A private concert for my neighbors and dogs almost every morning when the weather is good.

100 harmonicas

I will teach 100 people to play the harmonica and give them a free harmonica in return for the promise to practice and return to a designated concert site.

It’s just that simple.

If you want to be part of the project Contact Me

A little bit about me

I’ve been playing the harmonica since I was about five years old. My dad played and I thought that was about the coolest thing ever. So, I picked it up and kept playing.

I’m not all that great at it. You would not want me to jam in your bluegrass band or anything like that. I can’t read music, but I can pick up anything by ear and learn it, then bend it.

I can teach anyone to play. It’s pretty simple to get started. (stay away from YouTube videos… they are overly complicated, scary and pretentious)

Free lesson

Here is my free lesson for anyone who wants it.

1. Purchase a harmonica. The key of C is just fine, though the key of G is more blues-y if that is your thing. Get a good one, not one from the lower shelf at Cracker Barrel. This is a good starter one.
2. Position your harmonica numbered side up, lower numbers on the left
3. Practice blowing lightly into one of the holes until you get a clean note. Find the C (do, re, me, fa and so on… C, D, E, F, G, A, and B)
4. The pattern to do your scales while moving up the harmonica from left to right is: Blow-Suck-Blow-Suck-Blow-Suck-Suck-Blow (I know, I know, the official real harmonica nomenclature is Blow, Draw, but.. c’mon blow-suck is wayyyyyy more fun and memorable.)
5. That’s it. That’s pretty much all you really need to know. Clean note, get your scales down. Practice. Then practice some more.

If you find yourself trapped in an airport or wherever without your harmonica (shame on you!) you can even practice just by whistling. Really.

Also, keep it clean. When you are done playing, smack it into your palm, reed holes side down to get the moisture out of it or the reeds will stick. Do it like nbd and you’ll look about as cool as James Dean. (ok, not really, but don’t not do this. Every time. This is not a toy; the harmonica is a serious musical instrument.)

Blow Suck Blow Suck Blow Suck Suck Blow … Forwards and backwards

Warning
When you get playing, you will want more than one harmonica. You may even want to mortgage your house to purchase an entire collection in a range of keys. I understand the draw, but please don’t go bankrupt buying harmonicas. They have no pawn value.

In case you did not heed this advice, you’ll at least want one in the key of G, C, A and D. Really, trust me on this. And only buy Hohner… everything else is crap.

A mission reminder
I will teach 100 people to play the harmonica and give them a free harmonica in return for the promise to practice and return to a designated concert site.

Holler at me if you want in

Originally published at 100harmonicas.wordpress.com