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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Which choices
Which choices
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STME58
1661 posts
Apr 22, 2016
7:25 AM
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I really think harmonicas have come a long way, even in just the 10 years I have been playing. Most of the harps that retail starting at about 40 dollars ( Lee Oscar, SP 20, Manji, Golden Melody) are generally good players with good quality control. There are differences and experienced players may find they like one model over another, but I don't think any of these would impede your learning the harp. There are good harps below this price point but the quality gets more hit and miss as the price goes down. The Suzuki Folkmaster is pretty good for a $15 harp. You can get a lemon at any price point, but the likelihood goes down as the price goes up.ON the higher end, I like the Suzuki Firebreath, the Seydel 1847 Nobel and the Hohner Crossover.
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shakeylee
527 posts
Apr 22, 2016
7:47 AM
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I think any harmonica over $25 is fine for a beginner .
I don't even think the brand matters that much : hohner ,Suzuki ,seydel,tombo etc.
My top three choices for a beginner:
Suzuki harp master
Hohner special 20
Bushman delta frost
Seydel session
If money is tight ,try a hohner blue midnight .
Rockin Ron's is a great source .
Personally ,I wouldn't buy three C's . I would buy C,D,A ,then G or Bb.
Suzuki harp masters and bushman delta frosts are a lot of bang for the buck !
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www.shakeylee.com
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www.shakeylee.com
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Killa_Hertz
1142 posts
Apr 22, 2016
8:12 AM
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For Harps I would say
1) Seydel Session Steel
2)Special 20
3)Marine Band Deluxe or Crossover
Another choice would be a Lee Oskar. Maybe even a set of G,A,C.
Shakey Lee I respectfully disagree with the Delta Frost. I recently bought one after a long time of being curious about them. It was without question the absolute WORST OOTB harmonica I have ever played. It was a nightmare. Now maybe I just got unlucky, but it took alot of work to even get the reeds to play at a mediocre level. I do like the shape and feel of the harp. But other than that, its garbage. Now this is just my opinion and my experience. But .. for what its worth.
Lessons
On DVD you can get Jerry Portnoy's Lessons. They are pretty great.
Click Here For Jerry Portnoy Lessons From Amazon.com
I use Adam's Downloadable Tradebit Videos from this site. You can download them to your phone and play them offline. And you can buy them one at a time so they are not as big a price hit. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THESE. Priceless. Look at the previews before buying. You can see the song before hand. The beginner Lesson is supposed to be excellent, I never got that one so i couldn't tell you. But at the price you cant go wrong.
Also check out Ronnie Shellists downloadable videos @ harmonica123.com They are also really great videos.
Other than that I pretty much used youtube at the beginning. Try the FunkyHarp youtube channel. There are many others, but this and Jon Gindicks videos helped me out Greatly.
Good Luck
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STME58
1662 posts
Apr 22, 2016
8:19 AM
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Killa, I think you may have gotten a lemon on the Delta Frost. I only have one, but it was a good player out if the box and when I broke a reed and bought a set of replacement plates, those worked well without adjustment and still do. I will admit that samples of one or two are not of much use in determining the state of things produced in the thousands.
Last Edited by STME58 on Apr 22, 2016 8:20 AM
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Killa_Hertz
1144 posts
Apr 22, 2016
9:48 AM
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Yea. Thats very true. I only have one. And the reason i bought one was because of all the good things i heard about them. But it really burned my ass, how BAD this harp was. So ... i agree it may be a lemon. And probably is, but burn me once Shame on you .... i doubt I'll buy another one.
Plus they have bronze reeds. Which I feel are a bit harder to play. (Althouhht they do have a really unique and sweet sound. The manji is the same way. )
So for a player already frustrated and on the last attempt at learning, i think this may not be the harp for him. But hey that's just my 2 cents.
Idk. Maybe after i have played this a bit and the pain of the burn goes away, i might just try another one.
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Jim Rumbaugh
1204 posts
Apr 22, 2016
11:09 AM
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About Delta Frost
I have LOVED them for years. I have always said they are just as good as a Bluesmaster or SP20. I still have 1 or 2 in my set of playing harps. BUT, I have been reluctant to post about the last 2 I bought a few months ago, a C and a G. They just don't seem the same as the old ones. I am not using either harp, I went back to the harps I was trying to replace. I was hoping they were just 2 "lemons", but when I hear another gripe, I think maybe things have changed.
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theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
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snowman
190 posts
Apr 22, 2016
5:04 PM
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I really hope u don't get hering---Its my believe the metal used is inferior and wears out soon---
Lee Oscar last forever and I think theregreat beginner harps ---easy to get new reedplates, covers, etc --
Personally I wouldn't recommend spending too much --in the beginning u tend to wear them out------hohner special 20 good as well-
I agree with "killer"on the Jerry Portnoire deal--- I have his 3 cd and book version---It helped de-mistify what good blues players where doing--explains octave splits---tongue slaps---syncopating chords ---back beats everything ---My playing jumped up a notch thanks to [J portnoire-]
If yr gonna do a lot of Neil Young -Bob Dylanmnntype stuff you'll need a G harp as well
have fun while yr learning
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nacoran
9037 posts
Apr 22, 2016
10:51 PM
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When I was buying my first sets worth of harps piecemeal I tried to figure out a list of different traits that I wanted to try and pick and choose harps in a fashion that let me try as many variations as I could with the fewest purchases. It's not perfect, but it's not a bad way to figure out what you like in a harp. Here is, as best as I can remember, the different categories I've used-
Brand- There are several serious brands. Hohner, Tombo (Lee Oskar), Suzuki, Seydel, and Hering. I've tried all of them except Hering. There have been a couple others along the way- Bends went out of business, and some people are starting to talk about Easttop out of China. At one point Huang was supposedly a serious instrument too. I've had good harps from the four serious brands I've tried. On any given day I'll prefer the Lee Oskar or the Seydels.
Cover shape- You've got the traditional tin sandwich models like the Sp20 and the Marine Band, Lee Oskars and a bunch of other harps. The cover goes down and then bends where it's screwed to the comb. Alternatively, there are the jelly bean shaped harps like the Golden Melody (Hering has a jelly bean model too, but I don't remember its name off the top of my head). Tin sandwiches poke my hands in an uncomfortable way (although some are better at rounding corners off). I thought I'd like the jelly beans shape. I didn't, but a lot of that is just how it fits in your particular hands. I prefer, instead, the full length covers. Hohner has the Meisterklasse, which I haven't tried, with full length covers. Seydel and Suzuki seem to both have a bunch of full length cover models. Huang does to. I got a used Huang on the internet and it was easily the most comfortable harmonica to hold that I have ever picked up. It sounded terrible. That might be because it was used though. Turboharp sells great aftermarket covers called Turbolids. They sound nice and snap on and off without tools. They only fit Sp20s, I think, and don't fit with custom combs. They also don't fit in most harp cases as easily. They are nice though, and very comfortable to play. Crud doesn't build up on the covers, which are a high grade plastic (not cheap plastic like Hohner Piedmonts).
Recessed or protruding reed plates. Does your lip touch the reed plate or is it covered by the comb or cover? When I first started playing I had a Hohner Blues Harp. It tore my lip up to the point where I didn't practice. It sat in a drawer. It was just dumb luck I got back into playing a few years later. Some models of protruding reed plates have sharp corners. One of the reasons I'm particularly fond of Seydels is they seem to do a better job rounding corners. It's something you can do yourself after market, but it's something I think that should be done at the factory. Marine Bands, Golden Melodies, Blues Harps, etc. have protruding plates. Some people argue that protruding reed plates play better though. I've got a Seydel with protruding reed plates that I love. I can't say I've been happy with the reed plate corners on any protruding reed plate from Hohner.
Comb Material- I don't hear the difference. Some people swear they do. Unsealed wood swells and gets rough, but properly sealed wood is fine. I've played some custom combs and they are all an upgrade from the standard comb. If money wasn't an issue I might go with metal combs. Something about the weight in your hands makes them feel more real. I swear they add some momentum when you are doing slides. Plastic works fine though and is a huge step up from untreated wood combs! If I hadn't bought a harmonica with a plastic comb the second time I tried to learn harp I wouldn't have kept at it. If it's uncomfortable to practice you won't practice.
Rounded tines are great. Some harps have tines that stick out a little. They are surprisingly comfortable!
Side vents. I can hear the difference, but I pretty much cover them the way I hold a harp anyway. Mostly open or mostly closed backs, I think I can hear the difference, but I still can't decide which I prefer.
Temperament. You can have a harp that is tuned so that the chords sound smooth or you can have a harp that has melodies that sound 100% in tune. You can have something in the middle but you can't have 100% of both on the same harp. Different harps tune a few cents sharp or flat on different notes to solve a problem with physics. I prefer slightly more melody based harps, but it varies from tune to tune. For lower harps I lean more towards having good chords. For higher harps I lean more towards clear melody.
And that's probably an overwhelming list, but you can knock off a few different checks with just a couple models. You could grab a Seydel Blues Favorite and tick off a metal comb, full length covers and protruding reed plates. Pick up a Golden Melody to get a Equal Tuned harmonica (sounds better on melodies than chords). That gives you a jelly bean. Then grab a Special 20 or a Lee Oskar. They have fairly closed backs and plastic recessed combs. If a fourth harp was in the mix grab a Marine Band of some sort. They are the classic.
So much of this is taste. The way I approached it was to not depend so much on someone else's opinions but to try to get as many of my own opinions with the fewest number of purchases. For me, that means Lee Oskars give the best bang for the buck (followed closely by the Sp20) and Seydels are my 'you just won the lottery' harps. But everyone's taste is going to very.
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Nate
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SuperBee
3637 posts
Apr 23, 2016
4:16 PM
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Because I've read your posts over the last 6 months, I know you already have a bunch of great harps, crossovers, manjis, sp20s.
Harps you can buy 'off the rack' don't get better than that. Yes, there is some variation but you can't do anything about that. That's how it is.
I also know you've been monkeying with your harps. That's ok up to a point, but if you don't know why you are interfering with the harp, if you don't have a reference for what you are trying to achieve, it's a dangerous game.
I also know you have hearing problems and can't hear the high notes, thus favour the low harps.
And you are frustrated because you can't play music which matches the music you imagine playing.
What I am gonna tell you now is in good faith and well intended.
It isn't a question of 'which harp'.
If you really can't get out of your mind the concern that the harp is holding you back, buy a custom from a reputable builder and put that thought to rest. Then you can get on with learning to play.
I also know you began playing about 6 months ago.
That is no time. It takes a long time to learn to play fluently. Dedicated effort. Maybe not for everyone but I don't know anyone who ever came close in that time to playing the music of their imagination.
Generally, disappointment is normal. Did you think harmonica was going to be easy? Many I believe take up harmonica rather than another instrument because they think it's gonna be instinctive, they won't have to make an effort, you just blow and music comes out.
Like a piano, just hit the key...
I'm not saying harmonica is not easy...it is easy. But it takes time and dedication to learn to play and correlate the music in your imagination with sounds in the physical world.
I've been at it 20 years and still can't play worth a damn. And that's not even counting the first ten years I spent thinking it might happen by magic.
I can't recommend a DVD for you, because I don't know of any. I'd have to search, and you can do that as easily as me. But there are almost too many sources of information about music and how to play harmonica.
Possibly, for a person who wants to play melodies, 'modern blues harmonica' may not be right up your alley...
The best I can think of right now may be some of Jon Gindick's work. Maybe 'harmonicana americana' or 'bluesify your melody'. They're books of course. Probably with CDs. Pretty sure Jon has videos but I don't know much about that.
All the best, stop fretting about your harps and try to enjoy the process because that's all there is.
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Killa_Hertz
1159 posts
Apr 23, 2016
7:50 PM
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Does anyone ever play the music of their imagination? Lol. (I know what you ment by it, but you kno im just being facetious) The better i get the further away that star gets. Because the higher the bar is set.
Dedication was the most important word of Bees post. Just waiting for time to pass so that you can say you ve been playing for x amount of years, isn't going to do anything. Gotta put that time in. Crazy time.
I thought harmonica would be easy. I'm not gonna lie. That's not WHY i decided to play it.... not at all, but... boy was i wrong. Bee says it IS easy .. and i know compared to other instruments it probably is, but it's a whole lot harder than i ever thought. Well let me rephrase that. It's a whole lot more involved that i would have ever imagined. More techniques, positions, scales, skills learned over years and years ... than i ever would have thought. But if you dedicate yourself to learning it ... you will make progress relatively quickly. But don't think about it, just keep learning and before you know it you'll be there.
Just pick a harp and stick to it for a while. Everyone goes throught the "which harp us best" thing. ... im still bouncing around. But atleast for the beginning until you get rolling ... just pick one.
Try Adams beginner tradebit lesson
Good luck.
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SuperBee
3638 posts
Apr 23, 2016
8:21 PM
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When I say it's easy, I don't mean quick. It's important I think, not to get into the thought pattern that it's difficult. The 'I can't do it, it's too difficult' self-fulfilling mindset. It's easy. You breath in and out. And move bits of your body. You find patterns, you breath with more or less force, move your body in different ways. Nothing difficult there, but it takes time to acquire some of the skills.
that scalar exercise STME58 was advocating a few weeks ago...that sort of thing would probably be good for a person interested in playing melody.
It's kinda like getting old....if you stick at living long enough it will happen but you do have to remember to breath and eat etc regularly or you'll never get there
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timeistight
1994 posts
Apr 23, 2016
9:43 PM
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"So far it seems all I want to play are melodies!"
Have you considered getting a hromatic harmonica? The chromatic has a lot of advantages over the diatonic as a melody instrument.
"I've tried instructional books but am having a hard time getting inspired."
Come to SPAH! There's nothing more inspiring than a hotel full of harmonica players playing all genres of music.
Last Edited by timeistight on Apr 23, 2016 9:46 PM
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MindTheGap
1526 posts
Apr 26, 2016
1:56 AM
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If I wanted to play melodies I'd definitely, definitely go for a chromatic. They are supposed to be harder than a diatonic, and they are in the sense that you can't just pick it up and breath in and out and get something that resembles music, or fits while playing along to something.
But in another sense they are easier. My experience is that there are all the notes right there, you learn them and play them and it simply sounds like a chromatic harmonica right off the bat. Bish, bash, bosh.
Whereas with a diatonic, I had learn all kinds of mysterious techniques just to stop it sounding like a toy (bending, TB, splits, wahs, chords, slaps, pulls, vibrato, dips...). And then if you want to play melodies you have to get into the complexities of different positions, possibly learn to overblow and have excellent control of the bends. Even then the results, even from excellent players, can be...mixed... (there it is, don't shoot me). So what hope for someone starting out?
And if you start overblowing, then you need to look at customising for overblows, either yourself or paying someone to do it.
When I got my chromatic, with in a few hours I was playing melodies that sounded way better than I could play them on a diatonic. However, I'm not really interested in melodies so I've not taken it much further. I'm hung up on the blues harp rhythm and groove thing.
There's a thread running here 'chromatic newbie' discussing starting options. I bought a 12-hole chromatic from an MBH member, not a particularly expensive one, and it just works. For what I want to do, single note melodies and no pyrotechnics, I've worked out that I only really need a 10-holer.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Apr 26, 2016 3:15 AM
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STME58
1664 posts
Apr 26, 2016
7:13 AM
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MindTheGap gave a pretty good summary of why a chromatic is good for melodies. I pretty much agree but I would like to add this in favor of the diatonic as a melodymaker. Many melodies are in a major and are easier to pick out on a diatonic as it only has the notes of the key you are in. Many melodies start on the fifth and end on the root so on a diatonic the start on blow six and end on blow 7 or blow 4. Once you learn this and learn to tell what note the melody starts on, picking out melodies is very easy. Some of you may have noted that what I just said is true of the chromatic also, and it is. Major melodies in the key of the chromatic harp are easy to play with no button pushes. The difference is in transposition. On the diatonic if someone says, I would like to sing along with that melody, can you do it in Ab? You just grab an Ab harp and go. Transposing on a chrome requires quite a bit more understanding of how music works (or you could buy a chrome in each key :-)). Actually both instruments will teach you a lot about how music works and how the scales relate to each other but in different ways. With a diatonic you will learn things like, you play D minor on an F harp and the tomic is draw 6. On the chrome you learn F minor has two sharps, F and C. On any instrument mastering scales is the key to being able to pick out melodies. Mastering scales in all keys is a bit different on a chrom than on a diatonic.
Last Edited by STME58 on Apr 26, 2016 7:14 AM
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MindTheGap
1527 posts
Apr 26, 2016
7:53 AM
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removed for dullness.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Apr 26, 2016 8:26 AM
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MindTheGap
1528 posts
Apr 26, 2016
8:09 AM
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I agree, there are pros and cons.
In the OP, NBD was suggesting buying three C harps and sticking to those with some online lessons. That would make sense if he wanted to learn blues harp - that's going with the grain.
But if he wants to play melodies, which emerged later, he's not going to find that in the lessons mentioned.
What I'm thinking is that with a chromatic, he can tap into other 'non-blues-harp' lesson materials. And when he wants to go beyond some basic melodies, he won't be frustrated with the missing notes.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Apr 26, 2016 8:28 AM
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RyanMortos
1554 posts
Apr 26, 2016
11:14 AM
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NBD, really think lessons with someone like Michael Rubin, who can teach you all the scales on the harmonica and how the notes to relate to different chords, would help you a ton.
It would be a really good process either way to play C major in all 3 octaves on your C diatonic to get used to where the notes are and the layout. Then maybe take some melody like 'Oh, Suzannah' and play that in all 3 octaves.
Depending on the melody you may have to figure it out for yourself. Find a recording, press play, hear the first note, find it on the harmonica, write it down, for every note until the melody is over. The best part is the more melodies you do this with the faster the process (really slow at first :( ). If the melody is a classical or traditional song you might be able to find sheet music available for it which would mean all you'd need to know is where the notes are on the instrument to play them.
If you're not bending or overblow/draw notes and you're using a single diatonic you may run into notes that you can't find on the instrument. That's where a chromatic might come in handy it's a 3 (or 4) octave instrument in which all the notes are in each octave, no bending required, by pushing a button (or not).
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~Ryan
See My Profile for contact info, etc.
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MindTheGap
1529 posts
Apr 27, 2016
12:31 AM
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Sorry, NBD! Noted.
In know this is diatonic-oriented forum, and some people can do amazing things filling in the missing notes on the harp (not me). And many melodies sound fantastic when they lay out nicely on the harp - take Grey Owl's current 'oblivion' as an example.
But is it heresy to say that if a beginner wants to play melodies, it might be best to look at a chromatic first? Isn't that more conventional advice?
Taking 'oblivion' as a concrete example, he (and I'm pretty sure Grey Owl is a bloke :)) has to do a lot of skillfull bending control to get those 'missing' notes on a diatonic. That can take years to develop. And that means years when a person can't actually play that melody nicely, or has to miss notes out or substitute others. Then you've got overbends, again more playing skill and possibly harp customising too.
I'm not saying that people shouldn't strive to play melodies on the harp, but I wonder if it's best collective advice to a beginner.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Apr 27, 2016 12:45 AM
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Grey Owl
723 posts
Apr 27, 2016
1:41 AM
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Following on from MTG's comments concerning 'missing notes on a diatonic' this has been on my mind just recently.
I’ve been a lifelong 2nd position player, starting with the blues then using that position for everything else. I pretty much skipped 1st position altogether. It is only in the last few years I have added 3rd, 5th, 12th and 1st. This forum has opened my eyes to these possibilities.
The trouble is I have always favoured low octave playing and that often involves playing lots of bends.
While they work well in Blues etc., where you’re scooping bends or playing them in passing, they stand out like a sore thumb both tonally and intonation wise if you don’t hit them right (this is a constant challenge for anyone) For instance you can be playing blow and draw notes quite happily and then you have to hit a double draw bend on 3 and maybe have to hold it on the end of a phrase and it can just sound wrong (although as harp players we make allowances understanding the difficulties.)
Having invested so much time practicing bends it almost feels like cheating to use an altered tuning but I’m beginning to think it maybe more musically pleasing when playing melodies.
To that end I’ve started to tune some of my spare harps to Paddy Richter tuning where I remove metal at the free end of blow 3 reed to tune it up a whole step which gives the same note as the double draw bend on 3 (so saves bending) and you still have 2 draw so you don’t miss the old blow 3 note. I’ve also tuned one of my harps to Melody Maker which is the same as above + remove metal at the free end of the draw 5 reed to raise it by a semitone.
I have practiced with these and they feel and sound good but I haven’t performed with them as yet.
I would add that these simple altered tuning's will not eliminate the need for bends on everything, but they will work for lots of melodies.
So in summary it may seem 'clever' to play those 'missing notes' with bends but the question is does it serve the music best?
EDIT to add You don't need to do this tuning work yourself of course as you can but Lee Oskar Melody Maker and Seydel Session Paddy Richter Harmonicas.
MTG's chromatic option is good (having every possible note available)but I prefer the tone and comfort of a diatonic myself.
YouTube
Last Edited by Grey Owl on Apr 27, 2016 2:07 AM
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MindTheGap
1532 posts
Apr 27, 2016
2:07 AM
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Grey Owl - this exemplifies exactly what I'm trying to get at. If your goal is to play melodies on a diatonic harp, then great, and there's a load of tricks you can do: low-end bends, OBs, learning different positions for particular melodies, altered tunings. You'll learn about the weird world of tunings, diatonic positions and modes, intonation. And you'll wind up spending at least some Sundays, not practising music, but sanding brass with an emery board! Plus you'll end up with more harps coming through the post than your family think is healthy.
But instead, if your goal is to play melodies with friends then the chromatic just works! You'll learn how to read conventional music notation, about keys and sharps and flats and scales. You'll have one chromatic, and then maybe splash out on a more expensive one on a major birthday. Your family will be pleased because they'll have a significant birthday present idea.
"I can't come done the pub tonight, I've got to sand some brass with an emery board, sorry"
I do agree that the diatonic sounds better though. I like the expressive bends.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Apr 27, 2016 2:17 AM
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Grey Owl
724 posts
Apr 27, 2016
2:20 AM
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MTG I edited the end of my post as you were writing yours. Yes I agree the Chromatic harmonica is a 'real' instrument. We can't really expect the diatonic to do everything, it wasn't designed for it and I'm constantly amazed at how it's evolved to be able to do the amazing things it's capable of. So why not learn to play them both and select whats musically more pleasing in the circumstances.
YouTube
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MindTheGap
1533 posts
Apr 27, 2016
2:45 AM
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Yes indeed. Maybe a good choice then would be to buy one C diatonic and one C chromatic. Then NBD can enjoy playing some melodies on the simpler diatonic, while also exploring tunes in C on the chromatic.
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SuperBee
3646 posts
Apr 27, 2016
2:55 AM
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not to alter the general trend of discussion...but 'sand brass with an emery board' cant sit unremarked
use a file, a scraper, a sanding wand...a rotary tool if you must...but an emery board is less suitable than any of those...also...it takes a very short time to alter pitch of a 3 blow a whole step up, and even less to raise 5 draw a semitone...you'll be finished before its time for the next round. very weak excuse to cry off buying a round
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MindTheGap
1534 posts
Apr 27, 2016
3:30 AM
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Thanks SuperBee :) I was more trying to get across that a person might end up doing some strange activity (filing, scraping brass) that they didn't bank on when starting with the aim of playing some melodies.
But it's good to be correct about the detail. So picking a better scenario :) ...
"I can't come down the pub because I have to wait in for the delivery of my new harp. It's my 131st you know. I'm going to tune it to the special Miles Davis 'So What' tuning..."
vs
"I've been playing Miles Davis 'So What' on my chromatic, sure I'll see you in the pub in half an hour"
(ref 'So What' tuning: http://www.overblow.com/?menuid=26#174)
(Disclaimer: I've never played along to 'So What' on either type of harmonica, I'm going to have to try it now).
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Apr 27, 2016 3:50 AM
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SuperBee
3647 posts
Apr 27, 2016
5:04 AM
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think it is dorian mode?
i guess you could make a special harp for each song...all this talk of melodies had me playing a few oldies tonight...its been a long time since i played the flintstones theme...until tonight that is...and 2 versions of waltzing matilda...which is deemed too subversive to be our national anthem...offensive to the interests of capital...i think i like the rollicking 'queensland version' better after all...no special harps required for these, and good practice for aspiring tongue blockers. lots of slaps etc...
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Goldbrick
1407 posts
Apr 27, 2016
6:15 AM
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I never thought I would be saying this--but if you wanna play melodies- get a chromatic is right
I have never had an interest in playing melodies on a diatonic-- I would use 1st position on the four chord but thats it - hard core first 6 hole 2nd position = blues only player-- thats me. Because I love the sound
Now-- I recently picked up a cheap chromatic and I havent touched a diatonic in the 2 weeks I have had it. All of the simple melodies are right there
It is layed out logically and the note freakin sounds like the note its supposed to be.
It has also made me think more melodically in my guitar playing-- a bonus there
Swan 1040 best $26 dollars I ever spent ( except for that bag of Panamas finest in 1976) but I digress
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RyanMortos
1557 posts
Apr 27, 2016
7:10 AM
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I think it would be non difficult to teach a beginner to play melodies on diatonic harmonica even if they owned only a C harmonica. Seems on every instrument I bought the first thing I learned was a few melodies. There's some plethora of melodies that can be played in 2nd and 3rd octaves without bends. I think a beginner could learn a good 24-36 melodies in all 3 octaves on the diatonic in the first year. If NBD had access to Skype she can contact me off list I'd be interested in trying, lol. I'm for learning on chromatic too I'm just saying it's not impossible to spend a year learning the diatonic instrument that way.
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~Ryan
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Last Edited by RyanMortos on Apr 27, 2016 7:20 AM
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timeistight
1995 posts
Apr 27, 2016
8:49 AM
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Sorry, STME58, but I think you made a typo when you wrote "On the chrome you learn F minor has two sharps, F and C." F minor has four flats, not two sharps. Two sharps is actually B minor.
Maybe you got your relative majors and minors confused.
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Blind Melon
63 posts
Apr 27, 2016
4:17 PM
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For harps, it is a matter of personal preference. I do not like wood combs so I use Special 20's. But any mid-priced harp would be a good choice.
If your goal is to play blues harmonica, then in regards to instruction, I will second (or third?) the recommendation to get Jerry Portnoy's Masterclass CD/Book. I noodled on and off for a long time. But I ended up having many "Aha" moments working through his CD. That is how I learned to bend notes and to tongue block. You also learn the basics of the blues structure. A lot of techniques you need to actually PLAY the harmonica are taught.
Next, I would then check out Adam's videos and learn how to play the more basic songs. I recommend buying both the tabs and the videos.
Once you get the basic techniques down and learn a few songs, I would try to learn some basic music theory. I do not think it is necessary for 12 bar blues, but will help you understand WHAT you are doing and why. There is a lot of stuff online that you can search for.
Just my humble thoughts.
Last Edited by Blind Melon on Apr 27, 2016 4:24 PM
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STME58
1667 posts
Apr 28, 2016
7:03 AM
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timeistight, as you can see I don't use a chrome much so I got that wrong! :-)
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