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Help learning to play the Harmonica
Posted on 1/15/21 at 8:23 am
Posted on 1/15/21 at 8:23 am
I recently purchased a 10 hole chromatic harmonica and looking for advice on learning how to play. I've tried looking on youtube for videos but there are so many different kinds of harmonicas and I haven't had much luck on where to start. Thanks.
Posted on 1/15/21 at 12:35 pm to labguy
What key is your harp in?
Figure out how to draw on the 2-hole. That is your root note for 2nd position, the most common position you hear. Once you can do that try dropping your jaw in order to bend that note in order to get the 7th of the root.
Another thing to try is the 5-6 hole trill...draw on both holes so you hear the sound you'll be making. Next, try to isolate the holes as you move either your head or the harp between the two notes.
Adam Gussow has lots of great vids on his YT channel. Look him up.
Get an A and a C harp and listen and learn every Little Walter song you can find on YT. That'll keep you busy for several years.
Figure out how to draw on the 2-hole. That is your root note for 2nd position, the most common position you hear. Once you can do that try dropping your jaw in order to bend that note in order to get the 7th of the root.
Another thing to try is the 5-6 hole trill...draw on both holes so you hear the sound you'll be making. Next, try to isolate the holes as you move either your head or the harp between the two notes.
Adam Gussow has lots of great vids on his YT channel. Look him up.
Get an A and a C harp and listen and learn every Little Walter song you can find on YT. That'll keep you busy for several years.
Posted on 1/16/21 at 12:09 am to labguy
Put away the chromatic harmonica for now, and get a Blues Harp, or Marine Band Harmonica, then start with Adam Gussow's lesson #1 on YouTube and work from there, as the other poster suggested.
Posted on 1/16/21 at 6:34 am to EA6B
They're not great harmonicas by any mean, but if you want to save a little money, the $5 harmonicas at Cracker Barrel are actually not bad for a beginner. I've given these to kids to get them started.
This post was edited on 1/16/21 at 6:35 am
Posted on 1/16/21 at 8:32 am to MondayMorningMarch
My harp is in the key of C. Thanks for the advice.
Posted on 1/16/21 at 1:12 pm to labguy
I just noticed you got a chromatic harp. Get yourself a diatonic harp instead to learn the basics on.
Posted on 1/16/21 at 2:14 pm to MondayMorningMarch
I took your advice and just ordered a Marine Band.
Posted on 1/16/21 at 3:00 pm to labguy
Atta boy! Hopefully you got it in A. That will allow you to play 2nd position/cross harp when the band is in E...no shortage of songs to learn from there.
Posted on 1/16/21 at 5:18 pm to MondayMorningMarch
No actually I got it in C. I thought that was the best to learn on.
Posted on 1/16/21 at 5:38 pm to labguy
Interesting thread. I’ve always wanted to play harmonica. Tried getting into it a decade ago and got confused by all the different types of harmonicas in different keys.
Posted on 1/16/21 at 8:27 pm to labguy
C is good, if the guitar or other instruments are playing in the key of G (in standard tuning). So it's good for playing some country and southern rock stuff. You do need to get an A harp though for playing more bluesy stuff. If you have C and A, those will get you a good start, but as you start learning, you will have to get several different keys. The Harmonica usually needs to be in the 4th, for whatever key the guitar is playing in. That's the most popular method.
It's not a cheap instrument to become proficient at, but it is inexpensive to start out.
It's not a cheap instrument to become proficient at, but it is inexpensive to start out.
This post was edited on 1/16/21 at 9:37 pm
Posted on 1/17/21 at 3:49 am to auggie
I just thought of this, but it might be a good way to learn and get some practice: Go to one of the guitar sites like guitarchords.com or any of those sites that let you transpose songs into different keys. Pick out songs that you want to play, put them in the key of G and play along.
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