[Harp-L] RE : Are some harp harder than other for some people? --- was Golden Melodies




Pierre axed about are there any harps more difficult to play than others ...

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Hurricane sez :

¿! Ca VA Pierre !?

I would say that keys that have larger reeds are the first to be in that category . One obvious fact is that more chromatic harmonica players go for the 12 holer and smaller ( like the 10 holer Brendan Power makes ) because the  nature of larger reeds and the larger amounts of air one needs to make them really get to their optimum sound out put on a 16 holer . It takes a lot of lung power and many don't have it to begin with and to develop it would be a hard challenge that many do not take because of the amount of hard & tedious  dedicated work involved so because of this fact the smaller chromatics sell more often since they use less amouts of air power and the novice usually lacks this air power factor so the gravitation for the easier way out leans in the smaller holed reeded harmonicas for the novice is obvious .

The keys of Bb , A , G & F ( low keys in all cases here for the sake of argument ) really stand out as the usual suspects of a difficult learning harmonica  ,  these harps take some wind power just like the lower register of a 16 hole chromatic . 

My personal feeling about the key of Bb <----<<- I LOVE IT ! But that's just me :) I play Bb diatonic on the Hoagy Carmichael song  " Georgia On MY Mind " while the other musicians are in the key of " F " , I can make it as sensative as a mothers kiss and then turn it around and make it rip like a juke joint harp player playing for his life !

There are also to be included here are double reeded harmonicas and bass harmonicas .

The easier ones would be the " Blues " type diatonics with the softer brass reeds , but this comes with a two way cutting edge to it type thang - -

, softer reeds = easier playing for the novice player newly at it  - -

Novice players blow out more harmonicas in their early leaning stages  , so it's a toss up as to just how you go about it , harder to blow reeds like the Hohner Golden Melody or The Star Performer of Huang and the others out there like these two examples of a tougher stiffer reed(s) that last longer but are harder to blow on or the easier softer reeds like the Hohner Blues Harp or the Huang Silvertone that many newbies lunch out faster that a seasoned player.

My opinion :

Best bet is to try a few of the different manufactures and models types if your a beginner , it's fun , so if your in this category , go for it and spend some cash and find out for yourself . Consider what a keyboard , trumpet , flute or guitar runs a person - - - - And - - Help dispel the rumor that harmonica players are cheap ! ! ! LOL :)

An alternative option to consider is the " Vest Pocket " , it is usually key'd to " C " and no other as I recall , but I could be wrong. This is by far a super little harmonica that uses the smallest diatonic set up of reeds , only draw back , you have to know how to deal with and maintain a wooden comb and they are inherently maintenance prone and that's something you learn to do   with experience and no other substitution , so it's a " Catch 22 " situation no matter how you approach it , it is just a question of taking aim and not loosing sight of the targeted goal . 

The Piccalo was ( Hohner ) a consideration too as it was a small harmonica like the Hohner " Vest Pocket " , however they are no longer made . 

When you put a Hohner Vest Pocket up to a cupped Bullet or a Shure SM58 microphone it talks big time , I experimented a lot with these little harmonicas and aside from the wood maintenance issues I loved to play them and still do :)     


Sincerely :

Hurricane Ramón

Aka : 

Party_Man1@xxxxxxxxxx

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