Best books about hramonicas according to redditors
We found 223 Reddit comments discussing the best books about hramonicas. We ranked the 20 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 223 Reddit comments discussing the best books about hramonicas. We ranked the 20 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
Intensive practice can yield good results if you're sensible.
Temper your expectations.
Pace yourself.
Don't give up.
Learn from the best
> Is the harmonica an instrument that beginners can learn?
Piano is definitely easy-mode for learning about the foundations of music. Its typically much more expensive however, even small electronic keyboards can cost hundreds (and don't have the best feel when playing either).
However, the certain set of songs the Harmonica was originally designed to play, is going to be the set of beginner songs that you'd practice with a Piano anyway. These are your "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", "Mary had a Little Lamb", and the like. In fact, a book like America Harmonica Songbook will contain nothing but beginner friendly songs (on Harmonica OR the piano).
However... the Harmonica has a number of advanced techniques. Bending and Overblowing are difficult maneuvers needed to unlock certain notes. (notes that are just... there... on a Piano or other instrument). Chords are also difficult, often requiring tongue-blocking (ie: an octave blowing through holes 1 and 4 while tongue-blocking 2 and 3).
Performing the techniques aren't necessarily hard. But performing them in a musically coherent way? That will take years of training your lips, tongue and throat to do all the techniques. It probably won't take you much longer than a week or two before you can perform an overblow for example, one of the hardest notes to sound. But to play it with a rich tone, accurately, while thinking about chords (and everything else going on in a song) is what takes the years of practice.
Not that any instrument is easy mind you. Playing a set of chords in triplets with your left hand, while playing them in 4/4 common time in your right hand on a piano also takes years of practice. I guess what I'm saying is... music gets hard.
If you want to mess around with 1st position songs (America the Beautiful. Happy Birthday. Mary had a little lamb), the Harmonica is more than acceptable. There's a ton of songs to learn in this simple style.
If you want to pull out a Whammer Jammer? That's gonna take years to learn.
Look for Winslow Yerxa's Harmonica for Dummies.
In the meantime there's this list.
At that stage in the game I would really recommend this book https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00L7VLV3Q/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
This book has really helped me.
The Natural Blues and Country-Western Harmonica: A Beginners Guide https://www.amazon.com/dp/0825699231/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_GkFiDbFE8KW3K
Take a look at the sidebar. There are pointers to web sites that can get you started. Or you could go old school and pick up a book like Jon Gindick's Country and Blues Harmonica or Harmonica for Dummies. The dummies author, Winslow Yerxa, also has a good Blues Harmonica for Dummies. Or you could just start playing with it. Good luck! Have fun!
Harmonica for Dummies is a pretty good place to start. I don't usually like the "for Dummies" books, but this one is a gem.
Paul Butterfield - Blues Harmonica Master Class: Book/Online Audio https://www.amazon.com/dp/0793581303/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_G5gPCbM33VETC
Get a C scale harmonica.
And check out this book: http://www.amazon.com/Instant-Blues-Harmonica-Ed-Improvisation/dp/0918321727/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1345528043&sr=8-4&keywords=david+harp
I learned on this. I swear by it.
This book has quite the collection: Cowboy Songs for Harmonica if you want to learn to play them. I’m sure you could also find them online/YouTube/etc
Been dealing with this issue on my secret santa, what to get someone, when by the things that they like they probably have stuff they need. If he's interested in harmonica's and doesn't have one, then a C special 20 would be good. If hes like me, I have everything but a few odd keys, and some duplicates (with broken reeds)
If they have harps, then maybe some books:
These are a few I don't have... ya know, if my Santa comes by
http://www.amazon.com/Blues-Harmonica-Collection-Leonard-Corp/dp/0793516005
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1480312916/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_3?pf_rd_p=1944687642&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0793516005&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1QZN7YP1JS15KEWNTYAX
Some other books that have both sheet music and tabs that I've bought and would recommend:
https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Blues-Harmonica-Licks-Book/dp/1480312916/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0793516005/
Harmonica, harmonica pouch, and a harmonica book. Cool, cheap instrument that you can carry around with you everywhere. Do something useful with your time and money.
I'm working through this book. I'm not sure if other members will have a better recommendation.
This is one of my most favorite pastimes haha!
Hohner Special 20 harmonica in C
[Set of harmonicas in different keys] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000A2HDXA?colid=1SQ1CCJDQASEJ&coliid=I37C0F3ZI7ZBL3)
Harmonica book
(I really want to learn, half the reeds are busted up on my current one)
PowerSaves for Pokemon
Cigarette case
Window crystal thingies (blue and clear)
Here is a little Harmonica Curriculum from someone who has bounced around nearly every instrument for a time or three.
Part One
The Harp Handbook
Rock 'n Blues Harmonica
Part 2
Building Harmonica Technique
Blues Harmonica Collection
Part 3
Just listen to everyone you can, analyze how they play (transcribe solos if you can) and work on developing your own style, learning songs and learning how to play with others.
Listen To- Little Walter, Big Walter, Sonny Terry, Carey Bell, John Popper and Howard Levy so you don't trick yourself into feeling "limited" by harmonica.
Learning a bit extra of music theory wouldn't hurt either, especially if you want to play with bands.
You are absolutely going to need multiple harmonicas if you want to play with other bands- other instruments tend to get tired of always playing in G. If you're just playing by yourself, though, all you need is one in C (or whatever key works best for your voice) to work most harmonica books.
Thanks for your feedback - I think you're right in thinking now is the time to focus on your breathing, because breathing leads directly into your tone. I remember when I was starting out, after I had gotten a grip on how to isolate notes and move around the harp, I focused a lot on breathing from my stomach. This gives you a deep and full bodied tone, especially from the lower notes. You don't want to "chirp" them. Here is a video that really helped me with this concept starting out.
I think it would also be useful to start thinking about different positions on the harp over the next few months. I'm not sure how familiar you are just yet, but depending on where you start and what notes you stick to, you can play different styles easily. First position lets you play basic melodies, but when you move into second and third position you can really start feeling the blues. This is a book that really helped me.
Finally, I really like your idea of an overarching song when you're first learning. It would be cool to break it down into different exercises and riffs, then build it up to a full song at the end. I'll definitely keep this in mind when building the site.
I've been trying to teach myself the harmonica. It's really easy to get into (just buy a harmonica (like this or this and maybe a book) and then you can start! My family has always been musical, and playing music is a potent release for me. I'll try to upload something to soundcloud or something to chronicle my progress.
Anyone else into playing music?
https://www.amazon.com/Irish-American-Fiddle-Tunes-Harmonica/dp/0931759102
Really though, all these melodies can be done an octave higher and get the same goal. All the Paddy tuning gives is opening up the lower octave for faster tunes. For your ballads you can even get away with bending for that missing note a paddy gives. The Paddy tuning was originally conceived for the fact consistantly hitting that bend in faster playing sounded horrid.
Just look at the notes available on a regular Richter and compare it to sheet music. Don't be afraid to bend in folk melody playing, at least if you're not accompanying anyone.
Look in used bookstores:
http://www.amazon.com/Country-Harmonica-Musically-Hopeless-Cassette/dp/0932592082
This got me where I was going, anyway, and ultimately gave me a pretty good basis to teach myself guitar a couple years later . . . and then make fumbling attempts at counterpoint later.
http://www.amazon.com/Play-Harmonica-Instantly-Alfred-Publishing/dp/0936601671/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304022971&sr=8-1
I used this book when I was first starting out. Nothing unique about the book, they all pretty much outline the same stuff. Work on hitting one note at a time. Blow first, then draw. pm me if you have any specific questions.