David's Tip of the Day: Beginner Tips #8 - Tremolo

One of the first, and most important, techniques you learn on the harmonica is the tremolo.

The tremolo is achieved by opening and closing your throat at the vocal chords. Try a couple blow coughs, then relax your breath and don't cough so strongly... nice and soft.

The blow is not usually a challenge for players, it's the draw. For most players, when they start to draw and perform this technique, their diaphragm starts to pump... like "ha ha ha ha," you want to stay away from that. Breathe evenly through the harmonica, allowing only your throat to open and close for the tremolo action.

Another common error is to say "ka ka ka ka" instead of letting it happen in the throat... again, stop that and focus on the throat. The key, as always, is to relax the body and mind and allow just the throat to do its thing.

Tremolo should be used on all long-held notes. For right now this means notes that are longer than a quarter note (one beat). This will commonly be first and last notes (especially last notes) of a phrase. Down the road you'll use the tremolo on notes as short as downbeat eighth notes (2/3's of a beat).

Tremolo and dynamics (volume change) are the two most important techniques used to express emotion though your instrument.

To learn about this important technique visit the Tremolo and Vibrato lesson on the site.