How to Play the Harmonica: Bending Notes on Harmonica

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  • Опубліковано 30 чер 2010
  • ► Need a fast track for learning harmonica? www.harmonica.com/lessons/
    One of the most important ways to add soul to your harmonica playing is to bend!
    FYI: JP is now retired from teaching harmonica, but you can catch up with him over here:
    www.gofundme.com/f/hmmrss-sup...
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 516

  • @natjobo3555
    @natjobo3555 8 років тому +85

    I swear if my mom walks in she's gonna think I'm choking on something

  • @rcala1980
    @rcala1980 8 років тому +18

    Holy shit. I've literally watched over a dozen tutorials on bending and not one of them even elaborated on all the points as you did. I went absolutely nowhere with those videos. THANK YOU JP Allen!!! I tried "ko" and "ahh" with the back of my tongue down and used my soft palate...I got the bend (not 100% perfect) in 5 minutes. Now I'm on the right track. I wanna give you a hug dude! LOL.
    Everyone else, don't even bother listening to people in the comments give advice...just watch this damn video or look elsewhere.
    Peace, from Oahu! ✌🏾️✌🏾✌🏾

  • @mrcrowley951
    @mrcrowley951 9 років тому +27

    ive seen every single tutorial on utube on how to bend notes with a harmonica,been trying for 9 months and i accidentally did it while i was watching ur vid.i accidentally did it again and now i do it on purpose!! lesson learned,thanks buddy ;)

    • @winstonchurchill624
      @winstonchurchill624 5 років тому

      mrcrowley951 Good job. With bending, it seems that you either get it really fast or it takes a damn long time.

  • @ia5662
    @ia5662 8 років тому +32

    This guy is the Bill Nye of harmonicas, I'm loving it

    • @Birbonator
      @Birbonator 6 років тому +1

      LOL I just bought an harmonica and stumbled onto this channel. I COMPLETELY agree with you. This dude is awesome I love him. Love his videos. Clearly he's making these vids to share his passion and help fellow harmonica players

  • @ClaudiaReneFuentes
    @ClaudiaReneFuentes 8 років тому +19

    Dude I'm getting it! This video had me in tears but I almost got it and I just started playing harmonica 5 minutes ago hahaha.

  • @mackharrison7448
    @mackharrison7448 9 років тому +4

    Watching this video in August 2010 started me on playing blues harp. All started with a bend! Thanks JP!

  • @sliver347
    @sliver347 9 років тому +5

    SO hard to bend notes, but with your video dude, and your relaxing talking (gives me a sense of patience with your talking) I have now been able to bend the 1st, slowly moving onto the next ones! With your tips to continue improving I know I'll have it down in no time! Thanks a bunch!

  • @Bloodrush87
    @Bloodrush87 13 років тому +1

    this got me my first bend, and of course with lots of other previous videos, but this one is probably one of the better tutorials on bends around youtube.

  • @dovlandzbaum5036
    @dovlandzbaum5036 7 років тому +2

    I give anyone credit for trying to teach someone how to bend, so my hat's off to you, JP. Why do I give anyone credit for that? Two reasons: (1) Anecdote: When Howard Levy was just getting acquainted with the harmonica, he asked his already pretty accomplished harp-playing buddy how he bent notes, and his friend said he couldn't explain it.
    And (2) I learned how to bend notes simply by playing...a lot!
    All the best to all the harp players out there!

  • @projectitis
    @projectitis 11 років тому +1

    Hands down the best bending tutorial I've viewed. I've made decent progress over the years but never been able to bend a note. Through this video I've been able to do it.

  • @schrobay
    @schrobay 11 років тому +1

    Dude you are like a Harmonica GOD!!! I seriously got the bending technique in like 10 minutes after watching this!!! Thank you so much!!! It's people like you, that make a difference in the world today!!! Keep on keepin on brother!!!!

  • @kalebgates7711
    @kalebgates7711 8 років тому +112

    So to bend I become darth vader?

    • @infinitemila6120
      @infinitemila6120 8 років тому +1

      Basically 😂😂

    • @benjohnalbino7039
      @benjohnalbino7039 7 років тому

      Kaleb Gates i was doing the "kho" and i read this and laughed turned into darth vader

    • @Lukeydookee
      @Lukeydookee 6 років тому

      +A Serious Salamander
      haha, you're totally right!

    • @KellyDawnGoneWrong
      @KellyDawnGoneWrong 5 років тому +1

      LMAO so funny 😂. He's good though! Good information.

  • @blymark83
    @blymark83 9 років тому +3

    Amazing video. Most precise explanation of the physical action of the mouth while bending I've seen. Super helpful.

  • @someoneonyoutube1993
    @someoneonyoutube1993 4 роки тому +2

    This was the best lesson for bending! I got a few bends. Hard to repeat but finally worked a little.

  • @filiptisma3891
    @filiptisma3891 9 місяців тому

    By far the most useful tutorial on bending... Ive been playing for a week now and could only barely bend on the first hole. Now all thats missing is the second bend on the second hole and the final bend on hole 3. In like 10 minutes after watching your video Ive made so much progress

  • @adamrobc
    @adamrobc 11 років тому

    been trying to bend for months, seen loads of vids and within 2 mins of watching this was bending notes - great lesson!

  • @dwb543
    @dwb543 12 років тому

    Thank you, thank you, thank you. I have watched hundreds of videos, read books but have never been able to bend until now! I had to move up to the 4th until I could get it! Thanks so much once again

  • @SIXSTRINGOD
    @SIXSTRINGOD 11 років тому

    one of the most discriptive how to vids ive ever seen. thanks!

  • @FredericZolnet
    @FredericZolnet 11 років тому

    Honestly the best bending instruction I found so far on youtube. Got my first bend! Thanks!

  • @2012Aragorn
    @2012Aragorn 12 років тому

    Brilliant. Not played harmonica until today, checked this out and was bending (of sorts) within minutes. Thanks.

  • @truffleshuffl
    @truffleshuffl 12 років тому

    yeh!!!!!!!!!! thanks man ur great, as soon as u just hear it once and know it is genuinely possible with the harmonica u have is a great moment!

  • @zackgto77
    @zackgto77 12 років тому

    the moment of truth bending...serious awesome lesson bro..thanks! god bless

  • @magicshoemonkey
    @magicshoemonkey 12 років тому

    Holy crap, I've been trying this for days, watched 4 or 5 different videos, and now within the first 3 minutes of this video I figured out, at least how to do it, even if it still sounds awful. Thanks a billion.

  • @yalqam1
    @yalqam1 8 років тому

    I've been trying to learn bending for weeks now. Watched tons of videos. This is BY FAR the best explanation and i got it within the first try of these instructions. Thank you so much! :D

  • @forzamilano94
    @forzamilano94 12 років тому

    man, you're the best... all of the others just kept sayin "you gotta feel it yourself, there's no way to show how to learn to bend". All you did was just say "bullshit, this is how it's done"! I'm sooo grateful, worked perfectly the first time I tried ;)

  • @GenePalmiter
    @GenePalmiter 4 роки тому

    10 days and 30 beginning lessons and now this! My first bend!

  • @mibadura
    @mibadura 10 років тому +14

    My mom walked in to my room when he was showing how to move your tongue, and she was pretty freaked out :D

  • @Annettesmusic
    @Annettesmusic 13 років тому

    First video I watched out of about 20 that taught me how to bend my first note. Yay! Thank you!

  • @tomjambor2519
    @tomjambor2519 11 років тому

    this is an excellent lesson. one of best on the tube. great teaching style

  • @BAD1994life
    @BAD1994life 9 років тому +1

    I figured it out pretty quickly, thanks for this man I will enjoy this lesson for the rest of my life!

  • @paulthiem205
    @paulthiem205 7 років тому +2

    read two books, watched endless amounts of videos and this guy teaches me bending in under 4 minutes...

  • @sumukhanagesha8682
    @sumukhanagesha8682 8 років тому

    Awesome stuff! I had tried a lot of youtube videos to try to learn bending. This one is easily the best and clearly explains how to get there fast!

  • @arniemax1
    @arniemax1 7 років тому +1

    once again...Your ability to convey the Information about playing, etc.
    is Excellent. I 'get it' with your videos...Thanks...

  • @maximilianoperezfeulien2734
    @maximilianoperezfeulien2734 8 років тому

    Great video. Easily explained and got me to finally get somewhere. Thanks!!!

  • @conanbrophy4406
    @conanbrophy4406 6 років тому

    Great video. I learnt how to bend from this vid about two years ago. Forgot how to do it and came back again. Bending again now. Great teaching!

  • @athenasword1
    @athenasword1 3 роки тому +1

    This guy, when I first started out taught me how to play songs like bridge over troubled water
    Bright eyes , don’t cry for me Argentina etc THANK YOU.

    • @Harmonicacom
      @Harmonicacom  3 роки тому

      Yes! He's great! Thank YOU!

    • @sepultura7771
      @sepultura7771 3 роки тому

      Insanely sad he fell 60 feet and lost his right hand completely,left hand totally messed up
      Left leg amputated and right leg paralyzed
      Horrible to happen to someone so friendly and nice

  • @TheGPackers
    @TheGPackers 4 роки тому

    I have watched TONS of videos to explain this, and the only word I needed was ‘Yawn’. Thank you!

  • @MadnessOfMarmots
    @MadnessOfMarmots 12 років тому

    This is by far the best video on how to bending.

  • @TheAsteriskMark
    @TheAsteriskMark 13 років тому

    Best harmonica teacher ever... I succeeded at the first try! Thank you sir!

  • @TheGreenLeaf92
    @TheGreenLeaf92 12 років тому

    I knew nothing about bending. then i watched this video, im not using this technique exacly, but it helped me find away to get started :) thanks, best vid out there for sure!

  • @TheNucaKola
    @TheNucaKola 6 років тому

    This video is fantastic! The vintage video quality is different, his descriptive instructions on mouth movements with bending was surprisingly clear, and I picked up the technique in minutes of trying on my first day of even owning a harmonica! Also the instructor looks like a younger Tom Cruise with longer hair!

  • @okcmco
    @okcmco 7 років тому +1

    Ok. I felt silly doing this. Silly. I am an experienced singer, guitarist, bass player with tens of thousands of hours of stage time. I dabble in harp but only melody stuff, and chords. I always had trouble bending.
    Your video really helped me break through. First few tries sucked but with your techniques, I was bending full steps in a few injures.
    Thanks
    Yo

  • @Cleared_To_Land
    @Cleared_To_Land 8 років тому

    Excellent lesson! Great teacher.

  • @TheTupeng
    @TheTupeng 13 років тому

    great!!! im learning it.. this is an example of a good teacher

  • @yuyiya
    @yuyiya 7 років тому

    What a FINE teacher you are, JP! :-) Now I finally understand the mechanics of the draw bend! You show us _exactly_ what we need to do to make this bend happen. Thanks heaps! :-)

  • @avalinah
    @avalinah 11 років тому

    bends initially are not hard at all, i learned them in one day, but still it's much easier to do them better and more deeply when you listen to the mechanism of how it works. and this guy explains it the best. i've listened to quite a few explanations, but this one's definitely the clearest.

  • @yamahaacoustic95
    @yamahaacoustic95 12 років тому

    Bending breakthrough!! I have never been this consistent!

  • @AndrewKozley
    @AndrewKozley 7 років тому +1

    I'VE FINALLY LEARNED IT! THANKS A LOT

  • @stevensaunders386
    @stevensaunders386 8 років тому

    I've watched a few videos about bending, this has been the best of all. especially with the yawning part of the technique! Thanks for the upload!

  • @jorge77b
    @jorge77b 9 років тому +27

    steve vai play harmonica too? I didn't know :D

    • @ggganster5662
      @ggganster5662 9 років тому

      Jorge Suarez that's what I thought! LOL! Until I heard his voice...

  • @coolvibe17
    @coolvibe17 10 років тому

    Hands down best bending video omg I am finnaly getting what I wanted to do for a song!

  • @vyomdeepansh
    @vyomdeepansh 7 років тому +3

    Man, a helpful lesson it is. Plus you remind me of Mathew McConaughey. It's like getting a harmonica tutorial from Mathew McConaughey. Cheers!

  • @jakeceder
    @jakeceder 8 років тому

    First time I managed to bend a note, took me a couple of weeks but finally got a bend on first hole! Thanks!

  • @bromixsr
    @bromixsr 12 років тому

    This is probably one of te best explanations, technique wise. I've been, for a while of and on and in that time playing beds only using my mouth shape, ee-oh. It makes a big difference in using the whole mouth structure, bends come faster and are more easily controlled. Nice stuff, have to try it on my wife as well.

  • @Damiensmusicnow
    @Damiensmusicnow 12 років тому

    Great lesson!

  • @jacobbruley1879
    @jacobbruley1879 7 років тому +1

    When I started watching your video, I couldn't help but laugh at the explanations and demonstrations (no offense intended, of course, it was just really funny). But, dude, when I tried the "ko" thing like you said, I have never been so close to actually bending notes successfully! Thanks so much!

  • @saabydo
    @saabydo 12 років тому

    Well done man, great teacher

  • @stephjans6411
    @stephjans6411 10 років тому

    brilliant lesson, thanks so much for showing this with detail.

  • @kill40001000
    @kill40001000 11 років тому

    I bought a harmonica yesterday, and I can bend quite good already :)

  • @mdwsmith81
    @mdwsmith81 9 років тому +1

    i had the hardest time bending. but it was the harps i was using. i started out with cheap harmonicas. i wish i wasn't so cheap at the beginning because i almost gave up... Someone got me nice harps for Christmas and i cant believe the difference! these are so much easier to play on.

  • @kjw291
    @kjw291 13 років тому

    a good tutorial, definitely gave me some insight into what I'm supposed to be doing

  • @DazEdword
    @DazEdword 8 років тому

    This video is REALLY HELPFUL.

  • @lmkwok3406
    @lmkwok3406 9 років тому

    Thanks a lot!😄I know how to bend the notes now,your videos really helps!!!

  • @googull271
    @googull271 11 років тому

    Got a massive bend outta this! Thanks man. Subscribed!!

  • @mattashmore9675
    @mattashmore9675 10 років тому +4

    JP,
    This lesson REALLY helped me to better understand. I'd just been playing 3 days and I was able to bend 1 draw. This really solidified it for me... I just wish I could get the hang of 2 draw! Could you go through each step by step?

  • @Mralmostpig
    @Mralmostpig 3 роки тому

    I watched many tutorials and this is the only one that has worked for me. I still need to practice but I can at least make it occasionally now!

  • @Ezguitarpick
    @Ezguitarpick 12 років тому

    Fantastic explanations. Best I have heard/seen. thx

  • @jombangrawalele
    @jombangrawalele 10 років тому +88

    i think my tongue's broken

  • @JorandeRaaff
    @JorandeRaaff 13 років тому

    This helped me SO much already! Tank you!!!

  • @bongkagztoy
    @bongkagztoy 13 років тому

    you're a good teacher..keep it up dude..

  • @PlutodoskySatan
    @PlutodoskySatan 13 років тому

    You're really good teacher, and so with smiles and practice drawing, thank you very much.

  • @oiram32
    @oiram32 13 років тому

    finally I got it!!! best lesson on youtube!!! thanks a lot

  • @MichaelNusMusic
    @MichaelNusMusic 13 років тому

    Really good teacher. I can already do it on the first hole!

  • @Ro7aTION
    @Ro7aTION 13 років тому

    Thank you so much, I was able to bend (a little) on my first try after watching your video! Great lesson!

  • @kimwh761
    @kimwh761 10 років тому

    Thanks a lot. It helped me so much.
    God bless you.

  • @Oscar88959
    @Oscar88959 11 років тому

    More easy said than done, it really helps but it requires a lot o practice.
    But It`s the most helpful of them all.
    Thanks a lot.

  • @cognoz
    @cognoz 5 років тому

    Very nice
    it took 30 min to learn how to bend, thx to you!

  • @vicentesulbaran9112
    @vicentesulbaran9112 8 років тому

    Exceptional explanation. I've got it at once, but I still need practice. Thumbs up

  • @rollcd111
    @rollcd111 12 років тому

    i jsut strated learning a few videos ago and now i can do this trick
    this realy helps and sounds awesome

  • @opoknock
    @opoknock 11 років тому

    Great lesson!!!!

  • @PedjaiTakoTo
    @PedjaiTakoTo 9 років тому +1

    wowow...i've been having troubles with bending for a year now, but this video made learn it in less then 15min o.O thank you so much sir, have a like...hell, i'll even subscribe

  • @shreyatulsyan9691
    @shreyatulsyan9691 7 років тому +1

    It was an immediate help ! Thank you so much

  • @joejoebeefcraft
    @joejoebeefcraft 11 років тому

    I just got one at a thriftshop now I can actually play it! Thanks!

  • @gustafson74may
    @gustafson74may 8 років тому

    JP-
    I got your happy harpin' DVD about a year ago, I had some things happen which caused me to stop for 6 months. fyi I have finished the DVD today with going through about 5-6 lessons a day at a set time. I'm anxious to keep learning. Thank you for doing the video, I Really enjoyed doing it. I plan on continuing practicing I'm one way or another.
    Timothy G

  • @Shane4sax
    @Shane4sax 11 років тому

    Great explanation thank you so much this has really helped me with bending holes one and two.

  • @utubepheeling
    @utubepheeling 4 роки тому

    Thanks. This tutorial is very helpful!

  • @davids.816
    @davids.816 8 років тому +56

    I did this and my harmonica hit me for using to much teeth.

  • @zhulia
    @zhulia 12 років тому

    THIS IS MY FAVORITE VIDEO ON UA-cam

  • @NickCheng93
    @NickCheng93 7 років тому

    This video really helped! I found dropping the jaw to be important and also tilting the harmonica up (the side away from your mouth) slightly, and eventually I got it after 2 days.

  • @gepickett
    @gepickett 12 років тому

    Great Teacher! I'm getting it!

  • @thomasdybdahl1673
    @thomasdybdahl1673 3 роки тому

    This tutorial is crazy good! Thank you so much.

  • @NicholasBrule
    @NicholasBrule 3 місяці тому

    Very Helpful Technique, Thank You!

  • @ZacToff
    @ZacToff 13 років тому

    Nicely explained, like it!

  • @lalsanglurazathang8056
    @lalsanglurazathang8056 8 років тому

    really good teacher

  • @stephenjohnson1112
    @stephenjohnson1112 2 роки тому +1

    This is the real deal! It works! Thank you so much!

  • @lotemtzur
    @lotemtzur 8 років тому

    thank you so much!!
    the 'ko' thing helped a lot

  • @LiveNudeSwearing
    @LiveNudeSwearing 10 років тому

    Wow...that really helped. I'm going to use the breathing as a warm up exercise before I play. Thanks alot!

  • @greengo9
    @greengo9 10 років тому +1

    by far the best explanation :)

  • @tefstepho
    @tefstepho 8 років тому +3

    Really neat vid. Helped me a lot :)

  • @MasterOfBlades
    @MasterOfBlades 12 років тому

    ..my "first bend" with this video..!! THANKS! :)