bitterbug
1 post
Dec 13, 2008
12:50 PM
|
Hi all,
I just picked up my first harmonica (Lee Oskar C Diatonic) this week, even though I've wanted one since I was a kid. Not sure why I never got one. Probably the same reason I've always liked Blues but never owned any Blues albums. :)
I've been checking out Adam's lessons on YouTube and it's great stuff. I was wondering what my second harp key should be to get the most out of trying to play along. I'm getting another one as an Xmas present so I need to decide. :)
Bio bit:
I'm 36 and live in Southwest Ontario (London), and lived in Trenton for a few years (GGiles, howdy neighbor). Despite listening to heavy metal and industrial music for most of my life, when I'm absentmindedly whistling while doing something it's a bluesy tune. So recently my mind just clicked and told me I should do something about it, get a decent music collection together, and try and learn to play. There's not many instruments you can carry on your person at all times, and I'm looking forward to being able to just plunk myself down under a tree in the park and terrorize the squirrels next summer :)
Looking forward to learning with everyone here.
Cheers!
|
eddylizard2
Guest
Dec 13, 2008
1:51 PM
|
Adam in alot of his lessons blow/draws on a Bb-harp.
Good luck!
|
Scoltx
21 posts
Dec 13, 2008
8:33 PM
|
Hi bitterbug
I live in your area, great to see someone else from SW Ontario on this board.
Good recommendation on the Bb by eddylizard2, I'd also suggest an A or D be next on your list. Second position they are keys of E and A respectively and I can tell you they are very popular keys with guitarists. Lots of Blues are performed in those 2 keys and it makes sense to add them to the list of must haves.
Adam did a fair number of video's in F which require the Bb Harp as suggested by eddylizzard2, so good to have if you are following along with mostly his vid's.
Good Luck and have fun with, Jon Gindick's motto is "5 minutes to learn, 5 years to master". So enjoy the ride. :)
|
Luiz
13 posts
Dec 14, 2008
4:11 AM
|
Hey, I use the C a lot as it is the one I usually use to practice the techniques.
Apart from that, I think Bb and A are the ones I use the most. If you feel like following Adam's lesson then definitely get a Bb.
After the Bb I recommend the A, there are lots and lots of cool songs on this the key that for sure you will want to learn.
Once you have these 3, go for D and then F, as Scoltx said.
This is my recommendation based on the use I make of the harps.
Have fun! :)
|
TylerLannan
27 posts
Dec 14, 2008
7:32 AM
|
I second all those that voted for D, A, or Bb. I personally really like my A harp but that's prolly cause I just finshed puttting the final touches on whammer jammer. I also really like the key of F harp*puts you in C*. It's got sweet tone.
----------
*you can only keep what you have by giving it away*
|
GermanHarpist
3 posts
Dec 14, 2008
8:17 AM
|
I would recommend a bluesband harp set by hohner for 42€ (source:ebay.de).
The Bluesbands are not very loud and rather soft in tone (at least the lower ones). This makes them perfect for practicing.
As long as there is not too much background noise jamming with a guitar works out fine.
The box offers the seven major keys (G,A,Bb,C,D,E,F). The harps D,E,F are mostly crap - D is ok to practice overblows but E and F are terrible regarding responsiveness and ease of bend. I never use them.
However the lower harps G,A,Bb and C are mostly pretty good (the lower the harp, the better... ?). The harps G and A are (in my case, i bought the box twice) always incredibly easy for bending. This is espcially the case for the 3hole (to get that blue note just right...).
I have a couple of good quality harps for around 30€ each. None of them are as easy to play, as responsive as the Bluesbands.
At the end an unbeatable price/quality (tone,responsiveness,bendability) ratio.
+ a box :)
germanharpist
P.s.: Unfortunately you can't buy the G or A Bluesband separate. So there is a lot of harpwastage...
|
oldwailer
368 posts
Dec 14, 2008
9:45 AM
|
Wow--I didn't know the Bluesbands came in any key other than C--I have two C's--I use them a lot when I want to practice stuff that might damage my good harps--one of them I have had for about 8 years--it's still playing!
Soundwise--they're not worth beans--but they cost about the same as beans. . .
|
Andrew
13 posts
Dec 14, 2008
11:30 AM
|
Yeah, playing along with Adam probably requires a Bb (but it's not guaranteed), but if you have a friend who plays the guitar, ask them what their favourite key is. I think I did that, and the answer was E, so I bought an A harp. Then I bought D and G harps together as a result of Jason Ricci's review of Boogie Chillen II, and because I'm a big Captain Beefheart fan, and he seems to favour the D harp, then I bought my Bb, thanks to Adam and Jason, then I bought my F. I think Kevin Coyne's Rock 'N' Roll Hymn may have been the final decider on that one! Then my Low-D thanks to Sonny Boy WIlliamson II.
|
Fredrider51
29 posts
Dec 14, 2008
2:38 PM
|
http://harpinanawhinin.com/LessonsHelp.htm#Circle%20of%20Fifth
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/myquill/s
maybe these sites can help you and learn the 12 bar blues keep counting good luck
if you like the LO harps do put it off buy the ones you need A Bb C D F G Then you will be set for a year
|
