Other web Sites
Harmonica Blues  Harmonica Amps
Harmonica Links Harmonica Pages
• Archives Home
• Years
 · 1992
 · 1993
 · 1994
 · 1995
 · 1996
 · 1997 		 · 1998
 · 1999
 · 2000
 · 2001
 · 2002
 · 2003
 
Web HarpL
Ebay Searches:
Amps:
Microphones:
Effects:
Harmonicas and Gear:
Harmonica Music and Instruction:

 

 

Harp-L Archives

[Previous Message] [Next Message]
[Previous in Thread] [Next in Thread]
[Start of Thread] [End of Thread]

From: mark mcphee
Date: Wed, 9 Oct 96 21:51:02 PDT
Subject: Re: Help

Bryan Wrote:

>I am new to harping, very new, and know little about playing. I have been
>a blues fan for years and have enjoyed the harmonica and bands driven by
>it. I am looking for someone who might be willing to talk to me via
>e-mail about how to get started, what to buy and such. Thanks for any
>help.

Bryan,

I would be glad to pass along what I have learned to date. I have been
researching for the past year now and have a good many instructional
books, CDs and videos currently on the market. (most of this is
business related research) I recently returned from David Barrett's
Masterclass in San Jose (I highly recommend it next year). For
starters, Harmonicas Harps and Heavy Breathers by Kim Fields is a great
read and probably at your local library. In fact I would check out your
library for any of these materials first before you buy any one of them.

As far as Harmonicas go get the best one you can afford. Get one in the
key of C (most instructional materials are written for this key) Only
go mail order as you can buy two for the price of retail these days. I
have purchased a ton of Harmonicas (including a Filisko custom all
brass harp and rebuilt Marine Band) and find that my personal favorite
commercial diatonic harps are:

Golden Melody or Lee Oskar (Good price and consistent to start).

Suzuki Easy Rider (cheap but good) A little more solid than Hohner's
Pocket Pal. Good Sound for starting out. (I also like Suzuki Promaster
valved harps as they have completely different high quality feel and I
prefer them to Hohners Meisterclass)

Kevin's Harp is about the best price and service you'll find for harps
and supplies.
800-27-Harp-N They are having a sale during October, 20% off everything.

Listen to as much harp playing as you can. ( I have large discography
if you want reviews, I can send that to you if you like.)

If you can find a good teacher in your area I think you can progress
much faster than on your own. I have many more materials than those I
have listed but here are the instructional materials I would recommend.
Your own learning style really dictates what is useful for you. (IMHO
these are the best and are listed in order of preference within each
category)

BEGINNER:

Books/tapes/CD:
Harmonica for the musically hopeless Book, Harp and Cassette. (For the
money the best place to start)

Blues Harmonica for beginners w/ CD (progressive publishing)

Instant Blues Harmonica Cassette by David McKelvy

Blues Harmonica- Beyond the Blues 3 cassettes no book Gary Primich

Music Theory Made Easy by David Harp

Video:
Harmonica Power 1 by Norton Buffalo Homespun Tapes 800 33-tapes

Blues Harmonica John Sebastian Homespun Tapes 800 33-tapes
(Norton Buffalo's is better)


INTERMEDIATE:
Books/tapes/CD:
David Barretts Building your harmonica Technique w/Tape

Dr Midnight Tapes Buy direct from Dr. Midnight to get the
Harp'l(er's) discount.($10 ea.)

David Barretts Chicago Blues w/CD

Sonny Terry Licks for Blues Harmonica w/CD Tom Ball (You'll need and
Key of A harp. Its just Riffs in Key of A I like this a lot)

Harmonica Jam Trax (cassette accompaniment soundtrack with harmonica)

Stand Alone (CD accompaniment soundtrack for guitar, Blues, Jazz,
country, etc.)

Video:
???

ADVANCED:
Books/tapes/CD:
The Harp Handbook w/CD by Steve Baker Awesome book on tunings and
construction

Video:
New Directions for Harmonica by Howard Levy Homespun Tapes 800
33-tapes

Avoid:

- -Avoid at all cost the Junior Wells video as it teaches nothing but how
not to do a video!!!
- -Teach Yourself to play the Harmonica Ron and Steve Manus 3 or 4 songs
with the harp and the rest with a bad synthesizer.

All the Best,

- -mcphee...


Near Seattle...

"...where the blues come
and go with the rain;
but then, life's too short
to worry about gettin' wet!"
-mcphee