Hi everyone
This is just a friendly note that other keen beginners might
benefit from.
I took up learning BluesHarp three years ago after a fateful
encounter with a harmonica in E.
Despite carrying an A harp around in my gig bag for 10 years
I never managed to bend a note on it.
But on May 15 2009, in a music shop in Krakow, Poland, I picked
up a harmonica in E and sucked on it......amazingly I could bend notes
effortlessley !!!! That was when my love affair started and made a
commitment to persue the instrument.
Over the years I have learned that in 'Harmonica Land', you get what
you pay for. Expensive harmonicas are expensive because they
are better quality and, as a novice, I notice that I bend notes more
accurately using a Marine Band Deluxe than on my Hohner Blues harp
in the same key !
In my experience, C D E and high F harps require less effort to
make convincing bends.
Harmonicas do not age well, unlike guitars.
In my experience, the newer the better.
Players have an etiquette between them that says you don't just pick
up someone's harmonica and try it. If they don't invite you to play their
harmonica, then they don't want your mouth on it.
Get yourself in front of an experienced player.
Even just one lesson on tongue blocking will last you for months
in practice.
Adam Gussow's lessons on YouTube are free.
There's a lot more I'd like to share, but, before it gets too boring....
Bye....
This is just a friendly note that other keen beginners might
benefit from.
I took up learning BluesHarp three years ago after a fateful
encounter with a harmonica in E.
Despite carrying an A harp around in my gig bag for 10 years
I never managed to bend a note on it.
But on May 15 2009, in a music shop in Krakow, Poland, I picked
up a harmonica in E and sucked on it......amazingly I could bend notes
effortlessley !!!! That was when my love affair started and made a
commitment to persue the instrument.
Over the years I have learned that in 'Harmonica Land', you get what
you pay for. Expensive harmonicas are expensive because they
are better quality and, as a novice, I notice that I bend notes more
accurately using a Marine Band Deluxe than on my Hohner Blues harp
in the same key !
In my experience, C D E and high F harps require less effort to
make convincing bends.
Harmonicas do not age well, unlike guitars.
In my experience, the newer the better.
Players have an etiquette between them that says you don't just pick
up someone's harmonica and try it. If they don't invite you to play their
harmonica, then they don't want your mouth on it.
Get yourself in front of an experienced player.
Even just one lesson on tongue blocking will last you for months
in practice.
Adam Gussow's lessons on YouTube are free.
There's a lot more I'd like to share, but, before it gets too boring....
Bye....