Harmonica is a miniature wind organ that not only has a deep and peculiar sound, but also perfectly combines with a guitar, keyboards and vocals. No wonder that the number of people who want to play the harmonica is growing all over the world!
Tool selection
There are a large number of varieties of harmonicas: chromatic, blues, tremolo, bass, octave, as well as their combinations. The simplest option for a beginner is a diatonic harmonica with ten holes. Key in C major.
Benefits:
- A huge number of courses and educational materials in books and the Internet;
- Jazz and pop songs, familiar to everyone from films and music videos, are mostly played on diatonic;
- Basic lessons learned on diatonic harmonics will be useful for working with any other model;
- As learning progresses, it becomes possible to use a large number of sound effects that fascinate listeners.
When choosing a material, it is better to give preference to metal - it is the most durable and hygienic. Wood panels require additional protection against swelling, while plastic quickly wears out and breaks.
The most common models for beginners include Lee Oskar Major Diatonic, Hohner Golden Melody, Hohner Special 20.
The correct position of the harmonica
The sound of the instrument depends largely on the correct positioning of the hands. Hold the harmonica should be his left hand, and the right to direct the flow of sound. It is the cavity formed by the palms that creates the chamber for resonance. Closing tightly and opening the brush can achieve different effects.
In order to ensure a strong and even flow of air, you need to keep your head level, and your face, throat, tongue and cheeks to completely relax. Harmonics need to tightly and deeply clasp your lips, and not just press it to your mouth. In this case, only the mucous part of the lips contacts the instrument.
Breath
The harmonica is the only wind instrument that produces sound during inhalation and exhalation. The main thing you should pay attention to is that you need to breathe through the harmonic, and not to suck and blow air. The air flow is created by the work of the diaphragm, and not the muscles of the cheeks and mouth. At first, the sound can be quiet, but as you practice, a beautiful and even sound will come.
How to play the harmonica single notes and chords
The sound row of the diatonic harmonic is built in such a way that three holes in a row form consonance. Therefore, to extract a chord on the harmonica is easier than a note.
During the game, the musician is faced with the need to play notes one by one. In this case, the adjacent holes are blocked by the lips or tongue. It may be necessary to help yourself at first by pressing your fingers on the corners of the mouth.
Basic technology
Studying chords and individual sounds will allow you to play simple melodies and improvise a little. But in order to unlock the full potential of the harmonica, you need to master special techniques and techniques. The most common ones are:
- Trill - the alternation of a pair of neighboring notes, one of the common melodies in music.
- Glissando - smooth, sliding transition of three and more notes into a single consonance. A similar technique in which all notes are used to the end is called drop off
- Tremolo - a trembling sound effect that is created by squeezing and unclenching the palms or lip vibrations.
- Band - change the tone of the note, by adjusting the force and direction of air flow.
Final Recommendations
You can understand how to play the harmonica, not knowing the musical notation. However, after spending time learning, the musician will have the opportunity to read and study a large number of melodies, as well as record their own work.
Do not be intimidated by the letter designations of musical sounds - they are easy to understand (A is A, B is C, C is C, D is D, E is MI, F is F, and finally G is G)
If learning takes place independently, a voice recorder, a metronome and a mirror can be useful in the work - for constant control over themselves. Accompaning ready-made music will help prepare for live music.
Here you are finally a positive video.
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