1. Pick the correct key harmonica for the song you are playing.
2. Hold the harmonica in the left hand, cup it with your right.
3. Blow into the harmonica hole with the lips pursed to produce a note.
4. Draw air through the harmonica by inhaling.
5. Learn songs easily through harmonica tablature.

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• by Vince

• If you want to sound like Bob Dylan, take some time and learn a few tunes on the harmonica. Hohner: Signature Series The harmonica, or harp as musicians refer to it, is a great way to get into playing music. You can find beginner harmonicas for as little as a few dollars and start off right away playing harp by ear. Guitar Center: Hohner Mini Harmonica

• Playing harmonica well requires a working knowledge of music basics. The information below should cover what you'll need in order to master the harmonica. But if you want a more in-depth tutorial, try reading over Mahalo's complete guide on How to Read Music.

1. Scales. A musical scale includes all the notes in the key of the song you are playing.Free Dictionary: Music Scale For instance, the notes in the key of G are G-A-B-C-D-E and F sharp. How Music Works: The Major Scale
2. Diatonic Scale. This scale has seven notes. Andy Milne: Diatonic The C-major diatonic scale is spelled C-D-E-F-G-A-B.
3. Pentatonic Scale. This scale includes only five notes, instead of seven as in the major scale.Your Dictionary: Pentatonic Scale In C, the pentatonic scale includes C-D-E-G and A. Sax on the Web: Pentatonic and Blues Scale
4. Chromatic Scale. The chromatic scale has 13 notes, including the 8 notes of a diatonic scale and 5 intermediate notes. Dictionary.Die: Chromatic Scale The chromatic scale includes all the notes necessary to produce any scale in any key.
5. Major Key. Bright and happy sounding, the major key in C is C, D, E, F, G, A, B. JMDL: Keys, Scales and Triads
6. Natural Minor Key. Darker in tone than the major key, the natural minor scale in C is spelled C, D, E-flat, F, G, A-flat, B-flat. Study Bass: Natural Minor Scale
7. Bend. To bend a note means to play a note and while playing, raising or lowering the pitch of the note.Harmonica Club: Note Bending for Harmonica If you are playing in the key of C, you could play a G note and lower it to an F-sharp and an F. It's a popular technique in blues, rock and country music.
8. Measure. This is a musical unit made up of typically three or four beats. Music Theory: Rhythm Beats per Measure

• Buying a Harmonica is not as easy as it sounds. There are a number of styles to choose from. Here are a few pointers to get you started.

• Hohner is available in many music stores.Hohner: Home They feature an array of models and styles for just about any style of music.

1. Hohner Special 20. This diatonic harp uses a plastic comb. Hohner: Special 20 Harmonica This plastic part makes bending much more fluid. Angel Fire: Some Basic Definitions It can be found for as low as $29. Amazon: Hohner Special 20 Harmonica
2. Golden Melody. This model has a shape similar to a jelly bean. Harmonica Sessions: Workbench Another diatonic, the playability is medium stiff and lists for $47, although it can be found for as low as $32.99. Amazon: Hohner Golden Melody Harmonica
3. Blues Harp. The Blues Harp has wooden parts and is relatively stiff to play bends for a diatonic. Pat Missin: Does the Hohner Blues Harp Have Thinner Reeds Than Other Harps? Blues Harps can be found on sale for as low as $29.95. 8th Street: Hohner Blues Harp Replaceable reed plates cost $22.95 and allow you to replace only this part if it wears out, meaning you can save a few dollars by replacing the reed instead of buying a new harp. Music 123: Replacement Reed Plates
4. Chromonica. This is a chromatic harp, which means that it can play a chromatic scale. Angel Fire: Chromatic Harmonicas Unlike a C-diatonic harp, which can only play the notes in a C scale, a C-chromatic harp can play any scale. Jazz musicians play chromatic harps, and chromatics have even been used to perform classical compositions. Harmonica Links: Players The Chromonica is priced at $149.99. Musicians Friend: Hohner 270/48 Super Chromonica

• Developed by professional harp player Lee Oskar, member of the band War, these diatonics are used by pros and advanced players as well as beginners. Harmonica Master Class: Lee Oskar The plastic comb makes these harps very easy to play. Also, replaceable reed plates means that you can simply replace the $17 part that wears out instead of having to buy a new harp. Musicians Friend: Lee Oskar Major Diatonic Reed Plates This brand, priced at $27, offers harps tuned in different scales. Guitar Center: Lee Oskar Harmonica

1. Major Diatonic Harmonica. This harp is the model for blues, country and rock. Lee Oskar: Major Diatonic Harmonica The C Major Diatonic Harmonica has the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, B. Tonal Centre: Diatonic Scales
2. Natural Minor Harmonica. This harp is tuned in the natural minor scale. Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Library: Natural Minor Scale The natural minor scale in A is A, B, C, D, E, F, G. Connexions: Minor Keys and Scales This harp makes it possible to play minor key songs easier.
3. Harmonic Minor Harmonica. The harmonic minor in C is spelled C, D, E-flat, F, G, A-flat, B. Tonal Centre: Harmonic Minor This scale is heard in Eastern or Indian music.

• Anybody can pick up the harp, or the "Mississippi Saxophone" as some aficionados call it. The main skills you will need are desire and the ability to breathe in and out!

1. Holding the Harmonica. Hold the harmonica in your left hand so that the numbers over the holes are right-side up. Quamut: How to Hold a Harmonica Hold your left index finger extended along the top of the harmonica, with the thumb along the bottom. Harp Soft: Lessons You can also cover, or "cup," the back of the harmonica with your right hand, muffling the sound for effect.
2. Blow. When you exhale into the harmonica, this is blowing. Harmonica: How to Play Harmonica Single Notes Blowing into the 1st hole on a C diatonic harmonica gives you the note of C. Puckering the lips allows you to play only one note, while relaxing the lips will enable you to play several notes at once.
3. Draw. This means to inhale, drawing air through the harp to create a tone. Harmonica Instruction: Techniques: Breathing Drawing into the low holes of a C diatonic harmonica creates a G chord. Harmonica Instruction: Overview
4. Bend. Note bending is a technique you will definitely need to master to be a good harp player. Harmonica: Harmonica Note Bending A bend is like a draw, except that you tighten your lips around the hole, and draw with enough force to lower the pitch, in other words, bend it. Note that bends are only possible on the 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 holes. If you draw into the 6 hole on a C harmonica, you will get an A, but if you draw harder and bend the note, you are now producing an A-flat.

• After learning to make notes you're ready to make music. The great harp players use these advanced techniques to achieve greater expressiveness.

1. Hand tremolo. As you blow or draw to produce a note, cupping the harmonica in your hands, open and close your hands to produce a change in tone. Dave Gage: General Tips Opening your hands produces a clearer tone, and closing your hands back together muffles the note. Opening and closing the hands rapidly creates a "wah-wah" effect.
2. Overblowing. Overblowing is another way to bend a note. Nationmaster: Overblow Overblows can only be produced on holes 8, 9 and 10. Unlike a basic bend, however, the note is created by blowing into the hole. To overblow on the 10 hole, blow as usual to produce a C note (if you are using a C harp), and tighten the lips to increase the pressure on the reed. At the same time, tilt the harp slightly upward to produce a B or a B-flat.
3. Tablature. Tablature is a system for notating songs that doesn't involve reading music. Harp Tab: Harmonica Tab for 630 Song Snippets Tablature indicates by number the holes you need to use to play a song, an up arrow for a blow and a down arrow for a draw. EZ Folk: How to Read Tablature Learning tablature is a good way to start building a repertoire.

• Put the pieces together with some basic songs and now you're a musician! Blues, country and folk songs are perfect for beginners due to their relative simplicity.

• There are a number of positions you can play on a diatonic harp. With a C harmonica you can play in C, G, E minor and several other keys, each of which requires a different position. Many of the positions are quite tricky, but these two will have you playing songs in no time.

1. Cross Harp. Most great blues players play in second position, or cross harp. Riccardos: Positions To play cross harp, pick the key of the song you want to play, and count up four notes in the scale of that key to pick the key of harmonica you need. For G, count up the scale from G, A, B to C, the fourth note of that scale. You would need a C harp to play blues in G. To play in A, another popular key, you would play cross harp on a D harmonica. BBC: How to Play the Harmonica For E, you would play an A harp. This style requires a lot of drawing and bends.
2. Straight harp. Country music and folk songs quite often involve first position or straight harp. Harmonica Country: Tab Rulers To play straight harp, simply play a song in the key that is marked on your harmonica. To play straight harp in C, play on a C harp. When you play straight harp, you can overblow on the upper holes, bending the notes in the upper register to great effect. jt30: First Position

• Learning tunes and performing with other musicians is a great experience for any harp player. Get a practice routine together to advance your playing.

1. Playing Along with Records. Playing with records is a great way to learn because you can lock in to the rhythm of the song and the melody. While no substitute for playing with other musicians, playing with records is a fool proof method for gaining technique. The Music Minus One series features recordings of bands playing songs without soloists. Music Minus One: Dealers This is perfect for the budding soloist who wants to play along with great accompaniment.
2. Playing with Other Musicians. Find others at about the same skill level as your own and work up a few easy songs. Playing with others is a good way to get feedback on your strengths and weaknesses. Find an organized jam in your area where you can meet and play with other musicians. Bluegrass Music Jams: Find a Regional Jam It's a good way to network while you learn your craft.

• One of the best ways to expose yourself to great harp playing is to listen to recordings of the greats. Soon you will begin recognizing things on the harmonica that you can pick out and play yourself.

1. Sonny Boy Williamson (1899-1965): This great Chicago bluesman became legendary in the 1940s and 1950s as an incomparable stylist. Blues World: Sonny Boy Williamson
2. Charlie Musselwhite (1944- ): Musselwhite is best known for his unusual style, mixing country, folk and blues. Blues Harp: Charlie Musselwhite
3. Little Walter (1930-68): This musician is credited as the first harp player to play through an amplifier. Blues Online: Little Walter In the 1940s, 50s and 60s, he recorded scores of records while playing in the Chicago area.
4. Sonny Terry (1911-86): An influential folk musician, Sonny Terry was also an irrepressible showman. Blues Harp: Sonny Terry
5. Stevie Wonder (1950- ): This pop legend can credit his distinctive style with his choice of instrument, the chromatic harmonica. He has also leant his incredible talents to songs by Sting and many other artists. Wilson and Alroy's Record Review: Stevie Wonder
6. Toots Thielemans (1922- ): Toots Thielemans also uses the chromatic harp. NEA: 2009 NEA Jazz Master Primarily a jazz harmonica player, Thielemans is known for his incredible technique.

• After you invest in a few keys of harmonicas, you'll want to make sure they last you for awhile.

1. Put the instrument back in the case. This will protect your harps from damage and, to a certain extent, from extreme temperatures. You can invest in harp cases that will contain your entire collection too. Harp Case: Home
2. Don't play after eating. If you play after eating crackers, peanuts or other similar foods, particles may end up stuck in your harp. BBC: Blues Harmonica Dos and Don'ts
3. Don't soak the harmonica. Some players leave their harmonicas in water if they have wood combs, which can make the harp easier to play in the short run. However, the comb will warp or crack, and painted surfaces will peel. Hohner: Harmonica Care and Cleaning
4. Run lukewarm water through the harp to remove deposits. Harmonica Lessons: Repairs and Maintenance This will prevent material from building up inside your harp.

• Follow these steps to get started playing harmonica. For about $30 you can invest in that harp and learn a few classic sounds right away. With some diligence and some jamming time, you can start sounding like those harmonica greats of the past and present.