Learn to Play the Harmonica: Harmonica Lessons for Beginners

Learn to Play the Harmonica: (Harmonica Lessons for Beginners) The harmonica is one of those musical instruments that is actually easy to play. You can learn to play simple tunes in just a few days.

Learn to Play the Harmonica

If you have always wanted to learn to play the harmonica, and are willing to put in the time (and practice), this resource will help you go a long way.

Despite being an absolute harmonica beginner, you can acquire skills that will let you play songs; jamming blues, rock, country; and more.

What instrument should a beginner buy?
You can go through this guide on buying a harmonica; you can get started on a diatonic harmonica.

What all things has to be learnt?

As a beginner, knowing the notes, and armed with basic techniques, you can start playing simple songs. There are many things that you can do very quickly, very easily on the harmonica (and it will sound great). Over time, you will need to learn things like – breath control, tone control, single note technique, tongue, blocking technique, bending technique.

Here are some advanced topics/techniques:

Jamming Techniques: Warbles, slides, dropoffs, chording, tonguing
Advanced Techniques: Throat vibrato, blow bends, tongue blocked
octaves, tongue-switching, delayed tongue slaps
Theory: Music and harmonica theory & terminology
Diatonic Positions: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 12th
How to play faster: Simple tricks to get your speed up
Rhythm Harmonica: Upbeat chugging, Hah-dah Hey-Deys,
12-Bar Blues Chording

Chromatic Harmonica: Learn 12 Scales
Advanced: Songs, riffs and scales
Improve your timing: Work on downbeats, upbeats, triplets & more
Techniques: Clean up your basic & jamming techniques
Low-tuned/Alternate-tuned diatonics: How to play and use them

Harmonicas: Compare models & brands
Repairs… Cleaning, and Maintenance
Mic & Amps: Learn to get the best sound out of your equipment

Harmonica Lessons for Beginners

Here are some more harmonica lessons.

Playing Harmonica helps transplant patients strengthen their lungs

Learning to play the harmonica is a great skill to have, the instrument is also very portable, easy to carry in your pocket. However, surgeons are now using the Harmonica to strengthen the diaphragm of patients who have undergone lung transplant.

Larry Rawdon, a double-lung transplant recipient who turned to the harmonica to strengthen his diaphragm after surgery tells us how the harmonica helped him rehabilitate his diaphragm after his second lung transplant.

Recently, Larry returned to the Mayo Clinic to teach breathing exercises using the harmonica to a room full of heart and lung transplant patients. Rawdon has been teaching harmonica classes to transplant patients at the Mayo Clinic since 2013. He also teaches private lessons to those in need.

“I say the harmonica is the best piece of exercise equipment for the diaphragm that I’ve ever seen. The pulmonary function gets better, their breathing gets better and overall they feel much better as a result,” Rawdon said.

The diaphragm is the most important muscle used for breathing, and the harmonica, in combination with regular breathing exercises, can strengthen it in the case of transplant recipients.

Source: firstcoastnews

KeytarHQ Editorial Team

KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.