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Another great tool to train yourself to play softer is that when playing to a jam track or a study song recording, simply set the volume at a low level; this forces you to play softer in order to track along with the recording. I also like to have students plug in and play amplified, but set the volume of the jam track (or me on the bass) at an acoustic volume, again, forcing them to play softly. Too often playing amplified is only serving the purpose of being louder, but it's so much more than just that... the change in tone being of most importance. continue reading...

Playing loudly is the #1 killer of harmonicas. The #1 reason why harmonica players don't employ enough dynamics in their playing is the tendency to play loudly all the time. The #1 tell that someone has not mastered their bending skills is in their tendency to play their bent notes louder than their non-bent notes. The fix?... practice playing every new phrase you learn as softly as possible. Keep the volume of backing tracks low so that you're forced to play softly to hear the track well.

When's the last time you've seen a blues harmonica player read sheet music on the bandstand? I've never seen it. Though it's very helpful to use notated music/TAB to learn new material, use it only long enough to help you figure out what to play, and which technique(s) to use to present it, and then don't look anymore. To memorize as you go is to internalize your material and be able to focus on its rhythm and presentation. Also remember to take out your favorite lick from that day's practice and spend the last 1/3 of your practice time and apply it to the Chorus Forms.

Our rule of thumb for chording/chugging on the harmonica is to use holes 1 and 2. Adding hole 3 for a larger sound is just fine as well... all depending on if your surrounding licks use hole 3 (it's a good idea to stay away from hole 3 if your single-note licks that surround the chording use hole 3... so that pitch doesn't get over-used). Stay away from chording on hole 4, this is where the harmonica was build to play melody.