outdoor joe
1 post
Jan 31, 2017
5:55 PM
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Greetings MBHers!
My wife bought me a Harp for my birthday last month & I am just now picking it up! I was a bit intimidated for a couple weeks, but I am having a blast now!!
I have been watching two Channels on YouTube for the past couple weeks and things are progressing. In my notepad I have jotted down the tabs for Twinkle Twinkle, Oh Susana, Jingle Bells, Low Rider & some little bluesy licks that I have been trying to master.
My wife is regretting the purchase, LOL.
Right now I have come to understand the most important thing I can do right now is practice practice practice, and I am doing so by playing real easy songs and trying to master being able to play one note at a time - correct me if I am wrong, please.
I guess the endgame as of now is to have a decent size playlist under my belt & jam with some buddies & have my harps keep me company whilst I am oot and aboot.
If you have any suggestions on the very beginning portion of learning to play this instrument, please let me know.
The two Channels I frequent on YouTube are:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2gCsuzCydY8nxkIX6T3L6g
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyUvGKht2YVWHOd5nGwlU_w
I should be a frequent 'face' on this forum as I have spare time at my place of work to surf the web & I hope to connect with all of you! Watch out for my future audioclips when I get some more weeks put into this thing!
joe
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MindTheGap
2083 posts
Feb 01, 2017
4:05 AM
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Hello Joe and welcome to this weird and wonderful world.
Sounds like you're doing the right thing. Of those channels you mention, I particularly like Tom Leckie's.
This being Adam's site we must point you in the direction of his teachings materials - he has many, many free video on his channel plus paid-for materials.
The free vids are a great mix of fundamental techniques, thoughts, insights into culture and history. The paid-for vids are more structured lessons on particular songs on styles.
Do you know what kind of music you are aiming at playing? Myself it was amped 'electric' blues harp.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Feb 01, 2017 4:07 AM
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Killa_Hertz
2161 posts
Feb 01, 2017
10:00 AM
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Welcome Outdoor Joe. Man I remember exactly what it was like being where your at. Mostly because it wasn't that long ago ... lol. Theres SO MUCH information out there, it can be a little overwhelming.
Also, trying to weed through whats Gold and whats BS can be tricky.
I would say your on the right track. Try to learn where the notes are and how they sound. How to navigate the harp. How to obtain clear single notes. Simple melodies are good for all of these things.
I have put together a few good sources for people in your position. Check out the thread labeled "Raw Beginner" Funky Harp is a great channel for you to follow from lesson 1 - 20 will get you pretty up to speed on all things harp.
Jon Gindick is also great.
Another HUGE piece of advice. Listen to music. Whichever music you aspire to play. If it's blues, that get some music that speaks to you and is relatively not very complex. Like Sonny Boy2, Junior Wells, Lazy Lester, etc. Listen to it constantly and it will greatly help you learn the language of the blues harmonica.
Gotta run. Hope this helps.
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outdoor joe
3 posts
Feb 01, 2017
1:32 PM
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@MTG & Killa,
Thanks for the words guys!
My favorite genera of music is Classic Rock, so I will be learning to cover many songs from the likes of Neil Young & Tom Petty, etc.
I have been watching a lot of Sonny Boy & Little Walter as of late and really getting into Bluesy stuff. They are so fun to watch too!
Time flies and I have been practicing everyday so soon enough it'll have been 1 year, 5 years, 10 years jamming out. Life is good.
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workin' on mysteries without any clues
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Killa_Hertz
2162 posts
Feb 01, 2017
2:58 PM
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Im a Rock Kid too. Before picking up the harp, I was a big Howlin Wolf fan. And i knew Sonny Boys "Help Me" and Jr. Wells "Hoodoo man blues". (They were all big inspirations for wanting to pick up the harp.) But other than that I listened mostly to classic rock and 90's rock. Im a gen x kid so it was all Sabbath, Zepplin, Soundgarden, old punk stuff like Dead Kennedys, etc.
I didn't really know how deep down the Blues rabbit hole i was about to go...lol. But im sure glad i did. New music is garbage and ive played the good old rock tunes to death. Its opened up a while new work of music to tap into. Pretty great.
Anyways the point is. If your not dead set on a music type to go for, just play it by ear. (No pun intended ) and go after what you like.
I know this is a bit blasphemous here on a harp forum, but i would pick probably a Dozen artist that i prefer to listen to over Little Walter. Little Walter is great and all, but i just don't connect with him the same way as i do some other artist. The reason i say this is ..... don't force it. Just because someone else says they are the end all be all ... if your not feelin it ... move on.
I think especially at the beginning stages, the more simple players like Sonny Boy2, etc. Really are more relatable.
Anyways, have fun man. Check out that thread i told you about. Gindick and funky harp will get you in the right page and rolling pretty good. And keep in touch here if you have any issues.
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outdoor joe
4 posts
Feb 01, 2017
4:59 PM
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^
I am just recently getting into Blues & I have been jonesing to Classic Rock 60s/70s stuff my whole life. Since I have just started listening to this genera I have been listening to alot of who I see people talk about online. SBW is just a funny guy and I really enjoy watching him play live on YT.
Thanks for the sentiment bud I will cya round!
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workin' on mysteries without any clues
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ME.HarpDoc
224 posts
Feb 02, 2017
5:57 PM
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Hi OJ!
For some classic rock with a lot of harp, some simple-some complex, here are some groups to listen to (you don't have to match the harp work at this stage but I will list one simple one). Follow Killa's advice and listen then try to ID the notes/holes.
What key is your harp? You may already have found that harps come in different keys and for them to sound right you need to know in which key the music is playing (I use an app on my phone called "Key Detect" to identify the music key, then choose the correct harp (that's another whole discussion).
Anyway here's some rock groups to listen to:
Canned Heat- many of their tunes have harmonica
The Animals- Some harp but just great music where harp could fit in
J.Giles- Outstanding harp player in band member, Magic Dick (Their tune 'Whammer Jammer" is more than most of us beginners can handle but it's an inspiration!)
The Yardbirds-Listen to how lead vocals can jump between vocals and harp.
George Thorogood- "Bad to the Bone" actually has the same beat/pattern as "I'm a Man" done by Bo Diddly, Muddy Waters (Under then title Mannish Boy" and The Yardbirds. Thorogood does'n have harp but listen to the other ones and you'll see a simple harp riff that you could get pretty easily.
Welcome and enjoy this forum.
P.S. To avoid unnecessary speculation, my forum name comes because I'm from Maine and I'm a retired dentist.
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outdoor joe
8 posts
Feb 02, 2017
6:38 PM
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Hey doc and thanks for dropping in!!
My only harp right now is in C. I do plan on getting another harp in G to play some Neil Young jams and maybe some more when I get more skilled.
I have heard of a few of those bands and I love me some George Thorogood! I drink alone aswell :P
joe
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Glass Harp Full
165 posts
Feb 03, 2017
1:44 AM
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Hi Outdoor Joe and welcome to the forum!
I'm a Neil Young fan too. A G harp is definitely a good choice if you want to play his songs and will also come in handy for other classic rock stuff. Tom Petty's "Mary Jane's Last Dance " uses a G harp for example.
If you don't already know about him, Liam Ward has a number of YouTube videos on Neil Young songs which are suitable for beginners. I found his one on "Heart of Gold" to be especially good. I love the blues but I have a real soft spot for 1970s country rock and some of Neil's songs are great examples of the genre.
Good luck with it all and let us how you go.
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outdoor joe
9 posts
Feb 03, 2017
7:39 AM
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FGH,
Thanks for the tip on YT videos.
I actually got to see Neil Young live last year...SUPER good still at age like 70. I hope to see Tom play this year on his upcoming tour in April, fingers crossed!
Keep an eye out for my classic rock covers in a few months after I get down the basics :P
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2chops
563 posts
Feb 03, 2017
9:08 AM
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Hey Joe! Where you goin' with that harp in your hand?
Welcome aboard. I'm surprised no one else thought to paraphrase that line. Enjoy your journey.
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I'm workin on it. I'm workin on it.
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outdoor joe
10 posts
Feb 03, 2017
11:58 AM
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@2chops
I laughed SUPER hard at that, thanks! That line didn't really come across my mind until now, LOL.
I appreciate the greetings, hope to see you around!
joe
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