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.

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Top Reddit comments about Harmonicas:

u/winslowyerxa · 14 pointsr/harmonica

Intensive practice can yield good results if you're sensible.

Temper your expectations.

  • You learn at the pace you learn; you won't get good overnight.

  • Treasure your victories, however small. A win is a win.

  • Be patient with yourself.

    Pace yourself.

  • Break up your practice into shorter sessions so you don't burn out.

  • Work intensively on one small thing at a time.

  • Break your learning into "chunks." It's easier to work on one chunk at a time and then string them together.

  • Work on something, go away for awhile, then come back again, but don't wait too long. Learning can evaporate if left too long, but can be strengthened by short intervals between working on the same thing.

  • Alternate practice with other activities so you stay fresh.

    Don't give up.

  • Frustration is always greatest just before a breakthrough.

  • Consistency will get you there in time.

    Learn from the best

  • Get a good harmonica book or video course. (I humbly submit that mine, Harmonica For Dummies, with 408 pages, tons of audio examples along with online videos and animations, is one of them).

  • Learn about good learning strategies. I recommend Daniel Coyle's The Little Book of Practice.
u/dragontamer5788 · 8 pointsr/harmonica

> 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.

u/Dr_Legacy · 6 pointsr/harmonica

Look for Winslow Yerxa's Harmonica for Dummies.

In the meantime there's this list.

u/rocknhorse · 5 pointsr/harmonica

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

u/stricknein · 3 pointsr/harmonica

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

u/tallpapab · 3 pointsr/harmonica

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!

u/alephnul · 3 pointsr/harmonica

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.

u/Nathandean · 2 pointsr/harmonica

Paul Butterfield - Blues Harmonica Master Class: Book/Online Audio https://www.amazon.com/dp/0793581303/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_G5gPCbM33VETC

u/lostmykeysonbroadway · 2 pointsr/Music
  1. Always have a harmonica in your pocket. Always. You never know when you'll have 5 minutes to blow a tune.

  2. Go on walks through your neighborhood and play every night. It's the perfect practice environment (especially when you're just learning)... by the time anyone cares to look outside and see who's making the noise you'll already be down the street!

  3. Play any simple song you can and play it repetitively. I started with Amazing Grace, The Man on the Flying Trapeze, Dixie Land, and a bunch of church hymns I remember from when I was young. They aren't suppose to impress anyone... they're supposed to teach your mouth what happens when you blow through your harmonica. They will also teach your ear how to hear the harmonica and you'll get used to where the holes are and what the pitches are relative to one another.

  4. Don't only play slow songs.

  5. Don't only play fast songs.

  6. Change keys. Sometimes when you're practicing in a C, stop and play the exact same thing on an A. It will teach you the differences in how the keys play and it will help you further get used to the sounds and placement of the intervals.

  7. Don't be afraid of repetition. It's okay, for example, to practice a single train chug on a 6 block walk. Also, play scales often as warm-ups.

  8. Record yourself. I have recordings dating back to my first week on the harp. It's good to be able to listen to yourself and hear what you sound like. Also, you'll occasionally record a gem that's worth sharing with friends and Redditors.

  9. Search YouTube and try to emulate people you hear. Some favorites of mine are Sonny Terry, Buddy Greene and G Love.

  10. Even if you can't come close to copying them, you can listen to harp music all the time to get it stuck in your soul. I got a hold of a copy of A History of Blues Harmonica and never stopped listening to it. I also got heavily into listening to Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Big Walter, Howlin Wolf and the whole Chicago Blues scene.

  11. I almost forgot that when I first picked up a harp I went to the library and checked out Rock n' Blues Harmonica by John Gindick. It's as good an introduction to the harmonica as your going to get in a book.

  12. Blow, baby, blow! It is a quick learning curve but it won't feel like it sometimes. Just play and keep on playing!

u/duus · 2 pointsr/harmonica

I learned on this. I swear by it.

u/GuitarFish98 · 1 pointr/harmonica

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

u/iComeInPeices · 1 pointr/harmonica

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

u/Easy75 · 1 pointr/harmonica

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/

u/[deleted] · 1 pointr/AskReddit

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.

u/clhydro · 1 pointr/harmonica

I'm working through this book. I'm not sure if other members will have a better recommendation.

u/aliengem · 1 pointr/randomactsofamazon

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)

u/tipsyopossum · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

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.

u/harmonicaben · 1 pointr/harmonica

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.

u/AmorbulousCras · 1 pointr/NoFap

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?

u/BadlandsJohn · 1 pointr/harmonica

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.

u/sincinnatislink · 1 pointr/IWantToLearn

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.

u/RobotCarl · 1 pointr/harmonica

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.