I bought some harmonicas yesterday and me and the wife are learning stuff together. I was wondering if anyone here plays and has any good pointers. The hardest part so far is trying to make myself breath in it and not blow.
I taught myself several years ago. I started with the songs in the training booklet that came with them, then bought some more. Later I figured out other songs blowing or drawing one hole at a time and writing down the number, circling the draws like the training songs had. Soon, I could play any song I could think of by ear.
Good luck and have fun with it. At least your wife is involved - mine wan't and I drove her nuts.
Good luck and have fun with it. At least your wife is involved - mine wan't and I drove her nuts.
The best advice I have is to keep playing until you figure out how to bend the notes, as in blues playing. I am guessing you bought a chromatic harp tho.
I'm not sure what a chromatic harp is. It came with 7 in different notes. I've just been using C for everything. I read earlier about tongue blocks and stuff. It's pretty fun and the wife is learning faster than me.
If you are trying to play the blues, C is a good start.
Don't go out and buy a Hohner blues harp unless you are ready to tear your mouth up, right off, especially starting off.
Buy a Hohner Special 20, it ha plastic, not wood, that will not swell, get sharp and cut your lips.
start by cupping your left hand over the harp,
cup your right hand over the left hand use it for the Wa sound.
Now, lets just use numbers here start sucking on number 4 hole and as you do so, start to move your mouth to get different tones and don't forget to use the wa of your hand. Do this in a nice deep draw as you breath in, then blow out. Take your time. Practice. It does not matter what you sound like at first, it will start to get better as you use to the harp.
There is your first lesson.
Welcome to the blues.
Stop by the show room, bring your harp, call first, and I will help you.
I will also play slide, in the background to help you keep the sound going.
Mark
Don't go out and buy a Hohner blues harp unless you are ready to tear your mouth up, right off, especially starting off.
Buy a Hohner Special 20, it ha plastic, not wood, that will not swell, get sharp and cut your lips.
start by cupping your left hand over the harp,
cup your right hand over the left hand use it for the Wa sound.
Now, lets just use numbers here start sucking on number 4 hole and as you do so, start to move your mouth to get different tones and don't forget to use the wa of your hand. Do this in a nice deep draw as you breath in, then blow out. Take your time. Practice. It does not matter what you sound like at first, it will start to get better as you use to the harp.
There is your first lesson.
Welcome to the blues.
Stop by the show room, bring your harp, call first, and I will help you.
I will also play slide, in the background to help you keep the sound going.
Mark
I tried playing the mouth organ but I passed out.
Thanks for the advice. The ones I bought are Hohner, but they are plastic. Have to lick my lips a lot because they get dry quick moving them back and forth across the plastic, but I'm doing pretty decent for the second day.
TMI!!!!
You can get a good harp at Cracker Barrel for $5 or less. Get the one that they sell by the checkout counter. Cheapo Hohner in C.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elf4CFHjH7o&feature=sub
Check out Kudzurunner. He's got a lot of good videos with good instructions.
The best advice I could give you it to find a good song in C that you like to play along with and just blow that thing till it sounds right. Try "little red rooster".. Good jammin song that is pretty simple.
When you want to step up to a better instrument and spend about $35 check out Lee Oskar harmonicas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elf4CFHjH7o&feature=sub
Check out Kudzurunner. He's got a lot of good videos with good instructions.
The best advice I could give you it to find a good song in C that you like to play along with and just blow that thing till it sounds right. Try "little red rooster".. Good jammin song that is pretty simple.
When you want to step up to a better instrument and spend about $35 check out Lee Oskar harmonicas.
