Holding

• 1). Hold your harmonica so the note holes are facing you. Make sure the numbers 1-10 are visible above the holes. These numbers represent the tones you'll play on a standard diatonic harmonica. A diatonic harmonica allows 19 notes through those ten holes that can be played by either blowing or breathing in.
  
  
• 2). Form your left hand into an "L" shape and place the left side of the harmonica in the pit of your hand, between the forefinger and thumb. Reverse this if you're left-handed.
  
  
• 3). Allow your remaining three fingers to rest on top of the harmonica. Try wiggling your three fingers so the harmonica shakes a little. You'll be using this technique to create a vibrato effect--the shaky note you hear harmonica players use frequently.
  
  
• 4). Place your right hand over the back of the harmonica in the shape of a cup. Don't cover it up too much or the sound of your harmonica will be muffled. This won't matter playing on your own, but if you play along with other instruments, it will make you hard to hear.
  
  
• 5). Get a harmonica holder or rack if you don't feel comfortable holding the harmonica in your hands. Stevie Wonder and countless other artists use these.
  
  

Playing

• 1). Pucker your lips and place them over one of the note holes, so they fit comfortably. Blow into the note hole. The harder you blow, the louder the note.
  
  
• 2). Inhale to create what's called a draw note. This will sound weaker than a regular note made by blowing.
  
  
• 3). Slide your lips across all the note holes, blowing and inhaling to create notes and draw notes. Make sure your lips are wet enough so you can easily slide from one note hole to the next to give you a smooth transition between notes.
  
  

Breathing

• 1). Practice breathing from your diaphragm--a muscle located at the base of your lungs. Place your hand just below your ribcage while you inhale to feel the diaphragm as you breathe. Tighten your stomach muscles and let them relax inward while you exhale. This gives you a better supply of air from your lungs that you can use to play longer and more powerful notes.
  
  
• 2). Pucker your lips as you would while playing the harmonica and exhale slowly. Exhale through your mouth and not your nose. Relax your tongue and listen carefully to the sound of your breathing. You should have a lower pitch of breathing than when your tongue was placed higher in your mouth.
  
  
• 3). Create lower-range breathing sounds by relaxing your jaw and applying the same techniques as above.
  
  

Bending Notes

• 1). Record yourself playing straight notes with enough power before tackling bend notes. A bend changes the pattern of your breathing stream so you can alter the pitch of a note.
  
  
• 2). Do another breathing exercise, this time inhaling and exhaling while moving your lips as if to say "Eeee" and "Oooo." This gives you the feel of making a pitch go up and down on the harmonica.
  
  
• 3). Play a note on your harmonica. Move your lips using the "Eeee" and "Oooo" technique while inhaling and exhaling. The pitch of the note you're playing will bend. Practice bending the note only slightly to give variety to your harmonica playing style.