How To Easily Play Single Notes on Harmonica 

This video reminds me of 2008 youtube, it has a really bad cam quality and few funny/cringy moments. Yet it's incredibly helpful and provides what you want. Wish all of the contents on RU-vid were like this. And Im really thankful for this video, it's the only one that taught me how to play single notes.

This guy just got me drawing clean in 2 minutes . None of the other tutors managed it in a month.

This is a PROPER tutorial! This video breaks down the actual mechanics involved and by following what he said, I could play the single notes almost immediately (just ordered a brand new diatonic harmonica). I was so excited when I could then play the diatonic major scale with clear single notes! Thanks a lot!! Great video!

The comment at the end about keeping your jaw relaxed and back is exactly what I needed. I was apparently jutting my jaw forward without realizing it. Thank you!

I was struggling from two days but now I can make it. Thanks a lot man. I watched tons of videos on this but this is the best and very quick.

Many thanks for the great tip, I've been learning to play Harmonica for only 3 days now and I can play single notes as per your teaching method, Thanks.

Thank you so much for mentioning TMJ. I went through that before and know what that pain is like. Love your instruction. Very clear.

I'm a new on this, so corious to learn, I did try making single not, and it seemed frustrating, thought I could never make it, but when i saw your video, I got the spirit again, it seemed you fully understand the difficulty. Thank you

Ok half way through the video now and man you're a true natural. Thanks for sharing your talent and knowledge!!!!

I've watched several videos on how to play single notes, and this is by far the best explanation...as can be seen from the comments.

I still can't believe how this video helped me in all possible ways. I was stuck for half a year because I couldn't get that warm, single note played on the harp. I attented several online courses. It didn't help. In my frustration I watched the 500th video of playing single notes on RU-vid and JP really was able to get me to the next level. Literally, my overall playing has improved so much. My notes sound warm and I don't accidently blow 2 notes when I only wan't one. Also, less air gets lost and the notes are louder/fuller. I am so thankful, thank you JP and I hope you are doing well so far since the accident was 10-11 months ago. I wish you the best!

Man, you are a great teacher! I've been watching several videos and I could get one of the lip tricks with you. Thank you :)

Thanks for this. I've been struggling to play after watching many other videos only to learn I wasn't using my mouth properly. Not only did this help with your lessons, but I am able to get more out of other lessons. I never realized how different the harmonica sounds with different mouth positions.

So glad I found this video. I am literally a beginner and I could not figure out playing single notes. Thanks for the upload!

Thank you! With you excellent tutorial I played my first ever single note scale. Feeling much more confident as an absolute beginner.

awesome video! best video so far in my first steps with the harmonica. thanks a bunch. 😁😉👍🏾👊🏾

Thanks for the great lesson. This has helped my single note playing immediately!

ALOHA! I found this tutorial was fun, helpful, natural and positive. Plus cute. Thank you

Though this video is 4 years old, he really pulled me out of my struggle to produce clean single notes. Best video for beginner to produce single notes. None of the other videos had helped.

Omg! I learnt it. Thank you Allen. Love you.

For me this video really helped me get a draw on hole 2. Was very discourage because I have been trying for a while and no other video helped. THANK YOU

Thanks matey this is a great tutorial! And what a nice guy you are :]

decided to take this instrument on seriously. and all i can say is that its tough but as with any instrument it will just take time an patience and good instruction. Thank you for sharing your skills.

Great, really clear to explain how to play a single note. Thanks so much!

This video made my day! First single notes. it sounds clear and it feels amazing

Thanks JP. That was really helpful!

I just buy a harmonica in G and i learn well whit this video some people said that is weird but Belive me its so well explained pls continu to make those awsome video!!!

you are a great teacher. thanks alot

amazing class, really the best one I have

Thanks a lot for the video. Masterfully done tutorial. I learned how to properly draw blow and bend. Keep up the good work Allen. -Magugu

you make a valid point mouth position and shape does make a difference,

This was excellent! Thank you

awesome lesson. glad I found you. thanks

Best tutorial I’ve found, thanks.

wow great video thanks, i was mucking around for a week as i just bought a marine band harp. i could play and bend the lowest note, but couldn't work out how to play a higher note on it's own. i had it in around 20 seconds after watching this lol :)

One of my favorite teachers

You are one of the greatest harmonica teacher in the world

Starting today and oh man that is a neat trick!!

Wow what a good tutor mean az. Wish you were in New Zealand I would join your classes.

This has really helped with my single notes. Thanks

This man deserves Millions of Subscriber!

I picked up a harmonica for the first time yesterday after wanting to play all my life. And accident and illness now has me with a lot of permanent free time to practice. I just started looking for something to learn from and this is where I landed. An have been having a hard time with this using my lower lip. But just for the fun of it I angle the harmonica upward and used my upper lip instead of my lower and I got a clear crisp sound straight away. Before I go any farther can I ask if this will be a problem when I begin to use more advanced techniques ? If so I will just work harder on my lower lip.

That was fun...and it works! Bravo💐 I'm enjoying learning along with stephanie. :)

Great explanation, and while I did achieve single notes, I would check my mouth technique in the mirror and try to not feel im-masculated. But I noticed the top lip formed a more natural v and the bottom was this fat wide you. Hazzah! Everything you said to do but top lip instead, why did I try this? You said there's no " right "way to do this and so I tried with the natural shape my mouth gave me too work with. Gorgeous single notes up and down the scale, thanks man, n to others take from these pros and make it your own. Lip techniques are unique to the player. Thanks brother.

holy smokes this worked fantastically! thanks Mr.Allen!

Amazing lessons! :D

Great video. Really helped!

Great explanation! Thanks man.

That angle lip block? Just warp drove me into the next galaxy. Bent notes are now in my crosshairs. Much obliged!

So real talk. I've got pillow lips. This helps.a lot. I'm slowly developing my own tech.

Awesome tutorial

Thanks for the tip. Only the tip you show work on my harmonica because the holes are too big and the walls between the holes are small. I watched a lot of videos but this is the only one that helped.

Good shit bro,you just learned me something. Thanks

Have to say really good video. Cant recommend it enough👍👍👍👍👍

JP you are awesome!

Nice lesson helped a lot more than anything else

work great,thank you

Brilliant Many Thanks

Best tutorial so far, i get it right sometimes.

OMG thank you so much!!

So if I've got this right, I pretend I'm Mick Jagger, and THEN I put the harp in my mouth.

Wow just found this,, so great!!!

So basically your playing the note on the upper part of hole and harmony has you rotate downward, right?

very helpfully

Awesome tricks to play, able to play same moment while he was instructing

THANK YOU!!!!

Good tutorial... learned a lot ty :)

awesome tutorial of harmonic....now I am able to blow single note.....thanks for your video....

Wow! Thanks for this lesson. I got it! Yippee!

I just started to get it really good lesson

Best method so far

Thanks! this feels much easier

THANK YOU

Awsome,thanks dude

Wow man after 5 minutes of watching your videos I can play single notes.

This helped me alot thanks

thanks...awesome

Apesar de que está en inglés le entendí muy bien gracias Muy buen video

Excellent lesson, I have to learn to combine this with totally relaxing my both jaws, and breath from my diaphragm.(this will take time)

The first tip itself worked for me.

did it the first time and damn it felt so good amazing

thanks dude that helped a lot

It works!!! Thank you

Man you're just so nice.

I have just started playing harmonica in key of C. I just had doubt if I can apply Vaseline to the mouthpiece and play as it makes my lips move easily across it?

Love it!

this helped a lot!

your awesome

I'm getting a zzz sound while doing it. Maybe the blow is not airtight. What do I do?

But it's hard to get a full draw bend on 3 and 2 especially this way.... but it's a really great insight also.

Awesome

Best tutorial

Hello JP Allen I hope you are doing well, thank you for your videos. This is the first video that I watch I have come for the 1st time (Lesson 26) thanks to this video (I started 10 days ago with another method) to finally succeed in making 3 clear notes in a row, I could not do the other one way to do the Pucker method (kiss). I could only make one note but as soon as I passed to a second, even the one next to it, it was not clear. I admit not knowing the rest, after these 2 exercises to finally make clear notes, I do not know what you have in store for us. It seems complicated to me, at first glance, to be able to play a melody with such a harmonica. tilted as well as to use the 2nd hand but I can't wait to watch your other videos hoping I can find them all. Anyway, thank you very much, I was starting to get depressed when I saw that I couldn't (despite training) to achieve several clear notes in a row.

JP I am kind of struggling to find lesson#1 can you please or anyone who is learning harmonica from JP please send me link of Lesson#1 that would be very helpful guys..

great lesson... finally i can blow single note.. i m gonna follow you entirely...

I've been trying to do this for years and I've been a professional musician for most my adult life yet I am too embarrassed to tried to ask for help with the harmonica since I'm supposedly a seasoned musician so I've been just do in the Neil Young strategy and this video did in one minutes That my harmonica buddies have been trying to teach me for years. This guy has the method "the" method

Merci beaucoup l'Ami !!!

I know this is a lot later than when the video was made but i just find it easier to use the upper lip to block and use the lower "to go for the ride"...Is this detrimental in the long term? I find it much much easier to do at this point

This guy is really fantastic and surprisingly empathic arousing immediate sympathy. I wonder how he does it. And what is his name?

instantly better, thanks.