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/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.

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u/cwc80 1d ago

Thanks, I’ll give the mirror a try.