8 Tips For Bending On Harmonica - Beginner Harmonica Lesson

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  • Опубліковано 12 чер 2024
  • This week's harmonica lesson will show you 8 tips to help you get started bending on the harmonica. You will need a harmonica in the key of C.
    Click here for checklist - www.tomlinharmonicalessons.com...
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    -------------------------
    TIMESTAMPS
    0:11 8 Tips For Bending on Harmonica
    1:23 Tilt Bend
    2:36 Vocalize "EEE-000"
    3:57 Strong Muscular Tongue
    4:35 Don't Pull Too Far Back and Listen to What You Are Doing
    6:03 Keep the Harmonica Tipped Up
    7:04 Don't Play Harder
    7:53 Don't Move Your Mouth
    8:44 Keep Tongue Pointing Forward
    10:38 Click in Description For Bending Checklist
    10:56 Easy 12 Bar Blues Course - Now Enrolling
    Get tons more free lessons at - www.tomlinharmonicalessons.com
    -------------------------
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    If you are committed to taking the next step and improving your harmonica playing check out my online harmonica school where you can get EVERYTHING you need to become a great harmonica player! tomlinharmonicaschool.com
    -------------------------
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 634

  • @TomlinHarmonica
    @TomlinHarmonica  3 місяці тому

    ✏ Get your FREE harmonica tab PDF and audio clips here 👉 foxly.link/OphkKM

  • @nsane992002
    @nsane992002 4 роки тому +434

    I've learned some pretty technical things on guitar,bass and drums, but this is the most frustrating musical technique I've ever tried!! 😆

    • @prnzjon
      @prnzjon 3 роки тому +7

      Agreed!!!😅😅

    • @TheJoeDev
      @TheJoeDev 3 роки тому +6

      100% I’ve been trying to bend for so long now and just can’t get it

    • @nsane992002
      @nsane992002 3 роки тому +11

      Joe Deverell-Smith Don’t give up!!! I got it and you will too!

    • @JQ432
      @JQ432 3 роки тому +5

      Totally agree! Reminds me of when I taught myself to whistle loudly with my fingers. Weeks and weeks and weeks of failure. But I eventually got it. I guess that's what keeps me going.

    • @FriendlySkiesProd
      @FriendlySkiesProd 3 роки тому +10

      Trying to incorporate bends in the blues scale.... my poor neighbors lol. It's like a chromatic squeaky toy. Over n over and over 😯

  • @northstar6920
    @northstar6920 5 років тому +144

    water fire earth air these four nations once lived in harmony then everything changed when the avatar learned the harmonica.

    • @thanhhaistephan3139
      @thanhhaistephan3139 4 роки тому +3

      Actually I am imagining the draw bend as some kind of airbending and it helps controlling the air flow...

    • @mikkey246
      @mikkey246 3 роки тому +2

      I need to harmonbend as well

    • @firepro1869
      @firepro1869 3 роки тому +2

      Me too

    • @mrtambourineman6107
      @mrtambourineman6107 3 роки тому

      That's mad, I got it pretty much straight away! Keep at it, I'm sure you'll get it soon!

    • @mrtambourineman6107
      @mrtambourineman6107 3 роки тому

      The 'ee' 'oo' technique is what got it for me, as a guitarist I find it weird that the note bends down though!

  • @lw48wp4
    @lw48wp4 4 роки тому +106

    Man, you're my hero. My mom gave me a harmonica for my birthday when I was like 14 or so. Since then I've tried to bend. That's more then 10 years ago, I learned playing piano, guitar, bass and mandolin during that time but didn't manage to do that f*ing bend on my harmonica - until I watched your video yesterday. Turns out: I held that thing wrong for 10 years - tip 5 was the missing hint for me. You're the only one I've seen who actually shows that. Plus the eee-ooo and the last tip helped a lot. Thanks again 1000 times!

    • @TomlinHarmonica
      @TomlinHarmonica  4 роки тому +12

      That's fantastic, took too long but I am so glad you picked the harp again! :-)

    • @FabioSilva-op2tn
      @FabioSilva-op2tn 4 роки тому +2

      Me too! Bending for the first time since i bought this years ago.

    • @andrestp
      @andrestp 4 роки тому +1

      @@TomlinHarmonica I still strugling with this bending technics.. OMG, so hard for me..
      I use my only cheap china's harp.. Do you think I use the wrong harp? And should I pick the good one?

    • @jenserjenson4407
      @jenserjenson4407 3 роки тому +2

      @@andrestp from my experience from bending you probably should invest a couple more dollars for a good beginners harp that is easy to play and to bend with like a hohner special 20

    • @abhay4147
      @abhay4147 2 роки тому +1

      @@andrestp cheap harps are not a good way to start learning harmonicas. They usually have a really bad tone, and most of them are really leaky so are significantly harder to play than decent harmonicas. Bending would almost be impossible on those harps. Anyone would recommend a semi-decent harp over a cheap one.

  • @ukcharlie1
    @ukcharlie1 5 місяців тому +2

    I’ve learned so so much from this lad in such a short time literally only just stumbled upon him today and after only two hours of practice I’ve learned more from him than I’ve learned in months paying rubbish teachers . Thanks

  • @5StringRob
    @5StringRob Рік тому +12

    This is crazy. I have been playing harmonica for about a week (total playing time maybe 1-2 hours), and have been focusing on bends because I know how hard it can be, and I never understood how it's done.
    Within 10 minutes of trying this stuff I had fairly consistently bent holes 1 through 6.
    !!!!
    Thank you Tomlin!

  • @Bobaixonado
    @Bobaixonado 3 роки тому +19

    just incredible, hundres of videos that ended up being useless, but this video, this man, bro i fucking love you never gonna forget

    • @Guitarcope
      @Guitarcope 3 роки тому

      This one lesson gave me my first 2 draw bend. 👍😎

  • @neilz654
    @neilz654 Рік тому

    Dude, I have being trying this for weeks based on different ways on internet. None of them works for me. But with your methods, I get it in 5 minutes!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you!

  • @anitazuck
    @anitazuck 4 роки тому

    hey Tomlin, i am 71 years old and been playing harmonica badly for a decade, never could bend but always found your tips the most helpful of all the millions online and then yesterday, watching you and, on your recommendation, a bit of Gussow...BAM! i got the 2 draw bend. still takes work but i feel for the first time i'm on my way. at my age, gotta hurry!

    • @TomlinHarmonica
      @TomlinHarmonica  4 роки тому

      Hi there! Glad you were able to finally work that out! It's never too late to learn new things :-)

  • @eddieblz
    @eddieblz 5 років тому +1

    I like the EEE...OOO method the best. It was the first method I learned and have never changed.

  • @davidlarson8138
    @davidlarson8138 2 роки тому

    This is the best tutorial on bending I have seen!

  • @cormacrussellmusic
    @cormacrussellmusic 2 роки тому

    Best video on bending by a long shot! your tips were a lifesaver!

  • @DillonHoward316
    @DillonHoward316 2 роки тому

    Picked up my first harmonica today ! Your a very good teacher I got this almost instantly! The eeee o thing really helped

  • @NS88crew
    @NS88crew 2 роки тому

    I had watched loads of video how to bend before I saw this video. And finally!!! I got it! Thanks Tomlin! Now I finally can bend))

  • @alchance662
    @alchance662 2 роки тому

    Wow! This guys "nails it!" A true Teacher as in the Jethro Tull hit song.

  • @Vatruha666
    @Vatruha666 2 роки тому

    The best explanation of how to bend. Thank you!

  • @edmorgan6598
    @edmorgan6598 Рік тому

    Hello Mr. Leckie. I'm a retired research scientist trying to help overcome the kind of frustrations I experienced due to the incomplete comprehension of bending in all harmonica instruction I've seen. Yours is the best bending instruction I've seen (I've seen quite a bit), but its partial and doesn't penetrate to the essential concepts as well as it would if it had a little more science foundation. Therefore, it is less helpful than it could be, by a fair amount. The physics and mathematics of bending have been known for about 150 years, and the principles are in very common use (for example, even by motorcycle engineers, from whom I recently learned it). Judging from current harmonica instruction, harmonica players have never encountered this knowledge (to my amazement). The basis for bending is not exceedingly simple, and it's easy for me to explain why its been hard to teach and learn, but it can be made pretty simple to teach and learn once you know all the principles and figured out the shortcuts (no math, suitable for children, etc). You are close to this goal in your instruction, but not there, and are missing a few critical elements. In my experience, with mild tolerance for science so that a harmonica player can understand what they are doing and why, all draw bends in all holes of diatonic harmonicas can be learned in less than an hour immediately after learning to play single notes. Only slight pitch refinement then remains. Blow bends use the same principles but are considerably harder to perfect, for reasons also easy for me to explain. The same principles used for bending can also be used to expand the kinds of harmonica sounds you can make in other interesting ways. I can make my own video of instructions, and might if I have to, but you are a person of eminence in the field and your help would ease the process of helping develop instruction. Let me know if you are interested in helping out. If not, I will probably proceed with the making and posting of my own clumsy video where i will feel like a science dork and have to endure a lot of 'artistic" rejection. Sorry for sounding arrogant, but I play guitar and piano also, and instruction for guitar and piano is so much better because you can play all the notes immediately. Maybe for that reason i have come feel much of the beginner harmonica instruction I've seen spends far too much time too far away from musical competence and is needlessly frustrating and unattractive. As I said at the beginning, I just want to help harmonica players out. I'm way too old and settled to be doing this to seek out fame or income.

  • @pasmith4668
    @pasmith4668 4 роки тому +1

    Tip 2 and 5 did it for me. Good video.

  • @dragunov820
    @dragunov820 6 років тому +47

    I've been playing the harp for a few months now on and off, happy with my progression, could not bend for the life of me. I installed one of those tuner apps on my phone that detect which harp note is being played and had it next to my laptop while watching this video, never once getting the 4 draw bend button to light up on the app. I practiced, rewatched this video, paused, repeat process for a good 45 minutes and all of a sudden with the culmination of all the tips I got the -4'! I was so happy I nearly cheered out loud! Now I'm just working on getting it every single time and getting it into the muscle memory, like learning how to play single clean notes. Thanks so much Tomlin!

    • @TomlinHarmonica
      @TomlinHarmonica  6 років тому +5

      That is awesome to hear! So pleased for you and well done for persevering and working through it :-)

    • @mrtrung8436
      @mrtrung8436 5 років тому +1

      which app are u using`?

    • @yamilesgaib9018
      @yamilesgaib9018 5 років тому +1

      Mr Trung which app?

    • @seandevine5836
      @seandevine5836 5 років тому +1

      What app??

    • @jgbalboa
      @jgbalboa 4 роки тому +1

      What app?

  • @eraykck
    @eraykck 5 років тому +16

    Most clear explanations about bending. Thanks a lot

  • @justinsmith8721
    @justinsmith8721 3 місяці тому

    Utterly brilliant, effective and simple. Thank you!

  • @timgust5922
    @timgust5922 6 років тому

    Excellent!! Thank you, Tomlin.

  • @astonbeagle4005
    @astonbeagle4005 4 роки тому +5

    I gave up on bending and the harmonica because i could never preform a bend. this video has helped me break that curse.

  • @johnrogers2253
    @johnrogers2253 2 роки тому

    Thanks Tom. Been looking for your advice..

  • @dianecourts
    @dianecourts 4 роки тому

    Great tips! Thank you!

  • @stevescott7982
    @stevescott7982 3 роки тому

    I really learned alot from that short video, on how to bend properly !!!!

  • @dukedixon3192
    @dukedixon3192 6 років тому +79

    I paused when instructed each time until I achieved an audible difference in tonality. I worked each section thoroughly and changed from slight bend to a clear and deep sustain. While trying to develop proper technique, I developed incorrect techniques simultaneously. Then upon resuming video each time, he explains precisely how to correct such errors as if he was present. By the end of this video (30 mins for me) I was bending smoothly and deeply, half or full! Complete NOOB here, credit due to this MASTERFUL TEACHER! Just started yesterday on your beginner 12 bar blues. Thank You. HOHNER BIG RIVER HARP "C"

    • @TomlinHarmonica
      @TomlinHarmonica  6 років тому +4

      +Duke Dixon dude! This is awesome to hear - I'm so pleased. Keep up the good work!

    • @xRS23x
      @xRS23x 5 років тому +3

      you're gifted, my friend

    • @auraleaks9627
      @auraleaks9627 4 роки тому

      Hows you playing now I'm new to Harp got seydel 1847 wood and it's a beauty

    • @tommorrisey3999
      @tommorrisey3999 4 роки тому

      Tomlin Leckie, how much does the difficulty increase when one goes to steel reeds? I have the basic 5-harp Hohner Roadhouse Blues pack (essentially Chinese crap), and my thought is to replace those with quality harps as I blow them out. But my need right now is for an F harp, as I play ukulele and 75% of the songs I play are in the key of C. Rather than buying another piece of junk, I thought I would get a Seydel, but it will have steel reeds.

    • @sanukshrestha1407
      @sanukshrestha1407 4 роки тому

      ho did you find the toung position ?? 🤔

  • @craigfigures8753
    @craigfigures8753 7 років тому +1

    Great video Tomlin thanks for your advise!

  • @wyattmurphy8166
    @wyattmurphy8166 4 роки тому

    Big help to me. Excellent video.

  • @cathyflaig9456
    @cathyflaig9456 4 роки тому

    Yes!! You're such an awesome teacher!!! I got it!!

  • @zuggrr
    @zuggrr 3 роки тому

    incredible, thank you !

  • @phuochoangvo6434
    @phuochoangvo6434 3 роки тому

    Great lesson. Thanhks!

  • @gordontough3937
    @gordontough3937 6 років тому

    Excellent lesson! Many Thanks

  • @shamsbt
    @shamsbt Рік тому

    Thanks for the tips!! That helped a lot

  • @richardriney9944
    @richardriney9944 5 років тому +3

    Helpful, well done video!

  • @robertpogue8844
    @robertpogue8844 2 роки тому

    Great teacher!

  • @maxenlibang2756
    @maxenlibang2756 6 років тому

    One of the Best Harmonica video tutorial .NICE
    Thanks Tomlin

  • @doubletaper1453
    @doubletaper1453 4 роки тому

    Great lesson Tomlin, thanks

  • @Crawfly
    @Crawfly 3 роки тому

    Tip 5: Tilting it up helped THE BEST. I had it tilted too low and that one tip made it for me

  • @Psykel
    @Psykel 4 роки тому +4

    Holy crap! I’ve been noodling on the harmonica for about 15 years (very casually), but never been able to bend notes. I didn’t even make it to the end of this video before I actually managed to bend notes! Seriously - I started learning literally 12 minuters ago and now I bend without much fail! Superb, my man!

    • @TomlinHarmonica
      @TomlinHarmonica  4 роки тому +2

      That's fantastic news Psykel! Let me know if I can help you further with anything. :-)

    • @Psykel
      @Psykel 4 роки тому +1

      Tomlin Leckie Thanks! Can you help me pick up girls?

    • @Psykel
      @Psykel 4 роки тому

      Tomlin Leckie Never mind. You taught me how to bend tones on the harmonica, so the girls will be coming!

  • @taraleacutler8443
    @taraleacutler8443 4 роки тому +1

    Your instruction and tips are fantastic - thanks!

  • @murat7259
    @murat7259 6 років тому +4

    Thanks from Turkey!

  • @tlacuachemeade5361
    @tlacuachemeade5361 4 роки тому +8

    Number 5 was the only thing I needed, I cannot thank you enough 😭❤️

  • @poshbit
    @poshbit 5 років тому +1

    Great teacher,very clear

  • @Trylobyte
    @Trylobyte 6 років тому

    That is very clear and well explained and has helped me a lot -thanks Tomlin!

  • @mrpmessina
    @mrpmessina 2 роки тому

    Oh my god! I got it finally. 2 min literally! Awesome!!!

  • @dougemt123
    @dougemt123 4 роки тому

    Awesome tips. Watched a lot of videos before this one. The eeeoooeee tip helped me nail it!

  • @jakzilla95
    @jakzilla95 3 роки тому

    Brilliant thanks!

  • @Al_gre
    @Al_gre 7 місяців тому

    6:02 I think this part is most important and most common mistake amongst novices like me who just bought harmonica. Thanks Tomlin!

  • @hooligan6a
    @hooligan6a 6 років тому

    Tomlin, of all the lessons on the Internet yours, are the best

  • @christineriley1295
    @christineriley1295 2 роки тому

    Just started to play. Great lesson Tomlin, thank you!

  • @akbarqureshi8228
    @akbarqureshi8228 Рік тому

    SUPERB EXAPLAINATION , THANK YOU FOR VALUABLE TRIC👌

  • @caryls9436
    @caryls9436 3 роки тому +2

    These areTHE best harmonica lessons I've ever come across!

  • @tenochramos4775
    @tenochramos4775 3 роки тому

    Thanks from Mexico City!! you are great!!

  • @french_freys569
    @french_freys569 5 років тому

    Ive watched a lot of bending videos and this is the first that helped a lot!! Thanks!

  • @themobilegamerslab601
    @themobilegamerslab601 3 роки тому

    This is so useful dude thanks

  • @shredsmith9014
    @shredsmith9014 3 роки тому

    You are a great teacher. Thanks for the time and effort you put into your videos.

  • @rephaistos5217
    @rephaistos5217 4 роки тому

    wow this helped me so much! i feel like its such a fine movement in the beginning that starts to become clearer and clearer once you get the hang of it the first time and keep practicing. thanks a lot!

  • @ophthalmol2009
    @ophthalmol2009 Місяць тому

    Thank you.. Finally succeeded bending after your video..

  • @davelynas5561
    @davelynas5561 3 роки тому

    You taught me something on the first lesson. Thanks very much.

  • @makhluktuhan1519
    @makhluktuhan1519 4 роки тому +1

    Omg thank you sir!!! U are a hero!! Waiting the next video!

  • @user-tj2op8zs4h
    @user-tj2op8zs4h 4 роки тому +1

    I am a diatonic harmonica beginner at Taiwan. I like your lesson, I will try your method from now on.

  • @Madskillsuniversity
    @Madskillsuniversity 9 місяців тому

    Wow, that is really good! Thank you. I love how you teach! You make learning easy.

  • @omercihangirozmilli1864
    @omercihangirozmilli1864 6 років тому

    Your videos are perfect thank you, you make everything easy to understand

  • @markjohnson9485
    @markjohnson9485 3 роки тому

    Your lesson has helped me so much. You answered all my questions on technique need immediately!!! Thank you!!!👏👏👏👏

  • @joeyates8342
    @joeyates8342 5 років тому +1

    very helpful; good presentation

  • @robcook8456
    @robcook8456 3 роки тому

    Nailed it at tip 5! Thanks buddy. You are the best harmonica teacher on UA-cam

  • @UncyRog
    @UncyRog 3 роки тому

    Thank you for this video! I’m new to the harmonica and struggled to bend notes and your video is the best one out there for learning how to do it.

  • @user-dp4by7kw3p
    @user-dp4by7kw3p 4 роки тому +1

    Thank you very much, you explain wonderful

  • @ahmadzulkarnine4559
    @ahmadzulkarnine4559 3 роки тому

    Helped a lot... Thanks..

  • @GeoSkywalker
    @GeoSkywalker 4 роки тому

    Thank you! You have the Best harmonica lessons!!! Best and easy explanation and your smiling face makes me learn with joy!

  • @starlily37
    @starlily37 5 років тому

    Very helpful. Thank you!

  • @joshl4358
    @joshl4358 6 років тому +1

    Tip #4!! It changed my technique and now I can bend note on any hole! Great vid.

  • @joshanderson1025
    @joshanderson1025 5 років тому +10

    100% percent difference in the tilt of the harmonica!! great tip

  • @bethmurphy6761
    @bethmurphy6761 7 років тому

    Thank you so very much! Great tips!

  • @stevecarter8810
    @stevecarter8810 Рік тому

    6 was what I needed to know! thanks

  • @HardTimesStudios
    @HardTimesStudios 4 роки тому +1

    Literally your first tip helped me bend so much easier. I know covering the hole a bit had something to do with it but this was just such an obvious method that works so good. Gonna keep watching the rest but thank you so much.

  • @jakub3851
    @jakub3851 2 роки тому

    Thanks I got it on the first try every “technique” thanks to you

  • @thamightybountykilla
    @thamightybountykilla 5 років тому +2

    Wow, this is the only video that helped me pick up bending. The first tip to literally tilt your harmonica is perfect since it provided me with a reference tone. Thumbs up!

  • @niq872
    @niq872 3 роки тому

    OMG this helped so much i was having so much trouble with this

  • @JohnPalm
    @JohnPalm 5 років тому +1

    Very good tips! Thanks

  • @andrewblunden
    @andrewblunden Рік тому

    Very good, very clear, well articulated and you cover what so many others do not. Been trying to play for years. Did a couple of your lessons and sorted some bad habits in 5 minutes

  • @DoutrinaDosEspiritos
    @DoutrinaDosEspiritos 7 років тому

    Thank you so much, Tomlin! I'm Brazilian and i really like your guidelines. Good work, my friend. Thanks! Sérgio.

  • @enjoyharmonica
    @enjoyharmonica 3 роки тому

    Just went through the tips in this video again to improve my Bending, really helped. Great tips and they all work when applied probably. Thank you Tomlin 👏👏👏👏👏✅

  • @lancenuttman
    @lancenuttman 3 роки тому +1

    I train for a living, and you are a great instructor. Bravo. Thank you for this!

  • @aconsciousnaut5323
    @aconsciousnaut5323 Рік тому

    Your techniques are amazing. I have been able to get both blow bends and draw bends quickly after watching your videos, which I was struggling with when following other channels.

  • @josephmarshall3058
    @josephmarshall3058 5 років тому

    Watched several of these from other instructors - yours made the most sense to me, and I got my first 4-hole true bend....THANKS!!

  • @williamj.sheehan2001
    @williamj.sheehan2001 3 роки тому

    For anyone who may stumble onto this, I am new to the harmonica, and not real qualified to be giving advice, but here's what gave me my first bend, just last night-- while drawing the note in, "swallow" it !
    That seems to create the proper configuration of the tongue, etc. It's a little hard to make yourself do the swallowing move while drawing the note in, but as soon as you start it, boom-- there's that bend!

  • @FigsArtsandCrafts
    @FigsArtsandCrafts 4 роки тому +1

    I’ve tried so hard to get it and I practiced everyday to no avail but watching this video helped me get it straight away. Awesome!!!

  • @bobbya768ra
    @bobbya768ra 8 місяців тому

    I watched a half dozen other tutorials to no avail. I watched yours and I got it. Perfect explanation

  • @hurdurlemur1615
    @hurdurlemur1615 3 роки тому

    that eeeeooo really worked for me thanks !

  • @Beutelkeule
    @Beutelkeule 2 роки тому

    It works! Thank's for that!

  • @JonathanDowe
    @JonathanDowe 3 роки тому

    Been struggling with bending, worked through your tips. The first one told be what I was aiming for, tip 5 was a game changer. I can now bend, so grateful.

  • @wyeung168
    @wyeung168 4 роки тому

    That eeee....ooooo work very well for me.....
    I got it right away before the this tutorial video even done playing. Thank you!

  • @RAY7808
    @RAY7808 6 років тому

    I have Been Practising bending the note's and I have nailed it. I now need to start to learn so to play some Tunes !

  • @aadhithiyan7452
    @aadhithiyan7452 2 роки тому

    That eeh woo really helping man 👍❤️

  • @GipoHarmonicaSchool
    @GipoHarmonicaSchool 6 років тому

    Great lesson as usual! This very useful for who want to start with bendings...

  • @StephenMooreOfficial
    @StephenMooreOfficial 2 роки тому +1

    THANK YOU! this is my first day with harmonica and I nailed the single note method but watched 5 other videos on how to bend but finally after watching yours I got it! I play the tin whistle and ocarina but this is a whole different beast. Awesome tips.

  • @barataapsii2466
    @barataapsii2466 2 роки тому

    very helpful.. Thanks

  • @rafaelalejandroguilartemor6125
    @rafaelalejandroguilartemor6125 4 роки тому +5

    I've been trying to do the bending so hard since so long and this is the first video that really really helped me.
    I could do my first bending... thanks a lot you are the best