About a month ago I watched some random youtube video, and in the related videos was a blues harmonica howto which I clicked. It was awesome, I loved the sound and it looked easy enough. I can’t find that video now, and I have no idea how it related to the video I was watching ;)
I visited a local music shop and bought a harmonica, Hohner Blues Harp MS, wooden comb, C key. Think it was $45. $45 for a high quality musical instrument, awesome.
So I searched youtube and google for beginner harp lessons, there’s heaps of stuff out there. The first hurdle is blowing through one hole only, not easy at first when the holes are so close together. But there’s various techniques the lessons go through and with a bit of practice it’s not too difficult.
Anywho, on to the reason for this post. I come across a web page that recommended Hohner special 20 blues harp in the key of C for learning, and so I searched and come across bluetongueharmonica.com.au that had them. I ordered a special 20 for myself, $38, and a happy harp for my nephew, $7, in green. The colour is important, green sounds so much better to my nephew being his favourite colour.
Anyway, I was excitedly waiting for my order, especially the happy harp so I could give it to my nephew, and there was a delay and a mix up, and I sent an email complaining. It’s not really something I do very often, I’ll even say thank you to bad service at times :(
Barely minutes after sending the email, I think it was Doug from Blue Tongue Harmonica called and apologised and explained that they just had a big harmonica festival on and things were crazy, plus a worker was off sick and more than made things right.
I felt so good about the chat, Doug sounds like cool dude, and the fix up, that I wanted to give them a plug, and a recommendation. I think Doug is a shrewd business man that knows how to treat his customers, and I’m all for supporting small businesses.
This is what I aspire to
BTW, when uploading a harmonica video to youtube, it’s compulsory to hold the harp up to the camera and to make sure viewers can’t see a damn thing written on the harp.
This is what I sound like, sort of, without the bending.
(that’s not me in the video, obviously ;) )
If you want to try a harmonica out, give blue tongue harmonica a ring or email. They have everything you need, including instructional books and cds and private lessons and group workshops. Tell them I sent you ;)
4 Comments
Hey Man! I am the guy in that youtube video! I think I’ve gotten a lot better then then.. what do you think about this song with jesse lenat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2w_LO13pes
It’s cool, too bad i couldn’t see anything. I haven’t picked up the harmonica for an age :(
Started learning the harp a few months back and randomly purchased a Hohner Special 20 in A. Great sounding harmonica, airtight with a big brassy sound for about $38.00 before CA tax. Downside to the Special 20 – it quickly goes out of tune if you play it too hard. Sent it back to Hohner within the warranty period and they replaced it. I also sent it back because the two hole draw choked and would not sound. Was told by Hohner that I did not have the right technique. However, the replacement harp has a 2 hole draw that sounds pretty good. This make me think that it was really the harmonica and not me.
On the other hand, an acquaintance gave me a Hohner Blues Harp in the key of C and it’s unplayable. The instrument is extremely leaky and attempting to play it makes me feel like a goldfish out of water desperately sucking air to breathe without success. Further, the pearwood comb is rough and the reed plates are not flush with the comb making it very uncomfortable to play. It’s worthless unless it’s professionally modified.
I now own a Suzuki Bluesmaster in C and although it is relatively inexpensive it is made very well and sounds great. The 1-6 draws bend quite easily although the 3-hole bend is not smooth and is flat on the bottom bent note. Still, I look forward to purchasing their Promaster series when I save up enough money as they have been getting great reviews online.
As for the people giving free blues harp lessons on youtube, what they don’t reveal is the fact that their harps sound great because they have been modified, customized and adjusted to give the clean notes and easy overblows. I’d like to see them do the same thing with a Hohner Blues Harp right out of the box. Even the pros would have a hell of a time bending the notes (let alone attempting to overblow and overdraw) on the instrument.
I was discouraged at first when I couldn’t bend the notes like what I’d heard on the youtube videos until I found out that most inexpensive to medium priced harps don’t play well or bend easily out of the box and have to be carefully tweaked (to say the least) in order to do so. Cie la vie!
Anyway, good luck learning the instrument.
I’ve been “stuffing around” with harmonicas for nearly half a century, but I certainly don’t class myself as an accomplished player.
I’ve played most brands of harmonica over the years….Hohner of course, which includes Marine Band, Special 20, Chromonica 270, Cross harp, Blues Harp MS, etc.
Of the Hohners, I like the Special 20 best.
DO NOT BUY A HOHNER MADE IN CHINA….totally different Blues Harp than that made in Germany….you get what you pay for…..
Lee Oskar green Natural & Orange label. Both are at least on a par with the Special 20, but the great thing about Lee Oskars is the fact that there is an abundant supply of replacement reed plates available. Nice quite air tight harmonicas.
Seydel also make top quality harps, but I find that the slightly different spacing makes me concentrate a lot harder when playing. I think if you settle on a Seydel, then you should perhaps stick to that brand, simply because of the spacing difference. Having said that, I really like Seydels…extremely well made and air tight. I have one 1847 Silver which is rarely played, but I love it! The cheap Sedels I wouldn’t bother with. I have a Seydel “Mungo Gerry” which is a pig to play….lungs aren’t big enough!
I have to say that my all time favourite harmonicas are made by Suzuki.
I have a Pure Harp MR550 with the Cherry wood covers…..simple beautiful harp. Exceptionally well made, air tight and with a beautiful sound. I bought it because I just wanted a top quality harp that was a bit different to the run of the mill.
Of all the brands of harp available, I find Suzuki suits me best. As with all harps & models of harp each produces a slightly different sound, which is great, but the Suzuki is my preference.
I have 4 Suzuki Pro Master MR 350′s both valved and non valved. These harmonicas are extremely air tight….great for ageing lungs…and the combs are aluminium which make them “weighty”…..really nice to hold in my opinion.
I find Suzukis very hard to put down!