| Have you tried to play the harmonica before? Have | | | | into your mouth with your top lip covering about |
| you only gotten squeaks, squawks, and other not so | | | | two-thirds of your lip covering the top plate. Your |
| clear sounds out of the little instrument? Well fear | | | | bottom lip should cover about half of the bottom |
| not, I am going to describe how you too can get | | | | plate. |
| crisp clear notes out of the little tin sandwich. I will | | | | Now, you probably look like you are munching away |
| describe what is called the 'Deep Relaxed | | | | on this little tin sandwich. What you are going to do |
| Embouchure' that will get that sound you so desire | | | | next is tilt the back of the harmonica up towards |
| out of that so called 'child's toy'. When you finish | | | | your nose to what would be about a 40 or 45 |
| reading this article you will be able to get a great | | | | degree angle. Your top lip will slide a bit more over |
| tone that will make your friends and family actually | | | | the top of the harp while your bottom lip will slide |
| want to hear you play that harp. | | | | just a touch back. |
| Most books, video, and CDs on harmonica instruction | | | | Now blow and draw into your harp. Sounds great, |
| tell you to use what is called the 'pucker method' to | | | | keep going. After a little practice this will feel very |
| play single notes when you are first learning, basically | | | | natural. Now as you get comfortable with this what |
| making your lips look like an 'o'. The only problem with | | | | you will do is ever so slightly squeeze your bottom lip |
| this is that it can be really uncomfortable and will still | | | | in on itself, kind of like half a kiss. You will use the |
| take a lot of practice to get that good clear single | | | | fleshy part of the lower lip to block the holes around |
| note. We are going to do something a little different | | | | the single note you want to play. |
| and quite a bit more comfortable. | | | | Don't get me wrong, this will take practice to get |
| First, take the harmonica by the ends with your | | | | right but it took me a lot less time to get a single |
| finger tips and the numbers facing you 1 to 10, left | | | | note using this method than the pucker method |
| to right. This should look similar to holding a sandwich | | | | provided in most harmonica instructional material. |
| that you are about to eat. Next, place the harmonica | | | | |