Harmonica advice

Jigsaw

Folks,

I was hoping some people here could give me some advice. I have decided to buy myself a harmonica and one of those holders so I can play guitar at the same time. As an example of the sort of sound I am looking for, I would say think of the style of Bob Dylan in Subterranean Homesick Blues.

Now I know these come in different keys so this is where the confusion arises. If I am say playing a bluesy progression on the guitar it is going to most likely be the chords GCD, ADE, DGA and CFG. Am I right in thinking I would need a different harmonica to play in each of these different keys?

Hope someone can help!!

Kenny_D

http://dylanchords.info/harp/harpkeys.htm

Try get a Hohner Marine Blues harmonica. The key of A or C is the more common one in dylan songs I think

Alanstrainor

Yep, i'm a "blues" harmonica player, well i try:o. But if you're going to be playing "cross harp" which is the standard way diatonic harmonicas are played in the likes of blues and folk. To play say, your E blues progression(E, A, , you would need to buy an A diatonic harmonica. (I'm sorry, i know this sounds confusing). And if you wanted to play a standard C progression, you'd buy a G harmonica etc.

DeVore

I also attempt to play the harmonica at times. I cant advise you further than Alan has except to say it will take a while to get the knack for playing it. Stick with it, I found that I was frustrated with it for a good week or two and then one day just relaxed and was goofing around with it and it actually started to sound "proper"! Once you get the knack for "bending" the notes, everything sounds much better on it.

If you are going to play it with your guitar, you might also want to invest in one of these!





DeV.

Jigsaw

DeVore wrote: »

I also attempt to play the harmonica at times. I cant advise you further than Alan has except to say it will take a while to get the knack for playing it. Stick with it, I found that I was frustrated with it for a good week or two and then one day just relaxed and was goofing around with it and it actually started to sound "proper"! Once you get the knack for "bending" the notes, everything sounds much better on it.

If you are going to play it with your guitar, you might also want to invest in one of these!





DeV.

Now that is some hat right there!!

With that hat how could I possibly fail.

johnnyfox

At the Newport Folk Festival in 1965 Bob Dylan asks the crowd for an harmonica before he plays Mr Tambourine Man and he specifically requests an 'E' Harmonica.

You can see a clip here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGlwYnj6udU

I found the Lee Oskar harmonicas to be affordable and good quality, I just bought a 'C' as I was told they were easiest to learn. They have a 5 star rating on Amazon.com with 33 out of 40 giving it 5 stars and only 2 people giving a 3 star rating as its lowest rating.

Alanstrainor

Dont like Lee Oskar's, that's just me though, bought a couple to try, and just didn't float my boat. Have a couple of "hering" harps on the way from thomann to try out, just to see if they're any use. They were cheaper than marine band harps, but supposedly just as good. Will reply back with the results.

muzikman

hey folks can anyone tell me anywhere i could buy a lee oskar in dublin other than waltons??

any advice greatly appreciated!

jimi_t

muzikman wrote: »

hey folks can anyone tell me anywhere i could buy a lee oskar in dublin other than waltons??

any advice greatly appreciated!

You could try Opus II or that one behind the Powerscourt centre

MetalDawg

I just dug my harmonica out of my guitar case, where it has resided unloved and unused for years, I got out the book that came with it by Don Baker. I got some lessons online and Im doing the C scale and a few bluesy licks. What advice would ya give to a beginner? Is learning to bend notes the key to the whole thing? Cheers.

Dave Total

Id recommend a C or G to start you off. If you want a quality harmonica Lee oskar is a good way to go. If its cheap and cheerful youre after, Hohner blues harps are pretty good.

Alanstrainor

MetalDawg wrote: »

I just dug my harmonica out of my guitar case, where it has resided unloved and unused for years, I got out the book that came with it by Don Baker. I got some lessons online and Im doing the C scale and a few bluesy licks. What advice would ya give to a beginner? Is learning to bend notes the key to the whole thing? Cheers.

Cheap harmonicas can be difficult to play because they're generally not airtight meaning you lose a lot of the air you put in to it. I'd personally recommend a Hohner special 20 in C, great harp and cheap too. I never really liked the Lee Oskar harps, they're not bad by any means just didn't like them and a blew the few i bought out in about 3 weeks. You can't go wrong with either, and they're not exactly expensive.

MetalDawg

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Cheap harmonicas can be difficult to play because they're generally not airtight meaning you lose a lot of the air you put in to it. I'd personally recommend a Hohner special 20 in C, great harp and cheap too. I never really liked the Lee Oskar harps, they're not bad by any means just didn't like them and a blew the few i bought out in about 3 weeks. You can't go wrong with either, and they're not exactly expensive.

I'm going to use the one I already have for now, until I see how far I wanna take it. Its a 10 hole C harp with "Delta" on it, came with the book. Probably not great quality but sure itll do for now.Thanks for the advice, much appreciated.:)

magicmoves

I am looking to find harmonica classes in Dublin and I was wondering could anybody point me in the right direction?

population

Get a C harp to start and buy a cheap one because you can bash about on it and see if it floats your boat. If you are getting a knack for it and are confident that you want to kick on, then I will disagree with the Alanstrainor on this one and recommend the Lee Oskar harps. I find they sing beautifully and they are comfortable to play. But each to their own. Personally hohner dont do it for me but they might be exactly what you want

population

magicmoves wrote: »

I am looking to find harmonica classes in Dublin and I was wondering could anybody point me in the right direction?

Honestly there are some good lessons on youtube, the Don Baker book and cd is not bad either

Gaspode

Don Baker gives night classes (or used to) in one of the secondary schools around Glasnevin. Check out nightcourses.com and see if he's still on the go.

bdr529

there is a guy teaches harmonica classes just off Nassau st and I think he still does some classes in waltons school of music too. contact Waltons or PM me ...