Спасибо огромное. 57лет и начал учится с прошлого лета. Очень нравистя блюз и особенно гармоника. Прогресс идёт тяжело, не каждый день удаётся выделить время, но стараюсь. На стадии одиночных отверстий :), простых мелодий для внучат, и табы мелодий. Может что и получится через пару годиков :) Спасибо огромное за видео, очень мотивирует! Смотрю вас постоянно. Очень ваши видео помогают. И хотя английский не мой родной язык, у вас всё просто и понятно. Храни вас Бог! :)
Hello to you, I'm a 66 -year-old, having played many stringed instruments over the decades, with varying proficiencies, none of them much above intermediately skillful, but I enjoy myself in my playing. I also write long-winded commentaries. Sorry, I can't help myself. Lol. My very-long-late dad, a very accomplished pianist and piano accordionist, was darned good on a chromatic 10-hole harmonica, as well. I inherited his accordion and mouth harp and can't do much of anything on either one. I've acquired a few additional diatonic 10-holers, on which I can do a tad bit more, but I'm still not what I'd call proficient. Maybe I'll put the time in to get better on the mouth harp, maybe I won't, but I'm writing to you to speak of ukuleles! Have you seen or heard either James Hill or Kris Fuchigami on ukulele? There are other great ukulele players out there, but those two guys by far top my list. Holy cow! I had long considered the ukulele to be an instrument that's strummed to death by caterwauling 'tween aged girls; or used in some Hollywood films to play some lilting, not totally, but somewhat forgettable Hawaiian stuff. Not to dismiss Hawaiian music, at all, much of it is quite stunningly beautiful to me, but to hear modern rock and popular music brought to what I imagine in my mind's ear as Technicolor for sound, "Technisound" might be a good word for it, the music of Kris Fuchigami and James Hill just blows me away. About 1-1/2 years ago, I quite by accident encountered James Hill here on YT doing "Voodoo Chile", although he spells Chile, Child. You can find my comment to him there, where I tell him that I'll never again hear a ukulele in quite the same way as I have. Minutes later, I discovered Kris Fuchigami's HI Sessions YT videos of some years ago that cemented my fervor for the ukulele. I bought a Kanile'a Islander Super Tenor uke a week later and have been having tons of fun with it ever since. I tend mostly towards the old standards, "All of Me", "At Last", etc., but have been working on Frankie Valli's, "You're Just Too Good To Be True", and Santana's "Europa" and "Samba Pa Ti". Ukes are indeed awesome, in my opinion, and, I must assume, in your opinion, as well. When I saw your post, I couldn't not speak up about ukes. Cheers to you! P.S. - If you haven't heard her, also check out Indiara Sfair on harmonica. WOW again!
Thanks so much! I was just giving a beginner some of these practices yesterday over on Reddit. So glad to see that I'm in sync with you! I'll be recommending this video and doing it myself. Couldn't be better timing🎉
I would like to offer a suggestion… when learning licks, learn licks not phrases. Licks are 4-5 notes long. That’s it. If you learn a phrase that’s 16 notes long, your brain will get used to always playing that phrase the way you learn it. If you break the phrases down into 4-5 note licks when you get to the point of improvisation you can recall each short lick in any order you feel in the moment. This is how you become an artist rather than just a musician.
Tomlin I have a habit of breathing through my nose while playing. Do you think this hurts my abilities or is it ok to do. I try not to but I just do it
I want to ask you: if i want not to play blues on harmonica but other kind of music, melodies etc, which 10-holes diatonic harmonica i have to buy? thank you so much
I would still start with a C harmonica. Then you can buy different keys based on the specific songs you want to learn. You will still find a lot of educational material for C harmonica for other types of music.
@@ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣΘΕΟΔΟΣΙΟΥ-δ4ν your welcome, the C harmonica is the right harmonica to start out with because you can play more types of music with the C. After you get proficient then get the other two I mentioned.
Im a total beginner.. I play drums.. guitar.. sing a bit.. but want to learn.. got a decent set of harmonicas.. If doing a backing track.. and a C harmonica.. what key does the backing track need to be in? Tom or Anyone? Thanks
A good rule of thumb is. If the key of the song is say G then count 4 up to get 2nd position song key E ( E F G A) A harp. root note is 2 draw 6 blow 9 blow as Tomlison would say happy harping , hes a great teacher;)
I would say that books would help with practicing technique, building repertoire, and ear training, but they wouldn't help with improvisation. Also keep in mind that a music book is going to teach just one method/technique/ideology, and there are oh so many different ones out there. They're not needed, but certainly won't hurt, and if that's what it takes to get you to play, then by all means, us them!
I would use what you find easiest to learn from. Me personally I love reading so books are really useful. I actually find learning from video quite difficult (ironically).
@@TomlinHarmonica Totally agree with you Tomlin. - To play harp well or even decently, a good lesson book is essential and can help you in a multitude of ways. My personal favourite instructional author is the great David Barrett.
Please extend your list to 5 things you need to practice. Timing is crucial. No matter how many songs and licks you learn, you will never sound good unless you learn to keep time.
@@TomlinHarmonica Technique is the ability to play passages fluidly. Timing is the ability to keep the beat. They are separate entities. Someone with great timing and mediocre technique, will sound better than someone with great technique and poor timing.
"if you struggle with rhythm, and I know most of you do" - most white people 🤣 (white person here). Actually, it's nothing to do with the colour of your skin, it's the culture you grew up in. But as a semi-pro (rhythm section) musician who plays with a lot of amateurs I'm appalled at how many of the amateur people I play with don't understand rhythm and don't understand it's importance (you obviously don't get to be professional if you don't understand this). But that's English people for you. I do know people from other cultures for whom it is paramount (people from Cuba, for example)...
The hand movements are essential to add emotion and dynamics while playing. Stick with it, it takes time but it will all come together for you with an open mind. ✌️❤️🎶
Improvisation; Why are you playing a backing track in the Key of G, but using a key of C Harmonica? How do I know, which Harmonica Key I should use? A lot of my backing track are in different keys. Ear Training; Your playing a track, and counting the beats. How would I know if your counting on the beat. I can only hear you counting, and slapping your hand. By the way, I'm listening through Studio Monitors!
Most blues harp, probably 90%, is played in 2nd position, also known as cross harp. That means that to play in E, play an A harmonica. To play in A, play a D harp. In other words, a harmonica four steps up from the key of the piece. Aside from that, you might be best served by consulting a real teacher to learn music.
I got three things to ptactice to become a scietist: mathematics, science and bilogy. Simple as that. "You should practice techniqe. Oh, is that right? Wow, now I know to play. At guitar or keyboards you shoul also "practice techniqe", you know? Nonsence.
🎵 Just starting out on harmonica? Join my FREE Blues Harmonica Foundation Course here 👉 foxly.link/p5ugYk
82 years old and have followed Tomlin since 2014. The best all around teacher out there in my opinion. Free on line stuff and school courses. Thanks
1st 30 seconds are a yawn.
Great teacher professional and fun learning a true joy 'Beginner 69yrs old anyone can learn.
Спасибо огромное. 57лет и начал учится с прошлого лета. Очень нравистя блюз и особенно гармоника. Прогресс идёт тяжело, не каждый день удаётся выделить время, но стараюсь. На стадии одиночных отверстий :), простых мелодий для внучат, и табы мелодий. Может что и получится через пару годиков :) Спасибо огромное за видео, очень мотивирует! Смотрю вас постоянно. Очень ваши видео помогают. И хотя английский не мой родной язык, у вас всё просто и понятно. Храни вас Бог! :)
I've neglected my harp training for quite a while. Thanks for doing this. Good job. 👍
This is a great example of a motivating tutorial. Thank you ,you are a great teacher and presenter
72 year old beginer....I play ukulele and want to add harmonica.....and i will try to make these 4 things part of my day....thank you.
Hello to you,
I'm a 66 -year-old, having played many stringed instruments over the decades, with varying proficiencies, none of them much above intermediately skillful, but I enjoy myself in my playing.
I also write long-winded commentaries.
Sorry, I can't help myself.
Lol.
My very-long-late dad, a very accomplished pianist and piano accordionist, was darned good on a chromatic 10-hole harmonica, as well.
I inherited his accordion and mouth harp and can't do much of anything on either one.
I've acquired a few additional diatonic 10-holers, on which I can do a tad bit more, but I'm still not what I'd call proficient.
Maybe I'll put the time in to get better on the mouth harp, maybe I won't, but I'm writing to you to speak of ukuleles!
Have you seen or heard either James Hill or Kris Fuchigami on ukulele?
There are other great ukulele players out there, but those two guys by far top my list.
Holy cow!
I had long considered the ukulele to be an instrument that's strummed to death by caterwauling 'tween aged girls; or used in some Hollywood films to play some lilting, not totally, but somewhat forgettable Hawaiian stuff.
Not to dismiss Hawaiian music, at all, much of it is quite stunningly beautiful to me, but to hear modern rock and popular music brought to what I imagine in my mind's ear as Technicolor for sound, "Technisound" might be a good word for it, the music of Kris Fuchigami and James Hill just blows me away.
About 1-1/2 years ago, I quite by accident encountered James Hill here on YT doing "Voodoo Chile", although he spells Chile, Child.
You can find my comment to him there, where I tell him that I'll never again hear a ukulele in quite the same way as I have.
Minutes later, I discovered Kris Fuchigami's HI Sessions YT videos of some years ago that cemented my fervor for the ukulele.
I bought a Kanile'a Islander Super Tenor uke a week later and have been having tons of fun with it ever since.
I tend mostly towards the old standards, "All of Me", "At Last", etc., but have been working on Frankie Valli's, "You're Just Too Good To Be True", and Santana's "Europa" and "Samba Pa Ti".
Ukes are indeed awesome, in my opinion, and, I must assume, in your opinion, as well.
When I saw your post, I couldn't not speak up about ukes.
Cheers to you!
P.S. - If you haven't heard her, also check out Indiara Sfair on harmonica.
WOW again!
Gotta admit, I'm almost 60 and just picked up the harmonica. I thought improvising was only something for the experts. Thanks for keeping it fun.
Thank you. The breathing part is never covered by any channel. and it turns out, it is the most important step. Grat job. KEEP IT UP, please.
This kind of advice and training is what will create a real musician. Thank you!
That's a good start... discipline is everything...
Thanks so much! I was just giving a beginner some of these practices yesterday over on Reddit. So glad to see that I'm in sync with you! I'll be recommending this video and doing it myself. Couldn't be better timing🎉
I would like to offer a suggestion… when learning licks, learn licks not phrases.
Licks are 4-5 notes long. That’s it. If you learn a phrase that’s 16 notes long, your brain will get used to always playing that phrase the way you learn it.
If you break the phrases down into 4-5 note licks when you get to the point of improvisation you can recall each short lick in any order you feel in the moment.
This is how you become an artist rather than just a musician.
Thanks for the posting, newbie here, starting of with the basics 😬
59 years old.just a new beginer.thanks
Welcome to Blues Harmonica!
Merci pour le partage, pour compléter notre connaissance de l'harmonica. Meilleurs voeux 2025.🔥👍
You are a very good and inspiring teacher. 👍
Thank you! 😃
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Great advice. Thanks
Thank you, Tomlin...very good.
I'm just getting started and I found this video very helpful, Thanks.
Great. Thanks
Assume video. Thanks for sharing. I have never tried counting during a listen. I will try on my next session.
Great class thank U...
Great teacher
Great video Tom!!
These days my teacher has been asking me to start improvising, so I'm just starting to take my first steps 😥
Awesome!!
I'm a fan!
Brilliant Tom, maybe 2025 is the year to get playing my harmonica. Thanks
Good tips. However I would think there is one more crucial tip #5 to add, being learning SCALES.
I totally agree and I would put that in my technique practice
Tomlin I have a habit of breathing through my nose while playing. Do you think this hurts my abilities or is it ok to do.
I try not to but I just do it
What is an MCCD backing track?
I want to ask you: if i want not to play blues on harmonica but other kind of music, melodies etc, which 10-holes diatonic harmonica i have to buy? thank you so much
A and F
@@chrisullery3386 thank you!
I would still start with a C harmonica. Then you can buy different keys based on the specific songs you want to learn. You will still find a lot of educational material for C harmonica for other types of music.
@@ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣΘΕΟΔΟΣΙΟΥ-δ4ν your welcome, the C harmonica is the right harmonica to start out with because you can play more types of music with the C. After you get proficient then get the other two I mentioned.
Im a total beginner.. I play drums.. guitar.. sing a bit.. but want to learn.. got a decent set of harmonicas..
If doing a backing track.. and a C harmonica.. what key does the backing track need to be in?
Tom or Anyone?
Thanks
G if you’re playing 2nd position (cross-harp) which is the norm for blues harp
@@wolfman909 THanks for the tip!
A good rule of thumb is. If the key of the song is say G then count 4 up to get 2nd position song key E ( E F G A) A harp. root note is 2 draw 6 blow 9 blow as Tomlison would say happy harping , hes a great teacher;)
@@cohoa1 Nice! thanks.. gonna give it a go!
Do you need music books
No
I would say that books would help with practicing technique, building repertoire, and ear training, but they wouldn't help with improvisation. Also keep in mind that a music book is going to teach just one method/technique/ideology, and there are oh so many different ones out there. They're not needed, but certainly won't hurt, and if that's what it takes to get you to play, then by all means, us them!
I would use what you find easiest to learn from. Me personally I love reading so books are really useful. I actually find learning from video quite difficult (ironically).
@@TomlinHarmonica Totally agree with you Tomlin. - To play harp well or even decently, a good lesson book is essential and can help you in a multitude of ways. My personal favourite instructional author is the great David Barrett.
Technique: "If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding!"
Yes! Pink Floyd for the win!
Geduld en rust vetrouwen oefenen
Please extend your list to 5 things you need to practice. Timing is crucial.
No matter how many songs and licks you learn, you will never sound good unless you learn to keep time.
Totally agree but I would include that in technique (and everything else really - always practice with a metronome ;-))
@@TomlinHarmonica Technique is the ability to play passages fluidly. Timing is the ability to keep the beat. They are separate entities.
Someone with great timing and mediocre technique, will sound better than someone with great technique and poor timing.
"if you struggle with rhythm, and I know most of you do" - most white people 🤣 (white person here). Actually, it's nothing to do with the colour of your skin, it's the culture you grew up in. But as a semi-pro (rhythm section) musician who plays with a lot of amateurs I'm appalled at how many of the amateur people I play with don't understand rhythm and don't understand it's importance (you obviously don't get to be professional if you don't understand this). But that's English people for you. I do know people from other cultures for whom it is paramount (people from Cuba, for example)...
your hand movements are distracting.
The hand movements are essential to add emotion and dynamics while playing. Stick with it, it takes time but it will all come together for you with an open mind.
✌️❤️🎶
Close your eyes 😮
Improvisation; Why are you playing a backing track in the Key of G, but using a key of C Harmonica? How do I know, which Harmonica Key I should use? A lot of my backing track are in different keys. Ear Training; Your playing a track, and counting the beats. How would I know if your counting on the beat. I can only hear you counting, and slapping your hand. By the way, I'm listening through Studio Monitors!
Most blues harp, probably 90%, is played in 2nd position, also known as cross harp. That means that to play in E, play an A harmonica. To play in A, play a D harp. In other words, a harmonica four steps up from the key of the piece. Aside from that, you might be best served by consulting a real teacher to learn music.
@@lowtone9 Thanks! I was thinking, I'd get a response from Tomlin
I got three things to ptactice to become a scietist: mathematics, science and bilogy. Simple as that. "You should practice techniqe. Oh, is that right? Wow, now I know to play. At guitar or keyboards you shoul also "practice techniqe", you know? Nonsence.
Four things if you include your speeling!
@@victormedley3873 English is not my first language. Actually, I speak three: and you?
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