Re: [Harp-L] Newbie

["Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

Before you take up the harmonica, you need to decide what type of music you 
wish to play.  Your gradndfather's harmonicas may not be the ones that you 
would choose to begin serious study.  That said, it is unlikely that they 
are so valuable that you should not enjoy playing them and learning basic 
skills such as playing a single note.

If you aspire to play blues, the music most often heard in TV commercials 
and in nightclubs,  then you will choose a "Richter-tuned" diatonic 
harmonica ($20 up) that facilitates the bending and chords that are 
characteristic of that genre.  Diatonics are available in all keys.  The 
diatonics will play only the diatonic scale (do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, & ti) 
and even the "fa" and "la" are missing from the low octave.  With practice, 
diatonic players can use their embouchure to cause reeds to vibrate at other 
than their natural frequency and obtain the "fa" & "la" in the low octave as 
well as certain other halftones not in the diatonic scale.   Most diatonic 
players play "by-ear"...that is they imitate what they hear others play. 
After long practice, virtuosos have overcome many of the diatonic 
characteristics that beginners find limiting.

If you aspire to play classical, jazz, big-band, and similar ganre's, you 
will choose a chromatic harmonica ( $100 up)that easily plays all of the 
notes found on the piano keyboard.  Pressing a button on a chromatic 
switches from the "white-key" notes to the "black-key" notes.  Learning to 
play chromatic is much more like learning to play other types of musical 
instruments such as flute or clarinet/sax.  Although many play the chromatic 
"by ear", it also facilitates music reading.  Chromatics have very limited 
chording possibilities compared to diatonics and sound best accompanied by a 
band/orchestra or another polyphonic instrument such as guitar or keyboard.

The best harmonica artists play both diatonic and chromatic harmonicas and 
there is no reason that you cannot eventually do so as well.  The instrument 
that you choose as a starter should depend on the type of music that you 
aspire to play first.

The "Echo" that you have is a diatonic in that it will not play sharps and 
flats not in the key signature of its key.  However it is probably is not 
"Richter tuned" and is not suitable for blues because it will not bend notes 
and it does not have a draw chord.   Echo harps have pairs of reeds tuned 
slightly differently to produce a pleasant vibrato.  Players of diatonics 
and chromatics must practice to produce a vibrato. Echos are are suitable 
for simple, traditional tunes.

Vern
Visit my harmonica website www.Hands-Free-Chromatic.7p.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mary Cooper" <rtlemurs@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Harp-L" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 8:52 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] Newbie


> Hello all! I want to apologize in advance for any formatting errors. I'm 
> new to this "mail list" thing and it may take a few questions and emails 
> before I get things properly adjusted.

> I don't want to babble on but feel a little history maybe needed. After 
> three days research online, most every harmonica site I visited highly 
> recommended you folks so I figure this would be the place to start. I'm 
> not even sure you can help me but I guess it's worth a try.
My father and I have been going through some old boxes in the closet and 
came across two old harmonicas. My father told me they where his dad's. My 
father is quite musical (Hammer Dulcimer, Mandolin, Guitar, Hawaiian guitar) 
but said that he never could get the hang of playing a harmonica.

> So, here's a few question to start with...

> One, I'd like to get some information on these harmonicas. Both are in 
> their original boxes (cardboard). Both are M. Hohner. Both have wood 
> combs. One is labeled as "Echo Harp" and the actual harmonica states "Bell 
> Metal Reeds". The other has no label. Or rather it has a label but other 
> than the "M. Hohner" it is printed in what looks to be Chinese. Actually, 
> both are pretty much printed in Chinese and since I don't read Chinese I 
> cannot tell much about them. The Echo Harp also has Chinese stamped 
> (engraved?)into the metal (I am guessing they indicate the key). I would 
> guess my grandfather acquired these anywhere from the 1920's to the 
> 1940's, but maybe earlier. As I said, I have searched for three days 
> without much luck in finding any information on these and their value.(I'd 
> post pictures but I'm not sure of the approved method of doing that 
> here.). I get the feeling this is more a place for players to talk about 
> their craft (trust me I am getting to that) than a "Antiques Roadshow" but 
> I was hoping someone would recognize the description and be able to 
> provide some info or pointers on where I might find some answers (I've 
> already scoured many of the online antique and acution sites and nothing 
> with the Chinese writing and only a few similar "Echo Harp" listings).

> Which leads to my second question. I am interested in their history and 
> value because I would like to learn to play. Regardless of value I plan on 
> keeping them because they were my grandfather's but  it is always good to 
> know the value of something. Also, if they are valuable I'd rather not use 
> them. If they are not valuable I would like to use them but do not know if 
> they would be practical for a beginner. If not, any recommendations on a 
> brand and key (sorry if my terminology is off as well, I really am 
> absolutely neon green in these matters!). Also, any recommended books, 
> websites, etc. to help a beginner get started would be greatly 
> appreciated.

Thanks
RT
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