Harmonica Chords
Fortunately for the beginning student, the harmonica is constructed so that any two holes that are next to each other will produce sounds that go together well.
Sounds that are produced by playing three or more holes simultaneously are called "chords". Each chord can be described by a letter name, like C, or F, or G, but these letter names are generally of more of interest to guitarists and keyboard players than to harmonica players.
The most common number of holes used to play a chord is three. You have already been playing chords using the low-end holes 1, 2, and 3; the middle holes 4, 5, and 6, and the high-end holes 8, 9, and 10.
Three holes are the number most comfortable to cover without placing the teeth in contact with the harmonica (which you shouldn’t be doing).
If you are not sure how many holes you’re covering at once, you might try using the very tip of your tongue to count holes, while your mouth is in position over them. Try to cover three, but your chord will still sound right if you cover four by accident, at first.
If You’ve Got An Accompanist, Or The Recording
Most blues harmonicists, at this early point in their careers, will be playing solo (by themselves).
If not, the small CAPITAL LETTERS underneath many of the rhythm patterns and songs presented from now on will indicate the letter names of the chords that a guitarist or pianist might play to accompany that rhythm or song.
These accompanying chords are the ones used in the Progressive Blues Harmonica recording, and their importance will become more obvious in later lessons, with the study of blues improvisation.
This exercise sounds fairly good, and will help you to develop your breath control. It will also form the basis for your first train rhythm. Place your mouth over the middle holes 4, 5, and 6. Tap your foot in the steady "one" "two" "three" "four" rhythm that you’ve already learned, slowly and carefully. Inhale the chord twice (once for each foot tap), using either the "puffing" or "tonguing" methods of producing separate, repeated sounds. Then Exhale the chord twice (once for each foot tap). Do this same four count chord rhythm over and over, as follows, just on the 4,5, and 6 holes.
Once you get into the proper rhythm, there is no need to think about the "one" "two" "three" "four" any longer, as you will probably be able to maintain the rhythm without thinking. Below, in represents an inhaled chord and ex represents an exhaled chord.
Maintaining Enough Air Flow
Make sure that you are inhaling approximately the same amount of air that you are exhaling, so that you keep a comfortable amount of air in your lungs at all times. If you find yourself too full of air, exhale harder during the two exhaled chords.
If you find yourself too empty, inhale harder during the two inhaled chords. Remember, keeping your nose closed will make more air available for playing, although at first it may be tempting to let air in or out of your nose to compensate for excess fullness or emptiness. You do not need to play this rhythm pattern too loudly, especially at first. In fact, playing too hard may make you feel lightheaded. If this is a problem for you, just play very softly at first, using only as much air as feels comfortable.
The harmonica is particularly well-suited to mimic a railroad train. Thus a variety of train rhythms are part of the repertoire of every amateur and professional harmonicist. Although many train rhythms can be quite complex and difficult to play, even the simplest is entertaining and satisfying for the beginner.
When you are able to play the rhythm pattern of Exercise 4, it can be altered to represent the sound of a moving train quite easily. Try it using a sharply tongued "chuck" for each out note, as follows.
The chords represent the noise of the wheels, so simply change the tempo (speed) and volume (loudness) of the pattern to reflect the sound of a real train as it moves about. Make your rhythm pattern louder or softer, to mimic the noise of the train as it comes towards you or moves away from you. Speed the tempo up to represent the speed of the train increasing as it leaves a station or or slow the tempo down to represent the speed of the train decreasing as it approaches a station. In later lessons, you will learn to add blues effects to make the train a basis for an exciting blues piece.
You may want to begin playing the above train rhythm on the 1, 2, and 3 holes as well as on the 4,5, and 6. Many beginning harmonica players find that the inhale of this lower chord tends to have a "choked" sound if there is the least bit of tension in the throat, tongue, or mouth. This is due to the tendency of the number 2 hole to "choke up" when inhaled. You can easily hear the difference between a "choked" and a "relaxed" 1, 2 and 3 inhaled chord, as demonstrated on the recording.
Therefore, it is important to consciously relax the entire vocal apparatus when working on the 1, 2, and 3 inhale chord or the 2 inhale note. Thinking of the sensation of openness inside the mouth during a yawn may help to promote this relaxation. The inhaled 1, 2, and 3 chord and the 2 note are crucial to blues and rock playing, and thus well worth a minute or two of practice every day.
