Re: [Harp-L] Hello and Introduction

"Don Neal" <donkneal@xxxxxxxxxxx> · Tue, 12 Apr 2005 00:24:50 -0400

To use a phrase that been much overused..........been there, done that.

I received my first harp from my wife as a "gag gift" for Christmas when I 
was 50 years old.  I didn't know a chromatic from a diatonic, blow from 
draw, or even that harps came in more than one key.  I too studied piano in 
my teen years and can read music as it relates to a piano, but I can't begin 
to read music for the harp.  My first harp was a Hohner Marine Band in the 
key of A.  After buying my first dozen Marine Bands in different keys, I 
discovered the Special 20 with plastic combs and haven't purchased a Marine 
Band or other wooden comb harp for many years.  I find the wooden comb much 
harder to play than most plastic comb harps, especially as a beginning 
player.  Most better players seem to say that the tone of a wooden comb is 
better than plastic.  I personally feel that I can improve my tone more by 
learning better playing techniques and by practice, 
practice..................
I'm now 62 and find that my favorite harps are Lee Oskar and Hohner Golden 
Melody.  I've ruined several harps over the years and have thrown them in a 
drawer for future parts.  If I look at those "ruined" harps, I find many 
Special 20s, a few Golden Melodys, and no Lee Oskars.  I don't know if that 
speaks about the quality of the harps or that my style of playing (or trying 
to play) did not suit the Special 20.  I have two chromatic harps which I 
take out every few months, experiment and practice for a while, them put 
them back to return to the diatonic harps that seem much easier for me to 
play.
After 12 years of playing and trying to play, I still put myself far below 
the level of most contributors to this list, but I enjoy reading most of the 
posts and pick up several good tips, especially about other web sites that 
have a wealth of information.  I share your fascination about the harp and 
hope you stay with your new found interest.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rooty Baegga" <rooty.baegga@xxxxxxxxx>

To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>

Sent: Monday, April 11, 2005 5:22 PM

Subject: [Harp-L] Hello and Introduction
I am the newest member of the mailing list and would like to say HELLO.
I would also like to apologize well in advance for any stupid questions or 
remarks I may make.  Allow me to explain:
I do not play harmonica and I know almost nothing about the harmonica.
Recently, while skulking around the Internet I came across a "Peg O' My 
Heart" MP3,which rang some kind of nostalgic bell with me.  I downloaded 
it and was amazed that it was the exact same all-harmonica arrangement I 
remembered from the distant recesses of my youth (I am 52).
This recording by the Harmonicats, of which I am sure you are all 
familiar, triggered something deep and visceral deep within me that I have 
yet to be able to explain to myself.  It touched a chord, no pun intended.
However, it also started me on a quest to listen to as much harmonica 
music as I can find.
I currently have 267 harmonica songs on my computer hard drive, which 
includes such artists as Toots Thiielemans (an artist with which I was 
familiar before I started this quest through his work with Quincy Jones 
and Diana Krall), Larry Adler, The Harmonicats, Harmonica Rascals (Gang), 
Stevie Wonder, and Alvin and the Chipmonks.  Of that number, 104 songs are 
what would be called Blues Harmonica, but I also have harmonica music in 
the genres of Folk, Rock, R&B, Jazz, Country and Classical, as well as 
examples by The Beatles, with John Lennon blowing.  I even have an old 
episode of the Boston Blackie radio show called The Harmonica Man.  All of 
this discovered in the few short weeks since listening to Peg O' My heart.
It's never been my way to explore something casually.  When I delve into 
something, it becomes an obsession until such time as I have figured it 
out to my heart's content, or lose interest.
My exploration of All Things Harmonica made me aware of this mailing list. 
I can see by the first two postings I've received that most of this 
group's discussion is going to be way over my head.  Therefore, I hope 
people will have patience with my total lack of harmonica education and 
the stupid questions I may ask.
Here's my first (not so stupid) question: If you were recommending a 
harmonica to a total neophyte, which kind, what brand, what key would it 
be?
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