Spooks
1 post
Jun 26, 2008
1:52 AM
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Okay so I am really new to playing the harmonica (about a week into playing) and I'm picking it up slowly but at a steady pace. I am using a harmonica that came in a kit (called 'Puretone' which has a lion on it). It has a really bright sound almost toyish sound (if that makes any sense) and I dont like it at all. My Uncle has given me a Hohner Marine Band because he accidentally ordered a second. The only problem is it is a Bb harp and what I was wondering is: Can I learn using a Bb harp rather than a C.
thanks in advance
-Spooks
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DutchBones
10 posts
Jun 26, 2008
5:24 AM
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Sure you can learn how to play on a Bb. A song played on a C harp (or any other key for that matter) is played the same way on a Bb, the only difference is the way it sounds. The Bb has a slightly lower sound (I personally like it very much)
Actually, Slow Blues (#24 if I'm not mistaken) is in Bb...
The reason why most people start of on a C harp, is because most harp instructionals (is that a word?!) are geared towards C harps....the reason for this is, that the C is about somewhere in the middle (of all keys) and is supposendly easier the play (and bend) for beginners.
Anyway, if you find a tap for a song or a riff, you can play it on your Bb, and it will sound good, it will be only a little lower than when played on a C (but I said that already before)
Hope this helps....
Last Edited by on Jun 26, 2008 5:27 AM
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thorvaldsen76
17 posts
Jun 26, 2008
6:04 AM
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Hi Spooks!
Many of Adam's lessons use the Bb-key so if you want to follow his youtube-videos you really need a Bb-harp:)
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Spooks
2 posts
Jun 26, 2008
1:26 PM
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Thanks a lot this really helps. A lower richer sound is really what I am looking for, and considering its a Hohner and not some off brand kiddy harp it will probably sound richer. Thanks again
-Spooks
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bluemoose
15 posts
Jun 26, 2008
4:44 PM
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Hi Spooks:
So, hopefully not confusing you further, with your B-flat
harp if the song is in:
B-flat you play in first position (mostly blow, middle octave)
F you can play in 2nd position (mostly draw, lower octave)
C or C-minor you can play in 3rd position.
But if you are just learning and playing by yourself this
doesn't matter (yet), just play the thing to find your way
around with simple tunes and work on clean single notes.
good luck,
moose.
Last Edited by on Jun 26, 2008 4:45 PM
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Preston
24 posts
Jun 30, 2008
12:11 PM
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Don't know if you knew this or not, but I thought I would throw in my two cents worth:
I read where you said you wanted a lower, richer sound, and I just wanted to make sure you knew that a "richer" or "fatter" sound or "tone" comes from you, not the harp.
I say this because when I was starting out I thought that if I could just go to the store and buy an "A" instead of the "C" I was practicing on I would sound a thousand times better just by changeing to a lower key. Not so, and now that I have better tone, I've found C is one of my favorite keys to play in.
Maybe you already knew that, but I thought I would throw it out.
Preston
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