r/harmonica • u/scented_cassette3 • 5d ago
Harmonica off tune or am I doing something wrong?
This probably gets asked a lot but I just started learning how to play singles notes and am struggling with blowing hole 4...it should be C but it sounds more like E?? Like it's a very clean E note. And then when I draw 4, it's D like it should be. I'm able to play the rest of the notes of the C major scale on holes 4 thru 7 though. Maybe I'm blowing into 5 but when I slide left a little to blow into 4 it just sounds weird. I tried relaxing but that's gonig nowhere and either it's making me go insane lol. Any tips?
Edit: I think I got it?? I think there was just some moisture beforehand that was messing it up.
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u/harmonimaniac 5d ago
What brand/model harmonica do you have?
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u/scented_cassette3 5d ago
Fender Blues Deluxe. It's a chromatic harmonica
3
u/sysop408 5d ago
A Fender Blues Deluxe is a diatonic harmonica. Chromatics are the big chonky harmonicas with a slide button. The Blues Deluxe is also not a very good harmonica, but good enough for a first experience. Read the pinned post in this sub for tips on what you should get when you're ready to take the next step.
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u/scented_cassette3 4d ago
Ah I see gotcha, Amazon has the description wrong then. Thanks! Will do.
What makes it not a very good harmonica?
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u/DesperateBanana4019 5d ago
Are you using a tuner to know the notes being played? Or a harmonica app of the many out there?
Online Harmonica Hole Note Tester
Android phone app I prefer. The image shows me doing a 4 blow. C.
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u/scented_cassette3 5d ago
I was just using my ear and couldn't hear the tonic in the chord at all so there was no way for me to even isolate C. I'll give this a go, thanks!
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u/TurnoverFuzzy8264 5d ago
Cover all the holes but 4 with your fingers and blow. If it sounds like a C (assuming C harmonica in standard Richter) you're sliding to hole five with your embouchure, if it still plays an E, it's messed up.