger on the top, near the left end.
Place your right hand over your left hand, with your thumb on the bottom and your fingers on the top, near the right end.
Curl your fingers slightly inward to form a cup around the back of the harmonica.
Leave a small gap between your hands at the front of the harmonica, where you will place your mouth.
Adjust your hands as needed to make sure they are comfortable and secure.
You can also experiment with different ways of holding your hands to create different effects, such as opening or closing them to change the tone or pitch of the sound.
The difference between blowing and drawing
The difference between blowing and drawing is that blowing means exhaling air through the harmonica, while drawing means inhaling air through the harmonica. Both blowing and drawing can produce different notes on different holes of the harmonica, depending on the type and tuning of the instrument. For example, on a standard diatonic harmonica in C, blowing on hole 4 will produce a C note, while drawing on hole 4 will produce a D note.
To blow or draw into a harmonica, you need to use your mouth and tongue to direct the air flow into the desired hole or holes. You can use either your lips or your tongue to isolate single holes or multiple holes at once. The two main techniques for doing this are puckering and tongue blocking, which we'll cover in the next section.
The importance of breathing from the diaphragm
How to play single notes and chords on a harmonica
After you have learned how to hold and breathe into a harmonica, you need to learn how to play single notes and chords on it. Single notes are the basic building blocks of melodies and solos, while chords are the basic building blocks of harmony and accompaniment. To play single notes and chords on a harmonica, you need to use your mouth and tongue to isolate or combine different holes on the harmonica. The two main techniques for doing this are puckering and tongue blocking.
The concept of holes and reeds
The concept of holes and reeds is that each hole on a harmonica contains two reeds: one for blowing and one for drawing. A reed is a thin metal strip that vibrates when air passes through it, producing a sound. The pitch of the sound depends on the length and thickness of the reed, as well as the amount and direction of the air flow. Each reed on a harmonica is tuned to a specific note, depending on the type and key of the instrument.
For example, on a standard diatonic harmonica in C, hole 1 contains a blow reed tuned to C and a draw reed tuned to D. Hole 2 contains a blow reed tuned to E and a draw reed tuned to G. And so on. By blowing or drawing into different holes, you can play different notes on the harmonica.
The technique of puckering
The technique of puckering is that you use your lips to form a small opening around a single hole or a group of holes on the harmonica. This allows you to play single notes or chords with precision and clarity. Here are the steps to use the puckering technique:
Place your mouth over the gap between your hands at the front of the harmonica.
Pucker your lips as if you are whistling or kissing, making sure they are moist and relaxed.
Move your lips along the harmonica until you find the hole or holes you want to play.
Blow or draw into the hole or holes with a steady and gentle air flow, using your diaphragm to breathe.
Adjust your lips as needed to make sure they are covering the hole or holes completely.
You can use the puckering technique to play single notes by isolating one hole at a time, or chords by isolating two or more holes at a time. You can also use your tongue to slightly block some holes while playing others, creating different effects.
The technique of tongue blocking
The technique of tongue blocking is that you use your tongue to cover some holes on the harmonica while leaving others open. This allows you to play single notes or chords with more power and expression. Here are the steps to use the tongue blocking technique:
Place your mouth over the gap between your hands at the front of the harmonica.
Open your mouth wide enough to cover four holes at once, making sure your lips are moist and relaxed.
Place your tongue flat against the harmonica, covering three holes on your left side.
Blow or draw into the hole on your right side with a strong and steady air flow, using your diaphragm to breathe.
Move your tongue along the harmonica as needed to change the hole you are playing.
You can use the tongue blocking technique to play single notes by covering three holes and playing one hole, or chords by covering two holes and playing two holes. You can also use your tongue to create different sounds, such as slaps, pulls, flutters, etc.
The method of bending notes
How to read harmonica tabs and music notation
After you have learned how to play single notes and chords on a harmonica, you need to learn how to read harmonica tabs and music notation. Harmonica tabs and music notation are two ways of writing down music for the harmonica. They can help you learn new songs and tunes, as well as improve your musical skills and knowledge. In this section, you'll learn the symbols and numbers used in harmonica tabs, the basics of music notation and rhythm, and some examples of harmonica tabs and music notation.
The symbols and numbers used in harmonica tabs
The symbols and numbers used in harmonica tabs are a simple and easy way of showing which hole or holes to play on the harmonica, and whether to blow or draw into them. Harmonica tabs are usually written on a single line, with each number representing a hole on the harmonica. Here are the main symbols and numbers used in harmonica tabs:
A plain number (e.g. 4) means to blow into that hole.
A number with a minus sign (e.g. -4) means to draw into that hole.
A number with a plus sign (e.g. +4) means to press the button on a chromatic harmonica while blowing or drawing into that hole.
A number with a single quote (e.g. 4') means to bend the note down by a semitone while blowing or drawing into that hole.
A number with a double quote (e.g. 4\") means to bend the note down by a whole tone while blowing or drawing into that hole.
A number with a triple quote (e.g. 4\"') means to bend the note down by three semitones while blowing or drawing into that hole.
A number with a slash (e.g. 4/5) means to play both holes at the same time, creating a chord.
A number with a bracket (e.g. (4)) means to play that hole softly or lightly.
A number with an asterisk (e.g. 4*) means to play that hole with vibrato or tremolo.
For example, here is a harmonica tab for playing the first line of \"Mary Had a Little Lamb\" on a diatonic harmonica in C:
4 -4 5 -5 5 -4 4
This means to blow into hole 4, draw into hole 4, blow into hole 5, draw into hole 5, blow into hole 5, draw into hole 4, and blow into hole 4.
The basics of music notation and rhythm
The basics of music notation and rhythm are a more advanced and comprehensive way of showing not only which notes to play on the harmonica, but also how long and how loud to play them, as well as other musical elements such as tempo, key signature, time signature, dynamics, articulation, etc. Music notation is usually written on a staff, which is a set of five horizontal lines and four spaces. Each line and space represents a different pitch or note. Here are the main elements of music notation and rhythm:
A clef is a symbol that indicates the pitch range of the notes on the staff. The most common clef for harmonica players is the treble clef, which looks like a stylized G.
A key signature is a set of sharps (#) or flats (b) that indicate which notes are raised or lowered by a semitone in a certain key. For example, a key signature with one sharp means that all F notes are played as F# in that key.
A time signature is a pair of numbers that indicate how many beats are in each measure (bar) and what kind of note gets one beat. For example, a time signature of 4/4 means that there are four beats in each measure and a quarter note gets one beat.
A tempo is a word or a number that indicates how fast or slow the music should be played. For example, a tempo of 120 bpm means that there are 120 beats per minute.
A note is a symbol that indicates which pitch to play and how long to play it. There are different types of notes, such as whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes, etc. Each type of note has a different duration, depending on the time signature.
A rest is a symbol that indicates a silence or a pause in the music. There are different types of rests, such as whole rests, half rests, quarter rests, eighth rests, etc. Each type of rest has a different duration, depending on the time signature.
A dot is a symbol that increases the duration of a note or a rest by half of its original value. For example, a dotted half note is equal to a half note plus a quarter note.
A tie is a curved line that connects two notes of the same pitch and adds their durations together. For example, a tie between two quarter notes is equal to a half note.
A beam is a horizontal line that connects two or more notes of smaller values, such as eighth notes or sixteenth notes. A beam helps to group the notes together and make them easier to read.
A stem is a vertical line that extends from the head of a note. A stem can point up or down, depending on the position of the note on the staff.
A flag is a curved line that attaches to the end of a stem. A flag indicates that the note has a smaller value, such as an eighth note or a sixteenth note. The more flags a note has, the shorter its duration.
An accent is a symbol that indicates that a note should be played louder or with more emphasis than the others. There are different types of accents, such as >, ^, etc.
A staccato is a symbol that indicates that a note should be played shorter or with more separation than the others. A staccato looks like a dot above or below the note.
For example, here is a music notation for playing the first line of \"Mary Had a Little Lamb\" on a diatonic harmonica in C:
𝄪 𝄮 ♯ 𝄯 𝄰 𝄱 𝄲 𝄳 𝄴 𝄵 𝄞 𝄡 4/4 120 𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅥𝅮 𝅘𝅥𝅯𝅥𝅮 𝅘𝅥𝅰𝅥𝅮 𝅘𝅥𝅱𝅥𝅮 𝅘𝅥𝅰𝅥𝅮 𝅘𝅥𝅯𝅥𝅮 𝅘𝅥𝅮𝅥𝅮 E D G A G D E
This means to play an E quarter note, a D quarter note, a G quarter note, an A quarter note, a G quarter note, a D quarter note, and an E quarter note, at 120 bpm in 4/4 time.
Some examples of harmonica tabs and music notation
To help you understand how harmonica tabs and music notation work, here are some examples of harmonica tabs and music notation for some easy songs and tunes that you can play on your harmonica. You can also download the guide book for more examples and explanations.
Example 1: \"Oh Susanna\" by Stephen Foster
This is a classic American folk song that you can play on a diatonic harmonica in C. Here are the harmonica tabs and music notation for the first verse and chorus:
6 6 -6 6 -5 5 -4 I come from A-lab-a-ma -4 -4 5 -5 6 -6 6 With my ban-jo on my knee 6 6 -6 6 -5 5 -4 I'm go-ing to Lou-i-si-an-a -4 -4 5 -5 6 -5 5 My true love for to see -8 -8 -8 -8 7 -7 -6 Oh Su-san-na don't you cry for me -6 -6 -7 7 -8 8 -8 For I come from A-lab-a-ma 7 -7 -6 With my ban-jo on my knee How to play some easy songs and tunes on a harmonica
After you have learned how to read harmonica tabs and music notation, you can start playing some easy songs and tunes on your harmonica. Playing songs and tunes is a great way to practice your skills and have fun with your instrument. You can also impress your friends and family with your musical talent. In this section, you'll learn some tips for choosing songs and tunes to play, a list of some easy songs and tunes with links to download the guide book, and a table comparing the difficulty level, key, and style of each song and tune.
Some tips for choosing songs and tunes to play
Some tips for choosing songs and tunes to play are:
Choose songs and tunes that match your skill level. If you are a beginner, start with simple and familiar songs and tunes that have few notes and easy rhythms. If you are more advanced, try more challenging and varied songs and tunes that have more notes and complex rhythms.
Choose songs and tunes that match your type of harmonica. If you have a diatonic harmonica, choose songs and tunes that are in the same key as your harmonica or that can be easily transposed to that key. If you have a chromatic harmonica, choose songs and tunes that use more chromaticism and modulation.
Choose songs and tunes that match your musical taste. If you like blues, choose songs and tunes that use blues scales and progressions. If you like folk, choose songs and tunes that use folk melodies and patterns. If you like rock, choose songs and tunes that use rock riffs and chords. And so on.
Choose songs and tunes that challenge you but also motivate you. If you choose songs and tunes that are too easy or too hard, you might get bored or frustrated. If you choose songs and tunes that are just right for you, you might get inspired and excited.
A list of some easy songs and tunes with links to download the guide book
A list of some easy songs and tunes with links to download the guide book are:
\"Oh Susanna\" by Stephen Foster: This is a classic American folk song that you can play on a diatonic harmonica in C. It has a catchy melody and a simple rhythm. You can download the guide book for the harmonica tabs, music notation, lyrics, audio, video, tips, and more here: www.example.com/ohsusanna
\"Happy Birthday\" by Patty Hill and Mildred Hill: This is a popular song that everyone knows and sings on birthdays. You can play it on any type of harmonica in any key. It has a short melody and an easy rhythm. You can download the guide book for the harmonica tabs, music notation, lyri