How to Play the Harmonica: Bending Notes on Harmonica

► Need a fast track for learning harmonica? www.harmonica....
One of the most important ways to add soul to your harmonica playing is to bend!
FYI: JP is now retired from teaching harmonica, but you can catch up with him over here:
www.gofundme.c...

[@Bloodrush87]

this got me my first bend, and of course with lots of other previous videos, but this one is probably one of the better tutorials on bends around youtube.

[@avalinah]

bends initially are not hard at all, i learned them in one day, but still it's much easier to do them better and more deeply when you listen to the mechanism of how it works. and this guy explains it the best. i've listened to quite a few explanations, but this one's definitely the clearest.

[@rcala1980]

Holy shit. I've literally watched over a dozen tutorials on bending and not one of them even elaborated on all the points as you did. I went absolutely nowhere with those videos. THANK YOU JP Allen!!! I tried "ko" and "ahh" with the back of my tongue down and used my soft palate...I got the bend (not 100% perfect) in 5 minutes. Now I'm on the right track. I wanna give you a hug dude! LOL. Everyone else, don't even bother listening to people in the comments give advice...just watch this damn video or look elsewhere. Peace, from Oahu! ✌🏾️✌🏾✌🏾

[@projectitis]

Hands down the best bending tutorial I've viewed. I've made decent progress over the years but never been able to bend a note. Through this video I've been able to do it.

[@mrcrowley951]

ive seen every single tutorial on utube on how to bend notes with a harmonica,been trying for 9 months and i accidentally did it while i was watching ur vid.i accidentally did it again and now i do it on purpose!! lesson learned,thanks buddy ;)

[@winstonchurchill624]

mrcrowley951 Good job. With bending, it seems that you either get it really fast or it takes a damn long time.

[@natjobo3555]

I swear if my mom walks in she's gonna think I'm choking on something

[@abbas1434u]

Nat Jobo hahahaha

[@Sachien_chauhan]

Hahaha

[@schrobay]

Dude you are like a Harmonica GOD!!! I seriously got the bending technique in like 10 minutes after watching this!!! Thank you so much!!! It's people like you, that make a difference in the world today!!! Keep on keepin on brother!!!!

[@sliver347]

SO hard to bend notes, but with your video dude, and your relaxing talking (gives me a sense of patience with your talking) I have now been able to bend the 1st, slowly moving onto the next ones! With your tips to continue improving I know I'll have it down in no time! Thanks a bunch!

[@mackharrison7448]

Watching this video in August 2010 started me on playing blues harp. All started with a bend! Thanks JP!

[@2012Aragorn]

Brilliant. Not played harmonica until today, checked this out and was bending (of sorts) within minutes. Thanks.

[@dovlandzbaum5036]

I give anyone credit for trying to teach someone how to bend, so my hat's off to you, JP. Why do I give anyone credit for that? Two reasons: (1) Anecdote: When Howard Levy was just getting acquainted with the harmonica, he asked his already pretty accomplished harp-playing buddy how he bent notes, and his friend said he couldn't explain it. And (2) I learned how to bend notes simply by playing...a lot! All the best to all the harp players out there!

[@someoneonyoutube1993]

This was the best lesson for bending! I got a few bends. Hard to repeat but finally worked a little.

[@ia5662]

This guy is the Bill Nye of harmonicas, I'm loving it

[@Birbonator]

LOL I just bought an harmonica and stumbled onto this channel. I COMPLETELY agree with you. This dude is awesome I love him. Love his videos. Clearly he's making these vids to share his passion and help fellow harmonica players

[@blymark83]

Amazing video. Most precise explanation of the physical action of the mouth while bending I've seen. Super helpful.

[@ClaudiaReneFuentes]

Dude I'm getting it! This video had me in tears but I almost got it and I just started playing harmonica 5 minutes ago hahaha.

[@christianhenry4173]

She's pretty.

[@mattashmore9675]

JP, This lesson REALLY helped me to better understand. I'd just been playing 3 days and I was able to bend 1 draw. This really solidified it for me... I just wish I could get the hang of 2 draw! Could you go through each step by step?

[@dwb543]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I have watched hundreds of videos, read books but have never been able to bend until now! I had to move up to the 4th until I could get it! Thanks so much once again

[@adamrobc]

been trying to bend for months, seen loads of vids and within 2 mins of watching this was bending notes - great lesson!

[@Oscar88959]

More easy said than done, it really helps but it requires a lot o practice. But It`s the most helpful of them all. Thanks a lot.

[@magicshoemonkey]

Holy crap, I've been trying this for days, watched 4 or 5 different videos, and now within the first 3 minutes of this video I figured out, at least how to do it, even if it still sounds awful. Thanks a billion.

[@filiptisma3891]

By far the most useful tutorial on bending... Ive been playing for a week now and could only barely bend on the first hole. Now all thats missing is the second bend on the second hole and the final bend on hole 3. In like 10 minutes after watching your video Ive made so much progress

[@arniemax1]

once again...Your ability to convey the Information about playing, etc. is Excellent. I 'get it' with your videos...Thanks...

[@FredericZolnet]

Honestly the best bending instruction I found so far on youtube. Got my first bend! Thanks!

[@bromixsr]

This is probably one of te best explanations, technique wise. I've been, for a while of and on and in that time playing beds only using my mouth shape, ee-oh. It makes a big difference in using the whole mouth structure, bends come faster and are more easily controlled. Nice stuff, have to try it on my wife as well.

[@kalebgates7711]

So to bend I become darth vader?

[@infinitemila6120]

Basically 😂😂

[@benjohnalbino7039]

Kaleb Gates i was doing the "kho" and i read this and laughed turned into darth vader

[@Lukeydookee]

+A Serious Salamander haha, you're totally right!

[@KellyDawnGoneWrong]

LMAO so funny 😂. He's good though! Good information.

[@truffleshuffl]

yeh!!!!!!!!!! thanks man ur great, as soon as u just hear it once and know it is genuinely possible with the harmonica u have is a great moment!

[@athenasword1]

This guy, when I first started out taught me how to play songs like bridge over troubled water Bright eyes , don’t cry for me Argentina etc THANK YOU.

[@Harmonicacom]

Yes! He's great! Thank YOU!

[@sepultura7771]

Insanely sad he fell 60 feet and lost his right hand completely,left hand totally messed up Left leg amputated and right leg paralyzed Horrible to happen to someone so friendly and nice

[@okcmco]

Ok. I felt silly doing this. Silly. I am an experienced singer, guitarist, bass player with tens of thousands of hours of stage time. I dabble in harp but only melody stuff, and chords. I always had trouble bending. Your video really helped me break through. First few tries sucked but with your techniques, I was bending full steps in a few injures. Thanks Yo

[@vyomdeepansh]

Man, a helpful lesson it is. Plus you remind me of Mathew McConaughey. It's like getting a harmonica tutorial from Mathew McConaughey. Cheers!

[@sumukhanagesha8682]

Awesome stuff! I had tried a lot of youtube videos to try to learn bending. This one is easily the best and clearly explains how to get there fast!

[@jorge77b]

steve vai play harmonica too? I didn't know :D

[@ggganster5662]

Jorge Suarez that's what I thought! LOL! Until I heard his voice...

[@TheAsteriskMark]

Best harmonica teacher ever... I succeeded at the first try! Thank you sir!

[@yalqam1]

I've been trying to learn bending for weeks now. Watched tons of videos. This is BY FAR the best explanation and i got it within the first try of these instructions. Thank you so much! :D

[@maximilianoperezfeulien2734]

Great video. Easily explained and got me to finally get somewhere. Thanks!!!

[@mdwsmith81]

i had the hardest time bending. but it was the harps i was using. i started out with cheap harmonicas. i wish i wasn't so cheap at the beginning because i almost gave up... Someone got me nice harps for Christmas and i cant believe the difference! these are so much easier to play on.

[@TheNucaKola]

This video is fantastic! The vintage video quality is different, his descriptive instructions on mouth movements with bending was surprisingly clear, and I picked up the technique in minutes of trying on my first day of even owning a harmonica! Also the instructor looks like a younger Tom Cruise with longer hair!

[@MadnessOfMarmots]

This is by far the best video on how to bending.

[@Annettesmusic]

First video I watched out of about 20 that taught me how to bend my first note. Yay! Thank you!

[@davids.816]

I did this and my harmonica hit me for using to much teeth.

[@mercedeswalt6621]

Hahahaha!

[@BAD1994life]

I figured it out pretty quickly, thanks for this man I will enjoy this lesson for the rest of my life!

[@conanbrophy4406]

Great video. I learnt how to bend from this vid about two years ago. Forgot how to do it and came back again. Bending again now. Great teaching!

[@kill40001000]

I bought a harmonica yesterday, and I can bend quite good already :)

[@tomjambor2519]

this is an excellent lesson. one of best on the tube. great teaching style

[@yuyiya]

What a FINE teacher you are, JP! :-) Now I finally understand the mechanics of the draw bend! You show us _exactly_ what we need to do to make this bend happen. Thanks heaps! :-)

[@zackgto77]

the moment of truth bending...serious awesome lesson bro..thanks! god bless

[@stevensaunders386]

I've watched a few videos about bending, this has been the best of all. especially with the yawning part of the technique! Thanks for the upload!

[@kevinator1843]

Steven Saunders 👍

[@TheGreenLeaf92]

I knew nothing about bending. then i watched this video, im not using this technique exacly, but it helped me find away to get started :) thanks, best vid out there for sure!

[@gustafson74may]

JP- I got your happy harpin' DVD about a year ago, I had some things happen which caused me to stop for 6 months. fyi I have finished the DVD today with going through about 5-6 lessons a day at a set time. I'm anxious to keep learning. Thank you for doing the video, I Really enjoyed doing it. I plan on continuing practicing I'm one way or another. Timothy G

[@shakiluzzaman283]

hi I love

[@jombangrawalele]

i think my tongue's broken

[@kevinator1843]

Atta Bratasena 👍

[@jaydalsaniya6986]

tongue has no bones bitch

[@Macifur]

Jay Dalsaniya It's called sarcasm.

[@sarcasticdoorknob8061]

@@jaydalsaniya6986 r/woosh

[@christopherdavidlunn8738]

@@jaydalsaniya6986 don't need bones to be broken! Broken means does not work.

[@SIXSTRINGOD]

one of the most discriptive how to vids ive ever seen. thanks!

[@forzamilano94]

man, you're the best... all of the others just kept sayin "you gotta feel it yourself, there's no way to show how to learn to bend". All you did was just say "bullshit, this is how it's done"! I'm sooo grateful, worked perfectly the first time I tried ;)

[@Mralmostpig]

I watched many tutorials and this is the only one that has worked for me. I still need to practice but I can at least make it occasionally now!

[@Harmonicacom]

Congrats! Rock on.

[@mibadura]

My mom walked in to my room when he was showing how to move your tongue, and she was pretty freaked out :D

[@jakeceder]

First time I managed to bend a note, took me a couple of weeks but finally got a bend on first hole! Thanks!

[@PlutodoskySatan]

You're really good teacher, and so with smiles and practice drawing, thank you very much.

[@jacobbruley1879]

When I started watching your video, I couldn't help but laugh at the explanations and demonstrations (no offense intended, of course, it was just really funny). But, dude, when I tried the "ko" thing like you said, I have never been so close to actually bending notes successfully! Thanks so much!

[@yamahaacoustic95]

Bending breakthrough!! I have never been this consistent!

[@GenePalmiter]

10 days and 30 beginning lessons and now this! My first bend!

[@TheTupeng]

great!!! im learning it.. this is an example of a good teacher

[@kjw291]

a good tutorial, definitely gave me some insight into what I'm supposed to be doing

[@rickyperez4742]

I bought a 3 dollar harmonica before looking this up and i got all this stuff instantly, I can do the bend easy by just controlling my air in a wave motion or turning the harmonica at angles

[@TheGPackers]

I have watched TONS of videos to explain this, and the only word I needed was ‘Yawn’. Thank you!

[@paulthiem205]

read two books, watched endless amounts of videos and this guy teaches me bending in under 4 minutes...

[@NickCheng93]

This video really helped! I found dropping the jaw to be important and also tilting the harmonica up (the side away from your mouth) slightly, and eventually I got it after 2 days.

[@Ro7aTION]

Thank you so much, I was able to bend (a little) on my first try after watching your video! Great lesson!

[@coolvibe17]

Hands down best bending video omg I am finnaly getting what I wanted to do for a song!

[@AndrewKozley]

I'VE FINALLY LEARNED IT! THANKS A LOT

[@rollcd111]

i jsut strated learning a few videos ago and now i can do this trick this realy helps and sounds awesome

[@qwmx]

THANKYOU JP ALLEN! THANKYOU JP ALLEN! I wanted to cry for the past month because I had trouble bending.

[@Harmonicacom]

Yay!

[@qwmx]

@@Harmonicacom You noticed me 🤩 You people just made my day better. SCREENSHOT FOR MEMORIES! 📷 📸📷

[@vicentesulbaran9112]

Exceptional explanation. I've got it at once, but I still need practice. Thumbs up

[@MichaelNusMusic]

Really good teacher. I can already do it on the first hole!

[@googull271]

Got a massive bend outta this! Thanks man. Subscribed!!

[@lmkwok3406]

Thanks a lot！😄I know how to bend the notes now,your videos really helps!!!

[@bongkagztoy]

you're a good teacher..keep it up dude..

[@joejoebeefcraft]

I just got one at a thriftshop now I can actually play it! Thanks!

[@shreyatulsyan9691]

It was an immediate help ! Thank you so much

[@Harmonicacom]

AWESOME SHERYA! jp

[@fender35303]

dude great tutorial, forget all the idiotic comments. You explained how to do it really well. I've been playing about 2 weeks and just got my first bend.

[@PedjaiTakoTo]

wowow...i've been having troubles with bending for a year now, but this video made learn it in less then 15min o.O thank you so much sir, have a like...hell, i'll even subscribe

[@ppgab]

harmonica tutorials are always so fucking weird

[@rukh397]

ikr xD

[@jonathanlegaspi8824]

1:15

[@michaeldavis8452]

1:20

[@cognoz]

Very nice it took 30 min to learn how to bend, thx to you!

[@stephjans6411]

brilliant lesson, thanks so much for showing this with detail.

[@Shane4sax]

Great explanation thank you so much this has really helped me with bending holes one and two.

[@schlieffenska]

Woot! Thanks! A note to everyone else: Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but I find saying "wah wah" works better than what he was saying. It sounds the same to me, and just kinda clicks for me better. In case anyone was having trouble. :) Harp on!

[@Cleared_To_Land]

Excellent lesson! Great teacher.

[@DazEdword]

This video is REALLY HELPFUL.

[@Saleh.rahimi]

that worked thank you very much.

[@paulfogarty7724]

I got it ! I GOT IT !!!....HAHA !... Angeling of raising the front of the harp really did it !

[@dakotarising3490]

Me too, pretty much worked first time...

[@Ezguitarpick]

Fantastic explanations. Best I have heard/seen. thx

[@MrLarryrogers]

buddy you da guy. I finally started bending the notes thanks to you. Cheers

[@stephenjohnson1112]

This is the real deal! It works! Thank you so much!

[@Harmonicacom]

Glad it helped!

I tried and my neighbors knocked at my door asking for me to shut up :'(

[@alighozali1940]

you should play it in a jungle perhaps... lol

[@rinteatbc6918]

hehe its cool

[@zhulia]

THIS IS MY FAVORITE VIDEO ON KZbin

[@greengo9]

by far the best explanation :)

[@oiram32]

finally I got it!!! best lesson on youtube!!! thanks a lot

[@omgitzurdad]

i love this dudes voice

[@saabydo]

Well done man, great teacher

[@lotemtzur]

thank you so much!! the 'ko' thing helped a lot

[@warrenfloyd2628]

good stuff! i learned all this stuff by experminting, took a while, wish i had found you earlier, very informative and helpful, keep up the great work, happy harping😆🖒

[@harsha_sree_t]

Thank you so much to explain in so much detail.. Im just abt getting it now and will continue to practice :)

[@reoscorpio]

i Thought.. i had this bend thing down .. THOUGHT.. after This video (& practice).. i KNEW i had it.. not just the concept, but the mechanics of how to control drawing out the bend .. moving the jaw in sync with the sucking .. to the point where i could get that bent note first.. its a beautiful thing. it even improved my embouchure & help greatly with my 2 hole draw. Wow.. Thanks Dude.. you take us to school