1 reply to this topic

[Scott]

How hard is it to learn to play harmonica? I'm wondering if this is something I would just get frustrated with if I wasn't dedicated enough.

[Dauber]

It depends, really. I started playing in February, and now I can play pretty intermediate-level blues stuff. (Just finished my third Chicago Blues Harp class today!)

You really need to practice a lot (at least 15 minutes a day) to get some of the basic things down. It took me two or three weeks to be able to play a single note cleanly...

A few general hints:

- Your tongue will be important in blocking out extra notes and playing octave notes.

- Breathing is key. Don't "blow" or "suck;" simply breathe through your mouth.

- It will take a while before you're able to bend notes. Most people require years, if not decades, to master it completely.

- Don't cheap out on the harp -- the instrument counts in how hard/easy a time you have. I can tell you that Hohner's Marine Band or "Special 20" models are pretty good harps, as is Lee Oskar's. The Marine Band is the most popular, but the comb is made of pearwood and is susceptible to expanding from moisture unless you seal it (and even then the harmonica is held together with nails, so it'd be a pain). The "Special 20" is a version of the Marine Band with a plastic comb; it's my personal favorite....sounds good, it plays loudly, and note bending is easy -- at least a heck of a lot easier than on the Marine Band. The Lee Oskar also has a plastic comb, but there's something about the feel of it that's very comfortable; also, if a reed goes bad, you can just replace the reed plate...with other harps, you just have to get a whole new harmonica.