Harmonicas

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dwarf

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Ok I'm looking to buy myself a harmonica. I want to be able to pull one out of my pocket and be all like "wah wah boo bee doo wah" and have women come from miles around just to hear me play. I'm looking for a blues harmonica and have been looking at some on ebay like the one here but I'm not sure if I should get a chromatic one :confused:

I'm looking to spend about $50AUS as that seems to be the mid point for harmonicas on ebay.

Could you guys please tell me what I'd be looking for when buying a harmonica?
 
dwarf said:
Ok I'm looking to buy myself a harmonica. I want to be able to pull one out of my pocket and be all like "wah wah boo bee doo wah" and have women come from miles around just to hear me play. I'm looking for a blues harmonica and have been looking at some on ebay like the one here but I'm not sure if I should get a chromatic one :confused:

I'm looking to spend about $50AUS as that seems to be the mid point for harmonicas on ebay.

Could you guys please tell me what I'd be looking for when buying a harmonica?
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Get a diatonic to start with. They're alot easier to learn on than a chromatic. Although, I had a friend in high school that learned on a chromatic just by carrying it every where he went and playing it all the time. I don't miss that guy.

I think you have the right idea though by steering clear of the ultra cheapo's. They are'nt consistent in tuning and alot of times have sharp/flat notes.

That's about all the advice I have. I still can't play for shit but it's fun.
 
Oh half the reason I'm getting one is so that I can be an annoying prick to my friends. When I feel like it go off to a corner and start playing.

Did you check the one in the link? What do you think of it.
I believe I'm going to get one in "a" as the majoroty of blues stuff I create is in A.

tHANKs for the heads up on the chromatic difficulties
 
dwarf said:
Oh half the reason I'm getting one is so that I can be an annoying prick to my friends. When I feel like it go off to a corner and start playing.

Did you check the one in the link? What do you think of it.
I believe I'm going to get one in "a" as the majoroty of blues stuff I create is in A.

tHANKs for the heads up on the chromatic difficulties
Click to expand...

I've seen alot of guys carrying that one around. It's about as cheap as you probably want to go. If you can afford it, get a diatonic and a chromatic. Diatonic = some instant gratification, which may help you to stick with it.

Beware, it's addictive! Especially after you learn how to bend. You'll be making these faces........and thinkin your pretty cool.........and people will laugh at you.
 
I'd be willing to spend more if I got better quallity

I'll quickly look up a few more on ebay and check back with you.

Thanks for your help.
 
Ok It seems as though I don't have much choice. And I don't have a music store where I live it seems as though my options are #1 #2 or the origional one we were talking about.

Thanks for your help mate.
 
dwarf said:
Ok It seems as though I don't have much choice. And I don't have a music store where I live it seems as though my options are #1 #2 or the origional one we were talking about.

Thanks for your help mate.
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google up some beginner harmonica tutorials and you'll find some good recommendations. i have'nt used the ones you've mentioned and i'm certainly no expert on anything, especially when it comes to harmonica's so I don't want to grab the wheel and steer you into a crapper. someone with more experience will chime in.
 
...and get one of those bob dylan harmonica holders to use when playin guitar (if u play guitar of course), it impresses the sh@#t out of anyone that doesn't play instruments, especially the ladies. Their like "oh my god how do you play two instruments at once?!?". seriously i play at a bar and when i pull the harmonica out you can hears the "ooohs" :)
 
npost1484 said:
...and get one of those bob dylan harmonica holders to use when playin guitar (if u play guitar of course), it impresses the sh@#t out of anyone that doesn't play instruments, especially the ladies. Their like "oh my god how do you play two instruments at once?!?". seriously i play at a bar and when i pull the harmonica out you can hears the "ooohs" :)
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lol, i got one of those too. your right too. people look at me like i know what the hell i'm doin.....i have no clue. it makes me sound alot better when i can backup my random notes with some guitar chords.
 
I'm going to get a "lee oscar" in the key of D becuase the key of D is actually A

Or some shit like that. and yes I will be buying one of thoes holders.
 
dwarf said:
I'm going to get a "lee oscar" in the key of D becuase the key of D is actually A

Or some shit like that. and yes I will be buying one of thoes holders.
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Oh yes, the holder is where it's at my friend. Very wise decision.

As far as keys go, if you will be playing over a minor progression, get one that's tuned to that keys relative major. for example: you play the o' A minor blues progression, get a C. If you play an A major progression, get an A.
 
Oh yeah it's Dylans birthday today isn't it (or was)

Perfect day for a harmonica purchase
 
Ok i have been playing blues harp for over 25 years.

Get your self a book that explains cross harp.This is playing say a D harp in the key of A,or a A harp in the Key of E etc etc.
The blues sound comes from bending notes you basicaly create the blue notes
by changeing the pitch of the note.(your flattened 3rds,5ths 7ths and so on)

So get your self a decent book or DVD etc a good harp Lee oskars are good
Hohner special 20 ,Pro harp are all good.Go for a plastic not wood.
The better brands will be easier to play and last longer.
Although there are some resonable cheap ones like Folkmaster alright at 1/4 of the price of a Lee Oskar etc in Aussie anyway.

If you want to be playing blues styles the Rack idea is difficult not easy at all
the Dylan style is way easier in the rack.
You got to listen and play thats my advice.Also there is nothing worse than
bad harp that is to loud and to much of it in a song. less is more.

Cheers Luke.
 
I have several of the blues harps that you linked to in the first post. I like them. They'll die eventually (one of the reeds flats out, etc.), but cheap enough to replace. But when they're good, they're pretty decent sounding.

You will ultimately need to buy a few different keys, and then it's still not enough. I have an A, G, C, and D, maybe an E I think, but whenever I want to add harmonica to something, it's never in one of those (or their crossharp) keys.

Learn a few Neil Young songs - great for the guitar and harp combo. Heart of Gold is easy, but impressive to non musicians. Also, for solo playing, a few of those old American standard folk or cowboy tunes are a must - Streets of Laredo, anything by Stephen Collins Foster, etc. One of the best tunes to pracitce some tricky breathing (and one of my favs to play) is Arkansas Traveller. Has a lot of in-in-out, out-out-in stuff over different holes, and some good tongue stuff (gross). Confusing at first, but satisfying when you start to get it.
 
lukeslim said:
...Also there is nothing worse than
bad harp that is to loud and to much of it in a song...
Click to expand...
Alanis Morisette, anyone? Never understood how her mgmt. or producer could ever allow that noise on the final master. gack!
 
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