Beginner Harmonica Lesson 3 - Clean Single Notes

Liam Ward
Feb 24, 2021
2 min read

Updated: Jun 2

Hello and welcome to this series of harmonica lessons for beginners. In lesson 3 we'll be looking at playing single notes. We'll try three popular methods: lip pursing, tongue blocking and U blocking. I'm using a C diatonic harmonica (e.g. Hohner Special 20). I hope you enjoy the lesson!

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Playing single notes is essential for melodies, riffs, and expressive techniques like bending. There are three main methods to achieve clean notes. Here are my beginner-friendly methods for each:

Lip Pursing

What it is: A straightforward technique where you narrow your lips to isolate a single hole.

How to do it:

Push your lips forwards while keeping your mouth narrow.
Place the harmonica gently into your mouth, covering just one hole.
Ensure your lips form a tight seal around the hole to prevent air leakage.

Pros: Easy to learn and ideal for beginners.

Cons: Limits advanced techniques like tongue slaps or octave playing.

Tongue Blocking

What it is: A versatile technique where your tongue blocks multiple holes, allowing a single note to sound.

How to do it:

Place your mouth over 3–4 holes on the harmonica.
Use your tongue to block all but one hole (typically the rightmost).
Air flows through the unblocked hole, producing a single note.

Pros: Enables advanced techniques like tongue slaps, octaves, and chordal effects.

Cons: Requires more practice to master.

U-Blocking

What it is: A method where you curl your tongue into a "U" shape to channel air into a single hole.

How to do it:

Form a "U" shape with your tongue.
Place the harmonica in your mouth so that the "U" channels air into the desired hole.

Pros: Can help with precise note targeting.

Cons: Less intuitive and impossible for some players.

Which Method Should You Choose?

Lip Pursing: Great for beginners focusing on melodies.
Tongue Blocking: Ideal for blues and rhythmic styles; worth learning as you progress.
U-Blocking: Useful if it feels natural.

Experiment with each technique to see which feels most comfortable and suits your musical goals.

For a visual demonstration of these techniques, check out the video above.