Playing only one note at a time is referred to as a "single note". Two or more notes played simultaneously are called a chord. The two most common ways to achieve a single note is by either the "whistle method" or "tongue blocking".
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"Hear what a clean, clear single note should sound like"-- To get the sound of a clean single note in your mind, pick a hole to play a clean single note on. . . let's use 4 blow. Place your index fingers tightly over holes 3 and 5 and cram the whole thing into your mouth. If your fingers are still tightly covering holes 3 and 5 then you should be hearing a nice clean single note out of hole 4. Do this over and over and over again until you've memorized the sound. If the fingers just aren't working for you, try putting tape over the holes surrounding hole 4. When in doubt, come back to this drill.
(View all Beginner's Shortcuts)
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General Information
- Three ways to play a single note- There are three different ways to produce one note, that is, a single note, on the harmonica. These are: the whistle method (sometimes called pucker or lipping method), tongue blocking (putting your mouth over 3 or 4 holes and covering all but one hole with your tongue), and the U-block or tube tongue method (curling your tongue to make a tube out of it and placing it directly over the hole you want to play).
- We don't recommend the 'U-block' method for beginners- We don't recommend the U-block method at all for beginners. First, it can only be done by people that were born with a certain set of genes (about 50-70% of the population). The rest of the world cannot physically put their tongue into a tube to produce a single note no matter how hard they try. Second, the U-block (tube tongue) and tongue blocking methods both utilize the tongue to achieve a single note, and although it is possible, it is much more difficult for a beginner to learn full complete bent notes with either of these methods.
- More points on the 'U-block' and 'Tongue Blocking' methods- These methods also don't easily allow for the tonguing (articulation) technique that gives you different rhythms, sounds, and easy repetition of notes. Also with practice, both the 'whistle method' and the 'tongue blocking' will ultimately give you a full bodied tone on chords and single notes which is created by dropping your jaw and expanding your oral cavity for optimum resonance. It is very hard to get this full bodied tone with the 'U-block' method because the technique tends to limit the airflow and resonance in your mouth. If the U-block is the only way you can achieve a single note and you don't plan to advance your playing beyond simple songs and melodies, you may find this technique acceptable.
- Use your fingers to hear a clear single note (Beginners' Shortcut)- To get the sound of a clean single note in your mind, pick a hole to play a clean single note on, let's say 4 blow. Place your index fingers tightly over holes 3 and 5 and cram the whole thing into your mouth. If your fingers are still tightly covering holes 3 and 5 then you should be hearing a nice clean single note out of hole 4. Do this over and over and over again until you've memorized the sound. If the fingers just aren't working for you, try putting tape over the holes surrounding hole 4. When in doubt, come back to this drill.
- Try to imagine the single note without playing it- Once the sound of a clean single note in clearly embeded in your mind, you can try to obtain that same sound without using your fingers or tape.
| Sloppy vs. Clean Single Notes- Hole 4 blow & draw |
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Click here to visit the next single notes page, "Tips & Photos".
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