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To play like a pro, it’s essential that you
learn how to breathe correctly. It’s the only
way to produce notes that sound full and
pleasing to the ear without running out of
breath.
Blows and Draws
Each note on the harmonica is produced by
blowing or
drawing on the holes.
In some instances, you’ll also change the pitch
of a draw or blow note with a technique called
bending (see
How to
Play Bends on the Harmonica).
- Blow notes (blows): Notes sounded by blowing into the harmonica
- Draw notes (draws): Notes sounded by sucking air out of the harmonica
Nearly all beginners make the understandable
mistake of assuming that to play blows they
should just blow into the harmonica as they
would a balloon, and that to play draws they
should suck in air as they might do to smoke a
cigarette. On the contrary, you should never do
either—the sounds that result will be unpleasant
and difficult to control.
Proper Harmonica Breathing
The steps below show the proper way to play
blows and draws.
- Relax: No need to huff and puff. Breathing into a harmonica should feel like an extension of your natural breathing pattern. Before you start to practice, take a few deep breaths.
- Start from the diaphragm: All harmonica breathing should originate from your diaphragm, the portion of your midsection just above your stomach and just below your sternum. Breathing from the diaphragm will allow you to breathe with power and control. It’s often easier to breathe from the diaphragm if you draw air in through your nose instead of your mouth. If you’re not sure what breathing from your diaphragm feels like, take a few breaths and monitor whether your shoulders rise and fall as you breathe. If you’re truly breathing from your diaphragm, your shoulders should not move.
- Put the harmonica to your mouth: Lick
your lips as well as a few of the middle holes
of the harmonica. Then bring the harmonica to
your mouth so that its holes push just past your
lips and the outside of your mouth and are right
in front of your teeth—don’t simply reach
forward with your lips and put them around the
holes. In proper position, your lips should rest
on the cover plates and press up gently against
the fingers of your left hand. In general, the
deeper you can hold the harmonica in your mouth
while still breathing comfortably, the better
your tone will be. Make sure to maintain
proper hand
positioning, and keep your cup open
about halfway.
- Drop your lower jaw: Without changing the position of your mouth, lower your jaw slightly to expand the resonating space within your mouth. This will improve the tone of the notes you produce.
- Take a few breaths: With the harmonica properly positioned in your mouth, exhale and inhale as you normally would into the holes near the middle of the comb. Continue breathing until your blows and draws begin to feel natural.
As you experiment with blowing and drawing, pay
attention to your posture as well. It’s best to
sit up straight with your shoulders back, not
slouched. In time, you’ll get comfortable
breathing properly in a more casual posture.
How to Build Harmonica-Playing Endurance
Beginners often run out of breath when they
first try harmonica breathing. You might also
find that your lips crack and your mouth dries
quickly as you play. This is natural. Playing
the harmonica is a demanding form of respiratory
exercise, and until you train your body for it,
you’re likely to run out of breath after just a
few minutes. The best way to overcome these
problems is by building up slowly. Try proper
harmonica breathing for five minutes the first
time, then add five minutes each day for a week.
Your body will adapt, and your endurance will
improve quickly.
