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Forums :: Ask Harmonica Expert Winslow Yerxa

Know what hole you are playing without looking

2 replies [Last post]
Mon, 01/17/2022 - 20:53
whocares
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Joined: 01/16/2022

I wonder is there any tips, techniques to learn so that as soon as your mouth

lands on a hole you know what hole it is without looking and without even playing it ?

 

Do players use any sort of technique to learn this?

 

Will you guys as professional player always know what hole you are on even without playing it at all?

 

I think I need to learn this , not just for diatonic but I am learning chromatic too and when I look at a note on screen

I need to land on the right hole :)

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Tue, 01/18/2022 - 12:27
#1
Expert Winslow Yerxa
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Joined: 01/16/2010
Two tips

First, if you always hold the harmonica the same way, the holes in your hand will always be in the same place. That gives you a stable basis for knowing where they are without looking.

Here's how you can train yourself:

  1. Choose a specific hole, say Hole 4 or Hole 2. But just focus on one specific hole at first.
  2. Play that hole (count up by playing Hole 1 and slide up to the target hole) and listen to the sound.
  3. Now, as you take the harmonica OUT of your mouth, feel the location of your hands and the harp they're holding.
  4. Lower your forearms at the embow and DON'T LOOK and the harmonica.
  5. Raise the harmonica to your mouth again, and play the hole you just played.
  6. If you're, say, one hole away, move to that hole , and BREATHE AS YOU MOVE so you hear when you arrive at the target location.
  7. Start again at Step 2 and keep working at it.

 

 

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Wed, 01/19/2022 - 06:26
#2
whocares
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Joined: 01/16/2022
thanks 1 , 2 , 3 and probably

thanks 1 , 2 , 3 and probably 4 is easier after that it becomes difficult and it seems I have to come up with my own method to find them :) Every body is different

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