MarkT
1 post
Dec 13, 2009
3:41 PM
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Hello everyone;
My name is Mark and I very recently picked up the harmonica after an absence of about....ohhhhhhhh 20 years, more or less. I guess I should explain where I am at and how I got to this point.
When I started playing the harp, all the Hohner 10 holers came with a beginner's instruction sheet and a tabbed song or two, something like Row, Row, Your Boat, or Oh, Suzanna, something like that.
Anyway, the pamphlet stated to use either tongue blocking or lip blocking, whicehever the player was most comfortable with, so I started tongue blocking.
I then stopped playing for about 20 years or so and about a month ago I bought a Hohner Blues Harp in the key of C and I've been practicing an hour or two every day and I can now play Amazing Grace, Swing Low, Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain & Crazy, using both tongue blocking and lip blocking. I can still bend a few notes, altho not very easily, however I think the harp might have something to do with this. I can bend notes OK tongue blocking but not nearly so well when lip blocking.
Ok, and now for my question! Where do I go from here??? I've ALWAYS wanted to learn how to blow the blues harp, but when I was playing the harp before I could never advance past the straight harp camp fire type of tunes. As I recall, there was little or no info around the music stores at the time and I eventually quit playing the harp for just this reason.
I can play a good, clear single note pretty much alll the time now and my bending isn't too shabby either. But I can't seem to break the wall and get that *blues* sound. I don't know if anyone else has encountered this problem, but it's frustrating me. If anyone has any advice for a beginner I'd sure be mighty glad to hear it. Please help! I am getting tired of playing Blues Eyes and so are the neighbors, I think.
Mark
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Sirsucksalot
108 posts
Dec 13, 2009
4:25 PM
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Start Listening to blues with Harp in it. When you hear something you think you could do, try it. Listen to it over and over again. Don't get discouraged, eventually you'll get it.
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eharp
378 posts
Dec 13, 2009
4:29 PM
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get on stage!! lol
begin with youtube:
gussow
gindick
shellist
ricci
these will lead to other good youtube videos.
begin gussow's lessons. the link is on the homepage.
join other forums.
http://www.harmonicaclub.com/
this is a good one as it has a chatroom. if you have speakers and mic for your computer you can get lots of help.
listen to all the blues harp greats you can and try to mimic what they are doing.
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Aussiesucker
469 posts
Dec 13, 2009
4:47 PM
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Mark welcome to the forum.
Can sympathise with you as I gave up harp playing for ca50 years and only came back 3 years ago. My tune repertoire was reasonable but all simple stuff in 1st position.
Transition into blues is not easy however as you have already got some tongue blocking and bends working for you then you are on the right journey.
I started on blues and whilst there is a mountain of info available on this site, what I found most helpful was Adams DVD Blues Harmonica Secrets Revealed. It's a DVD that has 33 of Adams youtube videos on it & it costs only $20. Its on the Store page under Bricks & Morter items. I have found it a valuable reference that I use & take with me on travels where access to internet is limited.
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scstrickland
354 posts
Dec 13, 2009
5:22 PM
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Welcome MarkT
I would suggest buying some of Adams lessons from *THE STORE* (top left of this page). they are reasonably priced and easy to understand and follow. Or for a little more $ you could try an online course discussed here
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/537876.htm
also tell us more about yourself and put a pin in our map here
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/427713.htm
Last Edited by on Dec 13, 2009 5:24 PM
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tookatooka
863 posts
Dec 14, 2009
3:05 AM
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Hi MarkT and welcome. Sounds to me like you now need to get into the second position and work on your blues scales. I had same problem and couldn't work out why my tunes didn't sound bluesy until I started learning about the second and even third positions.
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GamblersHand
108 posts
Dec 14, 2009
3:46 AM
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I'd especially recommend Adam's youtube (and paid lesson) on the 3 draw "blue third".
To my ears that's the killer note
Good timing and a sense of groove and swing is important for playing blues. Perhaps try to think in triplets, and use synchopated lines as opposed to the more 4-4 straight harp folk songs. Ronnie Shellist has a good youtube up on playing behind/on/in front of the beat.
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rbeetsme
75 posts
Dec 14, 2009
3:52 AM
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Mark, Adams youtube instructions are hard to beat. You might also pick up some good written material. Winslow Xerses (SP?) has a harp for dummies book out that has gotten good reviews. Where are you? Try to find some other players to jam with.
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mankycodpiece
18 posts
Dec 14, 2009
4:20 AM
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hi mark,i've recently arrived on this board and found it to be very helpful.
i played chromatic for years but needed a new challenge.
i can recomend the winslow yerxa harmonica for dummies book,i have it myself.i love adam's you tube stuff,i've gotten more fron that than anything else.
i'm in wolverhampton england by the way.
welcome to the board.
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tookatooka
864 posts
Dec 14, 2009
4:31 AM
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Yerxa's book is OK but would be excellent if it had an accompanying CD for those of us who learn parrott fashion and don't understand written music. IMO.
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MrVerylongusername
692 posts
Dec 14, 2009
4:45 AM
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?????????????
Tookatooka my copy has a CD, it has all the examples played on it for exactly the reason you describe...
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pharpo
15 posts
Dec 14, 2009
5:21 AM
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Hi Mark....welcome to the gang !! It's funny....I did the same thing.....walked away from playing for about 17 years...and am now back at it. This site is extrememly helpful....as are ADAMS youtube stuff....There is alot of info at your fingertips...Have a BLAST !!!
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Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. - Charlie Parker
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tookatooka
865 posts
Dec 14, 2009
6:18 AM
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@MrVLUN@ Whoops! Made a mistake. I should have been referring to the "Complete Idiots Guide to the Harmonica" Now you know why I borrowed it from the library - I'm a complete idiot.
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MarkT
2 posts
Dec 14, 2009
6:56 AM
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Thanks a million for all the GREAT replies thus far!!!! I seriously doubt that I'll be hopping up on stage anytime soon because:
1)I'm extremely shy & self-conscious
2)I'm an American ex-pat living & working in Bolivia and they have NO clue was the blues are
It seems that most 12 bar blues riffs are comprised of DRAW DRAW BLOW DRAW notes for the first 8 notes then it ends with either BLOW DRAW BLOW DRAW or DRAW BLOW DRAW BLOW. Is this the correct blues riff pattern? Once more, thanx for all the wonderful responses!
MARK
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tookatooka
867 posts
Dec 14, 2009
8:18 AM
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@MarkT@ Your No2 response above, makes me think maybe you're not quite ready for Adams stuff yet. If you really are starting out from the beginning I would recommend Jon Gindicks book "Rock n' Blues Harmonica. It comes with a CD you can play along to as you improve. He spends quite a bit of time explaining 12 Bar chords at the beginning of the CD. That should get you on your way. A whole lot of other stuff will then open up to you.
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KingoBad
149 posts
Dec 14, 2009
9:18 AM
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I second tookatooka. I suggest Gindick's book for absolute beginners too. It will get you confidently into 2nd postiton which you will need for playing blues harp. Adam's stuff will start to make sense after that.
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MarkT
5 posts
Dec 14, 2009
10:27 AM
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I tend to agree that I need to start out at the beginning. Like I've stated previously, I can play simple tunes and melodies fairly easily, but not much else. I am trying to unravel the mysteries of the blues riffs but have had no luck thus far. I've found some tabs for simple blues riffs on the net, but no examples of how they are supposed to sound.
MARK
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tookatooka
870 posts
Dec 14, 2009
10:36 AM
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Yeah those tabs on the net can be very misleading and if you are not too careful, lead to dissapointment. They are probably quite accurate but unless you can hear what they are supposed to sound like - you're stuck. Gindicks book will get you on your way. Trust me. Your Blues Harp in "C" is just what you will need.
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congaron
350 posts
Dec 14, 2009
11:48 AM
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If you can find a blues jam, go do it. Guys who jam can be very helpful with learning to sound bluesy.
I like the ronnie shellist video on playing ahead of , on or behind the beat. It clears up some of the confusion about "the rules" of the groove. As you watch it, you'll find the 2nd position has a tremendous amount of impact on sounding bluesy, until you learn where the bluesy notes are in the other positions, at least. The video doesn't discuss this, but listen to the licks he's using and get an A harp next so you can play along with it.
Adam's youtubes are worth downloading...they are like my library of harp now if I had one. I find myself revisiting them then most.
I got hung up on overblowing at about the 6 month point. It actually slowed my progress for a couple of weeks..I was obsessed with it. I recommend you learn other things first and try to control yourself on the overblow issue until later. At nearly 9 months playing time now, I do overblow hole 6 on purpose, as long as i want with vibrato in live music. It is very nice, but i am working on holes 4 and 5 at a much more relaxed pace..there are other skills I need more. Just my recent experience as a rank beginner. I also layed off for around 40 years stuck in first position with my marine band in a desk drawer moving from state to stae with me in the military, pulling it out to play oh'suzanna or dixie about once a year.
I personally think finding a band to play live with does the most for obtaining a "sound" in any instrument, be it a blues sound or otherwise. Find a band and play live . I could never quite get a handle on playing bluesy sounding trumpet or guitar until I played it in a band. Now I find there is even blues mandolin, so that's on the agenda.
Sounding bluesy is more than just notes. I'm sure BBQ Bob will be here shortly to confirm that. Live experience with other musicians has even taught me how to play bluesy sounding conga/percussion...never even gave that a thought a year ago.
Last Edited by on Dec 14, 2009 11:52 AM
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