Sorry, yes to clarify: your tongue can be relaxed during a vibrato if you work on pulling from deep in your stomach. This provides the tension and attack needed to make the note drop in pitch rhythmically.

Fantastic work Doug, I'm really proud to hear you play that. You're getting each part of the pattern coming through really nicely. Your breath control is good - just remember if you try to speed it up any more that you need to be as relaxed as if you were playing really slowly. Well done! It took me months of analysis to work it out and build it up to speed, and I spent A LOT of time on it during those months!

Hi Elliot, bottom line is if you're getting the sound you want then go for it. However, most experienced players pull from deep to get a rich vibrato. It's a longterm process though - I'm still working on my vibrato 15 years into my harmonica journey so don't expect to perfect it overnight. It's also a quite personal thing so your vibrato will be unique - learn to love it. Keep it up, I have faith in you.

Yes that's a good idea, I'm sure it helps. I'm learning trumpet at the moment and I find warming up makes a massive difference (of course I still sound terrible anyway!)

You sound great, Doug! It's impressive that you can play through each phrase since there are so many bends in there. The bends on 1 and 2 are especially strong. Try this exercise for the 3 draw, as sometimes the notes are a little muddy: -3 -3/ -3// -3/// -3/ -3// -3// -3/ -3 -3// -3/ -3/// -3/// -3/ -3// -3 -3 -3// -3/// -3/ -3// -3 -3/ -3/// -3/// -3// -3/ -3 Play it nice and slow between playing the song. Try to be very conscious of getting an equal interval between each note. Sit looking at a tuner while playing if possible. P.S. Great to see you in Bristol, thanks for coming down 😎

Fair enough. What do you play to warm up - scales, chugging stuff, licks?

Hi Paula, that's awesome news - I'm sure you'll have an amazing time! Yes the Bulletini is probably the one to go for. I don't mind the larger mics but a lot of people like the Bulletini for its small shape. The Harp Train 10 amp is a good starter and very cheap. If you wanted to get a really good, small (but expensive!) valve amp, I can personally recommend the Harp Gear HG2 - http://www.harpgear.com/hg2.html The lead you'll need will depend on the amp and mic you get, but usually a jack-to-jack cable (sometimes just called a guitar lead) will usually do. You will need an adapter like this if the mic has a screw-on connection (as the Bulletini does) - https://harmonicas-direct.com/product/switchcraft-332-connector/

To be honest I rarely get a chance to warm up before a gig or performance! I find that the harps play well unless very cold or very hot, and I feel like I'm ready to play when I'm gigging regularly (as I tend to be). However, I do try to have a few seconds to focus myself and get in the right mindset to perform - I find that helps me. Do you warm up before playing?

Great idea Paula. Michelle, I hope it helps!

Welcome, Al - and best of luck with the courses. Let me know if you have any questions 😎

Oops, sorry about that! The positions chart is actually available on the main school menu. Just scroll down and click the link on this page - https://www.learntheharmonica.com/member-courses

Hey Paula, I agree - I'd love to hear from others. I know we have plenty of friends from the USA here - what are your experiences? I'd love to do something similar in the UK. Finding the time is the main obstacle! I had 25 gigs in July... August and September are pretty busy too. Cornwall this week, Scotland the next. Who planned these tours? 🤣 When it comes to playing in front of others: Do plenty of practice to jam tracks so you're used to playing to a song. Start at a familiar environment, ideally with a friend or family member who plays guitar etc, before going out into public. Play without an audience, then try in front of a few friends in a safe space. If you are going to a jam, visit a few times before playing so you can get a sense of the place and the regular players. Ask how to sign up and how many songs you'd have to do, then go home and plan what you'd play. Practice your song - pick a simple song that you're very confident with, and don't try to do anything fancy. If the jam allows you do to a single song rather than the usual two or three, go for it - then there is less to learn and less to worry about. When the time comes - listen, listen, and listen some more to the players around you. There is nothing more valuable to a musican than their ears. DON'T GIVE UP! You will almost certainly feel that you've "messed up" afterwards. Believe me, other people enjoyed it more than you did. It's not a competition, it's about creating music together. Good luck! Cheers!

Hi Doug, I believe you're getting better. If you try a new harp in the same key, you'll probably find that you can bend it easier than previously (although every harp is different and requires a little getting used to). Congrats on the improvement, keep it up!

Yep, it's definitely an exercise in mindful breathing - not pulling too hard so that the air is still flowing freely. Keep at it, I have faith in you!

Hi Fintan, glad you love the site! That's a good idea, here's the list (lots of them use A and Bb!): A harp: Big Walter's Boogie Boom Boom, Out Go the Lights Bright Lights, Big City Dirty Deal Got My Mojo Working Juke On the Road Again Rocker Roller Coaster Stone Fox Chase (also uses Bb, B and C harps on recording) Sugar Coated Love Bb harp: Blue Midnight Doghouse Don't Get Around Much Anymore Easy Help Me My Babe Ninety Nine Run Here Mama Scratch My Back Sitting on Top of the World Sleeping in the Ground Standin' Round Crying Steady Work Song C harp: Baby Please Don't Go Chicken Shack Early in the Morning Got to Move Off the Wall Tell Me Mama Too Late D harp: Deal the Cards Hoodoo Man Blues Keep it to Yourself Spokey Dokey Walking By Myself Eb harp: Digging My Potato Driftin' & Driftin' She Caught the Katy F harp: All Because of You Messing with the Kid G harp: Last Night

If you google 'Special 20 Bb' then you should find plenty of them. Sometimes you have to select the key on the store website so make sure you select Bb before ordering. Best of luck!

Yes you can get Special 20 in all the common keys, including Bb.

Yep, Bb is a good one - as are G, A, D and F. If you have that lot you'll have a good range of keys. Of course, there will always be songs in awkward keys that trip you up until you own all 12 keys!

Just so I can understand, do you mean it's a visual problem - i.e. you get lost from one line to the next?

Hi Ray, thanks for your post. I am aware that some people prefer to use musical notation, however it's not the way I learned and so it's not the way I teach. I do indicate the timings in the lessons - I talk each song/lick through and show you how to play it right, that's what the videos are for. But perhaps my lessons are just not the right fit for you. It might be worth you checking out some other schools as you might find a teacher who is better for you. Sorry about that!