Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Harmonica

Hi,

Another part of my mid life crisis learning to play the Harmonica.....anyone else play and can give some tips...loving it at the moment..

Hey John... congratulations on picking up the harmonica!! What a GREAT instrument... goes anywhere, has lots of versatility, can be played loud, soft, soulfully or rocked out. The mouth harp really does make a great companion.

I play a bit... mostly to accompany my guitar. What sort of harmonica did you get? What key is it in or did you get more than one? I tell you what... rather than give ideas or tips which might lead you astray ('cause I'm just a hacker really) go to THIS GUY on Youtube and there you will find all the instructions you'll ever need and MORE. Everything from beginner to advanced in almost 300 vids. I have never found anything better when it comes to playing harp then what I found there.

Have fun... would love to hear from you again about this as you go along!!

Lookup the Harmonicats, that will give you a goal to reach for.

once you learn to bend notes it becomes alot of fun!

You tube man, just you tube it. There is more advise there on how to play than anywhere else in the world.

In a week or two , you'll play it like this . (and the drums ain't shabby either)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbrjRKB586s

....and turn up the speakers , please- not those little wimpie ones.

wow cheers guys for all the advice. I am loving it at the moment. just playing straight stuff to try and get them single notes before going on to bending notes, etc. I have got a Horner special C harp as a starting point.
See Robert Plant is sporting a harp as well in some of his new stuff so it must be cool!!!

Perhaps I influenced him when I saw Zeppelin play in the late 70s.

Only thing is the older you get it seems to take longer to learn...never mind.............

Take care and thanks for all the advice

Gwilly

Good luck. I've tried several times before concluding music is something I can only appreciate, not participate in....not many regrets in life, but that is definitely the top of the list.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zAAOA5CMPs

And, would THIS classic be nearly as memorable without being accompanied by the harmonica?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDWQ8w829tY

Good for you ,

Like many others, I played trombone in high school concert, marching, jazzzzzz band.......ahhhhh a few years ago. Jazz was my favourite because it had a soul.

Being a simple-minded country boy, I stumbled onto the Jim Liban & Short Stuff blues band in 1974. The style rocked my sheltered existance. So I picked up a Hohner blues harp, and eventually about 9 more.

On and off since when the mood grabs me, I've played an album or cassette or CD of Etta James, Coco Montoya, Roomful of Blues, Robert Cray, Delbert McClinton and perform as a visiting artist. Under delusions, I figured if I could match James Cotton note for every other note..........???? Mind you it was all personal satisfaction, but the dogs I've had seem to dig it . For awhile when I thought I was OK I'd leave the window open

I was never good at reading music and am worse at following directions, so I'd just say find a style that get "the juices flowing" and go for it.

jh