Who plays harmonica

[ludashoeless]

It's something I've been wanting to learn for a while, but this video made me really want to learn

[sacizob]

Just keep in mind that there are different ways to play a harp. One is straight harp where you blow into it to get the tonic. The other is cross harp where you suck in to get the tonic. When playing cross harp you will have a different key harmonica then the song is in (usually up a fourth key). I believe this video is cross harp and there are many versions of cross harp. Do some reading up on it. But once you learn, it can be fun.

[notdave]

I'm trying, it's not easy. Fortunately a good diatonic harp isn't very expensive, my Hohner Marine Bands were about £25 each.

If you do buy a Hohner harp, you can get a 21 day free membership here

http://www.bluesharmonica.com/test_page

This page on the Hohner website explains how.

http://www.hohnerusa.com/index.php?1937

[Tommy Biggs]

Cross harp is the way to start IMO for guitar players - more intuitive. It's good to play into a mic and amp too - really gets you feeling it. It's best to start out with some friends rather than an audience!

[justin.ramsey]

I play, cross harp is easier in most cases, to get that really bluesy sound it is anyway.

[chezdeluxe]

I do.

[Del Pickup]

I play harp - not very well but well enough to convince an audience that I might have a small amount of talent!

Started out with a couple of Hohner harps and a Fabulous Thunderbirds and Sonny Boy Williamson CD and took it from there. May as well learn from the greats!

[ludashoeless]

What key should I get for blues?

[justin.ramsey]

Key of C is the easiest to start with

[birddog01]

You need to do a search for Adam Gussow.

Or go here, sign up and have some fun.
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/home.html

I play a bit.

[Old Has Been]

My grandpa was quite the harp player. He pretty much played straight harp and was excellent. He taught me when I was 13 years old and gave me my first Hohner for my fourteenth birthday. I've been playing ever since. I picked up playing cross harp when I was in college. Both styles can be challenging if done correctly.

Sacizob gave some good info. Good luck. The harmonica is a great instrument and can be carried anywhere. Enjoy!

[Spaceonaut]

I got a cheap hofner cross harp set that I keep in the car for long trips. Blowing while driving isn't usually the safest thing in the world, but I enjoy it (that's what she said).

[thelowerlip]

Originally Posted by ludashoeless

What key should I get for blues?

If you want to play blues(cross harp) in E, you need an A harp (major diatonic).
G, C
A, D
.....so on and so fourth.

If you want to play a major scale (staight harp) use a harp(major diatonic) in the key of the song you want to play in.

Years ago I tried to learn and got nowhere. Then some years later I picked up a friends harp holder and an E harp. I was playing Simple Twist of Fate in an open tuning and things just clicked. That gave me the motivation to learn more about the harp.

[ludashoeless]

thanks! i just love the sound of an overdriven harp. i think i'm gonna get a big river harp

[gitold]

i do

[telepathetic]

I casually played harmonica (straight/first position) starting around 1968. In '79 I finally started cross harp/second position. In the late 90's I finally started playing minor/third position.
I started with Hohner Marine Band and eventually went to Hohner Special 20's. In the late 80's I switched to Lee Oskar harmonicas.
You can hear me on the songs Life is Hard (song in B, harp is E) and Manja Ganja Man (song in E, harp is A) here: http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/artist_songs/2384327
These were recorded with Lee Oskar harmonicas, a Hohner Blues Blaster microphone and an Ampeg Reverberocket.

[jefrs]

Originally Posted by ludashoeless

What key should I get for blues?

Most blues jams are in A, the "easy" one for guitar, so you need a harmonica (Super Vamper / Marine Band / Blues Harp -type) in "D".
Blues is I, IV, V, so you need the IV, that is the harmonica is labelled with the IV for blues in I. It will play major scale in (IV) but to get the flattened 7th (in I) it needs to be the IV of the blues song. It also has a "missing" note which lets it cope with major/minor.

Learn to play that, then build up to a set of 12 of them (there are some odd high/low ones as well)

If you keep dogs they will probably join in for a nice communal howl.

Don't bother with an amp, they are quite loud enough already.

[ludashoeless]

Originally Posted by telepathetic

I casually played harmonica (straight/first position) starting around 1968. In '79 I finally started cross harp/second position. In the late 90's I finally started playing minor/third position.
I started with Hohner Marine Band and eventually went to Hohner Special 20's. In the late 80's I switched to Lee Oskar harmonicas.
You can hear me on the songs Life is Hard (song in B, harp is E) and Manja Ganja Man (song in E, harp is A) here: http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/artist_songs/2384327
These were recorded with Lee Oskar harmonicas, a Hohner Blues Blaster microphone and an Ampeg Reverberocket.

that was great

[6942]

My Father played pretty well, right up until he passed away at age 85.

Steve

[stinkey]

Me 2!