3 EASY Steps to Bending on Harmonica | Beginner Harmonica Lesson

►FREE 30 DAY TRIAL OF MY HARP SCHOOL - www.learntheharmonica.com/mem...
►BENDING COURSE - www.learntheharmonica.com/the...
►TONGUE BLOCKING COURSE - www.learntheharmonica.com/ton...
In today's harmonica lesson we're looking at the three steps you need to take in order to bend a note on the harmonica. I'm using a diatonic harmonica in the key of C. For a free summary of this lesson, visit www.learntheharmonica.com/pos...
Thanks for watching! Remember to ‘Subscribe’ and click the bell to get all my free lessons: bit.do/subscribe-learntheharp
TIMESTAMPS -
00:00 Intro
00:38 Step 1 - "ah" to "oo"
02:50 Step 2 - Slurp the air
04:00 Step 3 - Curve your tongue
05:52 The sweet spot

[@Learntheharmonica]

Thanks for watching! Take a 30 day free trial of my harmonica school - www.learntheharmonica.com/members-zone-signup

[@georgegates526]

Yesterday I picked up my harmonica after a year of buying it.. And I STARTED to somehow bend the notes.. I could not repeat it.. The ability left me. Also I lost the ability to play the guitar due to tendon damage on both jobs from a strenuous "thumb pressing" job. The job didn't last long.. 49 years of guitar playing down the toilet.. Had to go to keyboard.. That SAME night, I could see the fret board of the guitar superimposed on the keyboard and I started playing Synth cords like crazy.. The next day.. Nothing on either.. (Subconscious mind really is SOMETHING). THANKS FOR POSTING THIS VIDEO! You made "an" old man happy!

[@alexcollins1007]

drugs are crazy right

[@jamesmonroe3940]

Once upon a time in the west

[@nyanboi9807]

Yes

[@TroyHarrison-ho6lc]

Yep

[@swbrix6238]

That is the reason I wanna play the harmonica

[@DariusHierius]

I started playing the harmonica a week ago. Thanks to your lessons I can now bend the 1draw. Clean single notes are also coming.

[@Learntheharmonica]

Awesome!

[@DreamNezumi]

Got it within 2 minutes, best video I've seen on the topic!

[@Learntheharmonica]

Glad it was helpful!

[@_KorruptioN_]

Best video on this so far! I've just started playing last week. Ended up getting the bend down by the end of your video! Great tips, the O sound with the bent tongue helped me visual this and get it to work! Thank you!

[@Learntheharmonica]

Awesome, glad it helped!

[@tommyredline6432]

Same here! Funnily enough, it was the “slurping” metaphor that did it for me lol

[@joecrumb1798]

Good day Liam. Thanks for your informative tutorials. My bending is good. Took me a month to learn it. Can’t believe how easy it is once you learn how to bend. Thanks again buddy.

[@Learntheharmonica]

You're very welcome mate :)

[@bluemoonindia47]

Hello liam, your these lessons helps me a lot to learn harmonica free thank u

[@kimquartermouse2565]

Thank you very much!!! One of the best learning how to bend the harmonica videos I've seen yet. Thanks again!!!

[@Learntheharmonica]

Glad you found it useful!

[@anandaarju7517]

Hello Liam , man you're awesome . I follow your channel & got 1 month practice lesson for free . I wanted to learn harmonica as much as I can . Your technics are easy & it's boost my confidence everyday. Thank you . God bless you.

[@Learntheharmonica]

You're very welcome, glad I could help!

[@harmonicamagictributetomrr7622]

Very good young man I liked the way of explaining Simple and clear words This instrument is is going to be a rare one A big crowd can't play bending and harmony both Usually people play " note to note " style Many seekers can learn through your vdo God bless you dear

[@cyounesful]

Thank you soo much. I love your lessons!!

[@Learntheharmonica]

You are so welcome!

[@jankucera8505]

youre the best teacher

[@samuelsukenik5008]

Hello Liam, very helpful video for beginners, Thanks!

[@Learntheharmonica]

No problem 👍

[@heidiirenenyhammer7890]

Very usefull for me. I gonna practise and see if i can manage to get the right sound😊Thank you!

[@Learntheharmonica]

You're welcome, and good luck! 😎

[@matthewtucker8994]

Love your channel. Your always super professional. I really like the harmonica animation.

[@Learntheharmonica]

Thank you so much 😀

[@nmaikha8423]

Cool ! Thanks your kindness lessons!

[@Learntheharmonica]

My pleasure! 👍

[@Braunfolk]

This worked perfect thanks

[@Learntheharmonica]

You're very welcome!

[@jamesmonroe3940]

Thanks a lot,,, now I have to watch it

[@krishnanRan]

Very useful. Thanks.

[@Learntheharmonica]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stevegillman1999]

Hi Liam, I've been trying to produce a bend for a week now. It's kind of frustrating to put it mildly. Then I tried to bend on hole 1 draw .... and Eureka. Success at the first attempt. But as for bending hole 4 draw, well, as the midwife said, nothing yet!

[@bapboychill8600]

Thanks this helped me so much

[@Learntheharmonica]

No problem :-)

[@skankhunt2437]

hey, could u please do a lesson to bob dylans dont think twice its allright? I know already how to play it on the guitar but cant find any good tutorial on yt to play it on harmonica. It would be really cool :)

[@DeuxRouesUneTente]

Man, I owe you big thanks ! I started playing just a few weeks ago and today I finally got my first bends... I even managed to bend hole #3 even though it's not very stable yet. All I had to do was to pay attention to what you're saying... Not just in this particular video, I'm a member of your website also... You mentioned that a common mistake is to try and go too far, do too much... I figured maybe I was trying to bring my tongue up too much... Boom. That was it. Now I'm actually bending sometimes when I don't mean too LOL ! But I think that's a common problem too... I guess it's just a matter of practice at this point. Right now I'm trying to play the first part of "The Gael" from the movie The Last of the Mohicans which has a -3b a couple of times (not sure if it's full bend or half though... Controlling that is another matter actually) I happen to bend hole #4 unwillingly just before doing the -3b... No big deal. It'll come.

[@Learntheharmonica]

Awesome, congrats! Welcome to the world of bends, you’re gonna love it. Good luck with the Gael, it’s difficult but a really great song.

[@DeuxRouesUneTente]

@@Learntheharmonica Thanks

[@JohnGradwell-is7lm]

Well explained. Very few have described bending so clearly.

[@Learntheharmonica]

So glad it helped!

[@gedelasasibhushanarao3863]

Very useful tips

[@Learntheharmonica]

Thanks!

[@fredaska1]

Yeah "slurp" is the word!! I found the missing piece in your video and now I can do some bending. Thank you so much!

[@Learntheharmonica]

You're so welcome! 😎

[@Fuberlangney]

Thanks for video's 😊

[@Learntheharmonica]

My pleasure 😊

[@Aloha_Joy]

this really helped I started playing yesterday and the note bending really helped now I can bend nots to play the national anthem

[@Learntheharmonica]

Awesome, congrats!

[@MeterStudio]

Hi Liam, I’ve been using the u-block method (taco tongue) for playing single notes. Will I be able to pull off advanced techniques such as bending this way? Do I need to switch to pursed lips? Thank you for all your guidance.

[@Learntheharmonica]

Yes you will be able to, lots of people bend with a U-block. P.S. I've never heard it called taco tongue, that's amazing! 🤣

[@uammmmmmm]

I got my harmonica just an hour ago, been trying to bend while watching other KZbinrs saying "bending is the hardest technique and it will take you days or weeks to achieve". And then I found this vid and bended immediately 🤣🤣🤣

[@Learntheharmonica]

That's great to hear! Thanks. Enjoy!

[@abardill]

Hi Liam. I am able to get most bends with just the first two steps, without (consciously) moving my tongue. Is this a problem? I don't want to engrain bad habits

[@acay5722]

Figured it out 5 minutes ago, heres how i learned it. First of all, head to Hole 1 not 4. With 4 you have to be MUCH more precise with your breathing to get it to work, with 1 you can breathe in much more aggressively. Next, go from gently breathing in to really aggressively breathing in, it needs to feel like youre trying to explode your stomach, almost like a tensed up and cramped stomach feeling breathing in. Almost the same thing you do when trying to just push your belly out, just while breathing in aswell. Second step is imagine a slurping sound, but the slurping sound is created in your mouth by tensing up and basically sucking the air in, remember youre still breathing not ACTUALLY just sucking air into your mouth. Now try to make the slurp-breathing sound like its saying "iyo", so go from a higher sound slurp to a lower sounding slurp. Remember, you have to slurp as if you were trying to choke on your drink, not pull it in your mouth. Try it on hole 1 before you try 4, like i said, you can be A LOT more tensed up and rough and you also kinda have to be which is what helped me. Edit: Also, biggest help for me would have been BREATHE IN, dont just breathe in. REALLY BREATHE IN. Dont be afraid to be loud, its not gonna work if you try to stay quiet with the Harmonica. Dont breathe like Oxygen is a rarity.

[@briancooper5637]

Thank you, Liam. Very helpful. I have been playing a long time, as "tongue blocker" which you mentioned. I'm curious what might be different for a tongue blocker, or if it is worth trying to relearn playing without it. I have some success bending notes, but not enough!

[@Learntheharmonica]

Check out my video on bending with tongue block - kzbin.info/www/bejne/boDcpYqnp9KVfqMsi=kJoXi7RiJWsI1rft

[@jamesmonroe3940]

Favorite movie

[@donk.5730]

Very helpful lesson. Thank you. NOW subscribed +'Belled' . Liam, why not just print the 'subscribe+bell' reminder on the bottom of the screen, instead of the usual talk of Like and Subscribe'-chatter. We all get it. You've done a lot of study and time making these videos. Just a thought to help everyone! Cheers, Dk.

[@danbolton1316]

Great video, thanks! Crazy quick question… where can I get that t-shirt you’re wearing! Very cool subtle harp t-shirt!

[@Learntheharmonica]

Hi Dan, thanks! I sell the t-shirts here - learntheharmonica-merch-store.creator-spring.com/?

[@austinhetrick5816]

Best video on bending. I've watched so many other videos and couldn't even get close to getting it. The "slurping" is what helped the most for me!. Thanks!!

[@Learntheharmonica]

Glad it helped! It's difficult to explain because everyone experiences bending in their own way, but I'm glad my explanation made sense to you. Best of luck!

[@the7screw]

I did it! Now I just need to learn to use it in a song

[@eloitsreno]

Just bought a fender blues deluxe in D. Wish me luck!

[@eloitsreno]

Yeah, I bent the 1 and 4 draw in minutes. I draw bent the 8th once and I'm tryna look for the sweet spot

[@Learntheharmonica]

Good luck!

[@bilbowaggins3036]

Should the throat muscles be involved in this?

[@dstinnettmusic]

Imagine yourself trying to do an Owen Wilson “wow”

[@bilbowaggins3036]

Question: do people use tonguing for articulation while playing bent notes? Like ta , ka, etc etc.

[@Learntheharmonica]

Yes 😎

[@SimplicityForGood]

Is this draw with the mid-tongue up like singing eee while breathing inwards?

[@Learntheharmonica]

Yeah kinda, and if it works for you then go for it :)

[@ReganKeely]

Thank you, amazing lessons! Also, why is it that it seems all harmonica players have an inherent hilarious sense of humor in how they teach? Makes it much easier... lol... thanks again, you rock!!!

[@Learntheharmonica]

Haha, thanks! I suppose you can't take yourself too seriously when you play an instrument that most of the world considers a toy 🤣

[@KluiKaraoke]

❤

[@mikathoen105]

I can change the sound but not the note to a point I'm currently raging

[@mr_rakar]

So you're telling me I can apply my whistling techniques into this?

[@FrankRizzo557]

Great video. Not exactly an easy thing to explain. Just giving it some time I was able to get it. Where did you get the shirt LOL.

[@Learntheharmonica]

Really glad it helped. I designed the shirt myself, I used to sell them but they're not available anymore so there are only a few out there in the world!

[@CrueLoaf]

Is that Black Sabbaths Wizard you open with?

[@Learntheharmonica]

Yeah very similar! I have a song study lesson if you'd like to learn it - kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpOpdYB5nrGjlZY

[@iLL3571]

I have a Fender Blues Deluxe in C and sounds nothing like yours, why?

[@Learntheharmonica]

Hi, does it say what key it is? (a letter on or near the end?) It may be in a different key from mine.

[@elenaester7729]

I tried to connect with free classes but it always geaves me an answer ,,its a wrong code,,

[@Learntheharmonica]

Hi, thanks for commenting. What course are you trying to get, and what code are you using?

[@rodriguezelfeliz4623]

I caaaaan't. I can sort of get it in the first hole but I get nothing on the rest

[@tecoberg]

👍

[@Learntheharmonica]

Cheers

[@tecoberg]

@@Learntheharmonica I started to succeed to bending because of your video. Thanks.

[@TheWingnut58]

Here's a stupid newbie question for ya...lol I can bend the 4 draw pretty easily, but little to nothing on 2 or 3 draw....what am I doing wrong?

[@user-gc6dx4tr3k]

Sounds like the guy form Freesciencelessons

[@Learntheharmonica]

haha - someone has said that to me before! Hope noone gets confused and wants me to teach science.

[@jmm866]

Can’t do it…I’m sad

[@thomi9846]

Hope you figured it out man!

[@acay5722]

Same. I swear i learned how to do perfect bj's by trying to bend with a Harmonica.

[@gourabghosh3455]

@@thomi9846 hope so...

[@paulotoole4634]

Ok hole 4. What about bending on hole 3? That's where it gets really difficult

[@dylanmurphy3496]

Boss man know it’s been a year god knows what’s your at, not shure if it’s right but getting the job done by just covering half the note with my lip, that ok ?

[@elenaester7729]

Can you show us how to play some good blues riff man?

[@Learntheharmonica]

Check out this beginner blues solo - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hniXY4hubZKUeNk

[@dannymonroe4642]

2:55 thats what I say to my girlfriend all the time

[@ralgor100]

blow bend is more difficult

[@protarget1]

Old vid, but what I found, I've watched loads of vids, showing various ways of bending notes, none worked worked for me. While driving home, I had the car radio on,. Unconsciously I started to whistle to one of the songs. Then I realised what my tongue was doing to get the low draw notes. So when I got home, I tried it, not perfect but my 1st bend. Then the vids I'd watched made sense 😊

[@Learntheharmonica]

Amazing. Love this.

[@Hadrada.]

1.36 Ha ha ha

[@Learntheharmonica]

hahahahaha! I went back and checked 1:36! Hahaha!

[@keatitan6648]

I’m doing all the steps, but nothing is changing. Like at all.

[@user-ff4xn8vi4s]

I can’t make it bend 😭😭😭😭

[@raingamluikham4563]

😂 same

[@EdwardGil-gd5pf]

the descriptions are far too long

[@user-hh3fh3vv5s]

MF you ain’t got tha blues….