Absolute Beginners – Harmonica

This easy-to-follow video lesson will take you through the basics to playing complete songs. It includes clear demonstrations and jargon-free explanations about: basic music notation, your first notes and chords, special effects like bends, trills, and wah, playing your first song.

Lesson

• Introduction (05:26) - In this first video, Rob Paparozzi welcomes us to the course.

• Harmonica Basics (02:49) - Rob breaks down harmonica basics.

• Holding the Harmonica (00:56) - See how to properly hold the harmonica.

• Your First Song (01:08) - Rob teaches us our first song.

• Finding Notes (01:45) - Learn how to find and play notes on the harmonica.

• Moving Around (01:16) - Rob shows us the technique for moving around the harmonica.

• Your First Concert Piece (01:21) - In this video, Rob teaches us our first concert piece.

• Tonguing Notes (01:44) - Learn how to correctly tounge notes.

• Playing Two Notes Only (02:13) - Rob teaches us how to play only two notes.

• Playing Single Notes (02:03) - Now, Rob teaches us to play one note only.

• Additional Repertoire (04:40) - In this video, Rob teaches us a couple more songs.

Advanced Techniques

• The Wah (00:38) - Rob demonstrates the wah technique.

• Trills (00:58) - Next, Rob shows us trills.

• Tremolo (01:02) - Learn to use tremolo while playing.

• Vibrato (00:34) - In this video, Rob breaks down vibrato.

• Tongue Trills (00:36) - Rob discusses the technique for tongue trills.

• Fast Trills & Rasps (00:30) - See how to play fast trills and rasps.

• The Train (00:39) - Next, Rob shows us how to play "The Train".

• Bends (01:55) - Rob teaches us how to play bends.

• Tongue Blocking (02:18) - Learn how to use tongue blocking.

• Putting It All Together (01:27) - See how to put everything we have learned into our playing.

• Moving On (06:15) - Rob wraps up the lesson with a few final thoughts.

Backing Tracks

• Blow for Four (00:30) - Play along with the backing track "Blow for Four".

• Blow for Four, Draw for More (00:30) - Play along with the backing track "Blow for Four, Draw for More".

• Goin' Around (Practice Version) (00:30) - Play along with the backing track for the practice version of "Goin' Around".

• Goin' Around (Full Version) (01:13) - Play along with the backing track for the full version of "Goin' Around".

• Jingle Bells (01:06) - Play along with the backing track "Jingle Bells".

• Skip To My Lou (00:41) - Play along with the backing track "Skip To My Lou".

• When the Saints Go Marching In (01:11) - Play along with the backing track "When the Saints Go Marching In".

• My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean (00:55) - Play along with the backing track "My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean".

• The Yellow Rose of Texas (01:06) - Play along with the backing track "The Yellow Rose of Texas".

• The Leaving of Liverpool (01:25) - Play along with the backing track "The Leaving of Liverpool".