Hoolines
7 posts
Oct 26, 2009
2:22 AM
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Hi:
As I said before I am an absolute beginner in Harmonica world and I want to learn it as a hobby. I need some materials to start with. I am ready to purchase some good books/dvds or any study materials suitable for me. The only question is what should I buy? Blues is not what I want to focus on, Country and folk music are. But surely I should learn some very basic techniques. What do you recommend? I have no tutor around so I have to self-study and something that describes everything with good visuals. What do you experts suggest?
Hoolines
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tookatooka
689 posts
Oct 26, 2009
3:50 AM
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Go to Amazon and search under Harmonica. A number of books will come up for you to check out. Look at customers reviews and see what they say. Most of these books come with CD's which you can play along to and also hear what a piece should sound like. In general they are written to be used with a key "C" harmonica.
Jon Gindick has a book called Rock n' Blues Harmonica which I think most players on here have probably used at some time.
There is also "The Complete Harmonica Player" by Stuart 'Son' Maxwell which isn't bad either but not as detailed as Gindicks.
These are mainly blues oriented though but there are Country books available, I'm sure.
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Hobostubs Ashlock
58 posts
Oct 26, 2009
5:13 AM
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Hi hoolines
Im in 3 different study courses right now i can give you the low down on what i think about the 3
each one has its strong points some better than others.
1 Harmonica Academy by Tony Eyers my 1st school gives a good basic start.Has it built like a online college course. Its set up freshman to senior with 2 different sections tunes lessons which are mainly cetic and bluegrass.And blues section.He does a good job at both the blues is really tight allmost cleaner sounder than adams not any better not worse just different.I firgure its a lot to do with his formal training in the Celtic bluegrass stuff.Its got a good reading stuff.but no videos he uses sound clips with tab.Its a great school but its set up to take you from beginner to where ever.
2 Adams MBH
If the blues issomething you want to learn you cant go wrong with adams material its great i rate it equal to the Harmonica Academy site.Although its free its best to get some downloads on the tab now and then helps and very reasonable price.The draw back to Adams is its not for a beginner really he offers some beginner downloads and if you take only adams study course i would recomend them although i havent myself because im taking the other courses that have a biginners guide.Even at that i feel another year it will take me to really get the full use of Adams course.But i like that it pushes you to learn harder things.And Adams teaches how to play blues 12 bar progresssions that sound cool by themselves no backing track needed or other musicians a very strong point to his teaching as he does it better than the other 2 for that.And the videos help to kind of get to know your teacher.in a way.
3 HarmonicaLessons.com by Dave Gage
this was the most exspensive 1 about 10$ more than Harmonica academy for 6 months but there still both pretty cheap.It has some basic licks and a lot of charts and tabbed out songs i was kinda dissapointed in it but for a begginer study guide its ok its kinda like a big harp library i use with the other schools lots of reading stuff not alot of exercises.I often thought maybe its his teaching method for example he might show some stuff on hand effects or bending on how its done but have you come up with the riffs.It does offer alot of charts and songs you can download but i probelly wont renew it as ive read everything and downloaded as much as i could.Harmonica Academy i have renewed and will again as i like how its, like going to harp college.And Adam stuff ill spend a lifetime trying to get as much as i can.I hope this helps in a way i was bored and just jabbered on lol
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KingoBad
115 posts
Oct 26, 2009
6:07 AM
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I say stick with Gindick stuff for absolute beginners. Rock n Blues Harmonica is a great book. Also watch his youtube vids. They will get you started. Keep a list of everything else posted here. It will all come in handy after you familiarize yourself with the harp.
Good Luck!
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the frozen canuck
64 posts
Oct 26, 2009
6:12 AM
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het there Hoolines,david harte has a cd that was sold by a company known as LEE Vally ,it`s called band in my pocket ,learn harp in 3mins ,Very good for the absolute beginner ,hope you can find it,it was a great help for me
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ness
92 posts
Oct 26, 2009
6:27 AM
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Hoolines,
I would recommend Harmonica Academy -- the one Hobostubs mentioned --(www.harmonicaacademy.com) as a good online course. Tony is a teacher, and it shows in the coursework. There are tabs, recordings and backing tracks to play along with. The lessons are peppered with music theory and other good info to round out your knowledge of playing harmonica. There's a heavy bluegrass/Irish emphasis and lots of Blues info too. It's about $20 for a year (or is it six months?). If you want to see and hear rather than just read, this is money well-spent.
The Harmonica for Dummies by Winslow Yerxa book is good too. Very thorough coverage of music, technique and working on a harmonica.
John
Last Edited by on Oct 26, 2009 6:29 AM
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Hoolines
8 posts
Oct 26, 2009
6:51 AM
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Thanks guys. I will pick Jon Gindick's book and CDs from the local store tomorrow and will send a report how it worked for me. I will read the posts here plus I may register for one the sites you mentioned after a while that I learn how to play a little. It will be a fun journey I'm sure. Thanks for the replies. As I said before this forum rocks. I hope you keep up the good work guys. Great stuff.
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RyanMortos
409 posts
Oct 26, 2009
7:28 AM
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Hoolines (or anyone else with the same question),
I second the notion for The Harmonica for Dummies by Winslow Yerxa.
What got my attention was your comment about country harp. What you want to do is check out recordings by Charlie McCoy.
Also see if you can find this book for sale somewhere
Beginning Country Harp With Charlie McCoy .
You can get a free key sheet for all the songs from all his albums on his website too charliemccoy.com/recordings .
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~Ryan
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
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RyanMortos
410 posts
Oct 26, 2009
7:32 AM
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Actually this book might be easier to find Charlie McCoy Harp Book not sure on how easy it is for beginners.
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~Ryan
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
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tookatooka
691 posts
Oct 26, 2009
8:01 AM
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You can't go wrong with Jon Gindick's book Hooliness. There is a lot of good information in it but it does have a rather annoying back story which I could have done without. The CD is good and you'll be playing along with it in no time. It's well worth the money.
Yes, please do let us know how you get on. It's an exciting journey you are about to begin.
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Elwood
181 posts
Oct 26, 2009
9:42 AM
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Forgive me this shameless plug -- I blog for the following website -- but www.harpsurgery.com is an excellent resource for beginners, although it also caters for intermediate players.
Everything up there is free, and if you want to go really deep into your lessons, I'd advise you to purchase a book too. Not a huge fan of www.harmonicalessons.com at all.
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Hobostubs Ashlock
61 posts
Oct 26, 2009
12:10 PM
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I agree with you Elwood on harmonicalessons.com they look like they have alot but then you sign up and find out that its lacking in many ways.it does have a lot of tabbed songs but most the stuff you can find for free on the web.And it cost more than Harmonica academy which im a big fan of.I think harmonica academy and adams lessons are both really good i like them both about the same.
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Aussiesucker
407 posts
Oct 26, 2009
5:35 PM
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G'day Hoolines. I have to agree with much of what Hobostubs has said. Tony Eyers course is very good, well set out and easy to follow. Has a good helpful forum. Very different ie with an emphasis on 2 streams - Blues & Celtic (Irish fiddle & bluegrass tunes). I rate it highly.
Of course there is a wealth of help and knowledge and feedback plus lesson downloads on MBH. The best by far for blues harp. I started out by buying a hard copy DVD from Adam called "Blues Harmonica Secrets Revealed!" This DVD contains Adams youtube lessons 0 to 32 plus some Satan & Adam bonus tracks -it's great.
I thought Dave Gage's course was good. Lots of reading and reference material. CDs referenced with harmonica keys. I made hard copies of the course material which I often reference. I travel a lot without computer and having stuff that I can reference is of value to me. I stayed with Dave's course for 12 months and did not renew however it served me well whilst I was on board.
For a newbe the road is littered with offers like "learn blues harp in a day" and they sign you up for a $25 downloadable CD or DVD. Much is just rubbish. I did however buy a "John Sebastian teaches Blues Harmonica" DVD which I thought was ok but today you can get most all of what he teaches from others for free on Youtube.
Also you say you have an interest to learn country. Early on I was told that I need to learn blues before venturing into country as both are similar ie blues minor pentatonic scales and country major pentatonic. I have not been successful in getting a lot of info on country although Dave Gages course and Tony Eyers course touches on it. If you want to listen to great country harp playing just listen to Mickey Raphael on Willie Nelsons CDs.
Hoolines we all started out where you are at. Here you will get lots of help.
Last Edited by on Oct 26, 2009 5:36 PM
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Hoolines
9 posts
Oct 27, 2009
12:36 AM
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G'day Aussie, Thanks for the reply. And thanks to all who answered this topic.
I picked up the Rock n' Blues Harmonica, For Dummies book plus two of video DVD's made by Bobby Joe Holman. I expected the Step One DVD to be more than just an introduction! It looks to be step one and not even step two!
I searched for Adam Gussow and his videos. They look very helpful. harmonicaacademy looks huge! Great.
Thanks
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