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Beginner Harmonica – free course


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This course is designed to introduce students to the harmonica. After completing the course, the student will be able to understand different styles of harmonica playing, perform basic melodies on the instrument, be able to improvise on the harmonica, and read harmonica tablature.

To get started click "Membership Options" below, and join the free membership.

Course Requirements

Difficulty: Beginner

*You will need a diatonic harmonica in the key C major to do this course.

About your teacher – Ben Joseph

Ben Joseph is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Alabama, and cultivated in New Orleans. Ben melds his range of music experiences, from playing harmonica in Cajun-country bands to shredding electric guitar in hip-hop groups. After a few years in New Orleans, primarily spent working as a producer, audio engineer, and session musician for Grand Junction Studio, he moved to London, where he completed his MA in Ethnomusicology at SOAS.

Ben also has a wealth of experience as a teacher and educator, working in schools, in his own guitar teaching practice, and lecturing for universities. He also has a specialism in inclusive music education, leading Open Orchestras in special schools.

Have a listen to Ben playing the harmonica, and see what you might be able to do – starting this course is the first step!


To join us and have access to more courses click the button below.
If you are already a member login here.

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Course Instructor

Ben Joseph Ben Joseph Author

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Course Syllabus

  • Section 1 Getting Started (30 mins)
    • Introduction to Section 1 Beginner Harmonica
    • How to Hold the Harmonica
    • Lip Placement on the Harmonica
    • Learning the terms “Blow” and “Draw”
    • Using Syllables with the Harmonica
    • The Major Scale on the Harmonica
    • Concluding Section 1
  • Section 2 Playing and Improvising (30 mins)
    • Introduction to Section 2 Beginner Harmonica
    • Reading Harmonica Tablature
    • Basic Theory for Harmonica
    • Playing Our First Harmonica Song
    • Our First Harmonica Song
    • Introduction to Improvising on Harmonica
    • Improvising to Our First Harmonica Song
    • Concluding Section 2
  • Section 3 Playing single notes (30 mins)
    • Introduction to Section 3 Beginner Harmonica
    • Playing One Single Note on Harmonica
    • Single Note Exercise for Harmonica
    • Using Syllables with the Harmonica Part 2
    • Concluding Section 3
  • Section 4 “Oh When the Saints” (20 mins)
    • Introduction to Section 4 and Quiz
    • Introduction to When the Saints Go Marching In
    • Playing When the Saints Go Marching In
    • Tips for Learning a Song
    • Concluding Section 4
  • Section 5 The Blues (30 mins)
    • Introduction to Section 5 Beginner Harmonica
    • Bending a Note on the Harmonica
    • Learning the Blues on Harmonica
    • Introduction to Open Mic Blues in G
    • Open Mic Blues in G
    • Concluding Section 5
  • Section 6 Vibrato and rhythms (10 mins)
    • Introduction to Section 6 Beginner Harmonica
    • Learning Vibrato on Harmonica
    • Learning More Syllables on the Harmonica
    • Concluding Section 6
  • Section 7 Resources and next steps (3 mins)
    • Final Lesson for Beginner Harmonica
    • Resource Page for Beginner Harmonica
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