Anyone play harmonica?

Peter Bond · Post by **Peter Bond** » Fri May 10, 2013 7:30 pm

I know they can sound cheesy and like an anal kazoo but sometimes they do sound good. I'm going to buy one tomorrow and was just wondering if anyone here has any love for the blues harp and any tips on how "do it" properly.

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Fri May 10, 2013 7:31 pm

Love them. Always wanted to learn to play but never did.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Fri May 10, 2013 7:37 pm

Along with twelve strings and panpipes, I think they (and their players) should be fed into chippers. Buy a cheap pedal instead. I would recommend a Behringer SF300 or VD400.

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Fri May 10, 2013 7:39 pm

When you're sitting in a non air-conditioned jail cell in the American deep south circa 1940, you'll be humming a different tune there Benecol.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Fri May 10, 2013 7:42 pm

IMAGINE BEING TRAPPED IN A CELL WITH A HARMONICA PLAYER.

I'd be begging for the chair.

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Fri May 10, 2013 7:44 pm

I know what I'm getting Benecol for christmas. Hope John Popper knows christmas carols...

Peter Bond · Post by **Peter Bond** » Fri May 10, 2013 7:48 pm

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Fri May 10, 2013 7:51 pm

Shakira says harmonicas are cool. You know it's gotta be true because her hips don't lie.

Peter Bond · Post by **Peter Bond** » Fri May 10, 2013 7:53 pm

endsjustifymeans wrote:Shakira says harmonicas are cool. You know it's gotta be true because her hips don't lie.

And that's proof enough for me.

Brandon W · Post by **Brandon W** » Fri May 10, 2013 8:11 pm

I am a fan and i have a real good friend who is amazing. I'm the minority.

George · Post by **George** » Fri May 10, 2013 10:23 pm

benecol wrote:IMAGINE BEING TRAPPED IN A CELL WITH A HARMONICA PLAYER.

I'd be begging for the chair.

haha

i have a lee oskar is C major (btw, lee oskar is the one you want to buy) - c major also happens to be the one used in 99% of all recorded music with harmonicas.

i don't really play it much. thought about buying one in E minor and G major cos i tend to be in those keys most of the time.

can sound really trite and boring but they can really lift songs up in the right situation

robert(original) · Post by **robert(original)** » Sat May 11, 2013 5:00 pm

i just got a marine band hohner in "A" since i play a few bluegrass type tunes and its a good filler when playing, i have only ever screwed around before, but now im taking it seriously and learning some technique with it. i want to get a "c" and a "g" maybe one in "d" but def a "c" next.
its a good bit of fun and if you are busking it def helps bring in the cash flow.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Sat May 11, 2013 7:35 pm

I have two, one in D and one in A that I use for playing cross harp in A or E. Learning to bend is the tricky part that'll cause you to fall out with youre housemates and neighbours. Once you get the hang of that though, the whole thing opens up a bit.

Mine are both Hohner, one's a Marine Band and the other's a Blues Harp. Love the big Marine Band sound.

LizardKing · Post by **LizardKing** » Sun May 12, 2013 12:19 am

Peter Bond · Post by **Peter Bond** » Sun May 12, 2013 9:46 am

Thanks LizardKing, I'll rest easy now.

All those who do play, I can't work out how to cover only one note at a time. Do I have to make my mouth into a pigeon's arsehole?

George · Post by **George** » Sun May 12, 2013 9:58 am

there are some pretty good tutorials on youtube. well worth a watch

[youtube][/youtube]

LizardKing · Post by **LizardKing** » Sun May 12, 2013 2:49 pm

Peter Bond wrote:Thanks LizardKing, I'll rest easy now.

All those who do play, I can't work out how to cover only one note at a time. Do I have to make my mouth into a pigeon's arsehole?

Glad I could be of help.
I think you need to shoot for something smaller like a robin's arsehole.
Likely one of the reasons why I don't play the infernal Satan's devices,
my lips just don't do "bird arsehole" very well.

iCEByTes · Post by **iCEByTes** » Sun May 12, 2013 6:49 pm

Harp for me

[youtube][/youtube]
[youtube][/youtube]

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Sun May 12, 2013 7:03 pm

Peter Bond wrote:Thanks LizardKing, I'll rest easy now.

All those who do play, I can't work out how to cover only one note at a time. Do I have to make my mouth into a pigeon's arsehole?

Yes, Pretty much. You want to get as much of your face around the thing as you can though, so it's not that hard. Like properly pucker forward and have the harmonica pressed into a cushion of face. Or, if you want you can sort of make a U shape with your tongue and use it, or block a whole to one side with your tongue so as to limit the size of your lip hole.

robert(original) · Post by **robert(original)** » Sun Aug 11, 2013 12:04 pm

how are you faring peter? i now have two marine bands in "a" and "c" and i have a special 20 in "e" im starting to be able really bend and get it to sound like i know what im doing. its been pretty cool when im writing acoustic tunes i will pick one up, jam around for a minute, it helps me come up with a vocal melody that isn't predictable or mundane.