I shall get a harmonica!

[9-10ths_Penguin]

So... after wanting to learn to play the harmonica, I've made up my mind to finally get one.

Are there any knowledgeable people here who could give me some advice? I've got some questions:

- I've been checking out beginner's guides and such, and it seems like the "standard" beginner harmonica is a C 10-hole diatonic. Would you agree?

- Anyone have any favourite brands? Brands to avoid?

- What the heck do you call a person who plays the harmonica? "Harmonicist" sounds wrong to my ears and "Harmonica-ist" sounds even worse. What's the word?

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Don't get a beginner's harmonica - they are junk.

Bottom line is that you need a metal case and metal reeds. The beginner's are all plastic and they sound terrible.

Get a Marine Band or Blues Harp (my favorite). Both of these sound awesome, and they are both designed to last a lifetime - if they are cleaned properly. I've had my blues harp for almost 20 years and it is wonderful.

 

[tomato1236]

Funny. I just heard a thing on the radio about harmonicas and wanted to get one, but didn't know where to look. Thanks.

 

[Alceste]

So... after wanting to learn to play the harmonica, I've made up my mind to finally get one.

Are there any knowledgeable people here who could give me some advice? I've got some questions:

- I've been checking out beginner's guides and such, and it seems like the "standard" beginner harmonica is a C 10-hole diatonic. Would you agree?

- Anyone have any favourite brands? Brands to avoid?

- What the heck do you call a person who plays the harmonica? "Harmonicist" sounds wrong to my ears and "Harmonica-ist" sounds even worse. What's the word?

I agree with Angellous. Beginner harmonicas are junk. You can get some really decent sounding ones in the 30-50 dollar range. Avoid the cheap ones. Wood is actually not that common these days.

The store should have a little bellows that lets you hear how the single hole and multiple holes sound. (Ours does). Make them get them all out and try a few. Look for a tone that is pleasing to your ear, since you'll be the one playing it.

 

[England my lionheart]

Don't get a beginner's harmonica - they are junk.

Bottom line is that you need a metal case and metal reeds. The beginner's are all plastic and they sound terrible.

Get a Marine Band or Blues Harp (my favorite). Both of these sound awesome, and they are both designed to last a lifetime - if they are cleaned properly. I've had my blues harp for almost 20 years and it is wonderful.

I agree,if you learn on a cheap one it sounds like a dozen Cats being strangled,the Blues Harp is awesome though,great tones

 

[Noaidi]

The riff from 'Love Me Do' (The Beatles) was the first riff I learned to play. Dead simple, but with practice, you can get a good bluesy "steam train" sound with it (I don't know if "steam train" is the proper term for the sound, but you know what I mean!)

 

[angellous_evangellous]

I agree,if you learn on a cheap one it sounds like a dozen Cats being strangled,the Blues Harp is awesome though,great tones

Blues Harps rock!

One thing that I love is that you buy them in keys - G, F, C, D, etc. If you're going to play in a band, you need to slowly build up your collection. It's a heck of a lot easier and more fun (IMHO) than figuring out everything on the fly with a chromatic harp or some other weird thing.

 

[Songbird]

All you harmonica players could do a virtual collaboration - record something on Skype and upload it here. Then I can enjoy the full scope of your nerdiness from the comfort of my home.

 

[Songbird]

And really, harmonica playing rocks. I appreciate good blues/jazz/whatever musicians who whip out harmonicas.

And....I also love me some nerds.

 

[Quagmire]

Here's a link that might help, Jeff: http://www.harmonicalessons.com/forum.html

The harmonica was the first instrument I learned how to play ( haven't messed with them much since I started playing guitar though).

Back then Hohner--- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hohner ---was the primo name in the harmonica world (probably still is).

My advise when shopping for any musical instrument is: check out a bunch and buy the one that you fall in love with.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Here's a link that might help, Jeff: Harmonica Lessons.com- Discussion Forums, Blues Harp Message Board, Beginners and Advanced

The harmonica was the first instrument I learned how to play ( haven't messed with them much since I started playing guitar though).

Back then Hohner--- Hohner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ---was the primo name in the harmonica world (probably still is).

My advise when shopping for any musical instrument is: check out a bunch and buy the one that you fall in love with.

I don't like Hohner. They made the cheap plastic POS's that my mom got me for Christmas. I didn't think that a harmonica could sound that bad. They are screwing an unsuspecting public.

Blues Harp, I hope, would have the integrity not to stoop so low.

 

[tomato1236]

I don't like Hohner. They made the cheap plastic POS's that my mom got me for Christmas. I didn't think that a harmonica could sound that bad. They are screwing an unsuspecting public.

Blues Harp, I hope, would have the integrity not to stoop so low.

I'm pretty sure Blues Harp is a Hohner Harmonica. No?

 

[Quagmire]

I don't like Hohner. They made the cheap plastic POS's that my mom got me for Christmas. I didn't think that a harmonica could sound that bad. They are screwing an unsuspecting public.

Blues Harp, I hope, would have the integrity not to stoop so low.

Like I said, I've been out of the loop for a long time now, so I'll defer to your opinion.

*plays first riff from dueling banjos on the guitar and raises eyebrow at Nate.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

I'm pretty sure Blues Harp is a Hohner Harmonica. No?

HAHAHAH - I hope not. HAHAA

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I don't like Hohner. They made the cheap plastic POS's that my mom got me for Christmas. I didn't think that a harmonica could sound that bad. They are screwing an unsuspecting public.

Blues Harp, I hope, would have the integrity not to stoop so low.

I'm pretty sure Blues Harp is a Hohner Harmonica. No?

Wiki seems to think so:

The Blues Harp has been around since the early 1970s. Until the 1990s, it was functionally identical to the Marine Band, the only differences being the cover plates and the varnish on the front of the wood comb. The harmonica's profile was thinner as well. At one point, Johnny Cash promoted the Blues Harp.[13] In the 1990s, Hohner made the Blues Harp part of its Modular System (MS) line. This new Blues Harp lost its uniqueness and is interchangeable with the other models in the MS line.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

I'm pretty sure Blues Harp is a Hohner Harmonica. No?

dammit

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Well, the plastic ones still suck.

The Blues Harp model is the real deal.

 

[England my lionheart]

Blues Harps rock!

One thing that I love is that you buy them in keys - G, F, C, D, etc. If you're going to play in a band, you need to slowly build up your collection. It's a heck of a lot easier and more fun (IMHO) than figuring out everything on the fly with a chromatic harp or some other weird thing.

Yes some of those made me wonder whether to play it or cook Dinner on it

 

[Alceste]

I just checked our models. Out of everything we stock, only Marine Band and Blues Harp are wood. (both made by Hohner). I slightly prefer the way Marine Band sounds on the bellows but they're very similar (I know, slow day). All the Suzukis we stock, whatever the price, are plastic. Pah and fie.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Update!

I got my harmonica - a Marine Band. It was the only non-plastic reed harmonica in my price range at my local music store.

I also got a beginner harmonica book. I can now play Oh Suzanna!