How to Play Harmonica Fast | Harmonica Lessons

-
-

Hi, I'm John Popper, lead singer of the band Blues Traveler. I also play harmonica, and am arguably one of the best in the world. But thank God, there really never can be an actual best, but I'm damn good. I'm gonna teach you a few things about the harmonica.

Well, one way to play fast is, have a very trusting friend hold the harmonica. And then get a Lamborghini, stick your face out of the window and your gonna have to practice this a few times. You want to line your lips up to go right next to the harp, as you drive by. Now, you want to try this at about 10 miles an hour first,gradually increasing your speed to about 40 or 50 and then, I'd just like, go for it. Like, do about a 210 miles an hour just, and that's all you gotta do.

My point is that, I can play really fast. Anyone can just go...What is it you want to say when your playing fast? That's the thing. You want to play as fast as you can play accurately. In that regard, harmonica playing is just like shooting something. You can just go, bang-bang-bang-bang-bang, but what is it your trying to hit? You actually want to shoot as fast as you can while hitting what your aiming at. And I think music is very similar to that.

Speed should be incidental here. I think that it's a bi-product of knowing something really well and it's a nervous reflex perhaps. I've seen people who were faster than me, I've seen people who were slower than me but, the most important thing is to be saying something. To have a phrase. If you want to be a fast player and to have people noticing your fast, you're not really trying to do that. You're trying to have an elaborate phrase. So, be more elaborate than fast.

[mikeboltz]

At this point I don’t even care about the harmonica lesson... I just love that he speaks with such a pure heart. I’d could listen to him talk about anything.

[jessboyd]

The man speaks with total confidence, and that is the message he is trying to relay to people watching these videos, you must have confidence in EVERYTHING you do to be successful. So when he says he is "arguably the best in the world" and that he is " damn good", I believe him because he was confident when he said it. Besides, that confidence is a "blues" thing, find me one blue's musician that didn't make statements like that and I'll eat my harp.

[RHCPUNE]

Salutes John. So much said in so little time.

[JimPlattes]

Howard Levy might be the "best" diatonic player. Mr. Popper is very good and there are very good tips in his videos.

[pabdouhar]

Well said, I like the correlation to shooting...”Slow is Smooth and Smooth is Fast”!

[jackbliss]

hey John popper in 38 and in love with music. i have never in my life been able to play. i feel i have so much to express and it feels like the harmonica may be my way of doing so. point is im getting at you. and no one else. i feel it i want it and you are showing me me the way. #icon

[rmachayes]

Hey John, I don't have a Lamborghini (can't even spell it), but I do have a 2003 Silverado with the standard 350 motor.  I think it will do about 187mph on the Interstate. Would this do?

[nicco]

Toots is my favourite....from the moment i saw ''Midnight Cowboy'' saw him live, absolutely chilling and unforgettable.Obviously Popper has never heard the phrase...''Self praise is no recommendation''

[harmonica]

Hi, John, so who would you say is faster than you Jason Ricci or is it LD Miller or someone else?" My mentor and Harmonica player back in 1975. was the fastest Harmonica player and no one could beat him not that Harmonica is about beating anyone but he was so fast you needed a radar gun on him. I think he is still the fastest in the world today. He has a mean vibrato and a nice tone. I would like to know who you think is the fastest Harmonica player you have heard. I think you are a pretty fast player. Thank You for sharing this video I look forward to hearing from you.

[levitrumpet]

OMG This is the 2nd "how to play harmonica" video I've watched in a row featuring John Popper that has had NOTHING TO DO WITH PLAYING THE HARMONICA. I'm done. *pulls hair out*

[levitrumpet]

How about I'll make a video for Howcast called "How to Make Guacamole" and just talk about my new pair of sunglasses, that's about how relevant the rest of this series is.

[Justin-hbwc]

i can play old time harmonica really fast and accurately but i'm usually depressed so i don't really say anything it sounds stale

[chriselrod]

love you john but you aint teachin lessons here...nice tips and philosophical approach though. rock on! 

[ikedetpison]

I agree that he's one of the best chromatic players with Stevie Wonder up there with him. But as far as diatonic players, John Popper is really good. Maybe a bit cocky, but he's still pretty amazing. Best living diatonic player is probably Howard Levy though

[DeathMetalEmoGuy]

Insert joke about fat people not being fast here.

[nicco]

I like Popper and i like B.T....a lot, but statements like ''arguably the best in the world' and '' i'm damn good '' wow man, i have lost respect .The great ones never speak like that.I Have two words for Popper...TOOTS THIELEMANS. Listen and weep.

[glenngarnett]

Thanks for nothing, Jesus can you give us a little lesson, Christ .I can decide on when and how I use it.