Harmonica Cleaning and Maintenance: 7 Simple Tips

Tagged with: harmonica cleaning • harmonica maintenance

Responses to This Article

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  Amir Hosein

  You’re Amazing man , i’m from iran , and what u teach is like “Gold” in our country , cause here nobody knows what a Harmonica is …

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  JP Allen

  Hey Amir!!!!

  I just got your message. Like gold in my heart.

  Warmly,

  jp

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  Stephen maddox

  Hi im just starting out i have a marine band b 10 harmonica. Im being taught by your lessons on the internet and i find it very helpful,since i dont have the money to go to a trainer in my area.Thank you very much for the lessons and i will continue to teach myself through your lessons. ALOHA!!! :0)

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  Gerald Fry

  Some good tips there J.P.; I have never experienced problems with rust in a harp unless it is a very old hand-me-down but the thing to be cautious about with an old harmonica, particularly if it has a wooden comb, is the possibility of mould growth which can be very hazardous to health if inhaled. I never let others play my harps, mainly for hygiene purposes but you have given me a few more good reasons. Thanks .
  kind regards, Gerald.

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  JP Allen

  Hey Gerald,

  Thanks for the feedback on the wooden combs. I never knew that and it makes sense. Particularly for people who live in humid places in the world…. Like me in Kauai, Hawaii.

  Thanks!

  jp

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  Bill Prohs

  Another thing that one could do to help dry out their harmonica is place a packet of silica gel desiccant crystals in the harmonica case. These can be purchased in various sizes and can be found included with many of the common products we purchase. These generally say do not eat or discard. They are really harmless and readily absorb excess moisture. Once saturated they can be dried out in your oven on low heat.

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  JP Allen

  Great idea!

  jp

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  Mark Kotula

  jp,

  I just picked up the harp after 20 years. I bought your cd package ’bout a year ago (It’s Great!). I’ve been playing in a rockabillie band for 10 months. We have opened for two nationals and been playing around town (Detroit ). You can check us out on face book. The bands name is “Yankee soil”the gig is at Harpos Detroit.

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  JP Allen

  Hey Mark,

  This is so great to hear.

  It’s actually a dream come true for me to find out that my complete lesson series has supported you in playing in a band.

  HOW COOL!!!!

  I get this feedback from tons of people all over the world and I never get tired of it.

  I’m so happy for you MARK!

  Keep it up!

  jp

  P.S. Will you email me at jp@harmonica.com and send me that link of your video. I’d love to see it!

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  Greg Willis

  I really liked what you had to say about giving your old harps away. I applaud you for that. I have giving away several guitars, organs and harmonicas over the years and the return has been fantastic… Several of the young kids I gave instruments to have become quite the musicians and there’s nothing better then to know you had a part in there love for music….Good job J.P
  Sincerely Greg M Willis

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  JP Allen

  Thanks Greg!!!!

  Seems to me that making others lives wonderful is just about the “funnest” game in town.

  And sharing music….that tops the cake for me.

  jp

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  gordon

  I learned to play the harmonica when I was around 8 years old, I am now 71. I have never put them down because there were so many memories attached to my harmonicas. Always Honer and always at my side. I never learned how to bend a reed but that’s ok as I never played anything other than Civil War songs and turn of the Centry songs. You have brought more to me than money can buy and I thank you for that. As for cleaning, all I ever did was take my hankercheif and one finger and dip it in my whiskey and wipe it down. Cleaned out the holes with a jack knife. Oh, by the way, I am now teaching the scale to elderly people who are blessed with COPD. I too have that lung problem. But with the harmonica I have learned all over again how to breath and I have licked my inability to walk, talk, and play the harp just because of needing to breath. Dam the COPD. Thanks again I am known as just the “Old Guy”.

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  JP Allen

  Hey “Old Guy” with the young spirit.

  If you can take a video of helping people with COPD that would be priceless.

  Many people don’t know how much harmonica is helping people with all sorts of chronic lung conditions (i.e. Lung Cancer, emphysema, asthma…)

  If you shoot the video I’ll post it on my blog. Together we can help a lot of people who are challenged by these heath conditions.

  Harmonica can make a huge difference in these people’s lives.

  You can send the video to jp@harmonica.com.

  Or you can just email me any time for any reason and I’ll do my best to serve the cause.

  With Love,

  jp

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  Carol Frink

  jp: Have appreciated your free lessons. Some day hope to be able to get the full lessons. I salute you on your service to the world! And I salute, Gordon, for his service to people with lung problems. I play fiddle with our local ‘fiddlers’ and we play for area nursing homes and senior meal sites, about 14 plays per month. We have an elderly veteran who played his harmonica in the trenches of France, etc and still plays with us. He had 1/2 of a lung removed recently due to cancer and while laying in the hospital recovering he asked the Dr when he could start playing his harmonica again and the Dr said, “That’s the best thing you can do for recovery!” So I’ve started playing harmonica in earnest! And the older people love to hear harmonica. Keep up the good work!

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  gordon

  Thank God for people like you……

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  JP Allen

  Receiving your blessings Gordon! And it feels good!

  jp

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  David b

  hi jp,

  im a big fan of you and harmoicas, and your dvd’s cd’s & website will help A,LOT with me learning the harmonica.

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  JP Allen

  Thanks David!

  I’m so glad my lessons are helping you.

  Keep in touch.

  I’d love to hear about your progress.

  jp

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  Jack C

  I play a Hohner Marine Band. I am very careful wiping down the front of the harmonica, so I tap dry it so that the wood does not catch on the cloth. Also, to keep out the moisture after I am done playing, I take an office depot cleaning duster (A pressurized air can, can be bought anywhere else), and use it beetween the combs, and throught the back of the harmonica where the reeds are. Do not spray it directly on the cover of the harmonica. Instead, use a non-staining disenfectant and then polish with a jewelry cloth. MOST IMPORTANTLY: Put your harmonica in its case when not playing, and tap the harmonica on your leg to remove moisture right after playing if you don’t have time to clean.

  THANKS JP, YOUR GREAT. GOD BLESS.

  Jack

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  Jack C

  An Office Depot pressurized can cleaning duster works great on the combs and the reeds to remove loose particles and dust on and in the harmonica. I forgot to mention in my comment above that this pressurized cleaner is MOISTURE AND RESIDUE FREE, SO IT WILL NOT DAMAGE THE HARMONICA OR CAUSE RUST!!! Great.

  Thanks for all you do JP.

  Jack

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  LaMarr Dotson

  Dear JP,

  I’m just starting to play the harp. I hope to play as wellas you one day I know it will take time as well as a lot of practice.That’s why I’m so thankful for your E-mails. I do my best to try to play with you but some of the you do is still to hard for me to do, but I still try. I’m a minister at my church and I sometime play to some of the old gospel songs during service. I sometime have a time hearing the right key, but if I get it ,I’m on it and if I don’t, I stop playing. I would like to know do you or did you ever have that happen to you, and how did you deal with it? In closeing I would like thank you for the videos they are a real help!!!

  Yours truely,
  LaMarr

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  Terry Macioge

  HI JP.,
  Thanks so much for responding to me on how to maintain my instrument. I’ve been having some fun with it and really need to get my breathing exercises going as my wind capacity is low. Amazing how much air you use.

  Wish I had know earlier that you are on Kauai as my Cousin and his entire family just visited there. He was a former movie actor and was the Captain in the movie Hawaii which was years ago. Had I known you were there I would certainly have told him to look you up. He’s quite the entertainer himself, sings, dancers and acts.

  Again thanks for being there for all us novice. We certainly appreciate any information you give.
  Best Regards,
  Terry

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  S I Trivedi

  Im a big fan of you and harmoicas,
  I am playing it since last 30 years in between I was not playing,Your lessons gave me boost to revive again against my present age 51 years.
  Kindly suggest best way to buy the DVD to learn more and wher can I purchase good Harmonica in INDIA (Ahmedabad).
  Great to be in touch with You

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  Bob Dawson

  Hey JP!
  Thanks again for all you do for all of us.
  I recommend your forum to all who play or are interested in information about harmonicas and playing, or just want to be around a great bunch af people who “keep on harpin’.”
  Go JP!

  thebugleboy

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  Reg. LeBlanc

  Thanks for the free harmonica lessons. I’m finally getting single notes (sometimes). Maybe I need to learn to sit like your student Robeca??? If I can bend this old body to sit like that I’ll be able to bend notes.
  In a short while I’ll be ordering the DVD and see if I can produce a tune or two.
  Thanks again,
  Reg.

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  Richard Wynn

  I want your program but I have my own harmonicas

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  Santa Monica Mitch

  Hey JP;

  I really appreciate your consistent good wishes & good vibes!
  Regarding moisture in a harmonica. . . . I’m sitting in my office listening to your advice & am staring at a can of Compressed Gas Duster that I use to dust off my computer & desk & keyboard. . . . dontcha think it would do a really good job? By the way, germs gotta live too! It’s sorta like a good Weber BBQ. . . . you don’t really won’t to get it too clean as that would rob the end product of a certain amount of “character”!
  Let me know if this helps.

  Mitch

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  Sonny Lee

  dear JP

  After tapping the harmonica, can I use my wife hair dryer to
  blow dry after many hours of playing? Very ambitously I bought the C and G two way blow harmonica and found bulky to carry every where, so i bought the tiny tot C but keep the big one. Do I have to take it out to air from time to time if I dont play for some time?

  Can I get your CD/DVD at one of the many Malls in Kuala Lumpur, Malysia? I have no confidence purchasing through the internet.

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  Richard

  Hi JP, if hygiene is of real concern to some Harmonica users a product here in the UK called Milton Sterilising Fluid may be useful to them. It is intended for the sterilisation of babies feeding equipment and there is no need to rinse in clean water after use as it has no after taste. Just dilute Milton according to the instructions on the bottle and drop your harp in for about 3 minutes.
  Q: Why 3 minutes?
  A: I checked with the manufacturers if Milton would stain metal and they said that prolonged or very regular use will stain some metals. So 3 minutes every few months is no problem.
  I am sure similar products are available elsewhere in the world…it must be safe if it’s designed for use on ‘your’ baby!!;O)

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  Tom Carrothers

  I have enjoyed your lessons and emails I get. I’ve played since 1990. I don’t read music, I just play by ear. I Love John Popper from Blues Traveler. That is more my style, although I love to listen to the Blues and play along with it. I can really hook up with a song most of the time. Sometimes I can’t seem to find what key the song is in, by the time I do, the song is over. I play Lee Oskar Harps, and love them to death. I play in the Praise Band at Church. I have all 12 keys plus a HG harp LF harp and a MM C harp and a MM E harp. I use a Green Bullet microphone when I plug into an amp. God Bless, Keep sharing what you have with others, it’s your gift. TC

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  Frank(i)

  Hi, dear Apostle’n Instructor Proessor of Harping,
  My humble person can only repeat all the former blessings & opinions and beg the God to multipy them.
  As to lung cancer and such problems, the Sodium Bicarbonicum 4-5 grams a day has been proven helpful prilactycally too. (Viz.: Dr. Tullio Servicio, Rome)
  Harping is the best reconvalescens way even in heart illnesses ! Due to breathing like in the Hatha Yoga…
  May Peace and Good Will always be Yours !
  Your truly,
  Frank

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  tim

  Hey J.P.
  Your DVD’s should arrive today. I ordered them last month. But I live in Honduras and a friend is hand carrying them down for me today from Texas. Can hardly wait. I’ve played for 45 years and really “suck” (no pun intended). Never had a lesson and have learned a ton from you on youtube. Now the serious lessons begin. I WILL jam with a band this year. It’s my 2011 dream.

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  Edward Brien

  Hey JP.
  thanks for the riff after your audio on cleaning.
  I heard a fellow make a really low growl on his C Spec 20 and asked him how he accomplished it.
  He said it was like snoring through the harp.
  So far no luck with this, any thoughts, and is it worth learning.
  it did sound pretty cool as an effect when he was playing.
  Thank up front for any help you can give me
  Ed Brien

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  ali sadeghi makki

  Hi. I love your harmonica lessons. Amir hosein told true. You are a golden man and your lessons are the best.(I am your freind in face book). Thank you again and the best wishes for you.

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  cara

  g’day thank u sooo much for ur lessons i got a harp for christmas and am so appreciative of ur free lessons they r sooo helpfull im just starting to get it now lol i would love to be able to play xavier rudd stuff hes the one that inspired me to play it…. then i found u and u keep me inspired thanks so much… wish u where here to teach me in person lol u r awsome…

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  bobz1b

  hi JP

  I am a 51 year old guy from the uk who has played guitar off and on for 40 years or so. I recently took up harmonica and have made great progress since following your lessons, your awesome dude. My top tip for keeping the harmonica clean and dry is to gently blow it through with my girlfriends hairdrier,

  keep on rocking in the free world
  Bob

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  Lawry Yerby

  Terrific article ! Just found my Marine Band Hohner and would love to learn to play it. I’m getting up there at 69. So glad I found you on the inernet. Played professionally drums for many years in dance bands. Also for quite a few years in a Dixiland Band. I gave up playing some time ago but really miss the good times and music. I think learning to play this harmonica will be fun at this stage of my life. I’ll most likely order one of your DVDs. THank You JP. I blew a few notes and wanted to treat it properly when I put it away. Your artical was just what I needed to answer the question of how to keep it clean and in tune. Thanks again.I’m getting too tired tonight to even try the free lesson. Will log on tomarrow. You are terrific ! Old Lawry Yerby

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  John

  you are the man loving the dvd and cd lessons

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  JP Allen

  Right on! jp

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  arghavan

  hiiiiiiiiiii
  love you man! i am from iran and this is too hard to learn harmonica and i am so happy that i found you .
  xoxoxo

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  Dr. Bene Ferenc

  Hi, dear Apostle’n Instructor Professor of Harping, as to drying the Harp, I’d like to draw your kind attention to the battery or car electric operated small ventillator that could or should be an every case useful and handy drying tool for all Harpings.
  Are you praised already by the Hawai Governor and the US Pres. for your enormous worldwide best work and results for education, music, humanity, health, well-accomplishment, happyness, gerontology, etc.? If still not, it’s a big bad mistake of them! I suggest to do it utmost and beg the JP Allen World of Harp to join to my suggestion personally or collectively. Thanks in advance!
  May Peace and Good Will always be Yours!
  Yours truly,
  fan Frank(i) from Hun-gar-y

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  Budd Colby

  Hi JP- Several people mentioned the problem of identifying the key being used in recordings they wanted to play along with and I have the same problem. Is there a useful trick? I just started a few weeks ago and I’m ready to jam with recordings. Many thanks for those DVDs! Best, BuddC

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  Glen Goddard

  Re: “…place a packet of silica gel desiccant crystals in the harmonica case…Once saturated they can be dried out in your oven on low heat.”

  Another way is with the microwave oven. 10-30 seconds max depending on the size of the packet.

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  JP Allen

  Thanks for the tip Glen,
  jp

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  Laurence

  that was great, thanks allot

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  JP Allen

  Your very welcome Laurence.
  jp

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  Laurence

  P.S i’m fairly new to harmonica playing and in turn harmonica preservation but i tend to leave them out of the cases on the side with the blow and draw holes facing downwards in order to keep air flow and moisture draining out

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  JP Allen

  Brilliant Laurence!
  jp

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  eva birincsik

  Hi Mr Allen. Also Everybody.
  Thank you the cleaning tip. It brings back to me a sorrowful memory. My Dad give me, for my 20 birthday present, a harmonica and case which belonged to My Grandfather. It had a beautiful sound. I was very happy. So I followed my dad’s advise to clean it well. I washed it good with soapy water, then dried. Next day I was about to cry. My beautiful harmonica was stinking like sausage. I feel bad because it belonged to My loved Grandpapa.

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  JP Allen

  Sorry to hear that Eva! I’m do hope others learn from this post what to do and what not to do. Let’s persevere those harmonicas memories folks!
  jp

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  Alberta

  How do you learn to play songs that you can’t find harmonica tabs for? Thank you

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  JP Allen

  If you can’t find a tab on-line, I would say the best way is to learn it by ear. But that technique is very advanced and it starts out by listening to the tune over and over again. It takes a lot of experience on the harmonica to get it right.
  Otherwise you can get the sheet music for it. And as long as you can read music, you can take it note for note and find the notes on the harmonica.That’s take’s a while to do also! Have fun and I hope that helps.

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