8 replies to this topic

[bluesguy123]

I am a big blues guitarist and i want to start the harmonica for blues. I want the hophner blues harp. Is this a good harmonica to get for me as a beginner. I've got good reviews from it and it's only 18 dollars for the key of E. one more question, In the harmonica is blues the same way as with guitar. Meaning are some popular blues keys E, G, and C?

[Blueblood]

This a good start!
http://www.freeharmonicalessons.com/

[FatJim]

Yes - it's a good quality harp you're thinking about. E is a good blues key, but to play E blues harp you should get an A harp. An E harp isn't that much use. Actually I would buy a C harp first if you're going to use any instructional books or videos, because that's what all the instructional books use (Except the Jerry Portnoy CDs which use mostly an A harp - it's well worth the investment BTW)

Using a harp which is a 5th up from the music key is called cross harp. It's really the cornerstone of blues harmonica.

As you learn you'll need more harps if you want to play with other musicians (or accompany your own guitar maybe).

After C the other really useful keys are A, D and G. If you wanna play along to blues bros stuff you might wanna pick up an Eb along the way, because horn players tend to favour flat keys.

[bluesguy123]

thnks but im looking more on wat harp's to buy and what keysare good for the old southern blues

[bluesguy123]

o ok so e isnt much use.. i've heard differently but from ther guy who werent even harp players. I really dont want a C for 2 reasons. 1) Its not good for blues 2) i dont want to have to buy another harp after learnig. I think i mihgt get an A though?

[FatJim]

There are also a whole bunch of free instructional videos on YouTube:

Adam Gussow is the harp players harp player, technically brilliant, but lacking the public recognition he deserves.

http://www.youtube.com/user/KudzuRunner

Jason Ricci is shaking things up in the harp world with a punky attitude and a tight, funky blues fusion band. He's also (IMHO) one of the best modern players you'll hear:

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=jasonricci

John Gindick is a highly respected harp teacher.

http://www.youtube.com/user/JamCamp06

And Ronnie Shellist is a great player offering free lessons too:

http://www.youtube.com/user/RonnieShellist

[FatJim]

OK. There are no harps that aren't good for the 'Old Southern Blues'. You can do the same with any key, it's just pitched differently. Some of the higher keys like F are harder to bend, but they are still fine for blues.

I've played 20 years with regularly gigging bands. I've only used an E harp on one song. I use C, G, D, A and F regularly. If the music is in G major, you'll use a C harp - G major is a pretty good guitar blues key right?

If you're going to play along to a guitar, A would be an ideal choice.

[bluesguy123]

thanks fir all the help fatjim you've certainly have been a big help. Im not sure wat bending is on a harp, but it seems liek A is a good one for blues according to you (which i trust). In geetar i play a lot of A,G, and E. I guess in the future ill get a G harp.

[bluesguy123]

I am now thinkning about 2 other Hohners moreor less 1 other. The Golden Melody and the Special 20. I also learned about how to get the key you count five or somehing. So A would be the key of E. Thanks for the vids also anyway its a battle between the Hohner Golden Melody or the Hohner Blues Harp