blow, draw, bend: decoding the mysteries of your harmonica

For many beginners--and even for some who have played for years--the layout of notes on a diatonic harmonica is confusing. Which of the two notes on a given hole, blow or draw, is higher? And what's up with those bends? Here is a simple, no-nonsense explanation.
With Adam Gussow of Modern Blues Harmonica. www.modernbluesharmonica.com/...
Gussow is currently appearing in "Satan & Adam," a Netflix documentary about his longtime blues duo, a Harlem street act in the late 1980s.
Here are two beginner's packages that will help you build on what I've shown you in this video:
Modern Blues Harmonica beginner's special:
www.tradebit.com/filedetail.p...
Modern Blues Harmonica beginner's deluxe:
www.tradebit.com/filedetail.p...

[@lilzach666]

Cannot belive the way u put musical theory into ways average people should understand it !!! Thanks for the viewing pleasure

[@danlaxer514]

You, Shellist, Leckie, and Wilde are my go-to online harmonica teachers. Watching this video reminds me why I enjoy yours so much. You're a lot of fun. Your videos are entertaining, and your passion helps to make it interesting. I watch as much for you as for the lessons that you impart.

[@andydunn5673]

Dan Laxer I completely agree And in that order Blues harmonica has changed my life And I’m crap.....

[@jstone8700]

Dan's a progressionist.. Ah hell what do I know?.. I've actually never seen that explained.. Adam the enthusiast.. That undrawed bridge.. I left the n out.. Adam's the bomb.. Or blow.. The unblowed bridge.. But likeke no other Adam covers it.. Adaam is my most favorite improvisational listen.. He's still in that car doinn the best practice place.. I still need to get that practice place to practice more.. This lesson is a gem.. Adam I don't know where you got the the inspiration to teach this one.... But I'd do do myself a disfavor to not look this one over again and a few times over....

[@jstone8700]

I'm thinkinking about getting one of those 12 hole sonny williamson bye. Bye birdie marine bands.. None the less.. Not by your words but by what I truly like.. Marine band is no doudt what I like the very most.. The sound.. Yes.. That's it!!.. I've been a Hohner from birth.. My friends more than not hate that MB Hi sound??? Special 20 a good one.. But you and I are the same.. 1896 rules.. Hohner?? Haven't got a bad one yet..

[@torineg.847]

Howdy Adam.. Are you still giving lesson tutorials ? I've listened to many of your videos and one I love best is Whammer Jammer. But I also love the song TrainTime by jack Bruce of Cream... Can you please give the technique Jack uses.. It's just really fast .. If I could move my tongue that fast even my wife would enjoy it.. Ha.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWPceXWBgN-qirM

[@michaelschaefer9535]

Adam, I was so sorry to hear of Mr. Satan's passing. Watching the 2 of you performing on the streets of NYC was inspiring and led me to ask you to teach me. I wish you all the best. Michael

[@AlessiadAndreaMusic]

I love this man! He's teaching me so many things regarding harmonica and with such a simple language! Thank you! 😎

[@OmniphonProductions]

After nearly eleven years of playing, my ears have already discovered much of this. _However,_ I love the way this video makes me actually _think_ about the principles involved. In addition to helping me to fine tune what I'm already doing, I'm now inspired to really start exploring the bending potential of those _middle_ notes in the upper octave. Thanks, yet again!

[@jamesstanley8774]

A whole book of 10 chapters in one lesson. Thank you. Now to get to work!

[@1eddybee]

That is such a very well explained and demonstrated harmonica theory lesson, will be most useful while practicing with the ears.Such clear notes,sweet!Thanks for sharing.

[@avidkites]

Ive found myself losing joy in many things in life recently, yet here i am in my car, slowly but surely learning harmonica, thanks to you Adam. Best g o s h d a n g teacher out there

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

It's a good thing you didn't say "Best f****ng harmonica teacher on KZbin!" because they would have blocked that.

[@mrtambourineman6107]

I been the same bro, harmonica is definitely helping my ass through some dark times. Hope you're lifting out of it a bit man

[@SwingEzzZZ]

This lesson is gem. Thank you very much Mr. Gussow.

[@MrSupersidewinder]

Incredible lesson!!! This should be like lesson number 3 for anyone taking this instrument seriously... I have been playing for many years and never put all of that info together, THANKS.🎵🎶👍

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

Thanks! Nice handle, btw.

[@MrSupersidewinder]

@@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726 Thanks Adam. I have learned a lot from you over the years... Thanks for giving it all away... This single lesson had so much meat, I had to speak out.♥️👍💥

[@alboeck5641]

AG, Very instructive; a succinct summary which I had never fully thought out myself. Again, sir, I always find your vids helpful to my playing. Thanx!

[@curryblackwell1769]

Great lesson.Especially liked the 3rd position comparison to cross harp blues scale using the 7 bend.

[@stevepethel6843]

I learned something today after playin go over 40 years...the divide between 6 and 7.Thanks Adam God blessings for teaching old dogs like me new. Insights.Love that Batman halfstep approach.You get A good tone out of that Hohner.

[@danielborges.]

I loved your lesson, Gussow. In fact, I've had the harmonica for a few years, but now I'm in love with that little thing, and partly thanks to your videos.

[@AdventureMan07]

I just picked up the Harmonica and I’m loving it

[@airmojo]

Great info ! Heck, it took a harmonica lesson to teach me the proper pronunciation of "primer" ! Thank you !

[@MarcoGarineiWriterOfficial]

This was really insightful for a beginner, thanks Adam!

[@EagleM16]

For some reason I have the hardest time with the bends on the 3-hole. The batman song tip is definitely going to be helpful, so thanks for that!

[@danielluke4139]

This is really good. Very insightful

[@amir.zolghadr]

V E R Y GOOD!! Thanks Adam!

[@yoschieschmitt1929]

Wow, thanks. I definitely learned a lot.

[@hibixby5777]

Awesome man! from S.Korea 👍👍👍

[@madm2082]

Hi , just starting harmonica , I was a sax player but because of teeth problems I need another instrument for a while , I still get very strung out on theory though , I like your lessons, very clear and one step at a time

[@myjames48]

I am going on 72. Been playing since the age of 7. One thing I do know is one is never to old to learn. Your in put is amazing to say the least. Most of my playing has been in the first position all of my life.

[@VangeliRock]

I too just bought myself an mouth organ. Downloaded this man training vids, hope to add some harmonic to some of my own recordings soon.

[@micahslobcrud5958]

Good dissection of the mysteries! I gotta go thru it again and really take THE notes! (Need I say I was attracted to chromatic harmonica first, being blind to the possibilities of the 10 hole diatonic?) As a piano player and teacher, this is GOLD, cuz sadly I SOMETIMES think in a limited way. Ovarb! Ovarb! My idiolectic way of saying Bravo!

[@Justus_Patrick]

Holy shit I was just thinking about the blow/draw higher/lower thing. You're an amazing teacher

[@HuiyenManton]

thank you 💖

[@caniican]

I really think you're the best harmonica teacher on KZbin. I'm a professional guitar player and I totally love blues harp Allah Kim Wilson from The Fabulous Thunderbirds Style. And you are helping me greatly by your great communication to understand framework and a general outline the same way I learned guitar 35 years ago. Thanks dude you're awesome! Love that clip in the U-2 movie. That's great

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

Very nice! I'll take it.

[@mimas7450]

awesome lesson

[@chrisbarkerguitar]

Thank you for that Adam, great lesson! :-)

[@ElderHiker]

Good lesson. Thanks. I'll think about that all night.

[@olegivanov73]

Thank you)

[@nickgrantartist]

Old Gus. Lol. Really interesting video Adam, thank you! Regards.Old Nick

[@despairnation9047]

Just got done with your first lesson, loving it. Even though bending is giving me a hard time

[@Kryynism]

It will for a while. Keep at it. I played for nearly a year before getting decent at bending. Took another year to get good at it.

[@mightyluv]

I’m one step closer to knowing what the hell I’m doing! Thanks, keep them vids coming.

[@stellaSOreal]

You're one cool dude! Loved the documentary, love the lessons. ✌💖 Such an awesome guy. Thank you 💕

[@andydunn5673]

Ohhh good one

[@nsane992002]

Great lesson!! Hope you are enjoying this rainy Mississippi day like I am. I would love to see you do a video on breaking in harmonicas and your opinion on it.

[@andydunn5673]

Yes master.......

[@CarlitosMayo]

Boss!

[@johnwoods1231]

Mr Gussow,I ran across your music on your harmonica and I was amazed on what I was listening too.I gota problem with COPD. No I'm not on oxygen but I do take my medication every morning My wife told me that if I could learn to play the harp that it would be good for me.What do you think?I'm going to try and learn how to play it.Maybe with a little help from you now and then. What do you think?And by the way my Mother was a great harmonica player right up till God called her home.Thank you very much. John

[@tannerdawson7766]

Hey, Adam! Thanks for all the videos. Been watching for years. I've only talked to one other player about an overblown 6th hole to get the (on a C harp) Bb. He had heard of it but not been able to do it. Can't seem to find much about it online either. Let me know your thoughts? Hope you're well 🙏🏼

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

Yes, I've been doing that since 1987. Check out "Watermelon Man": kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6Tbd3uner6WnsU. 0:35.

[@mcfreed]

Hi mate! Thank you for your videos, it's really so cool and useful! But... i have some trouble: I have only the hohner special 20 D country harmonica with a plastic box. I saw that you have the same. It doesn't sound like C harmonica. I can't find lessons for my harmonica anywhere! Please... can you make a video with your hohner D harmonica in plastic box and show how it can sound with your skills? Shuffle rhythm, blues licks... I really need a few lessons! Please do that... 💛

[@shoechild6813]

this is a goldmine for thats what she said jokes

[@drtone]

Mind blown...thanks, Adam......................SATAN!!!!!!!!

[@charliegregory4148]

👏👍💥😎

[@jantonisito]

Diatonic zen. Please correct me if I am wrong. The higher the pitch the smaller the difference between mouth configuration for the separate notes. When I try to blow bend the 7-10 notes the the very small change of shape of resonant “chamber r” in your mouth results in note “sliding” thorough the bend. So trick to me is to catch and hold it there.

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

Yep, your insight is correct.

[@Harp_and_Guitar_Moving_Forward]

I may need some weeds for that to sink in....

[@adamfox9651]

Hey, Guss, do you have a video lesson about how to do blow bends? I've got draw bends figured out-although I'm still trying to perfect my technique so it doesn't sound like a dying animal-but I have no clue how to blow bend.

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

I thought that I'd done that, but it's possible that I haven't. Many other lessons on that, though: kzbin.info?search_query=gussow+blow+bend

[@andrihidayat4879]

You talking like Jim Carrey, I love that accent

[@adamallisongrant]

✨🌟🎶💥🎶🌟✨

[@TheGetorix]

curious about bending a blow note ?

[@adamfox9651]

Holy harmonica, Batman!

[@99crossy]

Gonna drive my neighbour crazy attempting to blow bend hole 10 on a C till it goes before I play one more tune 😂

[@graemepage3701]

Adam, why are the 7-10 holes reversed? Would they still bend properly if the draw note was higher? Doesn’t this make life unnecessarily complicated? Always wondered this, feels like it’s a new instrument once I cross to hole 7.

[@kucu6437]

You Harmonica ( Hohner Marine Band 1896 ?

[@SouravDas-ix6nn]

Hello Mr. Gussow I can bend every bendable hole but not in 4 why ? Could you please help me with that

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

I don't know why. 4 draw is the easiest bend.

[@SouravDas-ix6nn]

@@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726 I also don't know sir , I'm still trying ..I have a request ..Sir Can u pls do a video on only how to bend hole 4 (C harmonica) ?

[@redtrychguy8676]

This video is just one day after corona virus became known...

[@hh-ck6ko]

It's the wierdest instrument i know. Not only because of the way notes are placed, but because it's falsely labled as diatonic. C harp can be played in a key of F#, it's hard, but it's possible. It's possible to blow bend overblows, like holes 3-6. Just trying to understand how all of that works took me months.

[@pr0fsnip3r86]

second!

[@frankkerner8699]

How does dental work affect playing harmonica?

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

I hate to admit this, but I think that playing the harmonica for decades contributed to the wearing down of my front teeth, especially the two on the bottom in the center. When I tongue block, I clack the harp against those teeth. Do that for several decades and some wear is bound to show up. Nothing a little Bondo can't fix, though.

[@tooncedup]

First!

[@mrtambourineman6107]

I never play the 2 draw , just sounds weird to me

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

I don't know what to say. If you're playing cross harp, the 2 draw is your tonic note. I can't think of any serious blues harmonica player who doesn't use the 2 draw in every song played cross harp. It's sort of like being a writer who says, "I never use vowels." Ys, 't my b pssble t' hbble hthr & ththr, bt not gd.

[@mrtambourineman6107]

Too advanced for me , but thanks

[@randho5150]

Does the wife make you film your videos in the car?

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

Initially, thirteen years ago when we had an infant son who was napping, yes.

[@stevepethel6843]

I have played harmonica in our cars many many many hours...