kudzurunner
3770 posts
Jan 07, 2013
4:54 AM
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I had a query recently from somebody here in Oxford, MS who said that he couldn't use his work computer to access my digital teaching materials and didn't have a computer at home. He wondered whether I had any non-digital teaching materials. I realized that apart from the one DVD, which isn't oriented specifically towards beginners, I don't.
That got me to wondering. Please help! What non-digital materials--specifically, DVDs and instructional books--have you tried and/or would you recommend for beginners?
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SmokeJS
30 posts
Jan 07, 2013
5:25 AM
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Looking at my bookshelf every book/cd/dvd is authored by either Gindick or Barrett. Jon's earlier, but revised in 2011 book, is deeper than it first appears if the student really tries to know the licks so well that they can be altered at will. The Barrett material goes much deeper and has more theory which can be beneficial or off putting depending upon the student. The authors offer different approaches to bending which I found helpful and I will still listen to anyone who has their own approach.
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Honkin On Bobo
1092 posts
Jan 07, 2013
6:30 AM
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Gindick's book was my first piece of instructional material, if you're an absolute beginner I think its valuable. You had to navigate your way through some hokey caveman comic story teaching tool he used, but there was a lot of valuable info in there. It got me playing something vaguely musical pretty quickly ( a day or two) which was the motivation to continue on. Came with audio CD. The title is Rock 'n Blues Harmonica.
I then, of course, found your YT page and the subsequent website. I'm not sure how the For Dummies series treats the harmonica but I bought a couple for guitar and I wouldn't recommend them for someone actually trying to learn how PLAY an instrument.
For the record, I bought Gindick's book at a good old fashioned bricks and mortar bookstore, but that was a while back, they're getting harder and harder to find now. It's available on amazon, but if the person in question has no access to a computer...well that's kinda problematic.
Last Edited by on Jan 07, 2013 6:46 AM
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The Iceman
649 posts
Jan 07, 2013
6:56 AM
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Jerry Portnoy's Masterclass CD set is great for beginners and intermediates. One must follow his instructional suggestions for best results - take it one lesson at a time and don't proceed to the next section until you get the current one understood. (tendency for some is to hurry through the basics w/out really "owning them").
Jerry does not go down the theory road. However, for deep blues diatonic, he keeps it simple and in bite sized pieces to assimilate.
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The Iceman
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TheoBurke
246 posts
Jan 07, 2013
7:09 AM
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The only instructional book I ever used was "Blues Harp" by Tony Glover. Glover is an old school American Roots Music Revival musician from the Sixties, and I picked the book up in 1971; I remember it being very informal, with an effective breakdown of blues harmonica basics--keys, changes, rhythms, root notes. It had a number of good blues tunes to learn. Glover's instructions conveyed the spirit and verve and the brilliant grit it takes to play blues convincingly, with an emphasis on feeling over pristine technique. He got me speaking the language I wanted to learn. I consider this a milestone in blues music instruction books.
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Ted Burke
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-VPUDjK-ibQ&feature=relmfu
http://ted-burke.com
tburke4@san.rr.co,
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arzajac
942 posts
Jan 07, 2013
7:36 AM
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Adam, I think I was a week into my harmonica experience when I saw your first video. I think the first ten or twenty videos were the most helpful for me as a raw beginner.
I had gone to the library and checked out two or three harmonica instruction books at the same time. "Harmonica for Dummies" stands out in my mind as being helpful, but I would have to say that the written material I had only helped me about ten percent, the other 90 per cent were your videos.
Perhaps it would be worth it to create a DVD with your first 20 or 30 videos. I know you said non-digital, but by DVD, I mean a real DVD that plays on a DVD player, not just on a computer.
But maybe I'm not the kind of person that learns music from a written page very easily. My kids can sight-read music better than me.
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chicagopsych
10 posts
Jan 07, 2013
8:06 AM
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You Can Play Harmonica is short but great for geting one up and playing. It was recommended on this site when I first joined. The audio CD does a great job helping one with the pacing of the notes and serving as an example of how the lessons should sound.
http://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Play-Harmonica-Audio/dp/0825615178
I also used and liked Gindick's Rock and Blues Harmonica, but the above one was better place to start for actual songs that motivated me to keep trying.
Last Edited by on Jan 07, 2013 8:08 AM
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timeistight
1031 posts
Jan 07, 2013
9:43 AM
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Winslow Yerxa's Harmonica For Dummies is a great beginner-through-intermediate book. Winslow has a new book, Blues Harmonica for Dummies, that I'm looking forward to checking out.
I also like David Barrett's first book Building Harmonica Technique but it seems to be out of print.
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They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art.
Charlie Parker
Last Edited by on Jan 07, 2013 9:44 AM
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Kingley
2133 posts
Jan 07, 2013
9:49 AM
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It's not really aimed specifically at beginners (although it's ideal for beginners), but in my opinion Steve Bakers Harp Handbook should be owned by every harmonica player in the world. If you don't own it, then go out and buy it today. It's one of the best investments that anyone who is serious about playing harmonica can make.
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JInx
368 posts
Jan 07, 2013
9:51 AM
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After an aural introduction and training period... Essential non digi format for beginners must include a level one sight reading standard notation book as well as some form of tab. It's good to show them early on the beauty of reading music.
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Sun, sun, sun
Burn, burn, burn
Soon, soon, soon
Moon, moon, moon
Last Edited by on Jan 07, 2013 9:53 AM
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6SN7
248 posts
Jan 07, 2013
2:57 PM
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My first harp book was Tony Glovers book, "Blue Harp." It was the ONLY blues harp book available at the time in 1976. I also bought Mel Bay's "Stan Musial Plays Harmonica." And a lot of Good and Planty because it had harmonica songs on the inside cover of the box. The next book I bought ws Dave Barrett's Chicago Blues, thats a great book for learning blue harp technique.
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BronzeWailer
842 posts
Jan 07, 2013
3:24 PM
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Agree with The Iceman. I got serious about harp three years ago and Jerry Portnoy's Masterclass CDs were very useful.
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Komuso
133 posts
Jan 07, 2013
6:19 PM
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So much good instruction material out there but as a quick filter I would say:
Essential Reference: Steve Bakers Harp Handbook
Good overall beginner Guide: Harmonica for Dummies
Good series that goes deep:
David Barrett's guides Series: School of Blues
Blues Harmonica, Level 1
Blues Harmonica Method, Level 2
Blues Harmonica Accompaniment Playing
Improvising Blues Harmonica
+ Practice:
JimiLees GrooveTrax / Ultimate Jam Trax / Shoji's
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Paul Cohen aka Komuso Tokugawa
HarpNinja - Your harmonica Mojo Dojo
Bringing the Boogie to the Bitstream
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Michael Rubin
712 posts
Jan 07, 2013
7:13 PM
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My book, Meat and Potatoes Harmonica is $20 w shipping. If he mails me a check, I'll sent it out stat.
Michael Rubin
5412 Salem Hill Drive
Austin, TX 78745
But I like a lot of the above books as well!
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Philosofy
444 posts
Jan 07, 2013
7:38 PM
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Back in the '80's I had a book/cassette combo called Soodlum's Harp Workshop. It featured an Irish player named Don Baker, and was pretty informative.
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apskarp
610 posts
Jan 08, 2013
7:36 AM
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I comp Komuso... :)
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Hoodoo Sauna
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Shaganappi
5 posts
Jan 26, 2013
12:44 PM
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I generally detest Dummies books but I have read much of the newer book of Winslow Yerxa's "Blues Harmonica for Dummies", and have found a wealth of information of which I am amazed I have not picked up in other circles. Have also read the older "Harmonica for Dummies" book of which I liked but often found lacking (as it was not for Blues specifically although it DID have a better section on harp repair, etc. that the Blues version lacks).
In particular, I very much appreciated and was impressed with the detail per the tongue blocking, the different variants of the 12 bar blues structures, amplification, minor keys, and positional playing among a host of other items including the Chromatic. Far beyond the typical Dummies book IMO.
I do dislike the use of arrows for BOTH, blow and draw when only the blow arrow is needed as the draw would then be obvious. And dual Standard Music notation / Harp Tab is not required but more is generally better for players that are familiar with SM. Damn notation / nomenclature problems as usual. Rhythm CAN be totally incorporated in Harp Tab without Standard Notation.
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Aussiesucker
1246 posts
Jan 26, 2013
6:18 PM
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Big tick for 'Harmonica For Dummies'. Also 'Steve Bakers Harp Handbook'. And Adam had a DVD available titled 'Blues Harmonica Secrets' which comprised his earlier videos & it is excellent.
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HARPOLDIE’S YOUTUBE
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The Iceman
730 posts
Feb 07, 2013
6:47 AM
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I agree w/1847.
WARNING: this material, although it takes a long time to complete (took me almost a year) is most valuable in making you a musician that plays the harmonica.
btw, his Perfect Pitch course also works....however, you have to follow through, take your time and believe in it.
Put both courses together and you wouldn't believe how it opens up all the mysteries of music.
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The Iceman
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