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19 Dec 08 - 10:18 PM (#2520328) Subject: Tech: what type of harmonica for blues From: olddude I always wanted to learn to play harmonica any suggestion for a newbee. What should I look for I like blues is there any kind that is better for a beginner? Thanks much Dan |
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19 Dec 08 - 11:07 PM (#2520345) Subject: RE: Tech: what type of harmonica for blues From: Mark Ross A Hohner Marine Band is where most of use to start. You're going to want to play crossharp for blues. That means the the harp you use is marked in a different key than the key in which you will be playing. You will be playing what we call 2nd position; the key of the harp will be the fourth of the key the song is in; for example, to play a blues in E, you would use an A harp, key of D, G, key of C, F, A, a D harp. Get on of the better quality harps, Marine Band or Oscar Schmidt. Mark Ross |
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19 Dec 08 - 11:39 PM (#2520356) Subject: RE: Tech: what type of harmonica for blues From: meself I would recommend a Hohner Special 20. Same price range, easily available, and, in my opinion, slightly easier to play than the Marine Band. There are a number of other good models and brands out there now that other players approve of, but I haven't tried many of them, and they aren't as likely to be stocked in your corner music store. Having said that - a lot of people swear by the Lee Oskars, but they are more expensive. Many people find they last longer, though. But I don't. To start off, I would get a D. Being a higher key, it is a little easier to get going on for blues harp than, say, an A. You will want to get an A before long though, as many guitarists play a lot of blues in E (see above post re: cross-harp - also known as 'second position'). |
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19 Dec 08 - 11:43 PM (#2520357) Subject: RE: Tech: what type of harmonica for blues From: meself This is a good group for beginners (and others): harptalk. Tell'm I sent ya, and they'll give you a good seat. |
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20 Dec 08 - 12:57 AM (#2520373) Subject: RE: Tech: what type of harmonica for blues From: Barry Finn Get one you can suck & blow Ok, I'll stop. Barry |
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20 Dec 08 - 01:17 AM (#2520378) Subject: RE: Tech: what type of harmonica for blues From: olddude Thanks folks Barry ahhhhh do they have ones with strings instead?? |
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20 Dec 08 - 01:17 AM (#2520380) Subject: RE: Tech: what type of harmonica for blues From: olddude Most of my blues stuff is in E so I will check out the D like you suggested |
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20 Dec 08 - 01:31 AM (#2520384) Subject: RE: Tech: what type of harmonica for blues From: meself Just to make sure you got what I was saying: get a D (or E or F) harp to get started with bluesharp technique - but get an A harp to play in the key of E. A D harp is suitable for playing blues in the key of A. (There are other ways of doing it, but you'll get to those later). |
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20 Dec 08 - 04:15 AM (#2520411) Subject: RE: Tech: what type of harmonica for blues From: Ernest Hi Dan, Hohner Marine Band harps (esp. the deluxe model) are among my favourites in the (upper)midprice range. Their special 20s are ok too, but I would prefer the Blues Harp MS (Modular System = you can change the reedplates). The Big River Harp seems to need more air than the aforementioned models - I would avoid them. Among the really cheap ones I find the Victory (chinese marine band copy with plastic comb, usually only sold in C) playable. No need to buy an instruction book - lots of stuff on the net. Just googling for harmonica or harp lessons/tab will get you a lot of sites. Happy harpin` Ernest |
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20 Dec 08 - 04:24 AM (#2520415) Subject: RE: Tech: what type of harmonica for blues From: Hamish Marine Band are good. I used to love Blues Harps, but don't like the revamped MS model. So I'd go for Marine Band. |
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20 Dec 08 - 05:18 AM (#2520439) Subject: RE: Tech: what type of harmonica for blues From: Acorn4 I prefer the Lee Oskars for tone. Their only shortcoming is that the cases don't tend to be very rugged. The thing you'll have to learn for blues is bending the notes. It's actually very hard to explain how to do this, but it's done by kind of narrowing the mouth and squeezing to get a bent note - you really need to be able to bend the note down to the next one underneath it to play blues effectively. |
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20 Dec 08 - 10:09 AM (#2520582) Subject: RE: Tech: what type of harmonica for blues From: GUEST,Tunesmith Don't buy cheap - you'll be disappointed and frustrated! Hohner Special 20 would be my suggestion. Also, there are some marvelous tuition videos available for free on Youtube. Just type in "blues harmonica lessons". |
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20 Dec 08 - 12:35 PM (#2520707) Subject: RE: Tech: what type of harmonica for blues From: GUEST,Jim While I started out on Marine Bands, I now prefer the plastic comb and would agree with GUEST,Tunesmith in recommending the Special 20s. I have a few Lee Oscars and like them fine, but they are pricier. |
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20 Dec 08 - 01:51 PM (#2520768) Subject: RE: Tech: what type of harmonica for blues From: Stringsinger A lot depends on the style. Howard Levy recommends the Special 20 and I don't think anyone would argue that he's not one of the leading ten hole harmonica players in the world. The Marine Band is the staple but I think you need to study the style of the harp players you admire and find out what they use. The difficult part of playing this style is "overblowing" for chromatic notes. Howard Levy discusses this. He files his reeds with a small file to loosen them. I have never been able to master overblowing. Joe Fillisco of Chicago (from the Old Town School) knows how to do this and has had harps for sale that have been adjusted in this way. Many of the Chicago blues stylists don't employ overblowing techniques. Chromatic overblown notes are not needed for many of the blues pieces but bending the notes which is more of a basic approach is necessary to get the flatted 3rds, 7ths, 5th's and 6ths of the blues scale. I agree that the Special 20 would be good although Marine Bands can do the job too. Frank |
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20 Dec 08 - 02:48 PM (#2520805) Subject: RE: Tech: what type of harmonica for blues From: olddude You guys have given me a lot of good ideas I am going to get one and start messing around with it. I am sure I will sound terrible but it should be a lot of fun. thanks so much |
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21 Dec 08 - 02:10 AM (#2521132) Subject: RE: Instruments: what type of harmonica for blues From: meself Overblowing is an exceedingly advanced technique, as far as I am concerned (which, admittedly, is from about here to the door). You don't need to worry about it for a long time, if ever. Bending, on the other hand, is essential to blues playing. |
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21 Dec 08 - 11:35 AM (#2521405) Subject: RE: Instruments: what type of harmonica for blues From: Farley Buckwheat . The Hohner pocket pal is a very good choice for a beginner. It is cheap: less that 20US. Very sturdy, so you neednt worry about breaking or losing it. It has a plastic comb, which makes a tight seal. This in turn ensures no leaks and so is good for bending. The reeds are good quality and stay in tune well. The disadvantage is that it only comes in C. This is great for any beginning player. When you get good enough to play with others you will need to look at other models to complete your set. |
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21 Dec 08 - 11:39 AM (#2521407) Subject: RE: Instruments: what type of harmonica for blues From: Farley Buckwheat . Whoops! Make that "less than 10US." The C harp is good for blues in G, a very useful key. . |