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Playing the blues is addictive. It doesn't matter which blues instrument you play, but for me the harmonica is it. I've been working on some lessons from a Mel Bay book by David Harp. I don't have it all down yet but I'm getting there. David's lessons are for the Chromatic Harmonica though and lately I want to use my diatonic harps. Unfortunately my Golden Melody's weren't designed so much for blues playing as for single note folk songs, and don't bend notes very well. I've removed the covers from my "A" harp and opened the gap on some of the reeds a tiny bit to help with this. It still plays single notes really well but now I can bend that 3 draw a lot easier. I still need to work on it to get it right but at least it bends.
My favorite place to learn about playing the blues is from the You-tube videos of Adam Gussow. These video lessons are well done and Adam is a phenomenal blues harmonica player. He plays Hohner Marine Band harmonicas as do a lot of other blues players. I don't have any of these but have them on my list to get.
If you are interested in learning to play blues or any other style of harmonica you can find what you need just about anyplace online. If you want to know more about how harmonicas work check out this site for the diatonic harps: The Diatonic Harmonica Reference. If you're interested in everything to know about the Chromatic harp click here: Harp On! Chromatic Harmonica Reference. I visit these sites often and find them very helpful. My favorite place to get music for my harmonicas is at http://www.harptabs.com/. They have hundreds of songs available and it is very easy to search for what you want.
How to Play Blues Harmonica
How to play blues harmonica is really easy. You just buy a blues harmonica and play it, right? I'll bet that's not the smart guy answer you were looking. Well, here's the truth, you can play blues on more than just a "blues harmonica."
I play blues riffs on any of seven different diatonic harmonicas. I favor the Hohner Golden Melody harps for single note folk songs and fiddle tunes, and I use these for my blues tunes as well. I have Lee Oskar and Hohner Special 20 harps too. The harp I use the most though is a Hohner 10 hole harmonica called "The Chromonica." This is a great harp that is easy to blow with a good sound.
I bought a book called "Three Minutes to Chromatic Harmonica" written by David Harp. It includes three CD's to help you work your way through the lessons. I'm not yet all the way through the book but I am in the last chapter. I'll be going back again to re-do many of the lessons, and to memorize the riffs. I've done this already and I can see and feel the differences.
So, if you want to learn play the blues on a harmonica, you can start with the harp you already have. If you don't have one, then buy a low-end harp in the key of C to start. It can be a "Pocket Pal" or "Old Standby" by Hohner, or others by Suzuki, Lee Oskar, or Huang to name a few. Get a lesson book with CD's and listen to your favorite blues radio stations. Play along with your CD's and the music on the radio. The key is to practice as much as you can, and above all have fun.
I play blues riffs on any of seven different diatonic harmonicas. I favor the Hohner Golden Melody harps for single note folk songs and fiddle tunes, and I use these for my blues tunes as well. I have Lee Oskar and Hohner Special 20 harps too. The harp I use the most though is a Hohner 10 hole harmonica called "The Chromonica." This is a great harp that is easy to blow with a good sound.
I bought a book called "Three Minutes to Chromatic Harmonica" written by David Harp. It includes three CD's to help you work your way through the lessons. I'm not yet all the way through the book but I am in the last chapter. I'll be going back again to re-do many of the lessons, and to memorize the riffs. I've done this already and I can see and feel the differences.
So, if you want to learn play the blues on a harmonica, you can start with the harp you already have. If you don't have one, then buy a low-end harp in the key of C to start. It can be a "Pocket Pal" or "Old Standby" by Hohner, or others by Suzuki, Lee Oskar, or Huang to name a few. Get a lesson book with CD's and listen to your favorite blues radio stations. Play along with your CD's and the music on the radio. The key is to practice as much as you can, and above all have fun.
Finding the Harp That Fit's Your Needs
Harmonicas- Finding the Harp that Fits Your Needs
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Chris_Robertson]Chris Robertson
Harmonicas are wonderful musical instruments. They're versatile, they're relatively inexpensive, they fit in your pocket, and their music can evoke a wide range of feelings. Harmonicas - or harps, as they are commonly called - are used in a wide variety of musical genres, such as bluegrass, the blues, folk, rock, country, Gospel, jazz, and even Classical music.
If you want to learn to play the harp and are planning to take instruction, you should understand the different types of harmonicas that are available. The leading makers of harmonicas include Suzuki, Hering, Hohner, and Bushman. Beyond brands, though, there are other differences you should know about.
The harmonica that most people are familiar with is the ten-hole "Blues harp." Each of the holes has two reeds, which are tuned to play different notes. Blues harps come in virtually every key, and each harmonica can play 19 musical notes.
Blues harps are a subcategory of diatonic harmonicas, so named because of the two reeds in each hole. Diatonic harmonics generally play only one key. Another type of diatonic harmonica is the octave harmonica, which is tuned so that each hole plays the same note, only an octave apart from one another. The tremolo harmonica also has two reeds, but one plays a slightly flat note and the other plays a slightly sharp note.
A different category of harmonica is the chromatic harmonica. These harmonicas typically have twelve, fourteen, or sixteen holes, and four reeds per hole. They also have a sliding bar that moves the air from the mouthpiece to a specific reed plate. Chromatic harmonicas are most often used in jazz and Classical music.
Harmonica Instruction
When you learn to play the harmonica, you'll first be taught how to breathe correctly. Because successfully playing the harmonica involves both breathing out and breathing in, it's important to breathe from your diaphragm. You'll also learn how to correctly hold the harmonica, how to move it, and how to position your lips so you'll achieve the right notes. You'll also learn harmonica tablature, or tabs, which in instruction that replaces the need for learning to read music. Harmonica tabs tell you what actions you need to take, such as blowing in the fifth and sixth holes, rather than simply showing you music notation. For example, tablature might indicate an upward arrow with a number above it, indicating that you need to blow on that numbered hole, followed by a downward area with a number on top, indicating that you need to inhale on that hole. Tabs make learning to play the harmonica much easier than learning to play other instruments.
Choosing a Harp
Most harmonica instruction is given in the key of C, so it's probably best to buy a diatonic or Blues harp in the key of C. Most experts recommend that beginners purchase harmonicas with plastic or aluminum combs (the body of the harmonica) rather than wood. Plastic and metal are both more comfortable and more durable. However, you should be aware that, over time, you'll probably buy and try several different brands of harmonicas. Each person is unique, and each has to find the harmonica that is the best fit for his or her playing style.
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular [http://www.majon.com]internet marketing companies on the web.
Learn more about [http://www.HarpDepot.com/]Finding the Right Harmonica or Majon's [http://www.majon.com/directory/Music]Music directory
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Robertson http://EzineArticles.com/?Harmonicas--Finding-the-Harp-that-Fits-Your-Needs&id=611074
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Chris_Robertson]Chris Robertson
Harmonicas are wonderful musical instruments. They're versatile, they're relatively inexpensive, they fit in your pocket, and their music can evoke a wide range of feelings. Harmonicas - or harps, as they are commonly called - are used in a wide variety of musical genres, such as bluegrass, the blues, folk, rock, country, Gospel, jazz, and even Classical music.
If you want to learn to play the harp and are planning to take instruction, you should understand the different types of harmonicas that are available. The leading makers of harmonicas include Suzuki, Hering, Hohner, and Bushman. Beyond brands, though, there are other differences you should know about.
The harmonica that most people are familiar with is the ten-hole "Blues harp." Each of the holes has two reeds, which are tuned to play different notes. Blues harps come in virtually every key, and each harmonica can play 19 musical notes.
Blues harps are a subcategory of diatonic harmonicas, so named because of the two reeds in each hole. Diatonic harmonics generally play only one key. Another type of diatonic harmonica is the octave harmonica, which is tuned so that each hole plays the same note, only an octave apart from one another. The tremolo harmonica also has two reeds, but one plays a slightly flat note and the other plays a slightly sharp note.
A different category of harmonica is the chromatic harmonica. These harmonicas typically have twelve, fourteen, or sixteen holes, and four reeds per hole. They also have a sliding bar that moves the air from the mouthpiece to a specific reed plate. Chromatic harmonicas are most often used in jazz and Classical music.
Harmonica Instruction
When you learn to play the harmonica, you'll first be taught how to breathe correctly. Because successfully playing the harmonica involves both breathing out and breathing in, it's important to breathe from your diaphragm. You'll also learn how to correctly hold the harmonica, how to move it, and how to position your lips so you'll achieve the right notes. You'll also learn harmonica tablature, or tabs, which in instruction that replaces the need for learning to read music. Harmonica tabs tell you what actions you need to take, such as blowing in the fifth and sixth holes, rather than simply showing you music notation. For example, tablature might indicate an upward arrow with a number above it, indicating that you need to blow on that numbered hole, followed by a downward area with a number on top, indicating that you need to inhale on that hole. Tabs make learning to play the harmonica much easier than learning to play other instruments.
Choosing a Harp
Most harmonica instruction is given in the key of C, so it's probably best to buy a diatonic or Blues harp in the key of C. Most experts recommend that beginners purchase harmonicas with plastic or aluminum combs (the body of the harmonica) rather than wood. Plastic and metal are both more comfortable and more durable. However, you should be aware that, over time, you'll probably buy and try several different brands of harmonicas. Each person is unique, and each has to find the harmonica that is the best fit for his or her playing style.
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular [http://www.majon.com]internet marketing companies on the web.
Learn more about [http://www.HarpDepot.com/]Finding the Right Harmonica or Majon's [http://www.majon.com/directory/Music]Music directory
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Robertson http://EzineArticles.com/?Harmonicas--Finding-the-Harp-that-Fits-Your-Needs&id=611074
Types of Harmonicas
Types of Harmonica
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Peter_Lenkefi]Peter Lenkefi
There are basically three types of harmonica, though a few more have come into existence with even more modified features.the right selection of the desired harmonica should be based on the style of music one wants to play and the kind of effects he wants to put in. There are 3 basic types: the diatonic harmonica, the tremolo harmonica and the chromatic harmonica.
1. Diatonic Harmonicas This was the first type of harmonica to be created. Although they are most commonly used to play blues and country, one will be able to play all kinds of popular music with a diatonic harmonica.
A diatonic harmonica has 10 holes and permits the player to use the tones and semi-tones equivalent to the white notes on a piano (using the scale of C major as an example) However, it is possible to play other notes by using bending and over blow techniques.
2. Tremolo Harmonicas: This type of harmonica is ideal for playing very traditional music because one may easily create a wonderful ‘tremolo’ effect. It is very popular with Gospel and old world; Folk, Country, Scottish and Irish music.
Tremolo harmonicas are constructed with double holes placed vertically. Each contains two reeds, one slightly de-tuned to the other. When vibrating together, these reeds produce a unique tremolo effect.
3. Chromatic Harmonicas: The chromatic harmonica has been created to compensate for the missing notes on the diatonic harmonica. You will be able to play both the tones and semi-tones of a chromatic scale (a chromatic scale is when both white notes and black notes are played in succession; C, Db, D, Eb, E etc) helped by a slide button.
A few other types of harmonicas are-
OCTAVE TUNED-
Octave harmonicas are similar to Tremolo models in reed layout and musical range. Instead of having reeds tuned to the same note, however, each double hole has one reed tuned an octave apart from the other.
SPECIAL TUNED DIATONICS- This is used for enjoying the advantage of additional notes and scales which are not present in chromatic harmonica.
CHORD AND BRASS HARMONICA- These are two more types of harmonica which are basically used for ensemble performances.
There are thousands of different models present in the market,be it a diatonic or a chromatic harmonica,and different models of different other types of harmonica.harmonicas can be made up of metal or plastic.
For more more information about harmonica types please visit http://www.learn-to-play-the-harmonica.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Lenkefi http://EzineArticles.com/?Types-of-Harmonica&id=77045
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Peter_Lenkefi]Peter Lenkefi
There are basically three types of harmonica, though a few more have come into existence with even more modified features.the right selection of the desired harmonica should be based on the style of music one wants to play and the kind of effects he wants to put in. There are 3 basic types: the diatonic harmonica, the tremolo harmonica and the chromatic harmonica.
1. Diatonic Harmonicas This was the first type of harmonica to be created. Although they are most commonly used to play blues and country, one will be able to play all kinds of popular music with a diatonic harmonica.
A diatonic harmonica has 10 holes and permits the player to use the tones and semi-tones equivalent to the white notes on a piano (using the scale of C major as an example) However, it is possible to play other notes by using bending and over blow techniques.
2. Tremolo Harmonicas: This type of harmonica is ideal for playing very traditional music because one may easily create a wonderful ‘tremolo’ effect. It is very popular with Gospel and old world; Folk, Country, Scottish and Irish music.
Tremolo harmonicas are constructed with double holes placed vertically. Each contains two reeds, one slightly de-tuned to the other. When vibrating together, these reeds produce a unique tremolo effect.
3. Chromatic Harmonicas: The chromatic harmonica has been created to compensate for the missing notes on the diatonic harmonica. You will be able to play both the tones and semi-tones of a chromatic scale (a chromatic scale is when both white notes and black notes are played in succession; C, Db, D, Eb, E etc) helped by a slide button.
A few other types of harmonicas are-
OCTAVE TUNED-
Octave harmonicas are similar to Tremolo models in reed layout and musical range. Instead of having reeds tuned to the same note, however, each double hole has one reed tuned an octave apart from the other.
SPECIAL TUNED DIATONICS- This is used for enjoying the advantage of additional notes and scales which are not present in chromatic harmonica.
CHORD AND BRASS HARMONICA- These are two more types of harmonica which are basically used for ensemble performances.
There are thousands of different models present in the market,be it a diatonic or a chromatic harmonica,and different models of different other types of harmonica.harmonicas can be made up of metal or plastic.
For more more information about harmonica types please visit http://www.learn-to-play-the-harmonica.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Lenkefi http://EzineArticles.com/?Types-of-Harmonica&id=77045
Which Harp?
TITLE: Learn to Play Harmonica - Which Harp Should I Use?
When you learn to play harmonica you will discover that there are a number of options in what type you can play. If you are a little confused about your options then read on and decide for yourself what type would suit you best. For future reference the harmonica is also referred to as a 'harp'.
It is always a good idea to start at the beginning. Most people learn to play on the 10 hole diatonic version. Quite simply, they are considered the easiest to play. They also provide a good grounding for a player to hone their technique. However, it is somewhat of a general term because it refers to any harmonica that is to be played in one key only. In general, you can expect a standard harp to be in the key of C and is the most prevalent of all the mouth organs out there.
The chromatic harmonica is a well known instrument as many of the legends of this genre tend to showcase their talents with one of these. The harp is similar in appearance to the diatonic but has a button activated slide bar as part of its construction.
Without getting too scientific this slide bar acts as a funnel from the point where air is blown in and directed to the preferred reed plate that the musician has opted for. The effect of this is the creation of more varied notes and in the case of a larger harmonica (standard sizes are 10 holes) more keys can be accessed. It's fair to say that if you have just started to learn to play harmonica the chromatic may be a bit of a mouthful. More advanced musicians will want to take advantage of it's versatility and the greater challenge
The tremolo harmonica is a more specialized type. It creates what can be described as a wailing tone. The unique structure of having a double reed per hole is responsible for this. There are no particular reasons why you shouldn't try this version as a means of providing your playing with a bit of variety.
The ChengGong harmonica is a large diatonic harmonica with a mouthpiece that actually slides across the main body. The number of notes and chords that can be produced is remarkable due to this structure. As you learn to play harmonica and start to really improve this version can be used to expand your range. If you are interested in joining an orchestra then playing the harmonica will not limit you. There are specific types that are constructed to be used as part of a wider collection of orchestral instruments.
For example, there is the chord harmonica where a great number of chords can be produced through the double reed 4 note cluster arrangement. The harmonica itself is quite large in comparison to its cousins and has great capacity to produce memorable sounds. If you've never come across one of these I urge you to search on You Tube to see how remarkable this harmonica is.
For lots more information on the harmonica world check out the links below.
Click here for more info on how to learn to play harmonica. Check out this site for tips on which harmonica set to buy.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Benny_Lewis
http://EzineArticles.com/?Learn-to-Play-Harmonica---Which-Harp-Should-I-Use?&id=2891549
When you learn to play harmonica you will discover that there are a number of options in what type you can play. If you are a little confused about your options then read on and decide for yourself what type would suit you best. For future reference the harmonica is also referred to as a 'harp'.
It is always a good idea to start at the beginning. Most people learn to play on the 10 hole diatonic version. Quite simply, they are considered the easiest to play. They also provide a good grounding for a player to hone their technique. However, it is somewhat of a general term because it refers to any harmonica that is to be played in one key only. In general, you can expect a standard harp to be in the key of C and is the most prevalent of all the mouth organs out there.
The chromatic harmonica is a well known instrument as many of the legends of this genre tend to showcase their talents with one of these. The harp is similar in appearance to the diatonic but has a button activated slide bar as part of its construction.
Without getting too scientific this slide bar acts as a funnel from the point where air is blown in and directed to the preferred reed plate that the musician has opted for. The effect of this is the creation of more varied notes and in the case of a larger harmonica (standard sizes are 10 holes) more keys can be accessed. It's fair to say that if you have just started to learn to play harmonica the chromatic may be a bit of a mouthful. More advanced musicians will want to take advantage of it's versatility and the greater challenge
The tremolo harmonica is a more specialized type. It creates what can be described as a wailing tone. The unique structure of having a double reed per hole is responsible for this. There are no particular reasons why you shouldn't try this version as a means of providing your playing with a bit of variety.
The ChengGong harmonica is a large diatonic harmonica with a mouthpiece that actually slides across the main body. The number of notes and chords that can be produced is remarkable due to this structure. As you learn to play harmonica and start to really improve this version can be used to expand your range. If you are interested in joining an orchestra then playing the harmonica will not limit you. There are specific types that are constructed to be used as part of a wider collection of orchestral instruments.
For example, there is the chord harmonica where a great number of chords can be produced through the double reed 4 note cluster arrangement. The harmonica itself is quite large in comparison to its cousins and has great capacity to produce memorable sounds. If you've never come across one of these I urge you to search on You Tube to see how remarkable this harmonica is.
For lots more information on the harmonica world check out the links below.
Click here for more info on how to learn to play harmonica. Check out this site for tips on which harmonica set to buy.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Benny_Lewis
http://EzineArticles.com/?Learn-to-Play-Harmonica---Which-Harp-Should-I-Use?&id=2891549
How to Play Blues Harmonica
How to Play Blues Harmonica - To Get Started Right - Here's What You Need to Know
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Shelton]Matthew Shelton
First of all it's important to know that there is not a separate, "blues" harmonica instrument - "blues harmonica" is instead a style of playing the harmonica. Blues harmonica is played most often on the major diatonic 10 hole harmonica.
Harmonicas were invented in Germany in the 1800s and were at the time were basically used to play the "oom-pa-pa" or classical music or folk tunes of the time and of that area. The major diatonic harmonicas really haven't changed their tuning very much since that time.
That doesn't mean that you have to play folk, classical, or oom-pa-pa music on the diatonic harmonica, it just means that you have to play in a different style, and with a few different techniques, in order to get the blues harmonica sound.
The first that has to be done in order to be able to play in the blues harmonica style and get the blues harmonica sound is to no longer play using the built-in blow-oriented tuning of the diatonic harmonica.
Instead, what you do is play in what's called second position or "crossharp".
In second position playing, your root note for the harmonica is the #2 draw on the harmonica ("draw" means inhale in harmonica language), NOT the #1 blow (which is the standard folk, classical, oom-pa-pa position).
The second position takes advantage of the DRAW CHORD which is built into the first four holes of the diatonic harmonica, which is a seventh chord - seventh chords are extremely important for blues music.
So now you have a new orientation for your harmonica playing: away from the BLOW-oriented style of the first position, to the DRAW-oriented of the 2nd position which uses the root note #2 draw, or the root chord you could also say, on the diatonic harmonica.
By starting on the #2 draw - what you have is a different scale that you are taking advantage of on the harmonica - technically it is a minor pentatonic scale.
However, this particular pentatonic scale has flatted notes or "blue" notes in it in order to get that "bluesy" sound, and is a specialized scale often called the blues scale. To get the flatted "blue" notes in the blues harmonica style it is necessary to become proficient at a technique called "bending notes" on the harmonica.
Bending a note on the harmonica is actually creating a note that wasn't built into the harmonica - it's almost a magical thing. The harmonica works by air flowing a brass reed that is riveted in a slot. The harmonica has one blow reed and one draw reed right above it in each slot. When the harmonica is assembled, you don't see the slots, but just know that these reeds, 1 blow and 1 draw, are in the same hole, one above the other.
You have 10 holes in the typical major diatonic harmonica, and 10 blow and 10 draw notes, so you have twenty built-in notes.
By bending notes, you can get considerably more notes, and more often than not it is these bent notes that gives the harmonica its' "soul" and its' very "vocal" sound.
How to bend a note is quite a study unto itself, but the main thing you are doing while bending a note is changing the air pressure while the air is flowing over the reed, and in almost all cases this will be on a draw note.
To get started bending notes, choose one of the harmonica holes that usually is one of the easier notes to bend, the #2 draw.
First you must have a good single note technique. That is, you must be good at playing only one hole at a time without other holes leaking in their sound.
Next - you draw in the #2 draw with that clear relaxed single note style so you can hear what that single note is supposed to sound like, and imagine that you are articulating the vowel "E" while drawing in on the #2 draw.
Three: Exhale so that you have a lot of air to work with on the #2 draw, and while drawing in saying "E", without changing anything else inside your mouth, change the vowel articulation to "OOO" or "AAAH".
What this ultimately will do will be to change the air pressure inside that slot and will cause the brass reed to vibrate at a different rate, and the reed will be "bent" down.This gives you your bent note or "blue" note.
Harmonicas come in many different keys: the higher the pitch of harmonica, the shorter the reed. The shorter the reed, the harder it is to bend the note, at least until you get used to it. So start with at least a midrange harmonica such as the key of C, or go to a lower pitch harmonica key such as an A or even lower, a G harmonica, to practice bending notes.
The actual bending technique will be the same for all keys, but you will find it easier to learn the bending technique initially on the lower pitch harmonicas.
So those are the main elements of how to play blues harmonica:
1. Playing in the 2nd position or "crossharp" style
2. Playing in a pentatonic blues scale
3. Getting the "missing" blue notes of the scale by using the bending technique.
Blues harmonica is the root technique of almost all other harmonica styles, so whether you are a blues fan or not, it is a great place to start learning more fun techniques on the harmonica.
You can go to [http://harmonica.com]harmonica.com to get more help on how to play blues harmonica, especially the bending technique.
Matthew Shelton is the founder of [http://harmonica.com]Harmonica.com, your best source for harmonica instruments, books, audio and video. You CAN learn to play the harmonica, and you can carry it with you to have fun wherever you go!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Shelton http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Play-Blues-Harmonica---To-Get-Started-Right---Heres-What-You-Need-to-Know&id=1769216
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Shelton]Matthew Shelton
First of all it's important to know that there is not a separate, "blues" harmonica instrument - "blues harmonica" is instead a style of playing the harmonica. Blues harmonica is played most often on the major diatonic 10 hole harmonica.
Harmonicas were invented in Germany in the 1800s and were at the time were basically used to play the "oom-pa-pa" or classical music or folk tunes of the time and of that area. The major diatonic harmonicas really haven't changed their tuning very much since that time.
That doesn't mean that you have to play folk, classical, or oom-pa-pa music on the diatonic harmonica, it just means that you have to play in a different style, and with a few different techniques, in order to get the blues harmonica sound.
The first that has to be done in order to be able to play in the blues harmonica style and get the blues harmonica sound is to no longer play using the built-in blow-oriented tuning of the diatonic harmonica.
Instead, what you do is play in what's called second position or "crossharp".
In second position playing, your root note for the harmonica is the #2 draw on the harmonica ("draw" means inhale in harmonica language), NOT the #1 blow (which is the standard folk, classical, oom-pa-pa position).
The second position takes advantage of the DRAW CHORD which is built into the first four holes of the diatonic harmonica, which is a seventh chord - seventh chords are extremely important for blues music.
So now you have a new orientation for your harmonica playing: away from the BLOW-oriented style of the first position, to the DRAW-oriented of the 2nd position which uses the root note #2 draw, or the root chord you could also say, on the diatonic harmonica.
By starting on the #2 draw - what you have is a different scale that you are taking advantage of on the harmonica - technically it is a minor pentatonic scale.
However, this particular pentatonic scale has flatted notes or "blue" notes in it in order to get that "bluesy" sound, and is a specialized scale often called the blues scale. To get the flatted "blue" notes in the blues harmonica style it is necessary to become proficient at a technique called "bending notes" on the harmonica.
Bending a note on the harmonica is actually creating a note that wasn't built into the harmonica - it's almost a magical thing. The harmonica works by air flowing a brass reed that is riveted in a slot. The harmonica has one blow reed and one draw reed right above it in each slot. When the harmonica is assembled, you don't see the slots, but just know that these reeds, 1 blow and 1 draw, are in the same hole, one above the other.
You have 10 holes in the typical major diatonic harmonica, and 10 blow and 10 draw notes, so you have twenty built-in notes.
By bending notes, you can get considerably more notes, and more often than not it is these bent notes that gives the harmonica its' "soul" and its' very "vocal" sound.
How to bend a note is quite a study unto itself, but the main thing you are doing while bending a note is changing the air pressure while the air is flowing over the reed, and in almost all cases this will be on a draw note.
To get started bending notes, choose one of the harmonica holes that usually is one of the easier notes to bend, the #2 draw.
First you must have a good single note technique. That is, you must be good at playing only one hole at a time without other holes leaking in their sound.
Next - you draw in the #2 draw with that clear relaxed single note style so you can hear what that single note is supposed to sound like, and imagine that you are articulating the vowel "E" while drawing in on the #2 draw.
Three: Exhale so that you have a lot of air to work with on the #2 draw, and while drawing in saying "E", without changing anything else inside your mouth, change the vowel articulation to "OOO" or "AAAH".
What this ultimately will do will be to change the air pressure inside that slot and will cause the brass reed to vibrate at a different rate, and the reed will be "bent" down.This gives you your bent note or "blue" note.
Harmonicas come in many different keys: the higher the pitch of harmonica, the shorter the reed. The shorter the reed, the harder it is to bend the note, at least until you get used to it. So start with at least a midrange harmonica such as the key of C, or go to a lower pitch harmonica key such as an A or even lower, a G harmonica, to practice bending notes.
The actual bending technique will be the same for all keys, but you will find it easier to learn the bending technique initially on the lower pitch harmonicas.
So those are the main elements of how to play blues harmonica:
1. Playing in the 2nd position or "crossharp" style
2. Playing in a pentatonic blues scale
3. Getting the "missing" blue notes of the scale by using the bending technique.
Blues harmonica is the root technique of almost all other harmonica styles, so whether you are a blues fan or not, it is a great place to start learning more fun techniques on the harmonica.
You can go to [http://harmonica.com]harmonica.com to get more help on how to play blues harmonica, especially the bending technique.
Matthew Shelton is the founder of [http://harmonica.com]Harmonica.com, your best source for harmonica instruments, books, audio and video. You CAN learn to play the harmonica, and you can carry it with you to have fun wherever you go!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Shelton http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Play-Blues-Harmonica---To-Get-Started-Right---Heres-What-You-Need-to-Know&id=1769216
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