Re: [Harp-L] Help Please



Hey Nick,

Congrats on your recent purchase. I've been playing harp most of my life and I find it a very, VERY rewarding endevour. Though, like anything really worthwhile, there are no shortcuts to success. 

I don't believe there is a "fastest" way to learn. I suggest picking up a beginner's instruction book such as Jon Gindick's classic "Harmonica for the Musically Hopeless," or the more recent (and more thorough) "Harmonica for Dummies" (by our own resident lister Winslow Xerxa). 

Aside from that, you should first learn how to blow a single note. You can achieve this either through the pucker method -- narrow your lips as if drinking from a straw, or by the tongue block method -- open your mouth over three holes, cover two with your tongue and blow out of the third. Next try blowing a simple do-re-mi type whole-note scale starting with the 4 blow. On your C harmonica this is a C scale.

4 blow
4 draw
5 blow
5 draw
6 blow
6 draw
7 draw
7 blow

Armed with this easy scale you can very easily start to pick out simple tunes such as Oh Suzzanna, When the Saints Come Marching In, Farmer in the Dell and the like. These songs all start on that 4-blow note. 

Have fun!

Harpin' in Colorado,
--Ken M. 



----- Original Message ----
From: Mr Nick Boffa <nboffa@xxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 10:11:59 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] Help Please


Hello,
 
I have just picked up a Suzuki Bluesmaster Harmonica set and have never played before. I like the blues sound. Can any offer me some advise of  the fastest way to learn so that I can start having a little fun with the harmonica.
 
Thanks,
Nick


      

_______________________________________________
Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l



      




This archive was generated by a fusion of Pipermail 0.09 (Mailman edition) and MHonArc 2.6.8.