blues harmonica

The 2 draw is overused. The 6 blow is underused. The 6 blow is the same note, one octave higher as the 2 draw. Improvise, focusing resolving your phrases on the 6 blow in place of the 2 draw.

I'm sure you found this challenging to do. The 2 draw is the most common hole used on the harmonica (4 draw being a close second). The 2 is the root note (we're speaking of 2nd Position here), so it's obvious that we'll be playing it a lot. This is true, but we DO NOT have to resolve every phrase we play... in fact it's boring to resolve every phrase we play.

So, what to do. There are some tools. Try this lick.

4 4+ 3 2 2 (hold last note)

Now, instead of resolving the phrase with the last 2 draw, kick into another note like in the examples below...

1) 4 4+ 3 2 1
2) 4 4+ 3 2 3 continue reading...

If you've been playing long enough to feel comfortable soloing, then go ahead and do some soloing to a jam track of your choosing. One change though, you can't play 2 draw. If you have a hard time knowing what hole you're on when jamming, then take your bottom cover plate off and place a piece of tape over the 2 draw reed (painters tape is good at not leaving residue). Give it a try... more tomorrow.

Though this is demonstrated on the chromatic harmonica, the principles are also the same for the diatonic harmonica. As Steve Baker states in the video lesson, learning how to gap is essential. It's common for a harmonica to have one or two reeds not responding the way you desire, and this is the quickest way to adjust it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12cdfpp2Sg0

Gotta love the modern harmonica world!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7Dc3ssh_bM

The fully-closed cup, when playing acoustic, should only be used the moment before a "Wa" affect (closed, then open = Wa). Your cup should then remain open so that we can hear you play. The more open your cup, the less coloration from your hands. The more you close your cup (still leaving a little bit of room for sound to escape), the more hand muting you achieve, thus the more your hands color the sound. Experiment with this to hear the differences in color. How open or closed should you be?... this is personal preference. continue reading...

One of the first, and most important, techniques you learn on the harmonica is the tremolo.

The tremolo is achieved by opening and closing your throat at the vocal chords. Try a couple blow coughs, then relax your breath and don't cough so strongly... nice and soft. continue reading...

Now that everything is relaxed and spit isn't running into your harp!... move around the harmonica, making every note played sound warm, full... beautiful.

If you get a little bit of an upper or lower note, adjust and then move on. If a note sounds flat, bent or airy, or the note squeals or stalls (won't sound at all)... adjust your tongue location (usually down). Your goal is to make every note sing with the least amount of effort as possible. continue reading...

Play softly. Warm, radiant air is what you're looking for. A pro player plays at 40% of their capable volume as their normal volume. So, no sucking or blowing... warm, radiant air flowing through the harmonica.