Harmonica

[Dicky Knee]

Miss Knee (age 23) and I listen to a lot of bluesy music and I have started to learn to play guitar which I am finding quite therapeutic.

She used to play clarinet but has more or less given up on that but said last night that she would like to give the harmonica a go.

With Christmas coming up I'd like to get her a harmonica and maybe a music book with some beginner tunes she would recognise.

Given that this may end up in a drawer after a couple of weeks of ear bleeds I don't want to spend a fortune-maybe £40-50 but I just had a quick Google and have no idea really where to start. I stupidly thought a harmonica is a harmonica but it is way more complicated.

Can anyone give me an idea of what I should be looking for and maybe a recommendation (apart from 'Don't do it')?

D.

Edited by Dicky Knee on Tuesday 14th November 11:47

[garybezz]

I'm definitely no expert but dabble in a bit of bad harmonica playing to go alongside my equally bad guitar.

First thing is, you need a diatonic (10 hole) harp for blues and the majority of rock, pop, country etc.
Almost all instructional material is based around a harmonica in the key of C so you will want one of those (which is used to play blues in G)

Your budget will give you no end of choice of harmonica - my preference is Hohner Marine Band which are around £35. You can pay more for Deluxe and Crossover versions but I've no idea what you get for the extra money!

Loads of free lessons on Youtube - Adam Gussows beginner lessons are good.
Again, lots of books available - Blues Harp by Tony 'Little Sun' Glover is a bit of a classic but not sure if its available new. Step One Play Harmonica by Peter Picow and Jason A Shulman is a favourite of the ones I've got. Starts from the very basics but progresses quite quickly to some decent tunes.

It can get a bit addictive. Thats just part of the collection

[GiantEnemyCrab]

I bought a harmonica after binging a few of these videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F2eXCvzfTA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yejx38I7TOs

[Dicky Knee]

GiantEnemyCrab said:

I bought a harmonica after binging a few of these videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F2eXCvzfTA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yejx38I7TOs

Excellent. I hadn't really considered a new frying pan as well but it looks like fun.

[Dicky Knee]

garybezz said:

I'm definitely no expert but dabble in a bit of bad harmonica playing to go alongside my equally bad guitar.

First thing is, you need a diatonic (10 hole) harp for blues and the majority of rock, pop, country etc.
Almost all instructional material is based around a harmonica in the key of C so you will want one of those (which is used to play blues in G)

Your budget will give you no end of choice of harmonica - my preference is Hohner Marine Band which are around £35. You can pay more for Deluxe and Crossover versions but I've no idea what you get for the extra money!

Loads of free lessons on Youtube - Adam Gussows beginner lessons are good.
Again, lots of books available - Blues Harp by Tony 'Little Sun' Glover is a bit of a classic but not sure if its available new. Step One Play Harmonica by Peter Picow and Jason A Shulman is a favourite of the ones I've got. Starts from the very basics but progresses quite quickly to some decent tunes.

It can get a bit addictive. Thats just part of the collection

She's only getting one! On her own after that.

Thanks for the reply.

I had a look around on YouTube this afternoon and the diatonic in C seems to be the place to start. Hohner Special 20 came up a couple of times as well.

[Nethybridge]

I know it's heresy, but I would
avoid the brands
with wooden combs [ Honher ] and go
with plastic ones [ lee Oskar, Suzuki ].

They don't swell after a length of time, and are easier on the mouth.

[Dicky Knee]

Nethybridge said:

I know it's heresy, but I would
avoid the brands
with wooden combs [ Honher ] and go
with plastic ones [ lee Oskar, Suzuki ].

They don't swell after a length of time, and are easier on the mouth.

Thanks for this.

I have a Hohner Special 20 on my desk right now with a plastic comb. I saw a YouTube video where they said that learners tend to generate a lot of spit (sounds unpleasant) so plastic is the way to go!