Harmonica is one of the most popular and easiest to learn musical instruments.
Beginners Guide
Harmonicas are extremely portable and affordable. For absolute beginners it maybe fine to start learning with a cheap 10-hole diatonic ‘C’ scale harmonica. However, cheap harmonicas may not last long enough.
How to hold a harmonica
Hold the harmonica in your left hand as shown in the picture above. Put the harmonica in your lips, and make sure your lips cover the top and bottom of the harmonica so that no air can escape.
Exhale or blow gently into the harmonica. The lower notes should be on the left. Move your harmonica when you change notes, not your head. After playing tap your harmonica against your palm to remove any excess moisture.
Ready to play
Assume the holes of the harmonica are numbered from 1 to 10 from the left. We use those numbers and numbers with a minus sign in front in all harmonica tabs (songs) we post on this website.
For any positive numbers (without any sign in front) e.g. 3, exhale into the corresponding numbered harmonica hole. If the number is a negative number with a minus sign in front of it e.g. -5, inhale at the corresponding numbered harmonica hole.
How it sounds like
Sample