So, to put it simple I wanna learn how to play the harmonica. Mainly due to lack of much else to do and it just seems interesting. So... how hard are they to learn/play and how expensive for a decently working one?
The Harmonica
- Thread starter Laserbeam Ostrich
- Start date
Recommended Videos
I have a harmonica lying around somewhere..
As for how to hard is it to learn, I suppose it would be like any instrument. It'll take time and patience. As for how much time, depends how much you practice. This is coming from someone who can't play a harmonica, by the way.
As for how to hard is it to learn, I suppose it would be like any instrument. It'll take time and patience. As for how much time, depends how much you practice. This is coming from someone who can't play a harmonica, by the way.
I recommend getting one made by the company called Hohner if you are serious. They can cost anything around £20 ($25-40) but they are guaranteed quality. Otherwise, you can just get a cheap ass one to practise with first before committing a lot of money (like I did). I currently use Hohner Blues Harp, which are high standard metal and wood instruments.
You will need a diatonic harmonica at first. These are the cheapest, simplist, and most straightfoward to learn with. These are the ones with ten holes. Get one of these.
Much of harmonica playing is teaching yourself. Because they are small, you can take 'em anywhere to practise. You need to get a feel for all the mouth movements - start by learning to play one note at a time. then learn how to do tricks like "bending". there are plenty of decent beginner guides on the internet to teach you how to do this, however many of the tricks simply require you to just keep playing until you can get the feel for them. The amount of time it takes to learn necessary skills like bending can vary plenty from player to player. Took me quite a while to crack.
You will need a diatonic harmonica at first. These are the cheapest, simplist, and most straightfoward to learn with. These are the ones with ten holes. Get one of these.
Much of harmonica playing is teaching yourself. Because they are small, you can take 'em anywhere to practise. You need to get a feel for all the mouth movements - start by learning to play one note at a time. then learn how to do tricks like "bending". there are plenty of decent beginner guides on the internet to teach you how to do this, however many of the tricks simply require you to just keep playing until you can get the feel for them. The amount of time it takes to learn necessary skills like bending can vary plenty from player to player. Took me quite a while to crack.
Kind of relevant. Bruce Willis plays the harmonica. In fact he's so awesome at it he played with the Allman Brothers for epic guitar/harmonica duet jam sessions.
If you already know how to play an instrument, that would be a huge help to you. Otherwise, it's probably going to be on par with most wind-based instruments, plus you'll have to learn basic music theory.
I can play the recorder a little and that's probably similar. It's a lot tougher than Jean-Luc Picard made it look.
I can play the recorder a little and that's probably similar. It's a lot tougher than Jean-Luc Picard made it look.
Heh, thanks. The price doesn't seem so bad. I know the holes on a harmonica are small so I guess you'll have to form a really small hole with your lips to play individual notes? Also, you said something about metal and wood harmonicas, I've really only seen metal ones, does it really matter?maninahat said:
Well, I can play the saxophone and dabble in guitar, but I'm really not sure if that matters.Nickisimo said:
Start by getting a crappy cheap make to see if you have any sort of knack for it, then get something better if you're serious (I recommend Hohner, they are brilliant, and Steve Tyler plays one)
Apart from that, practice all the time. I recommend getting some blues backing tracks (there are a lot you can download free, or buy with guitar books), and play along with the tracks to get a feel for playing along with other music, then play without them, and find your own style.
Hard to get into, but once you get the knack of it, lots of fun.
Apart from that, practice all the time. I recommend getting some blues backing tracks (there are a lot you can download free, or buy with guitar books), and play along with the tracks to get a feel for playing along with other music, then play without them, and find your own style.
Hard to get into, but once you get the knack of it, lots of fun.
Most are made from metal and plastic. They are perfectly good. metal and wood ones are considered a slight improvement because they produce a more mellow tone and the wood expands better to make the instrument more airtight.Laserbeam Ostrich said:
The trick to playing a single hole is to roll your tongue up and breath down the centre. This allows you to blow a thin stream of air down the little holes. Once you get good at this, you can alternatively learn to purse your lips extra tight, so that you only blow one hole at a time. The thing is to get used to how far apart the holes are from one another, so you can breath/draw down them one at a time and move smoothly from one hole to the next. Beginner guides will explain it better, if you just google them.
Ok this may seem stupid but roll your tongue in in like a U shape, right? But I will get on to googling guides and what not soon, I just wanna get a general idea first.maninahat said:
They're actually very common instruments. However, I don't really know how hard they are to learn. My friend plays the Harmonica though, I may ask him next time I see him.
Oh ok, not the type of harmonica playing you see in the movies but it makes sense.maninahat said:Yes, roll your tongue like pictured:Laserbeam Ostrich said:
And blow down the centre of it. Tongue rolling is useful because (as gross as it may seem), the wet tongue allows you to slide across the holes much easier than if you were pursing your lips.
