Harmonica

[RacerX]

Wanna get into it.

Facts, wisdom, tips, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Whatever ya got, spill it. Probably gonna pick up a Hohner Special 20 in "B" to start so I can blow it with my open "E" tuned guitar.

4 semitones down = right key for blowing the blooze, that much, I understand.

Go!

[clockwork green]

Harmonica is the wah pedal for singers...it's a trap!

[bitter]

I heard a story at a local shop about a homeless guy who walked in and asked to try out a couple different harmonicas. They told him no and he said, "They'd let me try one if this was guitar center"! They told him, "Then go to guitar center"

[RacerX]

Alrighty then.

[Lumpy]

I tried playing it casually for about a year, many years ago. It's easy to get started and be able to play a little bit, but it's hard to be really good. Like anything else I guess. Obviously, practice all the fucking time is the #1 tip. Look on YouTube for instructional videos. It's all about being able to manipulate your mouth, quickly. I can barely talk, so I didn't have much potential.

[spookstrickland]

I tried years ago too.  I never got the hang of it.  I had a damn chromatic one which is super hard for a beginner to make decent sound with.  I hope you pick it up and master it though.  I love the sound of a good harmonica.

[MichaelZodiac]

If you want some good harmonica I suggest you check out Toots Thielemans, a fellow Belgian who really knows how to play it. He's 90 now and still going strong. Probably next to Django Reinhardt and Philippe Catherine our most well known musician. He has played with Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, Jaco Pastorius and the like. I grew up with his stuff, I've had several harmonicas when I was a kid but besides the obvious tones I wasn't very good at it.

[RAGER]

Thee first instrument I ever played. 1976.  My sisters boyfriend played "blues harp" and I of course worshiped him so he gave me a couple and some pointers.  I still pick one up from time to time.  I actually play mine upside down.  Always have.  

[jibberish]

at first i was looking for something funny, but this turned out cool. i love the bass they get .

there are awesome players for everything i guess heh wow.

[Czernobog]

Do not start with chromatic harmonica.  Start simple and learn the different notes from blowing in and out in one key of harmonica.  Then learn to change the sound and pitch of the notes with your mouth tongue and hands.  Then learn songs and other key harmonicas.

[RacerX]

Thanks, all!

Yeah, I have no delusions of starting on a chromatic harp. To start, I'm gonna pick up a Hohner Special 20 as noted above.

[Lumpy]

Chromatic harmonicas are harder to bend notes on. And that little half-step thing they do, you don't really need.

[I,Galactus]

I got a Hohner Blues Harp MS sittin' around somewheres.  I like the idea of the MS (modular system) because you can swap out different reeds.

That being said, I can't play it for shit but wish I could.   

[Lumpy]

A safari-looking vest with lots of pockets, that's the secret.