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Post by fatfingerjohn on Nov 10, 2023 8:29:45 GMT
Hi,
Having reintroduced myself to Neil Young songs lately I discovered that on many of his performances the harmonica intros/fills/endings etc were essential to bring out the feel of the song. So, after 77 years on this planet without so much as a blow (no funny comments please) I've embarked on a new journey and, complete with a few nice diatonic 'harps' (see, I know the lingo already) in different keys from ebay, a neck rack, and a book called Harmonica for Dummies, and of course YouTube, I've started the journey. I'm about to ruin Heart of Gold, Harvest Moon, Out on the Weekend, and numerous others. So far, after 2 days, only noticable achievment is that the dog leaves the room whining.
So, advice for beginners like me from those who've cracked this blow, strum and sing at the same time lark is welcome. Also other good easy guitar/harmonica/vocal songs to try (I've looked at a couple of Dylan ones and of course Billy Joel).
Blowing and sucking away,
FFJ (or should I now be FLipJ,
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Post by delb0y on Nov 10, 2023 10:36:02 GMT
I'm a very infrequent harmonica player. I know where the three blues chords are, and I know a couple of vague licks, but generally I just use the harmonica as another colour in my songs. Back in the day I used to play it on a rack - still just as an extra colour, rather than as a proper instrument - and the two things that I did that made the world of difference to me were (a) use a vice to bend the main legs of the harmonica rack up a bit, and (b) wraps lots of electrical tape around the bit where the harp sits. The former was because whenever I leaned forward to blow into the harp it always moved away from me... bending the legs meant I can more easily reach the darn thing. And (b) because even when I could reach it the harp would slip and slide around in the metal jaws. This all depends on the rack you've bought, of course. Back when I bought mine this was about all that was on offer:
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Post by martinrowe on Nov 10, 2023 11:38:25 GMT
I don't play harmonica much any more but when I learnt I got to a place where I was pleased - I could play music. I had a C Hohner and back then there was only a book by Tony Glover on Blues Harp. I learnt a couple of tunes/licks from records: an intro at the beginning of a song from the Woody Guthrie tribute concert at Carnegie Hall LP - I learnt to bend notes, and Oh Suzanna.
Along with a prescribed 12 bar I played those two tunes an awful lot and learnt that - it's a musical instrument, it's not the instrument that is complicated/difficult/tricky, it's the music. i.e. you can play Oh Suzanna with a different emphasis or different pace every time.
For the last few years I've been playing in a duo and have found it quite easy to put in a little fill between verses on a song. You don't have to tune them or change strings and it's probably good for the brain cells, what's not to like as they say.
I found it very pleasing when I got a little success with it.
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Nov 10, 2023 11:58:06 GMT
I'm a very infrequent harmonica player. I know where the three blues chords are, and I know a couple of vague licks, but generally I just use the harmonica as another colour in my songs. Back in the day I used to play it on a rack - still just as an extra colour, rather than as a proper instrument - and the two things that I did that made the world of difference to me were (a) use a vice to bend the main legs of the harmonica rack up a bit, and (b) wraps lots of electrical tape around the bit where the harp sits. The former was because whenever I leaned forward to blow into the harp it always moved away from me... bending the legs meant I can more easily reach the darn thing. And (b) because even when I could reach it the harp would slip and slide around in the metal jaws. This all depends on the rack you've bought, of course. Back when I bought mine this was about all that was on offer: View AttachmentThanks for the advice; Re the rack, that's exactly what I found, the cheap one I bought first just wasn't long or flexible enough. So, having read some reviews I invested in a Hohner FlexRack which is brilliant; very adjustable, much better round the neck and you can alter the angle of the Harmonica in the holder as well. The adjustment has a ratchet which, once you've tightened it, won't move. Pretty expensive new but got a good 2nd hand one on ebay; worth every penny. Attachments:
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Nov 10, 2023 11:58:33 GMT
Akquarius - A bit of gob-iron advice needed here please Bernd...
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Nov 10, 2023 12:01:50 GMT
I don't play harmonica much any more but when I learnt I got to a place where I was pleased - I could play music. I had a C Hohner and back then there was only a book by Tony Glover on Blues Harp. I learnt a couple of tunes/licks from records: an intro at the beginning of a song from the Woody Guthrie tribute concert at Carnegie Hall LP - I learnt to bend notes, and Oh Suzanna. Along with a prescribed 12 bar I played those two tunes an awful lot and learnt that - it's a musical instrument, it's not the instrument that is complicated/difficult/tricky, it's the music. i.e. you can play Oh Suzanna with a different emphasis or different pace every time. For the last few years I've been playing in a duo and have found it quite easy to put in a little fill between verses on a song. You don't have to tune them or change strings and it's probably good for the brain cells, what's not to like as they say. I found it very pleasing when I got a little success with it. Thanks. I think you have to be careful not to get lost in all the nuances at first; e.g. playing in 2nd and 3rd position, overblowing, tonguing (there I go again, not rude comments) etc. Naively I just thought you blew and sucked but its a wee bit more complicated than that. I'll see how it goes; you never know there may be a full set of stuff for sale on this forum in about 3 months!
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Post by ianlp59 on Nov 10, 2023 12:07:02 GMT
I learnt blues harp as a kid from a book "Blues Harp" by Tony "Little Sun" Glover. Well worth trying to get hold of...
Cheers,
Ian
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Wild Violet
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Post by Wild Violet on Nov 10, 2023 16:29:42 GMT
When I first started playing the harmonica back in the 80s, I found it extremely helpful to walk around the house doing housework or whatever while playing the harmonica in the rack. It helped me get very comfortable with it and was instrumental in my skill development. I can only play the harmonica in a rack though, take it out and I have no idea what to do...
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Post by delb0y on Nov 10, 2023 16:35:45 GMT
Can you do the washing up without having a harmonica in a rack these days, though?
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Wild Violet
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Post by Wild Violet on Nov 10, 2023 16:43:00 GMT
Can you do the washing up without having a harmonica in a rack these days, though? Sadly I cannot - someone else must do it for me. It's the price I pay for being an artiste!
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Post by fatfingerjohn on Nov 10, 2023 17:27:43 GMT
When I first started playing the harmonica back in the 80s, I found it extremely helpful to walk around the house doing housework or whatever while playing the harmonica in the rack. It helped me get very comfortable with it and was instrumental in my skill development. I can only play the harmonica in a rack though, take it out and I have no idea what to do... What a clever idea; I'd never have thought of that. To me its the biggest barrier to get over as its so unusual to do anything where your hands aren't in control. I think I'd have to do it whilst Jill is out as I'd feel a bit of a prat and hope no-one comes to the door but I'll give it a go. J
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Post by juliant on Nov 11, 2023 17:56:19 GMT
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Post by PistolPete on Nov 11, 2023 18:43:38 GMT
I do teach harmonica - it was my primary instrument for many years, but I've never really got on with a rack so I don't know how much use I am for you. I usually point students at this book: The Complete How To Play Harmonica Manual by Peter Gelling, for it's comprehensiveness, although it can be a bit on the dull side. A lot of good harmonica playing comes down to getting a good seal around the harmonica, creating resonance with your mouth and breathing from your diaphragm in a very controlled way.
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Post by Akquarius on Nov 11, 2023 19:02:22 GMT
John, my advice would be to get used to playing the harmonica without a rack first. Otherwise you'll always sound as if the harmonica ist nothing but an instrument for more or less fitting chords. My experience is that learning to play single notes properly is next to impossible without holding the instrument in your hands. Bending is even more a challenge. Drop the rack for now, check out a few youtube channels (i.e. tomlinharmonicalessons.com, some are even free), get used to the feel of a harmonica. ONce you're confident, use the rack and try to adopt the different position. It's much easier like that than the other way 'round.
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Post by borborygmus on Nov 12, 2023 14:37:12 GMT
I played harmonica in a rack ("mouth truss") for many years, although only on a few songs, and only adequately. I haven't tried it for a while, although this thread may inspire me to drag it out. Certainly it appears that rack technology has moved forward in the meantime! When I recorded this song, City of New Orleans, I don't think I had ever played the harmonica part *without* a rack. I'm in a real recording studio: vocals and acoustic guitar together, then 5 string banjo, harmonica, and backing vocals on multiple tracks. That's not me on the trombone! It was weird playing the usual riff I had, holding the harmonica in my hands and not in the rack. Then we decided to have me vamp on the harmonica at the end, which was even more confusing and scary. I think the playing peters out as my confidence fails... Peter
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