Any harp players out there? I have been toying around with learning to play the harmonica. Right now it sounds like a kid with a toy. I have some books and a C harp and have been tooting some campfire songs. Some books tell you to tongue block three holes and leave one open, some say pucker over the hole you want to play, a third says stick it down in your lower lip and let your lip seal the others. I can't read music but could learn and don't have much rhythm. Any suggestions on a good way to learn?
Harmonica Help
- Thread starter LazyKB
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This so ironic! Yesterday I was thinking, what with the proliferation of "do you play ____?" threads, of posting a thread for harmonica players as a joke. I would recommend listening to players in the genre your most interested in. For instance, if you prefer blues & rock, I would suggest Paul Butterfield, John Mayall, & Blues Traveler. For chromatic harmonica, Toots Thielman & of course, Stevie Wonder. For more of a country feel, Norton Buffalo. All different styles;just find the style that appeals most to you & go for it. Also, it will make a difference if your harmonica is a single reed or a double reed, as each lends itself better to different styles of music. Good luck & have fun with it!
tork'd
Member
grandpa elliott
Comrad
Member
Whammer Jammer J.Geils
beach elvis
Member
I took up harp at the age of 9 just for a hobby. My main ax has always been drums.
Anyway, the pursing of one's lips to cover a hole at a time is, by far, the most common method. Covering multiple holes simultaneously with the tongue, however, will get you specific intervals of notes simultaneously, which is handy during solos here and there. Also, tongue vibrato is a soulful tool, as well. Plus, chicks dig it.;-)
Another thing:
There's a mode called, "second position" or, "cross harp" where you're playing the root of the key by inhaling into the 2nd or 3rd hole from the left. With a "C" harp like you have, somebody playing cross harp would use it if the band is playing in "G". To figure out which key harp you'd need for cross harp, find out the key of the song, then think of that key as #1. Go up the alphabet, raising an additional finger with each letter. When you reach #5, that's the key of harp that you'd need to play cross harp for that song.
I'd also suggest listening to Sugar Blue (most famous for his harpwork on, "Miss You" by the Stones) and Delbert McClinton. (His first session ever was "Hey Baby" by Bruce Channel. Later, he toured with Roy Orbison on the same bill with the Beatles. Lennon said he'd gotten his first and only harp lesson from Delbert.)
Sonny Boy Williamson is another good blues source.
One more thing:
To break in their harps, all of those guys would soak them when they first got 'em.
Makes the notes bend easier. Water's OK but most of these ol' boys use vodka. Soaked 'em about a day. NOTE: If your harp's frame is plastic, like a Hohner Special 20 (great harp, BTW), just shake it dry and git ta gittin'...BUT...if your harp's frame is wood, you'll have to sand it a little bit because the wood will swell after a soaking...AND...AND...AND...be sure to vacuum it out before you breathe in the first time unless ya wanna lung fulla sawdust.
Have a ball, bud!
Anyway, the pursing of one's lips to cover a hole at a time is, by far, the most common method. Covering multiple holes simultaneously with the tongue, however, will get you specific intervals of notes simultaneously, which is handy during solos here and there. Also, tongue vibrato is a soulful tool, as well. Plus, chicks dig it.;-)
Another thing:
There's a mode called, "second position" or, "cross harp" where you're playing the root of the key by inhaling into the 2nd or 3rd hole from the left. With a "C" harp like you have, somebody playing cross harp would use it if the band is playing in "G". To figure out which key harp you'd need for cross harp, find out the key of the song, then think of that key as #1. Go up the alphabet, raising an additional finger with each letter. When you reach #5, that's the key of harp that you'd need to play cross harp for that song.
I'd also suggest listening to Sugar Blue (most famous for his harpwork on, "Miss You" by the Stones) and Delbert McClinton. (His first session ever was "Hey Baby" by Bruce Channel. Later, he toured with Roy Orbison on the same bill with the Beatles. Lennon said he'd gotten his first and only harp lesson from Delbert.)
Sonny Boy Williamson is another good blues source.
One more thing:
To break in their harps, all of those guys would soak them when they first got 'em.
Makes the notes bend easier. Water's OK but most of these ol' boys use vodka. Soaked 'em about a day. NOTE: If your harp's frame is plastic, like a Hohner Special 20 (great harp, BTW), just shake it dry and git ta gittin'...BUT...if your harp's frame is wood, you'll have to sand it a little bit because the wood will swell after a soaking...AND...AND...AND...be sure to vacuum it out before you breathe in the first time unless ya wanna lung fulla sawdust.
Have a ball, bud!
When I wanted to play some, I picked up Tony Glover's book on how to play blues harp. Blues is mostly cross harp. It was pretty easy to pick up a variety of riffs, so that is the route I would recommend.
When I traveled around Europe for a year in my yoot', I carried 3 or 4 harmonicas with me in different keys. I could amuse myself in camp, and every so often I would run into somebody with a guitar and jam with them.
Jimmy Reed is my favorite harmonica player.
Next question: When go accordion players get a turn? (I don't want to start a thread myself, only to apologize for my lack of development.)
When I traveled around Europe for a year in my yoot', I carried 3 or 4 harmonicas with me in different keys. I could amuse myself in camp, and every so often I would run into somebody with a guitar and jam with them.
Jimmy Reed is my favorite harmonica player.
Next question: When go accordion players get a turn? (I don't want to start a thread myself, only to apologize for my lack of development.)
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What kind of music???
Makes a big difference what you are trying to play
Playing blues music I made a big step when I learned to play cross-harp, all of a sudden it started sounding like the real thing. Like Bob Dylan said, 'They are easier to play when you're sucking on them' which is true, it is a lot easier to bend notes all over the place and make it wail. Unfortunately I started having ear trouble and had to quit playing shortly after, but if I remember right, you play a G harp in D cross harp. I had an instruction book about 40 years ago called "Playing the Blues Harp' or something like that.
I see Beach Elvis already brought this up but I'll leave the post here for some encouragement. It's not that difficult when you learn the rudiments well.
Makes a big difference what you are trying to play
Playing blues music I made a big step when I learned to play cross-harp, all of a sudden it started sounding like the real thing. Like Bob Dylan said, 'They are easier to play when you're sucking on them' which is true, it is a lot easier to bend notes all over the place and make it wail. Unfortunately I started having ear trouble and had to quit playing shortly after, but if I remember right, you play a G harp in D cross harp. I had an instruction book about 40 years ago called "Playing the Blues Harp' or something like that.
I see Beach Elvis already brought this up but I'll leave the post here for some encouragement. It's not that difficult when you learn the rudiments well.
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feralmerril
Absent Comrade
From the old timey movies I watched, a jail bunk seems like a good place to learn.
DeathGrip
US Veteran
You ever see the Married with Children episode where Buck gets locked up at the pound? Priceless.
I am retired but I don't have that much time to burn....or serve.
boxerrider
Member
Cross Harp
I learned using "Country & Blues Harmonica for the Musically Hopeless"
Amazon.com: Country & Blues Harmonica for the Musically Hopeless: Revised Book and 73-Minute CD (9780930948184): Jon Gindick: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512mETMTxEL.@@AMEPARAM@@512mETMTxEL
A long daily commute through the country gave me a lot of time to practice without annoying anyone. I play cross and Lee Oskar's are my favorites. Also learned how to juggle using "Juggling for the Complete Klutz", but not while driving!
Enjoy!
I learned using "Country & Blues Harmonica for the Musically Hopeless"
Amazon.com: Country & Blues Harmonica for the Musically Hopeless: Revised Book and 73-Minute CD (9780930948184): Jon Gindick: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512mETMTxEL.@@AMEPARAM@@512mETMTxEL
A long daily commute through the country gave me a lot of time to practice without annoying anyone. I play cross and Lee Oskar's are my favorites. Also learned how to juggle using "Juggling for the Complete Klutz", but not while driving!
Enjoy!
Don't forget to look at Magic Dick - he's the one playing in the J Geils song listed above.
He's the first person I ever saw with an electric harmonica - at least that's what I assume it was, it had a cord going to it. Can't remember where I saw them in the very early 70's, but it was a great show.
He's the first person I ever saw with an electric harmonica - at least that's what I assume it was, it had a cord going to it. Can't remember where I saw them in the very early 70's, but it was a great show.
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Gunsnwater
Member
Why would soaking plastic do anything? I get the swelling wood closing up the hole the reed sits in speeding the air going through with less suction from you, but the plastic isn't effected or is it? Heck I,ll try almost anything with vodka
Why would soaking plastic do anything? I get the swelling wood closing up the hole the reed sits in speeding the air going through with less suction from you, but the plastic isn't effected or is it? Heck I,ll try almost anything with vodka
Soaking the harp just seems to loosen up the reeds, makes them easier to bend. When I use to play harp a lot I kept a cold glass of water on stage & just left the harps in the water till I needed them. A couple of shakes & you're ready to go. I never did sand mine though as I felt it wasn't needed.
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