How to really learn a song on Harmonica!

[@michaelmitchell1496]

I might just break down and learn to play a song . . . Thanks for the instruction, and for not boozing during the video.

[@carstenlippitz6539]

Thank You for helping us little harp disciples to explore songs in an understandable way, this is so motivating!

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

Great to hear! You’re most welcome ;)

[@LeedsHarmonica]

That singing thing is SO important. A lot of wisdom in this video. Very cool.

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

thanks Kevin, hope you're well!!

[@ramblin_harp]

Great lesson! I actually went through, followed your advice and figured it out! I wrote it down as I went because I couldn't remember the phrase I figured out before. Anyway now to add some cheeky effects and make it my own! Thanks Ed 🙏🎶

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

Great! The more you do this, the faster it will get. There is no better way to learn music and develop your ear.

[@chrispickett4997]

Good reminder lesson for us, who have been playing a while. Getting back to basic is so helfull. Thanks a million ED.

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

Glad it was helpful! :)

[@JohnintheUK1]

Whistling, small chunks and slowing it down are what works for me. Whistling is also good for coming up with original licks. If you can whistle it you can usually play it. Great lesson Ed, keep 'em comin'.

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

Great tip! thanks for the kind words too :)

[@janecheer]

I love the way you explain stuff, Ed!

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

thanks Jane!

[@UKSHIPPERS]

Just love the no nonsense dry approach Ed.

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

thanks a lot!

[@robrandall5991]

Thanks for shining a light on this simple approach. Great Video 👍

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

My pleasure! :)

[@WolfsBlues]

Fantastic lesson Ed...such valuable information...thanks.

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@cpgphone]

Great job Ed! I really appreciate the video! Just what I was hoping you would cover. Adding vocals into practice is a great idea I never thought of. Time to graduate from the shower to the practice room!

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tuna22lm]

This was a great fantastic lesson video a very good way that makes a lot of sense to get started on learning to play the harmonica that could boost your confidence and encourage someone to try and learn/practice more and more ,I could see that happening, because of this one video, thanks for the inspiration. How do I know when to blow or suck Lol sounds dirty . So is it just trial and error?

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

Thanks! Yes exactly, lots of trial and error. knowing a scale or two can help lay out a map but it’s putting together the smaller parts of a melody that really helps us to build the jigsaw.

[@jimsmidlifeadventures]

Great approach thanks! I try to learn more and more by ear and use tabs if stuck or to confirm. Anytune is a great little app to loop/slow down songs and it saves loops/markers and shows. waveform. Less expensive and imo better than amazing slow downer and very inexpensive.

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

Totally agree! the app sounds good too :)

[@marshallprince8288]

I think your listening crowd would like to hear a little about you and your barge career.

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

video planned :)

[@tuna22lm]

So what do you do if you can't listen to the song that you want to learn?

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

Good question. If you are fluent in reading music score you could do that but it’s uncommon for diatonic harmonica. :)

[@Human_Herbivore]

I'm following David Barrett's school and love the material he provides but every now and again I worry that my harping "career" will end up just a load of his stuff. 😱 😂

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

David is a good musician and copying him wouldn't be bad.

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

Nothing wrong with following a good programme, you can follow your instincts and ears alongside it and keep developing all round skills :)

[@JB-rw9xt]

Or I could just Google Worried Man Blues lesson from Harmonica Barge 🤣

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

ha ha yes :)

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

WHAT? No tabs? Oh, right, it's in the title of the video. Play simple songs? Nursery rhymes? I've been playing piano for less than two years, ukulele for about a year and my C harmonica is pretty dusty since I don't want to bother the neighbors. Merci for quoting John Hartford. Teaching your limbs to make the sounds you are hearing in your head. But I don't have music in my head. Never had any. So it might be too late to become a musician..or I'll never be a musician. So I'm just learning to be a piano technician, or a ukulele technician. I have several piano method books. And I've repeated them several times. Now I'm trying to play the first songs on my ukulele. BTW did I say this was a great video?

[@TheHarmonicaBarge]

thanks very much. Do you ever whistle a song when you're in the car or shower, or hum along to the radio? If so, then you have music in your head. If you don't, try and hum a nursery rhyme, or happy birthday or a familiar song- see if you can hum part of it :)

[@ramblin_harp]

Great lesson! I actually went through and figured it out! Now to practice and make it my own, thanks Ed! 🙏🎶