RE: [Harp-L] Instruction book, please help to choose

["Bill Hines" <billhines4@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Depends, both are good, just depends on your style of learning I guess.
Barrett's is very classroom/scholarly/monotone. I listened to some samples
on his web site and didn't think I'd like that. It's very structured though,
from point A to point B, which is good. Gindick's is more fun, get straight
to it, encouraging, etc. It worked better for me. I also listened to Jerry
Portnoy's 3-cd and book set also called Masterclass. I think it's also very
good, but he only takes you so far. Good for a beginner though. Gindick's
will take you pretty far, into positions, some music theory there as far as
the chord changes and so forth too. 

I've actually like having more than one source. I was going through Gindick
page-by-page, then started to branch out for some fun into other stuff I was
finding on the web, such as tabs for some classics. Gindick has a lot of fun
stuff on his web site like that, and mini-lessons you can download for
tone/bending, chugging, etc. When you move out of advaned, get his Jam Room
cd to practice. His rock 'n the folk cd/booklet is also very good and in
some ways goes into more detail than rock 'n blues, but I would start with
the latter first due to it having more picture-type content in the book to
explain things. Enjoy the story of the Caveboys!

If you're not sure and can afford it, buy more than one for different
perspectives. You can always unload them on ebay if you keep them in good
shape.

Bill Hines

-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of s.g.
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2005 10:21 AM
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] Instruction book, please help to choose


Dear Listers,

Can anyone point out to a single instruction book with a CD for a beginner?
I play diatonic for 6 monthes, puckering, got to bending pretty quickly,
excersize daily.

So far I'm trying to figure out which one would be better: 
a) Classic Chicago Blues Harp #1, Level 2, 144 pages Book and CD by David
Barrett; or
b) Rock n' Blues Harmonica: A World of Harp Knowledge, Songs, Stories,
Lessons, Riffs, Techniques and Audio Index for a New Generation of Harp
Players (Includes 224 pages book and 74 minute stereo CD Jamming Buddy) by
Jon Gindick.

Both are available from Amazon, the latter one has numerous favorable
ratings, yet David Barrett looks somehow more serious - intented for two
year studies, etc. 

Your advise or an alternative suggestions would be highely helpful.

s.g.
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