How to Play Blow Bends on Harmonica

Liam Ward
Dec 10, 2020
3 min read

Updated: Jun 24

In today's free harmonica lesson, I'll teach you to play blow bends!

(Want to learn to draw bend? Check out my Beginner Bending Lesson)

When most players think of bending on the harmonica, they think of draw bends - with good reason. Draw bends are essential for bluesy expression and are used far more frequently by players of many genres.

But blow bends are just as important, especially if you want to master the upper end of the harmonica. They allow you to access notes that aren’t otherwise available, and they add smoothness and soul to your phrasing—particularly in 1st position, but they are useful for all positions and styles if used tastefully.

In this lesson, you’ll learn what blow bends are, where they are possible and how to play them with control and confidence.

What Are Blow Bends?

Blow bends are pitch-altered notes created on a blow breath by adjusting the shape of your tongue and mouth. You’re essentially forcing both reeds in the hole to interact in a way that allows you to bend the pitch downward from its natural note. This is the same effect as a draw bend, and the technique is similar - but we'll go into technique later.

On a normal Richter-tuned harmonica - that's any standard blues harmonica - blow bends only occur on the top holes of the harmonica: specifically holes 8, 9, and 10 blow.

(Note: hole 7 blow will also give you a "micro-bend" of only around a quarter tone.)

What Notes Can You Bend?

Here’s what’s possible on a standard C harmonica:

Harmonica Hole	Natural Blow Note	Blow Bend Note(s)
8	E	E♭
9	G	F♯
10	C	B, B♭

How to Play a Blow Bend

Here's a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Start With a Clean Blow Note

Pick hole 8, 9, or 10 and play a strong, steady blow note. Focus on keeping a relaxed embouchure and clear tone.

2. Begin to Change the Shape of Your Mouth

Raise the back of your tongue, as if creating a playground slide shape
Think downwards with your airflow.
Increase the pressure slightly, to focus the airflow.

You're trying to manipulate the air pressure and shape of your mouth. This is what you do for draw bends too, but with blow bends it feels like the action is more focused towards the front of your mouth.

3. Listen for the Pitch to Drop

At first it might sound airy, squeaky, or unstable—but that’s part of the process. With practice, you'll hear a clear, solid bent note.

You're aiming for a "sweet spot" so if you go too fast or too far, the bend will be lost.

4. Hold and Release

Try holding the bent note steadily, then releasing it cleanly back to the unbent note. This builds pitch control and muscle memory.

Pro Tips for Blow Bends

✅ Start on hole 8 – it’s often the easiest to blow bend. Work up to 10, which can trickier due to the higher note and pressure required.

✅ Use a tuner – apps can help you see the pitch and develop accuracy (I use an app called iStroboSoft).

✅ Don't blow harder – it's about shape and pressure, not brute force.

✅ Experiment with tongue position – everyone's mouth is different. Play around to find what works.

When to Use Blow Bends

Blow bends are especially useful in:

First position melodies (folk, jazz, country)
Chromatic-style playing on a diatonic harp
Smoother phrasing on the top end of the harp

Don’t be afraid to experiment - they can add nuance and subtlety to your sound, and there really is no limit to how they can be used.

Harmonica Blow Bends - Conclusion

Blow bends are a powerful part of your harmonica toolkit. They may be less talked about than draw bends, but they’re just as expressive and they unlock new musical possibilities on the upper holes. Good luck!

Want a video demo? 🎥 Click here to watch - includes close-up playing and demos.

Thanks for taking this free harmonica lesson. I hope you enjoyed it!