The hard part is learning to play it well.
After just a couple weeks of B2B I can play single notes (most of the time) and bend at least 1/2 note on 1-4 but my persistent problem is relaxed breathing. I constantly catch myself tensing up in the chest which makes me run out of air. any words of wisdom on this? I don’t see much discusion on this particular problem so maybe it isn’t a problem for most people?
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Hi @RussSkyman, yes, I think you are exactly right, the hard part is playing well. I feel frustrated by my slow progress, but I feel like I might be able to play well eventually, with enough time and practice: except for one thing, BREATHING. I know I will never be able to play well until I conquer that problem. Use the search function to find previous discussions on the subject. ‘I got nothin’.
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No, @RussSkyman, it is actually a problem (often a big one at that) for all beginners. As you get more proficient with hitting the notes well, and your required effort to do this begins to decrease, you will find that your breathing problems will begin to decrease as well.
One exercise that helps (not only with breathing) is to practice scales and songs at a slow tempo (in fact, at speeds which initially will seem ridiculously slow) using a metronome. Then, when you are able to play the exercise perfectly, increase the metronome’s speed – but only very slightly, like maybe in 10% steps. Play at the new speed until it is again possible to play your exercise without mistakes before increasing the speed by another step.
This method is perhaps time consuming – but mastering a musical instrument is not something that you do overnight.
So try this method and let us know how it works for you.
Regards,
– Slim 
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Breathe from your diaphragm, relaxed in out breath try not to force anything. After reading a thread on here I’ve actually gone back to playing Trains and fox chases, I have one lung and I forgot how well this trains the breathing rhythm, timing, they are really great exercises. If you find yourself turning anywhere from red purple to blue whilst playing then you are going to have problems. Because of the fact I have one lung ( and asthma on top of that) I do breathe exercises practically every. But there one I do on the harp too. Place the harp in the mouth draw in as long as you can the puff or exhale quickly from the side of the mouth then do the opposite. The biggest mistake I see most people make when playing live ( I’ve been guilty of this) is they are nervous so they don’t relax, you can tell because they are all bunched up and tense in their upper body. I got over this by watching the band and just dancing ( it shakes off any nerves and the bonus is it entertains the audience who can actually tell whether you are relaxed or not) I hope this helps. Basically you got to practice taking little breaths and exhaling them whilst playing you can even emphasize it like Junior Wells did and it becomes a style. I think Jason Ricci does this too, it give a percussive feel to the playing.
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I suggest you make sure your diaphragm is the primary source of air. Bend over and exhale all the air you can out of your lungs. hem slowly raise your upper body back up straight. It will force you to fill your lungs with air. Another way to do it is sitting in a chair and trying to say something to a person you don’t care for without moving any part of your body, including your mouth. You you diaphragm should feel come into play. When I do it it feels like the portion right above my stomach tightens up. Its your diaphragm that you feel trying to force air out. What your are experiencing is something almost all new players have to deal with. If you watch a trumpet player they appear as if they never move the mouth as they have to use their diaphragm to create a tremendous amount of force. It will come over time.
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@scott4 you put it better than I could
@RussSkyman in your post here there are 2 indispensable interrelated issues:
1.) Breathing into the lower diaphragm. The FOUNDATION of EVERYTHING and one of the keys to relaxation.
2.) The nose is the gate.
Are you running out of air or overfilling with air?
Both of these will trigger the same asphyxiation reflex, so the first order of affairs is to notice which one is happening.
The remedy is then outgassing or in-gassing through the nose (while blowing or drawing on the harmonica, respectively) to equalize lung pressure.
These 2 principles are the secrets.
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