JP's #1 Most Important Technique To Share With Any Harmonica Player
Welcome to Level 1
Level 1 has a total of four steps. Here are the primary goals:
Learning to properly position the harmonica in your mouth (JP's Deep Relaxed Mouth Position)
Learning some simple “Chugging Train-time Rhythms Patterns” that will enable you to play as a “one-man-band”
Harmonica Maintenance and JP's recommendations on the best and easiest harmonicas to learn on.
Breathing from the Diaphragm (deep belly breathing)
In this lesson I will be sharing with you the technique that many other techniques will be built upon: The Deep Relaxed Mouth Position! I'm confident that The Deep Relaxed Mouth Position will enhance your tone and support you in leaning more challenging techniques with greater ease and enjoyment. As you will see, my method is designed to give you many opportunities to practice The Deep Relaxed Mouth Position so that it becomes effortless and automatic.
Are you Ready?
Figure 1: Notice that the harmonica is angled approximately 45-degrees.
Here are the steps to learning “The Deep Relaxed Mouth Position”. Feel free to use any harmonica you have available.
Step 1. Look at the harp and make sure the holes and numbers are facing up. (If you have no numbers make sure the lowest note is on your left).
Step 2. Moisten your lips. Place the harp deep in your mouth. Relax your lips.
Step 3. Rotate the harp upward to create a 45-degree angle with the harmonica (as seen above in Figure 1)
Step 4. Look in a mirror to make sure that your upper lip is RELAXED and covering the top metal surface of the harmonica as seen below in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Deep Relaxed Upper Lip
Important: I Do Not Recommend That You Tightly Pucker Your Upper Lip. Although this is recommended by many harmonica books, this technique causes most students to become frustrated and stuck.
Step 5. Look in a mirror to make sure that your lower lip is only covering a small portion of the lower metal surface of the harmonica as seen below in Figure 3.
Figure 3: The Harp Contacts the Inner Surface of the Lower Lip
Step 6: Pull down your lower lip with your fingers to make sure that the inside skin of your lower lip is making contact with the harmonica (I know it's hard to tell from the above picture but the harp is actually touching inner tender surface of my lower lip).
Step 7. Experiment with the angle of the harmonica and find a way that it sits comfortably in your lower lip.
Step 8. Lick your lips for lubrication and try sliding around the harmonica playing any notes you like. For now don't try to play one note at a time. It's more important that you relax and enjoy yourself.
I Do Not Recommend That You Pucker Your Lips!!!
In the upcoming lessons please practice The Deep Relaxed Mouth Position on every exercise until you can do it automatically! My experience of teaching harmonica for over 19 years (since 1987) to at least a thousand harmonica students has taught me this: students that tightly pucker their lips may be unable to make the sounds they wish and are likely to become frustrated. I believe that many people have quit harmonica because they were unable to discover that the easiest way to learn more advanced harmonica techniques is to use The Deep Relaxed Mouth Position.
The upcoming video clip is the was taken from the first four minutes of:
This particular clip is simply an introduction in hopes of encouraging you to purchase the entire lesson. In future lessons, the video clips that I will be sharing with you will offer a greater depth of instruction, while giving you the opportunity to see if you would like to purchase the entire product.
THE NEXT LESSON: Introduces a helpful breathing trick as well as some basic chords.
OVERSTOCK DISCOUNT BUNDLE!!!
Just for checking out my discounted DVD's you will receive a FREE DVD and A FREE HARMONICA ("Harmonica Core Essentials: Creating Good Habits")
My DVD lessons will:
Show you the tricks to playing single notes with a sweet soulful tone.
Help you to learn songs faster.
Teach you the secrets to bending, jamming at high speeds, and all the essential techniques necessary for you to enjoy the harmonica for life.
ACCELERATE your progress. Many students tell me that the DVD's are a lot more fun and easy than working off this website. The DVD's will show you over 50 simple ways to play the harmonica musically and sound great.
If you have any concerns or need additional clarity feel free to Contact JP at (808) 639-1086 or jp@jpallen.com
Show you the tricks to playing single notes with a sweet soulful tone. 
