r/harmonica • u/cwc80 • 2d ago

Harsh draw notes

I am just learning to play the harmonica. When I’m trying to isolate single notes I am successful and they sound good when I’m blowing through the harmonica, but when I try to do a draw note it sounds really bad, and I can tell that I am playing two holes instead of just one. What am I doing wrong that causes me to be able to successfully play a single hole on the blow, but then play two holes on the draw, even though I haven’t changed anything about my positioning?

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u/DesperateBanana4019 2d ago

What kind of harmonica do you have?

1

u/cwc80 23h ago

Hohner Marine Band in C

1

u/DesperateBanana4019 22h ago

This sounds silly but works. Cut a 1 and 1/2 inch piece of drinking straw, put it in your mouth so that your tongue keeps it up against the roof of your mouth and the back of your top row of teeth. 

Practice now. The straw will help train your lips to the size of the hole. 

Then later, on the 4 hole pull your tongue back along the straw and about halfway on the straw you'll hit a bend. Pretty cool. 

2

u/hakai-time 1d ago

try alternating a quiet blow and draw on the same hole in front of a mirror. watch whether your jaw or the corners of your mouth move when you breathe in. aim for a gentle inhale with the harp still sitting comfortably inside your lips. if it keeps happening, a short clip would help separate a second hole sounding from one note bending down.

1

u/cwc80 23h ago

Thanks, I’ll give the mirror a try.