krf4223
1 post
Mar 17, 2015
12:31 PM
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I am new at the harmonica and music making in general. I have pretty much grasped the concept of first position, however now that I am moving on to second position I am quite confused. Do you guys have any tips or resources for even the most novice harmonica player?
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isaacullah
2958 posts
Mar 17, 2015
12:41 PM
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A good place to start is right here on Adam's site! He's got a lot of material in his Beginners section (http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/beginning_harmonica.html). I'd start with some of his lessons, and DEFINITELY buy Winslow Yerxa's book, "Harmonica for Dummies". You really can't go wrong with that book as a place to start.
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YouTube! Soundcloud!
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Popculture Chameleon
44 posts
Mar 17, 2015
7:50 PM
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listen to plenty of the old time great harp players. but for doing other positions listening to Muddy Watters would be a good start he always had harmonica playing in the background in the bulk of his songs. Muddy was famous for his blues music and always had a great harp player in the backing tracks
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Scotty16
9 posts
Mar 18, 2015
1:22 AM
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hi I have been playing for a year or so and John Gindick books are great also ben hewlet harmonica course is good as well it gives you books of riffs to learn. the main thing is to practice but the best person so look a is the person who inspired me which is Dan gage 12gagedan is his channel on youtube.
I hope this helps
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Glass Harp Full
7 posts
Mar 18, 2015
4:15 AM
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Hi,
I'm just starting out too (actually re-starting after a long time of not playing at all) and so far I've found "Harmonica for Dummies" as well as the "Progressive Harmonica Method" books useful.
The book I first learnt with was called "Learn to Play Harmonica 10 Easy Lessons" by William Lee Johnson. It has clear instructions and explanations, and an easy to follow notation system if you don't read music. I'm not sure if it's still around but I would recommend it if you can find it.
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shakeylee
165 posts
Mar 18, 2015
2:10 PM
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i would suggest meeting and playing with fellow harp players/blues musicians. if you are near philly,feel free to contact me.
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www.shakeylee.com
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jhallc
12 posts
Mar 18, 2015
2:27 PM
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Congratulations...You have many enjoyable times ahead. All of what folks have said above about resources on this site and youTube. My advice is to listen to as much blues as you can, learn the 12 bars until you can hum it in your sleep and practice, practice practice. I still remember that moment when the notes finally bent and it all came together while playing with some guitar friends of mine (there might have been some inhaling involved? but I'm not sayin').
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Lmbrjak
255 posts
Mar 18, 2015
7:52 PM
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the forum search feature will take you to past discussions on just about any thing you can think of. Just type in second position and you will find lots of information. Put your cursor on "Blues harp forum" and a box will appear.
Last Edited by Lmbrjak on Mar 18, 2015 7:55 PM
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marine1896
6 posts
Mar 20, 2015
4:37 AM
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Be prepared to spend hour upon hour upon hour learning from the old masters recordings...nothing else counts as much...if its Blues your into!!!
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KingoBad
1624 posts
Mar 20, 2015
5:45 AM
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I would get Gindick's Rock n Blues Harmonica book with the cd. It will get you through the basics of second position, and get you started with the ability to play some great basic licks.
Also, find any chance you can get to take a seminar or lesson with someone very good - in person. You need to hear and feel exactly what the harp can do, and be able to ask some questions.
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Danny
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timeistight
1728 posts
Mar 20, 2015
7:51 AM
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When you play in first position, you get all the notes of the major scale -- do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do -- without bending (in the middle of the harp) and do, the tonic or home note of the scale, is at 1 blow, 4 blow, 7 blow and 10 blow.
When you play in other positions you use different notes as "do". In second position, do is 2 draw, 3 blow, 6 blow and 9 blow. You still get most of the notes of a major scale (do, re, mi, fa, so and la) without bends plus you get a new note, "te", that's very useful in blues, jazz and folk music.
Lee Oskar has a page explaining second position in a somewhat different way if you need more: http://www.leeoskar.com/first-second-position.html
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"You can't just copy somebody. If you like someone's work, the important thing is to be exposed to everything that person has been exposed to."
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Last Edited by timeistight on Mar 20, 2015 10:57 AM
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shakeylee
171 posts
Mar 20, 2015
12:21 PM
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I think perhaps we lost the OP ??
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www.shakeylee.com
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hvyj
2661 posts
Mar 20, 2015
6:30 PM
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Make a consistent effort to develop even tone and power on your blow notes so the timbre is more even between blow and draw notes. A lot of blues players overwork the draw notes and neglect blow note development to the point where their blow note tone sounds anemic.
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Harp Study
76 posts
Mar 20, 2015
8:38 PM
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I originally started with Gindick's "Country and Blues Harmonica for the Musically Hopeless"; which I personally think has a lot of the golden information from the later written Rock and blues harmonica book without all the fluff. I think the later rock and blues book has some great information, but I personally didn't care for the narrative that was used to portray the information and therefore I couldn't gain much from that book.
The source that got me over the hump from raw beginner to an early intermediate play was our very own Dr. Gussow. The free youtube stuff was great, but the paid advanaced begineer package was great for my learning style; as were the rest of the lessons I purchased from Gussow.
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timeistight
1730 posts
Mar 20, 2015
9:58 PM
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"I think perhaps we lost the OP ??"
Yeah, that happens a lot. Maybe our helpful enthusiasm scares them off.
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"You can't just copy somebody. If you like someone's work, the important thing is to be exposed to everything that person has been exposed to."
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GMaj7
650 posts
Mar 20, 2015
10:38 PM
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Advice for new player..
Stay away from forums, test all suggestions against the skill of the player, and seek out your own sound.
There are plenty of bend and wail players doing the fedora head shake..
1st position has a lot of really cool possibilities.. not to mention the ease of playing the harmonized scale using arpeggios, pentatonic major, and diminished scales..
That's a great and easy way to really learn the music and learn what fits across all genre.
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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A440
343 posts
Mar 21, 2015
1:08 AM
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Simplified explanation:
First postition: 4 blow is home base, move around the harp emphasizing the blow notes and chords. Use a G harp to play a song in G.
Second position: 2 draw is home base, move around the harp emphasizing the draw notes and chords. And learn to bend. Use a C harp to play a song in G.
Last Edited by A440 on Mar 21, 2015 1:11 AM
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Harmlessonica
93 posts
Mar 21, 2015
6:05 AM
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Perhaps the OP thought 'First Position' was at his computer, and now he's moved on..? :)
FWIW threads like these are still valuable because they help other members and lurkers alike learn everything they wanted to know about the harmonica but were too afraid to ask.
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Joeharp 310
2 posts
Mar 22, 2015
8:26 AM
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Hi, I`m new to this site but I have been playing steady for a little over 2 yrs and all the advice given above is very good and I do recommend youtube tracks,they help me the most,but REMEMBER one thing, if U want to improve, LUV the music your playing and play it from the HEART! If you luv it enough you`ll definitely get better. Works for me. Just remember, U use your lips, tongue and mouth but the true sound comes from deep down inside. Good Luck and keep blowin` that harp!
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BigBlindRay
245 posts
Mar 22, 2015
8:54 AM
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Stay away from learnin' all that music theory baloney. Just suck an blow and play with feel man. Them the blues.
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- BigBlindRay
BigBlindRay website
Like me on Facebook
Listen to my music here
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Destin
114 posts
Mar 22, 2015
9:35 AM
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Just take some time to learn some basic music theory, it will benefit you a lot through your new musical journey
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Joe_L
2583 posts
Mar 22, 2015
11:11 AM
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Play the music you love and don't quit.
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The Blues Photo Gallery
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nowmon
19 posts
Mar 22, 2015
2:05 PM
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Assimilate,the original harp dudes did it,you listen like a little kid ,and as you grow you might get poetic on your own.for my self, I looked at three major styles in blues harp,Sonny Terry,Sonny boy 2,and Little Walter ,all very different but great,also there are many great players but these 3 are the heart and soul of harp style...DOIT...
Last Edited by nowmon on Mar 22, 2015 2:07 PM
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