Beginner Harmonica Lesson #1 (Your Very First Lesson)

STEP 1 - Get the Right Harp
✅ Why? The 10-hole diatonic harmonica in the key of C is the easiest and most fun harmonica to learn to play, and all beginner lessons are on C harps.

I recommend getting something like a Lee Oskar or Hohner Special 20, or comparable.

Lee Oskar:

Special 20:

Or if you’re on a tight budget, the best cheap harmonica I’ve found is the East Top 008k which is in $20 range:

STEP 2 - Hold the Harp Right
Just pinching it on one or both sides is perfectly fine right now.

STEP 3 - Learn How to Breathe
Most beginners heave into the harmonica. That excessive force creates terrible tone,
causes reed to choke, and over time makes reeds go out of tune, and eventually break

STEP 4 - THE DEEP RELAXED MOUTH POSITION
If the moist inner portion of your lips is touching the harmonica, then you’re in great shape and you’re ready to start making music.

STEP 5 - Playing Chords
C chord = Blowing anywhere
G chord = Drawing between holes -1234

If you wanna know more about that theory stuff check out my lesson Harmonica Chords for Beginners:

STEP 6: TONE & ARTICULATION
The darkest, roundest tones are taller vowel shapes, “UH” or “OO” as in book.
The brightest icepick tone comes from wider vowel shapes, with the brightest being “EE”

The harmonica players drumsticks are Tuh Kuh.
“T” is the tip of the tongue of the back of the top teeth
“K” is back of the tongue touching of the roof of our mouth at a place called the hard palette

The Train Groove:
1: Start by doing Tuh-Kuh breathing in, then Tuh-kuh breathing out, nice and slow
2: Next, make notes shorter "staccato" = Tut-kut
3: Slowly speed up tempo.
4: The train whistle = draw anywhere above holes 1 and 2. You want the train whistle to sound as lonesome as possible. Try "dwah" articulation and hand wah.

STEP 7: GROOVE WITH THE MUSIC
Any time you listen to music, there’s a pulse that you can bob your head or tap your foot to. Feeling that pulse is step 1 to grooving with the band. Each one of those pulses is called a “beat”. We name our rhythms after how many beats they last.

STEP 8: SINGLE NOTES
One thing you’ll notice I haven’t addressed is playing single notes. That’s cos, if today’s your first day playing harmonica, I wouldn’t even worry about single notes. Harmonica is unique in that learning how to isolate notes is a challenging technique.

A sneak peek into playing single notes: we’re just gonna draw the corner of our lips together and allow our lips to go up and down, keeping them relaxed. RELAXATION is the key to everything.

Piano Man by Billy Joel is a great harmonica song for beginners that doesn’t require single notes:

Heart of Gold by Neil Young is another:

If you have any questions or comments please leave them below. I hope you never quit, and always keep playing the harmonica because it makes the world a better place!

[badriesebua]

What the hell am i doin here? i have data structures final exam tomorrow. i don't even have harmonica.

[MichaelAngeloSarianos]

I wish half the tutorials I watch about anything were as excellent as this.

[FredoOnTV]

I’m gonna learn how to play, mark my words 💯

[annakoreneff]

1st time a tutor has made sense and given me confidence to keep going.

[davidbingley]

Probably one of the best harmonica tutorials I've ever seen.

[taqdees-ultamjeed]

I bought my harmonica 6 years ago. Never used it. Today I found it in the garage. Opened YouTube and searched " How to play Harmonica" and came across on your chanel. Luckyly I have got the C 10 hole harmonica.
Best tutorial on YouTube. You nailed it mans. Thanks.

[brentvandal]

I work nights and can’t wait to practice this. I’m going to practice for a whole year before I show my family.

[RexMcDirkin]

The best tutorial video I’ve ever seen. We need this dude to do a tutorial for every single thing that needs a tutorial. A true gentleman, keep up the good work sir.

[manasikashyap]

Sharing this with my brother who’s helping my dad relearn the harmonica. My dad has Parkinson’s and some memory loss but he still recognizes & loves his harmonica.

[iewcgql]

I hope you are having a great life. You earned it with just one video. Thanks

[TITTYBR]

I ACTUALLY LIVE FOR THE EFFORT PUT IN TO THIS VID LIKE BABY U GAVE US QUALITY

[lazaruswolf]

I've been playing harmonica for years. Hohner Special 20 is fantastic. I love old blues. Learned a lot with a bottle of red wine roaming the train tracks. Years of walking blues. Great way to explain things to beginners.❤

[troycassidy]

I leart harp hitch-hiking around Australia in the 90's. I used to cover huge distances between towns jamming out on my harmonica. Have fun it's a great instrument and you can rock oùt with guitar guys around a fire and take a jam session to a whole new level.

[ljubinkagavran]

Finally retired, I had a desire to learn to play the harmonica years ago, just for fun. If the power goes out, I'll be able to play to myself... I chose this lesson by chance and I was lucky, as I can see. So - thank you.

[TheAngieIshmael]

I play 7 instruments and finally got a harmonica for my birthday!
Can't wait to become good at it and have a good time bringing it along with me.
I got a Hohner Special 20

[datgorl]

I've been looking for a good harmonica tutorial for YEARS I just randomly decided to check again. FINALLY A GOOD ONE!!! THANK YOU!!!

[leonard]

I just ordered my harmonica today, thank you for this tutorial

[jamestrujillo]

AWESOME TUTORIAL!!!
Bro, you have presented the instrument and the essential keys for gaining mastery in such an EXCELLENT way.
I've been playing the harp since I was first given one for my 12 th birthday (a Hohner Marine Band- C flavored) and jamming with others since I turned 16. I've taught others to play as well but you covered in your tutorial EVERYTHING ANYONE NEEDS TO KNOW if they want to enjoy this simple instrument.
As a retired DOE teacher and lover of the blues, you have given the internet and the instrument a gift of a lifetime with your excellent tutorial. Great job, Luke👍🏽🙌🏽👏🏽

[dirkbitner]

Best harmonica teaching videos I have ever come across. Love the way you break everything down. I really appreciate you taking the time to make all these and help beginners out like myself. Thanks for all you do!

[MaximilianoJ]

Thanks a lot for this lessons Luke. I got my Fender Blues Deluxe for my 36 birthday from my momma, just five days ago. My very first instrument in my whole life. Im super excited to learn... I know it gonna take time... But i know thanks to people like you... I will learn the right way from the beginning. Appreciated 🤝