Any harmonica players here?

[davis]

If so, what kind(s) of harp(s) do you play? How many do you own? I have 1 Hohner Special 20 in C. This http://www.musiciansfriend.com/folk-traditional-instruments/hohner-532-blues-harp-pro-pack--ms-series-harmonicas is what I'm saving up for. Who do you like as instructor @YT? I've been watching Jerry Portnoy and Jon Gindick.

[davis]

I'm the only one? Wow. okay.

[No Pride]

Well, I don't play harmonica, but my longtime friend, Howard Levy (of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones fame) is considered to be a major innovater of the diatonic harmonica; he came up with a technique for playing chromatically on it. He's got a few instructional videos out, though perhaps it's a little more advanced stuff than what you're looking for; I dunno.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MtRHq8ERCE

[Lebofsky]

I play harmonica, just some cheap (but not too cheap) random diatonic ones. My instructor? Needing something to do while sitting in traffic. Keyboards/guitars/drums aren't very easy to play in the driver's seat.

- Matt

[Jefferson James]

I can suck air in and out of a tuned harmonica, Bob Dylan style, but to actually PLAY the thing would be a dream. I've always wanted a chromatic harp -- all I've ever used are the fixed-key types. Stevie Wonder is my harmonica inspiration; man, what feeling.

[davis]

^ I have a chromatic G harp. Got it for my 30th birthday - before I knew it was mainly for classical and jazz. Haven't even put it to my lips in many years. I'll have to do some research to find out if it's worth anything.

[Hobo Chang Ba]

I have a harmonica but damned if I know how to play it properly.

[davis]

for me, these are really inspiring.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NjXs_nXB5U


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKM5LpFU1Pc

[davis]

likewise this


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALU5g6Qqi08

[davis]

Could you run a harmonica mic cable through an effects board and get those effects on the harp?

[Sean]

Sure

[Baribrotzer]

Howard Levy (of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones fame) is considered to be a major innovator of the diatonic harmonica; he came up with a technique for playing chromatically on it. From what I understand, this is a weird virtuoso approach based on systematically extending the note-bending that harmonica players already do - he creates accidentals by bending each individual flat out of a diatonic C scale. Even as good as he is, you can hear the intonation slipping at points.

[No Pride]

From what I understand, this is a weird virtuoso approach based on systematically extending the note-bending that harmonica players already do - he creates accidentals by bending each individual flat out of a diatonic C scale. Even as good as he is, you can hear the intonation slipping at points.
Well, he calls the technique "overblowing." As somebody who can't even play blues or campfire harmonica, I wouldn't even pretend to know what that means. But I know what you're saying, John; it doesn't sound "tempered" like a chromatic harmonica does. And though I'd never tell Howard this, I greatly prefer the sound of a chromatic harmonica for jazz, amazing though it may be that he is able to play it on a diatonic harp.

For those unfamiliar with Howard, he's a monstrous jazz pianist as well. And a couple of decades ago, he played about two dozen other instruments too, including flute, sax, mandolin, ocarina, some sort of African marimba... just about everything but brass instruments. About 15 or so years ago, he decided that he was spreading himself too thin and concentrated all of his efforts on just harmonica and piano. But having known him as long as I have, I remember jamming with him when he was playing alto sax and he sounded something like Eric Dolphy. I don't know a lot of geniuses, but he's definitely one. Still, it's not pure natural ability; he's constantly practicing.

[Digital_Man]

I play a little. I'm not very good but then again a harmonica isn't exactly a violin now is it? :)

[davis]

^ No. And a cello isn't exactly a set of ebony & ivory; that said, in Alabama the Tuscaloosa. ;) I'm not knocking Levy, but blues harmonica resonates with me a lot more than Jazz harmonica.

A guy I used to hang out with long ago used to joke that people would applaud Bob Dylan not so much for playing his harmonica but because he stopped singing in order to play it. :)

[SunshipVoyager]

Well, he calls the technique "overblowing." As somebody who can't even play blues or campfire harmonica, I wouldn't even pretend to know what that means. But I know what you're saying, John; it doesn't sound "tempered" like a chromatic harmonica does. And though I'd never tell Howard this, I greatly prefer the sound of a chromatic harmonica for jazz, amazing though it may be that he is able to play it on a diatonic harp.

For those unfamiliar with Howard, he's a monstrous jazz pianist as well. And a couple of decades ago, he played about two dozen other instruments too, including flute, sax, mandolin, ocarina, some sort of African marimba... just about everything but brass instruments. About 15 or so years ago, he decided that he was spreading himself too thin and concentrated all of his efforts on just harmonica and piano. But having known him as long as I have, I remember jamming with him when he was playing alto sax and he sounded something like Eric Dolphy. I don't know a lot of geniuses, but he's definitely one. Still, it's not pure natural ability; he's constantly practicing.

Howard is astonishing- I saw him several times w/ The Flecktones, and his work on Jerry Goodman's album "The Stranger's Hand" has always knocked me out, too.

[everythingtoexcess]

I don't actually play harmonica, but I've had the privelage of playing a few times with a guy I think is the best harmonica player I've ever heard. His name is James Supra. He's calmed down considerably over the 20 years I've known of him, but the first time I ever heard him (I couldn't see him from where I was sitting) I thought it was a blues band with an unbelieveable keyboard player. Then I went around the corner and saw it was a guy with a harmonica. Definitely worth checking out. I'll try to find some vids later when time permits.
BTW, he's also a violent drunk, but I think he's sobered up now. The first time I ever actually met him he decided he was going to try to beat up MY WHOLE BAND (5 of us). We never really found out why, but fortunately his friends came and got him before things got ugly.

[everythingtoexcess]

http://youtu.be/Uus_lCgE9pg
That was shot at a bar near my house and this

http://youtu.be/zekWGd2ZWhs
is his full band.
I looked for some 90's era stuff when he was a little more "shrederriffic" but I couldn't find anything. He used to run his mic through a couple different guitar pedals and do some amazing stuff. Chorus and digital delay on a harmonica WORKS.

[Zeuhlmate]

I dont play the thing myself, but my daughter tries :)

Pat O'Brien with Scott Henderson is a killer:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy9VkoixyUw

Pat O'Brien is also a great guitarplayer :


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFlBBa104hE

[davis]

What's the difference (other than price) between a standard Golden Melody and a 542BX Golden Melody?

[BobM]

How long does a blues harmonica last, anyway? I mean, I hear that players soak the whole thing in water to get the reeds soft enough to bend the hell out of. It has got to take it's toll on the longevity of a harp.

[davis]

How long does a blues harmonica last, anyway? I mean, I hear that players soak the whole thing in water to get the reeds soft enough to bend the hell out of. It has got to take it's toll on the longevity of a harp.

I've heard of that, but every place I read recommends not doing that. maybe that's for wooden harmonicas, not plastic ones. I don't know how long they last.

[-=RTFR666=-]

Hey, Steve Hackett's no slouch when it comes to the blues harp. He's cited Magic Dick from the J Geils Band, Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band as his top influences for an article I wrote a few years back.

[Mister Triscuits]

I play. I favor Suzuki Promasters (metal combs, very cool) and Lee Oskars.

[davis]

^ that interests me. Jon Gindick recommended I start with a Hohner Special 20. Annie Raines recommends people try various brands and figure out what works for you, but she loves the Hohner Special 20, as do John Popper and Jerry Portnoy. my favorite harp player is probably JD Wilkes, and I don't know what he uses now but in the past has used Bushman Delta Frosts and, I think, Lee Oskars.
It this olive Suzuki a Promaster? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007O5WHBO/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=30Q12HWBJUHTZ&coliid=I1JR6A3KMVNK60

[Mister Triscuits]

The Olive is not the same as the Promaster, but it looks like a similar design/form. The Promaster has a metal comb; the Olive's comb is composite (essentially sawdust mixed with resin for a compromise between wood and plastic qualities).

Hohner is the Gibson of the harmonica world: huge name recognition makes it most peoples' default brand, and they make some fantastic instruments, but they have too many products and their quality control is wildly inconsistent. (My best harmonica playing friend favors the Marine Band Deluxe.)

I don't have much experience with Bushman...I have a Soul's Voice (now discontinued), but I'm not sure if I've ever played a Delta Frost. I might have one in my bag. (I have one of those little mini-suitcases with slots for all 12 keys for my best harps that I bring when I know I'll be playing, a zipper case with the 7 most common keys that I bring on "just in case" situations, and a canvas bag full of random harps that stays at home.)

[davis]

I used to have a Bushman Delta Frost, purchased at their website. Their customer service was miserable, and it took about 2 months to receive it; they didn't apologize for the delay. So by the time I received it, I was sour on Bushman so I sold it for half price. I think my next one will be a Suzuki Promaster. I gave my great-niece (7 yo) one for Christmas, since she's taken up piano. her brother got bongos.

How did you get involved in playing harmonica? Did you get lessons or figure things out on your own? How many do you own? one thing I haven't achieved yet is getting the 4th bend in the 2nd position - and I just looked at a chart and realized I was working in the wrong place. does every harp have the same number of bends in the same positions? Sorry for the onslaught of questions.

[Mister Triscuits]

How did you get involved in playing harmonica? Did you get lessons or figure things out on your own? How many do you own? one thing I haven't achieved yet is getting the 4th bend in the 2nd position - and I just looked at a chart and realized I was working in the wrong place. does every harp have the same number of bends in the same positions? Sorry for the onslaught of questions.

Don't get the idea that I'm any kind of a harmonica expert, I'm certainly no great shakes as a player. I started out MANY years ago without knowing what I was doing and only ever tried to play very occasionally. Didn't even know about cross harp positions at first. I got my first clue from a two-part how-to-play article in a local alternative newspaper, and later went on to buy John Gindick's book. Since then it's been mostly "learn by doing."

[davis]

oh okay, but you know what cross hap positions are. I have no idea.
About 30 years ago I was working by myself on night shift, I'd bought a harp and took a cassette tape player to work with a Billy Joel tape and a Bob Dylan tape. Several hours and a night or 2 later, I could play along with 'Piano Man' and 'Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts'. I kept it up for a few months and then stopped. I'd like to take it further this time :)

[Mister Triscuits]

oh okay, but you know what cross hap positions are. I have no idea.

Straight harp (1st position): use the harp that is in the same key as the song. OK for folk and some country music.

Cross harp (2nd position, mixolydian mode): use a harp whose key is the fourth of the song key (F harp for key of C, G harp for key of D, A harp for key of E, etc.). Essential for blues and rock.

Slant harp (3rd position, dorian mode): less common--for minor key songs, use a harp whose key is one whole step below the song key (G harp for A minor, A harp for B minor, etc.).

[davis]

Does the blues & rock cross harp stuff apply to prog rock? ;)

[Mister Triscuits]

Does the blues & rock cross harp stuff apply to prog rock? ;)

I'll never forget Chris Squire playing harmonica on the live version of "And You and I" and then just dropping it on the stage when he switched back to bass. He probably demanded a fresh harmonica every night.

[davis]

Was that a diatonic or chromatic? it's a lousy way to treat a musical instrument

[BlueVino]

If so, what kind(s) of harp(s) do you play? How many do you own? I have 1 Hohner Special 20 in C. This http://www.musiciansfriend.com/folk-traditional-instruments/hohner-532-blues-harp-pro-pack--ms-series-harmonicas is what I'm saving up for. Who do you like as instructor @YT? I've been watching Jerry Portnoy and Jon Gindick.

I play harmonica. I'm certainly no adept at it, but I am confident in my ability to play diatonic harmonica (very different animal from a chromatic harmonica, which I can't play).

My all time favorite harp is a Lee Oskar Am (Natural Minor). Back when I started playing harp, I picked up your everyday $5 Hohner in the key of C & messed around to see if I thought it was something I could figure out. When I made the decision to go for it, a harp player with a lot of experience told me "The ONLY harmonica you should ever buy if you're serious, is a Lee Oskar."

The reason a Lee Oskar is so great: expression. The reeds in a Lee Oskar bend with ease, & vibrate with less air-flow required from the player.

Aside from my Lee Oskar, I also have a case of Hohner Piedmont Blues harps that have 7 different keyed harps. I have that for emergencies (you never know when you'll be in a situation where you just wish you could join in w/ a band & you don't have a harp in the right key).

[davis]

Now I"m interested in getting a Lee Oskar harp to fool around with. Sounds like fun. Since they come in major and minor keys, how do you know what to get?

[sameen]

I can play harmonica but not much expert! Nowadays , i am trying to learn by watching youtube ; It's very hard job !

[Nijinsky Hind]

The e blues harp was the first instrument I learned to play as a kid. I have blues harps in most keys and am pretty good playing blues and bending. I tried soaking in water once. Never again. Not much use for it anymore except for fun.