Any harmonica players here. What should a newbie get?

[Disturber]

Like the topic says.... I'd like to try learining the harmonica. Mainly thinking the classic blues style. I'm a total newbie here.

• What is the Hamer brand of harminicas?
• How many harmonicas does one normally need, how many keys?
• What are good keys to start with?

[dragan]

I dont know about how many keys , but our harp player uses ** " oscar schmdt " due to the cost of have all the keys . I would think you'd want at least A & D maybe C& F as well to play in E, A , G & C minor respectively. just depends on what keys your tunes are in ,minor cross keys up a 4th

edited : you can hear him & the harps here https://soundcloud.com/#search?q=Ragand

2nd& 3rd songs have the most harp & happy birthday !

** oops meant lee oskar harps

[velorush]

I started in the 6th grade, but I don't play much any more (since my wife hates it). I do keep a few around for when she's not.

I prefer to play cross harp, so I pick keys that are the 4 chord of popular guitar keys: C for guitarist playing in G, A for guitarist playing in E and an E for guitarist playing in B.

I did play the big Hohner 364s and 365s in college, but those are tuned differently and don't lend themselves to be played cross.

In the past five or so years I've really been impressed with the Hohner 560 Special 20's. It took me a while to get over the plastic comb, but they don't swell up and require trimming and the action is really great.

I'm amazed at the prices these things are bringing. I saved up my allowance for a couple of weeks to buy my first Marine Band for $3.25. I bought my second Blues Harp the following month for $3.50 (I had to save up again). That was 1975 though.

[ZR]

I started in the 6th grade, but I don't play much any more (since my wife hates it). I do keep a few around for when she's not.

I prefer to play cross harp, so I pick keys that are the 4 chord of popular guitar keys: C for guitarist playing in G, A for guitarist playing in E and an E for guitarist playing in B.

snip!.

What does the cross harp actually mean? Why select A for playing in E?

I bought a cheapy from MF awhile back and haven't learned a thing. It had basic instructions but ...any tips? What about blowing separate notes?...any tips appreciated!!! I'm, not going to invest too much time on this so I'll probably always suck but what's the fastest way to sound like you sorta know what you're doing?!

[hamerhead]

From the harp player in my band, who's older than dirt and has done it forever:

Hey there Tim
As far as good affordable harps are concerned Hohner is still the best choice (easy to remember for a Hamer guy - Hamer/Hohner) anyway they make lots of harps -I like Golden Melody or Special 20's they sound great and hold up well. They're the standard 10 hole diatonic harmonica great for bending notes. There's basically 3 styles of play" Straight" "Cross" and "Slant" .

I play cross harp which is the standard for blues. I always carry 7 harps A, B flat, C, D, E, F , G. Cross harp means you're playing in a different key from the tonic being played by other instruments like guitar , keyboard etc . example : if they play in A you're playing your harp in D. They play in E you play in A. They play in G you play in C. etc. Starting out I guess I would get an A harp because a lot of blues guitarist like to play in E. and a D harp for when they play in A. If he's a country guitar player he would simply play -straight harp in the same key as the guitar. Hope that helps. Tony D

He's good, too.

[dragan]

What does the cross harp actually mean? Why select A for playing in E? thats what it means for blues playing in minor keys you must "cross key" up a 4rth to acheive the typical blues minor sound . e=a f=bflat g=c etc

[hamerhead]

HellifIknow - I play guitar.

[dragan]

oops I meant lee oskar harps theyre around $37 ea hohner here in the us are $42 and up

[murkat]

Hohner in C was good enough for Warren Zevon when He bought one from me

while working at American music in fremont

[velorush]

I started in the 6th grade, but I don't play much any more (since my wife hates it). I do keep a few around for when she's not.

I prefer to play cross harp, so I pick keys that are the 4 chord of popular guitar keys: C for guitarist playing in G, A for guitarist playing in E and an E for guitarist playing in B.

snip!.

What does the cross harp actually mean? Why select A for playing in E?

Without getting too theoretical, cross harp gets you the Mixolydian mode for blues playing.

C harmonica Richter tuned gets you:

Blow: C E G C E G C E G C

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Draw: D G B D G A B D F A

G Mixolydian is spelled G A B C D E F (rather than G Major, with the F#) so you get the Dominant (i.e., flatted) 7

ETA: after playing for a few years by myself and mastering everything from "Oh, Susanna" to the "Marine Hymn," I tried playing with a guitar player - it absolutely didn't work at all. After I got to college an older guy who played in a blues band told me about playing "cross harp." All he explained was I should get the harmonica in the key of the 4 chord. Worked great! It was years later I actually looked into why it worked so well.

[tomteriffic]

Cross-harp? It's because if you try to play it in the same key as the guitar player, he'll become quite cross with you. Or you'll get all crossed up trying to remember whatthehell key you're really in. HellifIknow.

Let me see if I can 'splain this without getting you further crossed up. Your basic 10-hole diatonic harp has its key defined by the note that is produced when you blow on the first (lowest) hole on the harp. As you blow and draw on successive holes going across the harp, you'll create (more or less) a major scale.

BUT, if you start by drawing in on the second hole and using that as your key defining note (or, let's say the Do, as in Do, Re, Mi), you'll be able to access lots of accidentals and blue notes that weren't available when playing "straight" harp. That second hole drawn note is five notes up the major scale from the first hole, blown note. That is why you use an A harp to Play in E. etc. Because you're starting from a different point of reference than whatever is stamped on the top plate of the harp.

But WHY???? Because there's more important notes that can be easily "bent" available to you when playing cross harp, not to mention blue notes, etc. Because it's just more awesome. And Brootalz

Special 20 for me too, after decades of Blues Harps.

In about 1970 I was working and teaching in a music store and I'd get the question all the time: "What's the difference between a Marine Band and a Blues Harp?" I'd answer "About 50 cents".

[rj2858]

• What is the Hamer brand of harminicas?

Hamer-onica? Hamer-nica? Hamer-ica?

Thanks for asking this, I've been kicking around learning too, and hadn't thought to ask here.

[geoff_hartwell]

Start with an "A" harp (special 20, etc is great - not that important at first) and the Jerry Portnoy Blues Harp Master Class.

I've seen unbelievable changes in casual players who've used this, and become killin players.

It's a method taught by the player from Muddy Waters' and Eric Clapton's bands. Designed so you don't have to read

any music or tablature, and you just listen to the track and play examples. Starts butt-simple and gets effective immediately.

If you email me, I'll send you mp3s of the first disc. I guarantee you'll be hooked.

[email protected]

Oh, and if you have a mustache, get rid of it first...

[ZR]

Thanks for all the info! I checked on my cheapie and it's a Hohner Old standby in C ...so I guess I could cross it to play in G. It was only like 10 bucks or so and it included a booklet and DVD. Good enough for where I'm at, especially since I haven't actually "played" it yet!

[velorush]

<snip>

In about 1970 I was working and teaching in a music store and I'd get the question all the time: "What's the difference between a Marine Band and a Blues Harp?" I'd answer "About 50 cents".

I was told the reeds on the blues harp were easier to bend. Honestly, I could never tell the difference between the two.

[m chops]

Oh, and if you have a mustache, get rid of it first...

No wonder I've never been able to figure the blinkin' thing out!

[tomteriffic]

Oh, and if you have a mustache, get rid of it first...

No wonder I've never been able to figure the blinkin' thing out!

I've mucked through with a 'stache for decades. But you can get the occasional surprise, no doubt.

[tommy p]

• What is the Hamer brand of harminicas?

Hamer-onica? Hamer-nica? Hamer-ica?

Thanks for asking this, I've been kicking around learning too, and hadn't thought to ask here.

Me too! This is great info.

[geoff_hartwell]

Oh, and if you have a mustache, get rid of it first...

No wonder I've never been able to figure the blinkin' thing out!

I've mucked through with a 'stache for decades. But you can get the occasional surprise, no doubt.

Haha! For me it was tear-and-whimper-inducing to slide across and rip out several hairs. MAN! That smarts!!!