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Best harp for beginner playing the Blues?

Posted on 7/16/20 at 12:23 am
Posted by Baws
Member since Jan 2020
520 posts
Posted on 7/16/20 at 12:23 am
(no message)
Posted by auggie
Opelika, Alabama
Member since Aug 2013
27995 posts
Posted on 7/16/20 at 3:34 am to
Marine Band or Fender Blues Deluxe. The Fender is less expensive, but sound pretty good. Do you play guitar, or will you be playing with someone who plays guitar? You need to know what key to buy.

You want to buy the Harmonica, in the 4th to whatever key the song is in. If a song is in Emaj, you want an A harp, if the song is in Amaj, you want a D harp, etc..
You need quite a few harmonicas, to play in a wide range of keys, so if you buy the really good expensive ones, it runs into a bunch of money.
This post was edited on 7/16/20 at 3:45 am
Posted by Mizz-SEC
Inbred Huntin' In The SEC
Member since Jun 2013
19246 posts
Posted on 7/16/20 at 7:55 am to

I bought THIS SET three years ago and love them. They bend and play easy.

If you don't want to commit to a set, I'd buy a C or G and go HERE and start playing.

Happy harping!

Posted by MondayMorningMarch
Pumping Sunshine. She's cute!
Member since Dec 2006
16870 posts
Posted on 7/16/20 at 10:20 am to
Marine band in the white box. Get one in A as it's probably the easiest to learn on. It's most common to play in 2nd position which is the classic blues sound (see Augie's post above). Once you figure the layout and isolating notes you may want to try 1st and third positions too. Tone-wise, stick that sucka way back in your mouth and not up front.
Posted by auggie
Opelika, Alabama
Member since Aug 2013
27995 posts
Posted on 7/16/20 at 12:19 pm to
quote:

I bought THIS SET three years ago and love them. They bend and play easy.

That is a decent buy on the whole set for $130.00, and it has most of the basics covered. The Suzukis are ok I have a couple of them.
Posted by MontanaMax
Oxford, MS
Member since Nov 2011
1930 posts
Posted on 7/16/20 at 4:18 pm to
I've got a pretty large collection by this point. Mostly full of Hohner Blues Band and Hohner Big River's. I learned on the Blues Band with in key of G. I have a few other brands but those are the best lower priced ones I have. My favorite to play, and easiest of the two IMO, are the Big River Harps.

I will say though, don't get a blues bender. I got one and hated it. They just played like shite compared to the others and were an arse to clean. Maybe that's just me.
This post was edited on 7/16/20 at 4:32 pm
Posted by auggie
Opelika, Alabama
Member since Aug 2013
27995 posts
Posted on 7/16/20 at 4:39 pm to
quote:

I've got a pretty large collection by this point. Mostly full of Hohner Blues Band and Hohner Big River's. I learned on the Blues Band with in key of G. I have a few other brands but those are the best lower priced ones I have. My favorite to play, and easiest of the two IMO, is are the Big River Harps

Not going to argue with you that those are great harmonicas, they probably are, I've just never tried them.
When we are talking about real blues though, and not southern rock adaptation, the songs were mostly in The Key of E and A. It's a small sticking point I realize, but it is worth bringing up, because, which one do you want to play? I love both, but there is a difference. If the southern rock and rock blues sound is your thing, then buy the G and C harps, and even F.
Posted by MontanaMax
Oxford, MS
Member since Nov 2011
1930 posts
Posted on 7/16/20 at 4:44 pm to
What I mean is that I actually learned to play a harmonica on a G. But yes, I agree with you.
Posted by auggie
Opelika, Alabama
Member since Aug 2013
27995 posts
Posted on 7/16/20 at 4:55 pm to
quote:

What I mean is that I actually learned to play a harmonica on a G. But yes, I agree with you.

Not calling you out at all, but in these threads where we have a beginner asking a question, and he really doesn't know or understand this stuff, I think it's helpful to bring up the little things, so he doesn't spend his money on the wrong key. The music stores aren't much help to the beginner, because they want him to buy all of the keys and find out which 2 he really needs.
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