Harmonica help

m0ngaa · 02-01-2006, 04:39 AM

Ok, so I am going to learn Harmonica.
I am a complete beginner to harmonica, what should i get?
do they come with different amount of holes, etc...?

thanks alot

Ollie The Drumming Legend · 02-03-2006, 11:36 AM

They come in diatonic and chromatic
diatonic = notes of the scale e.g. i have one in c

chromatic = all notes ( I think, Ive not got or seen one, but apparently Stevie Wonder had one...)

Bluesiestman · 02-03-2006, 02:36 PM

Go with a good plain diatonic, in the key of c or d or something like that, not too high or too low, or less you may have problems with bending reeds when you start out. Get a good quality one, Horhner would be the best if you could afford one.

Powderfinger Rocks · 02-04-2006, 07:27 AM

Okay, I too started trying to play the harmonica for one song that my rock band was doing, not sure on how hard it was gonna be to play it, but I was willing to give it a go anyway (The Romantics - What I Like About You).
My friend, who is also the guitarist in our band, reccommended me this site: http://www.harmonica-lessons.co.uk, only the first few lessons are free, but it helped me alot in my efforts to play the harmonica part in the song. We ended up cutting that bit coz it was a bit hard lol. So yea, I hope that helped you a bit.
In reply to one of your questions, I think you should get a C harmonica to start with. I got a D harmonica, but that was because i was playing one song in the key of A Major. I'm pretty sure this is what the person in Billy Hydes Music Shop said; The type of harmonica should be three letters up from the key of the song that you're playing in, i.e. get a C harmonica if ur playing in the key of G Major... something like that. Please, everyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong because i'm only repeating what I think the salesperson told me

So, have fun and I hope you do well with the harmonica

Bluesiestman · 02-04-2006, 05:32 PM

If you play cross harp (blues style), the root note is on the 2nd hole draw, so its a fifth up from the labeled key. For instance, if you play a harp labeled A in cross harp, it would be playing in E.

~kc~ · 02-04-2006, 06:16 PM

well i just started learning at xmas, get a hohner blues harp in C and learn the different ways of playing, like how to curl ur tongue n stuff
www.harmonica-lessons.co.uk that helped me <---

ilikedirt · 02-06-2006, 04:38 PM

Can somone tell me what the notes on my harmonica are ? it's in the key of c with 10 holes. It's diatonic from what i can tell. I thought I had it figured out when I realized that when I blow in hole 4 i get a c, and when i suck on hole four i get a d. So I thought it would stay the same way down the line, but when i get to hole 6 it changes

Anyways i can't find much rhyme or reason to it, help is appreciated

redmancba · 02-06-2006, 04:48 PM

Here you go my friend; the best (diatonic) harmonica site I've ever been to.
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/myquill/

SadStairway · 02-11-2006, 12:36 PM

Get a diatonic harmonica in the key of C to start with. I recommend the Hohner big river harp.

SilverSpoon · 02-12-2006, 02:32 PM

Hey guys, thanks for the info and links. I just got a harmonica the other day (a diatonic one in C). It's a lot of fun!

SilverSpoon · 02-12-2006, 02:33 PM

Hey guys, thanks for the info and links. I just got a harmonica the other day (a diatonic one in C). It's a lot of fun!

02-01-2006, 04:39 AM	#1
m0ngaa Under the Weeping Moon Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 332	Harmonica help Ok, so I am going to learn Harmonica. I am a complete beginner to harmonica, what should i get? do they come with different amount of holes, etc...? thanks alot

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02-03-2006, 11:36 AM	#2
Ollie The Drumming Legend www.myspace.com/eightmtm Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Winchester, England Posts: 1,608	They come in diatonic and chromatic diatonic = notes of the scale e.g. i have one in c chromatic = all notes ( I think, Ive not got or seen one, but apparently Stevie Wonder had one...)

02-03-2006, 02:36 PM	#3
Bluesiestman I'm the Hoodoo Man Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 271	Go with a good plain diatonic, in the key of c or d or something like that, not too high or too low, or less you may have problems with bending reeds when you start out. Get a good quality one, Horhner would be the best if you could afford one.

02-04-2006, 07:27 AM	#4
Powderfinger Rocks Deprived of Sanity Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Melbourne Eastern Suburbs, Victoria, Australia Posts: 186	Okay, I too started trying to play the harmonica for one song that my rock band was doing, not sure on how hard it was gonna be to play it, but I was willing to give it a go anyway (The Romantics - What I Like About You). My friend, who is also the guitarist in our band, reccommended me this site: http://www.harmonica-lessons.co.uk, only the first few lessons are free, but it helped me alot in my efforts to play the harmonica part in the song. We ended up cutting that bit coz it was a bit hard lol. So yea, I hope that helped you a bit. In reply to one of your questions, I think you should get a C harmonica to start with. I got a D harmonica, but that was because i was playing one song in the key of A Major. I'm pretty sure this is what the person in Billy Hydes Music Shop said; The type of harmonica should be three letters up from the key of the song that you're playing in, i.e. get a C harmonica if ur playing in the key of G Major... something like that. Please, everyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong because i'm only repeating what I think the salesperson told me So, have fun and I hope you do well with the harmonica

02-04-2006, 05:32 PM	#5
Bluesiestman I'm the Hoodoo Man Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 271	If you play cross harp (blues style), the root note is on the 2nd hole draw, so its a fifth up from the labeled key. For instance, if you play a harp labeled A in cross harp, it would be playing in E.

02-04-2006, 06:16 PM	#6
~kc~ sammoreton.com Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 352	well i just started learning at xmas, get a hohner blues harp in C and learn the different ways of playing, like how to curl ur tongue n stuff www.harmonica-lessons.co.uk that helped me <---

02-06-2006, 04:38 PM	#7
ilikedirt Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: your shed Posts: 44	Can somone tell me what the notes on my harmonica are ? it's in the key of c with 10 holes. It's diatonic from what i can tell. I thought I had it figured out when I realized that when I blow in hole 4 i get a c, and when i suck on hole four i get a d. So I thought it would stay the same way down the line, but when i get to hole 6 it changes Anyways i can't find much rhyme or reason to it, help is appreciated

02-06-2006, 04:48 PM	#8
redmancba Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: South Florida Posts: 327	Here you go my friend; the best (diatonic) harmonica site I've ever been to. http://www.angelfire.com/tx/myquill/

02-11-2006, 12:36 PM	#9
SadStairway Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 245	Get a diatonic harmonica in the key of C to start with. I recommend the Hohner big river harp.

02-12-2006, 02:32 PM	#10
SilverSpoon Open up a can of nothing Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Canadiana Posts: 418	Hey guys, thanks for the info and links. I just got a harmonica the other day (a diatonic one in C). It's a lot of fun!

02-12-2006, 02:33 PM	#11
SilverSpoon Open up a can of nothing Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Canadiana Posts: 418	Hey guys, thanks for the info and links. I just got a harmonica the other day (a diatonic one in C). It's a lot of fun!