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beginner forum: for novice and developing blues harp players >
I Remember Why Harmonica
I Remember Why Harmonica
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MindTheGap
1633 posts
May 21, 2016
9:47 AM
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Occasionally I wonder why I've put effort into this apparently daft, limited, rather frustrating instrument.
Today I had a reminder, as I've been sourcing and putting together a compact drum kit. Even with 2nd hand and budget kit I reckon it cost more than everything I've spent on harps and harp equipment. Plus I've worked hard to get the drums to fit in three cases - but they are heavy. My playing harp kit fits into one attache case.
For very little money, I can buy the same base instrument that professionals actually use. Amazing.
Shame about the missing notes though.
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Crawforde
116 posts
May 22, 2016
7:17 PM
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No missing notes on your chrome though :)
I get frustrated, listen to harmonica stuff I decide I don't like, bend a reed trying to retune, realize how poorly I play...
and then I hear something new or pull a harp out of the glove box when stuck in traffic and play something that just makes me feel good, and the addiction returns .
That or I have to deal with a violin and bow, or a trumpet and its valves, or an out of tune piano,...
Harmonicas are awesome.
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MindTheGap
1642 posts
May 22, 2016
11:41 PM
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Yes, it is possible that I might be ramping up to give the chromatic another go. Now that I've worked out a single-note blues style that I like.
Pros are:
- Having one instrument rather than many. Pleasing.
- Playing it as a 'proper' instrument i.e. being able to read conventional music to it, getting in touch with multiple scales etc.
- No missing notes.
Cons are:
- Lots of hard work! Obviously.
- No inspiration from chromatic records. As much as I try, and as much as I appreciate it technically, I don't really like the sound of chromatic harmonica music itself. I do like it amped, but the vast majority of amped blues playing is 3rd or 1st position vibe. And that's a grand total of four keys, two of which are unusual keys.
So I'd be ploughing a lonely furrow.
At least with the diatonic, I have the pull of harp recordings that I really dig, and that's a target, however difficult to reach. I'm not creative enough to go it alone.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on May 23, 2016 12:47 AM
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MindTheGap
1644 posts
May 23, 2016
12:28 AM
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...listing to all this brass lately, I've thought about simply switching to trumpet or cornet. I like the sound right off the bat, and it's a 'proper' instrument. Student models aren't fantastically expensive. Not like that bassoon.
But then there's the problem of volume and practising. I've seen the Yamaha 'Silent Brass' system, which might provide an answer. But I need to hear one in the flesh - to see how silent it really is!
Again, practice volume is where the harp comes up trumps. I can practice pretty much any time, but know that with an amp it can make a big sound.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on May 23, 2016 12:35 AM
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Killa_Hertz
1481 posts
May 23, 2016
5:17 AM
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The Harmonica Is Fantastic. I would NEVER give it up.
Having said that ..... The trumets sound is VERY cool. And very intriguing. I think if I could ever find one cheap enough I would give it a try. I mean it only has three buttons. How hard Could it Be? Lol. Says the man who thought the same of harmonica.
But seriously i would like to try one.
Saxaphone is awesome too, but obviously would take a whole nother life time to master. Im sticking with ym harp...... But I still toy with the other stuff.
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