Ben Hewlett – Learn to play HARMONICA, the easiest instrument to pick up! (Download)
The harmonica is one of the few instruments you can carry in your pocket and play within minutes of picking it up. Whether you’re a guitarist wanting to add another dimension to your performances, a Dylan or Little Walter fan seeking that authentic blues sound, or simply someone who discovered an old harmonica in a drawer, learning this versatile instrument opens doors to countless musical possibilities.
Most beginners struggle not from lack of talent, but from scattered, inconsistent instruction. This structured course takes you from your first note to confident improvisation, covering everything from train sounds to 12-bar blues—all through clear, practical lessons.
About This Harmonica Course
Instructor Ben Hewlett brings focused expertise as a dedicated harmonica specialist who concentrates on playing, learning, and teaching this instrument above all else. With over 40,000 students enrolled, Ben’s approach combines technical instruction with the passion and practical experience gained from performances, jam sessions, and years of focused teaching.
The course is built around accessibility—you’ll need just a standard 10-hole diatonic harmonica (like a Hohner Special 20 or Blues Harp) to get started.
What You’ll Master
Seven-Day Foundation (7 Minutes Daily)
Launch your harmonica journey with an intensive week covering essential skills: proper holding and breathing techniques, chord playing, chugging, single-note production using both pucker and tongue-blocking methods, note bending basics, and scale playing. This structured start builds confidence quickly.
Blues Fundamentals
Dive into 12-bar blues theory and application—the foundation of harmonica playing. Learn chord progressions, blues chugging rhythms, single-note lines, and strategic note bending on holes 1, 4, and 6. Understand how to construct blues stories through your playing and develop authentic blues phrasing.
Advanced Tone Production
Transform your sound through dedicated tone training: proper breathing exercises, mouth cavity adjustments, vocal tract manipulation, hand techniques, and multiple vibrato and tremolo styles. Study how masters like Big Walter Horton achieved their signature tones.
Train Sounds and Creative Techniques
Master the iconic harmonica train sounds that captivate audiences, including the “zzaka tikka” rhythm, whistles, and various historical styles. These techniques aren’t just fun—they develop rhythmic precision and breath control.
Improvisation and Soloing
Learn major and minor pentatonic scales for improvisation, explore different positions and modes, and develop single, double, and triple tonguing techniques. Apply these skills to create solos and melodic variations over blues progressions.
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Playing in the Masters’ Styles
Study techniques from legends like Sonny Terry, Sonnyboy Williamson, and Big Walter Horton. Understand not just what they played, but how they achieved their distinctive sounds.
Practical Repertoire
Learn complete songs including The Beatles’ “Love Me Do,” including both the famous riff and improvisation techniques. Apply skills to real music you’ll enjoy playing.
Who Should Enroll
This course welcomes absolute beginners with no musical experience alongside intermediate players seeking structured improvement. Whether you’re a guitarist, pianist, or singer adding harmonica to your skillset, someone managing respiratory health issues like COPD through harmonica practice, or pursuing a retirement bucket-list project, these lessons adapt to your goals.
Even if you experimented with harmonica as a child and want to reconnect seriously, Ben’s methodical approach fills knowledge gaps while building proper technique from the ground up.
Why This Method Works
Ben’s teaching philosophy emphasizes gradual, sustainable progress through ordered lessons and consistent practice. By focusing exclusively on harmonica instruction rather than spreading across multiple instruments, he provides depth and nuance often missing from general music courses.
The combination of technical exercises, tone development, and immediate musical application keeps learning engaging while building skills that transfer across all harmonica playing contexts—from solo performances to band settings, campfire gatherings to stage work.
You’ll develop the breathing control, embouchure techniques, and musical understanding that separate casual players from confident performers capable of improvising, soloing, and adapting to any musical situation.
