10 Tips for Pro Melodica Players

[@smertonosnyibratni]

one more tip you can try out and I have found works really well for minor pieces and if you need bass sounds. You can hum subharmonics (a fifth, octave, octave + major 3rd etc. below the note) to the notes your playing and the reed will actually resonate with your voice. making a sort of chord that works like fm synthesis. If you have a low voice this can make some really cool effects.

[@MelodicaWorld]

Cool, thanks!

[@robappleby583]

It would actually be AM I think, like audio-rate vibrato. Sorry to be a nerd.

[@smertonosnyibratni]

@@robappleby583 I think you're right. I got the two mixed. Since your voice is pumping more or less air through at audio frequencies, its changing the AMPLITUDE of the melodica.

[@dubmaster01]

That's a cool drone or pedal sound, or parallel intervals, or if you can sing harmony into the melodica...

[@scronx]

You're trying to get people treating it like a musical instrument, and it's about time people did! Good!

[@kenzieprice6745]

You do a fine job sharing melodica and inspiring others. I know you have been involved for quite awhile and I hope you keep your contagious passion alive as long as you can!

[@MelodicaWorld]

Thanks Kenzie :-)

[@agisfcp]

I got a melodica about a month ago. I have been just messing around of how to play on my own. I am glad to see some of the things I do are used by melodica players.

[@MelodicaWorld]

Good work!

[@jefemckee]

As previous saxophone player I'm learning that certain techniques don't transfer well to melodica. You've really helped me figure a lot of this stuff out and in such a great succinct way. Bravo, sir!

[@MelodicaWorld]

Great to hear this video has helped!

[@bilbowaggins3036]

Which techniques did you find didn't transfer well, and which did transfer?

[@dubmaster01]

Nice video. What you're calling stomach "vibrato" is actually tremolo. Vibrato is pitch going up and down and tremolo is amplitude going up and down(louder and softer). Thanks for your instruction. Respect

[@MelodicaWorld]

Good point, got me thinking! Something to also consider is that when notes are played louder on the melodica, the pitch drops, so perhaps there is a sort of vibrato too?

[@schoffelenrick6445]

I love your content. When you posted i jumped. Ive bought a cheap melodica during my countrys lockdown, as someone whose never played an instrument your vids gave me a lot of guidance. I crave more.

[@MelodicaWorld]

Really nice to hear this! Thanks

[@colinsmith5879]

Even the first tip is great. That's how I got really solid on fretless bass. I would try play along with the vocal lines of familiar songs in the high range (it was a 6 string the extra high string helped), and try to emulate their phasing as best as I could. I'd really focus on the tiny slides, the subtle aspects of their vibrato, getting release times right etc. I've found a lot of fun and growth applying this idea in all kinds of ways across a lot of instruments!

[@MelodicaWorld]

Yeah, it's those tiny details that make all the difference!

[@marypower1261]

Wow! I useta think melodica is an easy-peasy instrument that almost anyone could play - silly me! Now i see i have it all to learn 🙂. Santa is bringing a melodica each to my 2 granddaughters (aged 9 and 5) and one for me, too! Thought i might teach them how to play - now i can see THEY may be teaching ME!! 😂 really like that idea! We can learn from each other 🙂 ❤ ❤ 👍🏼

[@CreativeSteve69]

I'm glad I discovered ya a couple of months ago. I bought my melodica a month ago now. whenever you upload it gives me the courage to practice for 20 minutes every other day. :)

[@MelodicaWorld]

That’s great! Good to practice as much as you can :-)

[@CreativeSteve69]

@@MelodicaWorld just wondering do you have any good books to learn melodica from? I enjoy good Irish music and folk.

[@MelodicaWorld]

@@CreativeSteve69 I'm writing one now! It's finished, but just getting the design done. I'll have the details on my website once its ready: melodicaworld.com

[@NiekopTube]

Great tips! My recent discovery: On the Suzuki Melodion 37 you've got a "saliva valve" on the right side (maybe on other models too?). You can use that valve for a nice vibrato/hammond effect, by pressing it fast in-and-out (release). The only problem is that this requiers playing the desired notes with your left hand, because only the right hand will be able to press that valve.

[@MelodicaWorld]

Great tip, thanks, must try this!

[@vpupkoff]

Finally, I've found a normal melodica player who plays the instrument with wind instrument approach. How it should be. Not just pushing buttons. Many people think of melodica as of portable accordion, and put no soul in their playing, just pressing the buttons, ignoring vibratos,dynamics, bends or anything else possible. Just pushing the darn buttons.

[@MelodicaWorld]

You can get a lot of expression when you approach it as a wind instrument!

[@hamietravels]

We love your melodica content

[@MelodicaWorld]

Thank you!!

[@chrispollacchi9367]

This is golden knowledge that can be applied to any wind instrument as well. Thanks for the insight!

[@MelodicaWorld]

You're welcome, glad it was helpful!

[@unamusik-28]

Great tips! I like and often use the tongueing technic. I often make a kind of combinaison of several cuts ù taps. I plan to train the vibrato. Keep going, very inspiring

[@xmovana_ika]

just bought my first 32 key melodica. I´m very happy. It´s very underrated these days compared to piano or guitar, but it´s reall cool instrument. Thanks for the tutorial!😊

[@beanheadshop]

Very very inspirational combination of techniques💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾

[@daveverwoerd6046]

I was given a hohner Alto in 1970 at the age of twelve Still got it and works fine. Thanks for the videos.

[@Mierrie]

3:50 the mosquitos in my room at 3 am

[@oscarcaviglia5640]

Congratulations!! You gained in me a new subscriber!! I'm a musician, but it is good to know that, we're always learners, happily I've become your student and you my melodica teacher.

[@MelodicaWorld]

Great to have you around :-)

[@NuriaLuque98]

Thank you so much! Lately I was wondering on how to improve my fingers efficiency and wether you'd talk about traditional Irish music at some point so it was a really nice watch! I will try applying all tips in my practice

[@MelodicaWorld]

Great to hear this - taps, cuts and triplets are all Irish :-)

[@danimations80]

Thanks again, great tips. So much of musicianship is about listening and making subtle embellishments for expression. As a harmonica player, I naturally began with tongued vibrato... literally waving my tongue up and down while blowing.... but that only works at high speed. The stomach vibrato technique you demonstrate here is much more flexible. As commented previously, I'd love to see you make a video comparing bass melodicas, and noting the particular playing techniques those take to master.

[@MelodicaWorld]

Hey, glad you found it helpful :-) I don’t have a bass melodica unfortunately

[@jiyong21cn]

Very informative and enlightening tips for playing melodica.

[@sanjaylohala2353]

Such a useful video

[@LarryShone]

Good stuff, I just got a Suzuki 37C and am just getting to grips with it. I play a little piano so I'm good with keys although melodica keys are smaller and close together. Also I have to get used to the position, not being able to see the keys. I also play wind instruments so I understand the importance of articulation and dynamics. Its just a little different with melodica as the lowest note is at the top. But the melodica has great potential for music playing.

[@donmunzer]

Great lesson, enough info for months of practicing. Great leap forward.

[@CoastGuardLeo]

I’m completely blind. I’m wondering if someone can describe that vertical technique. I’m a professional keyboard artist, and have been playing for many years, but have only been off and on with the Modica. I often use one hand with the horn mouthpiece for lead parts. But would love to figure out a way to do that upright technique you’re talking about. I’m not sure exactly what you’re doing with your left hand. Are you fingering everything backwards from the way, you would normally finger with your left hand?

[@MelodicaWorld]

Yes, everything from the left had is backwards. It takes some getting used to, but many players have made it second nature to them

[@uppotukki]

Wow, that's nice! Thx. I'm left-handed, so i put it like a piano on my knees and play left hand using a pipe with mouthpiece. Playing like you in a 10th example is so complicated for me.

[@MelodicaWorld]

Hey, thanks for watching. This makes sense for a left handed player...

[@kleintjiestrydom6450]

I love this vibrato sound but have to practice a lot!❤

[@sdw-hv5ko]

This video is incredible I'm so excited to try this stuff out!

[@ohtoys9]

Love the 10 pro tips. Great stuff to practice. But a deeper question is how does one practice in general? I am totally self-taught on several instruments but I am old enough to realize it is better to have someone guide you and tell you what to practice. If, for instance, I will just say that my goal has been similar to what you have already accomplished: to be able to have fluency with a variety of Celtic tunes, Where does one begin. Should I be practicing,scales, arpeggios,chords, or just be diving into copying as many tunes as I can and practicing them slowly? And since I’m on the topic, I might as well ask, do you give any virtual lessons? I have seen the limits of self teaching on my other instruments and I would like to do this properly.

[@MelodicaWorld]

+Oh Toys I’m not teaching at the moment, but if you have any questions while you learn, post them on the melodicaworld.com forum, and I’ll answer there. My advice would be to pick one tune recording, take one phrase, or part of a phrase, and see how close you can get it to sound. Players tend to make changes each time the tune repeats, so maybe just stick to the first time round if a tune. I wouldn’t bother with scales etc, as you’ll be going directly to the source!

[@ohtoys9]

@@MelodicaWorld It’s great that you reply to your comments with so much thought. I am also happy to hear your advice in my case because that is where my instincts had led me. I confess I have wrestled with exactly which style of holding the instrument makes the most sense. As I have the 44 key Hammond, holding it on my lap to try to play two handed is a little difficult. I have seen Ena Yoshida play using the strap and the flexible mouthpiece. I really like the idea of the short mouthpiece, as it puts you closer to the reeds and has more of a feeling of playing almost a horn instrument. But my Hammond came with a more rigid gooseneck mouthpiece that I actually prefer. For some reason it is easier to do circular breathing with that mouthpiece. The other issue with the short mouthpiece, of course, is that you more or less have to learn to play without looking at what you’re doing. But it might be worth taking a giant step backwards and starting that way in the hopes that ultimately it will make me a better player. Anyway, thank you so much for continuing the dialogue and for the great videos.

[@MelodicaWorld]

@@ohtoys9 Yes learning to play without looking can be really helpful too! :-)

[@julianusaseleo3728]

I really love to find this channel... Please make more tips for advanced melodicas technicals...

[@tobiaswe5483]

Such a good video. I love everything about it. Thank you!

[@MelodicaWorld]

Glad it’s helpful! 😀

[@Narriz]

Thanks for the tips! Good vibrato teaching. You could also mention that vibrato is commonly used on the long notes (because there you have time to spend on emphasizing / ornamenting the note)

[@MelodicaWorld]

True! Thanks for watching

[@sameerthane]

Do you give any online lessons? I want to learn from you.. I have a basic melodica and love to play it..

[@Ruben-oq8mb]

Thank you. Please tell me what is better to buy - a new Suzuki M37c or a used Suzuki pro 37 v2. The seller in another city says the condition is good. The price is about the same

[@coletony197]

Very informative really learnt things

[@MelodicaWorld]

Glad to hear that, thanks

[@nor0845]

Excellent vid. I always look forward to your new ones. 6 and 7 were ones I particularly wanted to learn. Thank you for posting.

[@MelodicaWorld]

Glad it was helpful. Tonguing techniques really add a lot to what you can do with a melodica...!

[@gonzalollache7306]

Hermoso video ! Saludos desde Argentina!

[@westbyrd]

Thank you for this! I’m new to the instrument and this video gives me a ton of techniques to work on. You sound incredible and your teaching is great! Keep the tips coming!

[@moparhomo]

Wonderful video. Thank you so much!

[@ejazzz0801]

Lovely video. Please tell me which melodica are you using in this video. It's so cool!

[@MelodicaWorld]

Glad you like it! It’s made of ebony wood, but has Yamaha reeds, so very similar sound to a P37D

[@brandonjamar]

Such a great video, thank you!!

[@MelodicaWorld]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@meonar]

Very good, thanks!

[@karenblair5951]

I want to play hymns for church preludes. I am a pianist and organist, so is there something else I need to know how to make the beauty of this instrument in a worship setting? I also play the flute so im up on the breathing fro. the diaphram. I love this 37 key I just purchased

[@MelodicaWorld]

As long as it’s in tune it should sound great!

[@mysticcity312]

Thank you very much for taking the time to make this informative video!! 😌 Could you Please tell me what type of melodica your using and where to buy it? İt looks so good compared to all the plastic ones!

[@MelodicaWorld]

Glad you like it! The melodica is one I made, but there’s lots of Yamaha parts in it, so it sounds similar to a Pianica. But I agree, nice to have a good looking instrument:-)

[@spades075]

Thank you! I was looking for a video like this for a long time!

[@MelodicaWorld]

I was hoping someone would say that :-)

[@cyberoptic5757]

THANK YOU & comment: TA-KA-TA works nicely for triples with the same pitch. I find that coordination gets complicated quickly when there are two or more different pitches in the triplet. And then there's practicing enough to train muscle memory.

[@MelodicaWorld]

Hi Jay, thanks for watching! If you're playing different pitches, you don't need to articulate, you can just use your fingers

[@dr.melodicadavidbrancazio8860]

Oooh, thank you very much Daren for #9. I'm working on some really challenging stuff these days (two-handed melodica play-alongs to "Art Rock"- era songs by ELP, Genesis, Yes, Zappa, etc.) and the last thing I ever think about is how relaxed my hands are- I think I instead tend to mash the keys into the pads! All your videos are amazing by the way. I'm developing circular breathing technique thanks to you! Also I"m a mechanical engineer interested in instrument design and I greatly admire your success at fabricating your own instrument! I'd love to chat with you sometime.

[@MelodicaWorld]

Really pleased the videos been helpful, minimal effort, is the ultimate technique!

[@anzilabu2692]

Great vedio. Pls do many more 🤗

[@MelodicaWorld]

Thanks!

[@MSstudypoint666]

This is very knowledgeable video for us thanks

[@MelodicaWorld]

Great to hear this :-)

[@natascha_glück]

Toll! Vielen Dank!❤

[@MelodicaWorld]

You’re welcome!

[@mambojambo4874]

Holy shit it looks like you took my 2D instrument and turned into 3D all of a sudden holy cow

[@marcobouw5927]

Thanks, very helpful

[@MelodicaWorld]

Thanks for watching:-)

[@PedrinhoMoreiraBaterista]

Great lesson ! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@MelodicaWorld]

Really pleased it was helpful :-)

[@degstep9968]

That’s very cool!!

[@jcmauric]

Excellent!!!

[@shailendrakumardubey6385]

I am playing melodica with my left hand ,left hand melodi ca is also available ?blowing hole at opposite sides lap।

[@MelodicaWorld]

You could in theory modify a melodica so you blow through the co sensation valve or even easier to have an extra long tube

[@ulizarembach3747]

Thank you! New question: I'm searching for a MIDI-Melodica since 1990. Do you have any hints? Love your answer! :)

[@MelodicaWorld]

I just know about kimolodica on KZbin, I’m not sure there’s any company making them…

[@ofir20503]

Thanks man!

[@MelodicaWorld]

Happy to help!

[@getrichquicc]

Have you ever tried using different types of mouth pieces like from a saxophone or trumpet? I'm curious if it would make a difference to the sound.

[@MelodicaWorld]

I know someone who uses a trumpet mouthpiece with his melodica. He just blows air into it so it sounds the same as a standard plastic mouthpiece.

[@amarantine3504]

I had a quick question regarding the melodica in terms of articulation. If i sit and utilize the instrument in more of a vertical holding(against the knee), is it feasible that my alternate hand can come into play for increasing the dynamics(things like tapping exct, arpeggios and more complex chording.) Figured i would ask because the idea of leaving my second hand out of the mix seems kinda foreign. Thanks. Love your playing!

[@MelodicaWorld]

Definitely! I’d say try things out and see what you can do with 2 hands

[@hammondjas]

Which brand of Melodica is this? I like it’s sound and the all-black look

[@MelodicaWorld]

Homemade 😀

[@jrscisneros]

I love it! Can you add timestamps to the description?

[@MelodicaWorld]

I did! Are they not working?

[@andreasraunig1758]

Top Input

[@imi8imi]

Thank you for the videos! Do you have Suzuki MX-37C? Seems not so popular one but if you have, please do a quick sound sample demo video, I’d appreciate it a lot! :) And I deeply wish to see all of your melodicas. Could you please consider to make a video to introduce each of them with sound demos? Thanks in advance 😊

[@MelodicaWorld]

Hi, I don’t have the mx37c, but I used to have the m37c which was a really lovely melodica. Most of my melodicas have been demoed in the videos ‘13 Melodicas’ and ‘16 Hiohher Melodicas’

[@imi8imi]

@@MelodicaWorld Yes, I've watched the video you mentioned above. I was wondering if you have more than the ones in the video, eheheh. mx37c seems more like a toy-ish (cute teal blue), so I'm assuming this is lower quality model compare to m37c. My local store has one, so hopefully I get to hear the sound to compare with m37c next to each other. Could you please do a tutorial about circular breading technic? How long did it take, how did you start? (Did you use straw first?) I wish to learn from you, thanks!! :)

[@TheLadsonsouza]

Great bro! Thanks for video.

[@MelodicaWorld]

Thanks Ladson!

[@kenzieprice6745]

The last technique you shared seems to be optimal on an accordina type model.

[@hearthdweller2067]

Do you have any of your music recorded besides the few youtube videos?

[@MelodicaWorld]

I’ve recorded a lot, but it’s used for TV mainly, and I don’t have the rights so can’t post…

[@prasadsjoyofmusic]

Liquid acculates in melodica and comes from drain hole is that normal. Please guide

[@MelodicaWorld]

Yes that’s how it workd

[@paolocercato]

Very good! 👍

[@thedoodletavern7862]

So I have been trying to take my melodica playing up a notch. (Saving for a mid range level instrument now). I have found circular breathing to be nigh on impossible with this instrument. I can do the continous bubbles in the water with a straw, any tips are transitioning that basic form of circular breathing practice to the actual melodica?

[@MelodicaWorld]

It just takes a long time to slowly get it working on the melodica. For the first few months I just made sure to get the breathing order right. There were big gaps in the sound, I mean a few seconds. The gap got less and less as time went on. I’d say be patient and know that you’ll eventually get there if you practice calmly for 10 mins everyday.

[@thedoodletavern7862]

@@MelodicaWorld Wow thanks for the reply! I will keep on puffin :D Thanks for the awesome content you put out sir!

[@charleston66]

Thank you! After few hours practicing, it sounds a lot différent

[@MelodicaWorld]

Thanks for the feedback, great to hear this

[@arjunalco6589]

Sir kindly suggest whether I should buy hohner fire or hohner black? I haven't bought the instrument as I am looking forward to learn this amazing instrument, but not getting a proper suggestion. I'm a drummer and Latin percussion player from India and I'm planning to compose tracks with melodica and percussions.

[@MelodicaWorld]

+Arjun ALCo they’re both very similar, so buy the one you like the look of most. Good luck with melodica and percussion- sounds great!

[@arjunalco6589]

@@MelodicaWorld thank you so much sir 🙏🏻

[@strictlyrocker]

Jah Bless You!!!

[@emgaldo1783]

7:40 increíble

[@profejmiiguel7974]

Greetings, apart from the recorder sheet music, which others can I play with my melodica?

[@MelodicaWorld]

Hi, you can also play flute and violin music

[@profejmiiguel7974]

@@MelodicaWorld Thanks you.

[@jantonisito]

You mentioned learning from an Irish concertina player. Could you share his name?

[@MelodicaWorld]

Michael O'Raghallaigh and his album, The Nervous Man. There’s other great players too

[@jantonisito]

@@MelodicaWorld Thank you - listening now. Great musician. I quite like the traditional vibe - Irish music seems to be often served on New Age plate reverb. Textbook for ornamentation. I wonder if concertina was overdubbed or is it all one take. Some of those two voice passages get my head to spin.

[@MelodicaWorld]

@@jantonisito Interesting, I always presumed the octaves were live! Need to check in with a concertina player...

[@jantonisito]

@@MelodicaWorld Two days of binging on the two albums Spotify has. Thanks again for recommending it. Irish music is pure joie de vivre.

[@steveamirault5277]

Hi, great video, could you tell me the brand name of your melodica. Thank you? Steve

[@MelodicaWorld]

Hi Steve, this is a Yamaha P37D with many modifications. The reeds and mechanics have not been changed though, so you'll get a very similar experience and sound from one of these

[@steveamirault5277]

@@MelodicaWorld thanks. I have a 44 PRO, I like it. I'll take a look at the Yamaha. Thanks!

[@MelodicaWorld]

That’s a fine instrument!

[@MelodicaWorld]

@Steve Amirault Sounds amazing!

[@harkerroland9750]

I wanna learn my yamaha (pianica) but that thing has been in the hardcase from 2015 never move an inch from its place😭

[@MelodicaWorld]

+harker roland it’s a great one to learn on!

[@nicolabalice2520]

Ciao sono indeciso tra iniziare a imparare a suonare una melodica o un'armonica cromatica, tu cosa mi consigli. Posto che mi piace il pop il rock jazz insomma in pratica un po' tutti i generi. Il mio obbiettivo è di divertirmi e di suonare da solo. Capisco che uno strumento o l'altro occorre sempre studiare ...tra l'altro ho un po' di rudimenti di teoria musicale ma a livello scolastico. A 53 anni volevo tuffarmi in questa avventura. I timbri dei suoni dei due strumenti capisco che pur essendo affini sono comunque diversi. Non so come decidermi forse ritenendo più facile uno strumento dall'altro ? Grazie e buona musica

[@zantas-handle]

Ciao Nicola. Per aiutarti, ho pensato di tradurre il tuo commento in inglese: To help, I thought I'd translate Nicola's comment into English for you: Hi, I'm undecided between starting to learn to play a melodica or a chromatic harmonica, what do you recommend? I like pop rock jazz, basically all genres. My goal is to have fun and play alone. I understand that whichever instrument you choose involves some study... among other things, I have some rudiments of music theory but at the school level. At 53 I wanted to dive into this adventure. The timbres of the sounds of the two instruments I understand that although they are similar they are still different. I don't know how to decide, perhaps on the basis that one instrument is easier than the other? Thanks and enjoy the music!

[@nicolabalice2520]

@@zantas-handle thanks I wrote in Italian because I wrote spontaneously .... I apologize .... so I look forward to your kind reply I take this opportunity to congratulate you because you are very good

[@MelodicaWorld]

Thanks Zanta. I think the melodica is easier to play than chromatic harmonica. It’s also easier to play chords. Also, although the chromatic harmonica sounds beautiful, it’s quite quiet. But that may not be a problem if you only play on your own

[@bernardmartinand7506]

What melodica you play?

[@MelodicaWorld]

I play a variation of the Yamaha p37d

[@matsa2620]

What is called "vibrato" (pitch wobbling) here in this video is actually rather tremolo (amplitude wobbling).

[@MelodicaWorld]

Yes! Someone pointed this out before :-) but remember the pitch varies with amplitude! 😝

[@matsa2620]

@@MelodicaWorld Ah.. You mean, on melodicas (specifically) the pitch does actually vary with amplitude? Or do you refer to some general phenomenon, that would also be true on - let's say - trumpets or pianos?

[@MelodicaWorld]

@@matsa2620 It's just on melodicas, or similar free reed instruments - the harder you blow through the reed, the lower the pitch gets. It's the basis for pitch bending, which you overblow a reed while holding the key down slightly. Having said all this, you're right - it's def more of a tremolo than a vibrato!

[@bilbowaggins3036]

People have been debating the differences between vibrato and tremolo for centuries. The differences can certainly get muddy at times 😅

[@derdodel7978]

the hardest part for me is finding notes to the songs i wanna play

[@anand_production]

❤

[@billtruttschel]

You should add chapters to this video.

[@taguezz]

Who was the Irish player you copied?

[@MelodicaWorld]

Michael O’Raghallaigh kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2aUmJZ8aKh5hassi=AtRIyX6W1SKioIru

[@MelodicaWorld]

I used to listen to his album ‘the nervous man’

[@taguezz]

Thanks!

[@zouwo]

I'm sorry, I just duplicated the comment. I look forward to your videos in the future.

[@MelodicaWorld]

Thanks for watching, I look forward to making more :-)

[@donnieji4825]

Gewd werk dewd

[@MelodicaWorld]

Thanks Don :-)

[@jpow2229]

Could you just go ahead and teach me everything else in life? TIA

[@MelodicaWorld]

Lol :-)