2 draw air flow

I’m Winslow Yerxa, and I’m filling in for David Barrett while he’s on his honeymoon.

Playing a clean Draw 2, without pitch depression (that is, bending the note without intending to) is a problem for many players. When you play that note with your nose open, you're eliminating the suction drag in the airstream that causes the Draw 2 reed to respond poorly.

The solution that will allow you to play that note without opening your nose is easy to describe, but can take work to learn and use.

First, try this. With your nose closed, play Draw 2.

Continue to breathe without any change except for one thing - take the harmonica out of your mouth and listen to the sound of your breath as you inhale.

If you can hear any sound from your breathing, that is something that you need to eliminate. A good flow of breath for harmonica playing makes no sound. How do you make that happen?

1. Make sure that you are breathing from deep in your lungs. Breathe gently, but make sure that the air is being drawn into your lungs from the diaphragm - the muscles below the rib cage that your body uses to inhale.
2. Next, check your throat. It should be open, as if you are yawning, so that the air flows freely through this area.
3. Next, pay attention to your tongue. it should be low in yor mouth, lying on the floor like a carpet, so that it offers no barrier or resistance to the free flow of air.

If you work on these three things, you shouldbe able to get Draw 2 to sound easily and with no change in pitch.