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Harmonic questions?

B

Ben1123

Dec 3, 2008
84
1
Escanaba Michigan
#1
Ive been really interested in harmonicas lately and want to learn how to play them, I've been told a 10 hole diatonic harmonica in C is the best to learn with, is this true? What brand of harmonica should i get? Are there good online sites that offer lessons? How long will it take for someone to get reasonably good on harmonica?
Will i need any products to take care of it with, like oils or a cleaning cloth? I want to carry it around with me, is there any cases with belt loops o should look into?:confused:

Thanks for the help if you can, i'm planning on buying one today or tomorrow at a local music shop and want to know something about them first.
 
#3
Hey)
I've been told a 10 hole diatonic harmonica in C is the best to learn with, is this true?
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Pretty much, yes. It`s the most popular model, and it is used on many famous records. The thing is that you can usually play in limited number of keys on a particular harmonica, so if you have a C you can jam along to pretty much all the old-school blues:)

What brand of harmonica should i get?
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Your local shop would most probably sell Hohner harmonicas, they do here, anyway)
They might not let you try one youself, because you need to stick in your mouth to play and no one would want to buy a tested harmonica :) So I advice to buy any Hohner, just not the SilverStar model. Silverstars are really poorly made, you would want to learn with a good instrument) Also you should ask what the tuning is, a usual C harmonica is tuned to play C majour scale, there is also a few other versions of C tunings like country tuning, so you`d better go for classic:)

How long will it take for someone to get reasonably good on harmonica?
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Five minutes to learn C-major chord, two week to learn to play single notes, from that time you are on your own:)
Will i need any products to take care of it with, like oils or a cleaning cloth? I want to carry it around with me, is there any cases with belt loops o should look into?
Click to expand...
No products really, just clean the metal parts, those get really greasy. A hohner harmonica usually comes in a well made plastic case, so you can carry it anywhere. At least I do, so I can play it when I have a break or somehting.
Btw, youtube has a load of lessons, and google is your friend:)

Regards,
Clayman.
 
#4
Well i did buy one, its a Folk Master 10 hole diatonic c harmonica, it sounds great and seems well put together and it was only 16 bucks. Now i want to find out a good book or website that will teach me proper technique and that has tabs for harmonica, anyone know a good site?
 
#7
Yeah i was thinking of playing them both at the same time, im 15 and in high school so i want to do it for a talent show, anyone know where i can get a harmonica and bass tab for Low Rider by War, great song with harmonica, bass, and vocals that i think is an awesome song. Me on bass and harmonica and a friend with a nice deep voice doing vocals, ill make sure to post a video if that ever happens.
 

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