Harmonica [Merged]

Buckwheat · 12-09-2001, 04:09 PM

Any harp-dogs out there?

I play diatonic harmonica
Pretty good at straight harp melodies, getting better at cross harp blusey riffs.

Buckwheat · 12-13-2001, 11:44 PM

I must be the only harp-dog here.

Pick it up! · 12-20-2001, 10:01 PM

i'm learning the harmonica

Buckwheat · 12-21-2001, 09:44 PM

Hey, another harp-dog!!

What sort of harp do you play?
What sort of music do you want to play?

Pick it up! · 12-23-2001, 08:33 PM

i have a marine harmonica (the one that says its the most common, most played harmonica ever)
i'm buying a book on all the styles of harmonica from guitar center.
the harmonica players i like best are Bob Dylan and Joe Whiteford.
so something like that.

any good harmonica sites out there?

Buckwheat · 12-23-2001, 11:02 PM

I play a Marine Band harp too.
Just bought a Lee Oskar, it plays a lot smoother than Marine Band, costs a little more too (about $6 more here).

I love the Blues, old stuff, new stuff....like it all.
Check out some Muddy Waters.

Here is a site for you, it's pretty good. (pickings are kind of slim)http://www.harmonicalessons.com/

Merry Christmas!

P.S. Get me the title of that book, I might want to check it out.

Pick it up! · 12-29-2001, 09:17 PM

hey, if the guitar is capoed in the 3rd fret, what kind/key of harmonica do i need? thanks.

by the way, i rented a Bob Dylan movie today, hes a great harmonica player.

Buckwheat · 12-30-2001, 03:00 PM

The key of harp you need depends on what key the song is in and which style you are playing.

If you are playing straight harp (meoldies, usually accenting blow notes), the key of harp is the same as the song.
ex) Key of song is C -- Key of Harp is C

If you are playing cross harp (blues riffs, accenting draw notes)
the key of harp is 4 letter keys up.
ex) Key of song is C -- Key of harp is F

Cross harp is usually used for accompaniment.
Fits kind of like Horn lines.

I have a book called "Country and Blues Harmonica for the Musically Hopeless" by Jon Gindick.
It's real good, get one if you can find one. It comes with a tape.

p-bass · 01-05-2002, 04:23 PM

I play crossharp mostly but am learning straight harp and I also play some chromatic. I found the easy way to tell what key harp to ues in crossharp is to find what key the song is in, then move one position counterclockwise on the circ of fifths. ie song in the key of E use an A harp.
thanks <>< <>< <>< J.S.

rorybrownbeard · 02-19-2002, 09:32 PM

Does anyone have the Harmonica tabs for The Happy Song by Delirious? I'm just learning harmonica and wanted to learn that song for my band class.

acoustic · 02-24-2002, 11:52 AM

Is the harmonica hard to learn cause I wannnt to learn it? It sounds cool!

Buckwheat · 02-24-2002, 05:57 PM

It doesn't take very long to learn the basics.

Takes a long time to learn to play it well

p-bass · 02-24-2002, 09:34 PM

One of the best learning vidios that I have found is Norton Buffalo's blues techniques. published by homespun vidieo. Anyone that has the basics down and wants to learn advanced techniques ie: note bending, octives, vibrato ect.... would do well to get this tape
your brother in Christ...... J.S.
<><

El Jefe · 04-22-2002, 01:17 PM

Hey it's great to hear some harp players getting together.
I play an Oskar harp, actually about 8 of them, but not all at once

I learned with the book "Country and Blues for the musically hopeless" too! It is a great book, and tape.
Here is a great harp site that I also count as my "teacher" http://www.volcano.net/~jackmearl/ There are alot of hymns here. I do special music on my harp from time to time, usually it's an old hymn played in straight harp. I also enjoy backing up our praise band too. I usually echo or harmonize w/ the song line. Sometimes I go off in another direction and play around in the background of the song. It's all good with a harp!
My favorite song is Amazing Grace played crossharp.
I don't really have any favorite player, I like just about any played well, and anything played for the LORD!
Here is a tip that has helped me out tons: Since there aren't that many people who know how to play the harp, they also don't know when you mess up. Don't grimace when you make the occasional klinker, just press on through cause there are no "bad" holes on the harp, just misplaced ones.

baritone · 06-20-2002, 04:51 PM

Hey there really are some harmonica players here!! I'm learning to play, but I'm so clueless I don't even know what kind I've got. What's the difference between a diatonic and chromatic? I think I knew once. Really.