hey there! i've recently picked up an old harmonica and was wondering if anyone here played, and if so, what key do you prefer? any tips to a beginner? also... who would you recommend listening to to get a better feel for that REAL blues harp feel? thanks!
When I first picked up a harmonica I knew nothing about keys or anything, and to some extent I still don't. My favorite sounding blues harp is probably the G key harp.
Hmm I'd suggest beginning in an A or a C (the A is easier for bending notes etc). As for music, probably the old stuff like Sunny Terry etc. Hope that helps and good luck
thanks guys! mine is in A... and actually as luck would have it, there are a few people who play where i'm taking banjo lessons. i found a site mentioning big walter horton and listened to some of his stuff... i was blown away! when i thought i may want to play, i didn't realize that such a tiny little piece of wood and metal was so profoundly awesome just by itself. so exciting!
For Me the D and E are the easiest for bending notes. The thing is with harps, you have to play songs in the 5th. With a D, you have to play a D harp on a blues in A, so you can play the D and E notes when they come up, and same goes for the E, it plays in B and you can play the E and F# when it comes up in the blues... Best example, Jethro Tull's "It's Breaking Me Up" from 'This Was'. or Led Zeppelin's "When The Levee Breaks", You'd think he was playing an F harp, but he's actually playing a Bb, because F is the 5th of the Bb scale. You get what I'm saying?
i got the first part i don't know enough about music, or harps to be able to pick out who is playing what what key though... at all. but i get your drift! thanks!
Well I'm no expert here but if you look up the key online and it says C then you've gotta play in G, or alternatively experiment with different harps till you've got the right one that'll work fine.
I thnk you mean Kansas Joy McCoy and Memphis Minnie's "When The Levee Breaks", later covered by Led Zeppelin. It was written by husband and wife Kansas Joy McCoy and Memphis Minnie in 1929. Memphis Minnie was one of the best guitarists of her time.
The key depends as to the instrument your jammin with, ie, guitarists tend to prefer E, violinists D etc... and check out harmonica slim, nowe thats harp :H
I love a good wailing blues harp. I play harp sometimes, never been great at it, but I can play any bob dylan harmonica
