Re: [Harp-L] Harmonica for Dummies

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Steve - 

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

By the way, I have to say that Tony Glover was a great inspiration when I was a teenager just getting into harmonica. His technical information may not have been particularly great, but he spoke in a voice that I could relate to as a young person, and he gave a great insight into blues and harmoncia lore. Also, re-reading Blues Harp, I now notice how beautifully edited it was. The writing is tight, clear, and succinct, even while staying folksy and engaging - not easy to pull off. I just hope that Harmonica For Dummies is a worthy successor.

By the way, if anyone has bought Harmonica For Dummies from Amazon, please post a reader review. I know I always read consumer reviews before buying online and experience-based feedback often influences my decisions. If you think the book is great (and hopefully you do), then share that so that others can have confidence in committing to buy it for themselves.

Thanks.

Winslow

Winslow Yerxa
Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5


--- On Thu, 10/9/08, steve@xxxxxxxxxxxx <swebb@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> From: steve@xxxxxxxxxxxx <swebb@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] Harmonica for Dummies
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Date: Thursday, October 9, 2008, 9:58 PM
> I just recently got my book and, as expected, Winslow does a
> superb job. If this book had been available 30 years ago, I
> would be a real harp player by now.
> Anyone on this list who hasn't yet bought one, is
> missing an essential source. Sure, most of the information
> is available here, but to have everything pulled together
> and explained in such a coherent manner is invaluable. I
> have already learned from it and there is plenty more for me
> to study. 
> I was thinking just this evening that it might,just might,
> be as good as Tony Glover's book. (Yes, my tongue is
> firmly planted in my cheek.)
> 
> Steve Webb in Minnesota, where even third position presents
> a challenge to dummies who keep trying to play harmonica.
> 
> ---- Philharpn@xxxxxxx wrote: 
> > Considering the dearth of backup tracks and lack of
> ready access to a live 
> > band or keyboard player, it is often use to consider  
> CD packages not designed 
> > specifically for harp players.
> > 
> > Fast Forward 12-Bar Blues Piano (Wise Publications,
> London/New York, 
> > 1997--$15.95 list) comes with a good collection of
> basic blues patterns that can be 
> > lifted for use on the harmonica. Styles featured are
> Basic Blues, Boogie Piano, 
> > Stride Piano, Jazz Piano, Rock Piano. Plenty of
> walking bass line 
> > blues/boogie. Nice and slow, easy to hear and follow.
> > 
> > For the harp player, just put on the CD and ignore the
> book. Later, if you 
> > want some theory, look into the book and see what it
> has to say.
> > 
> > The best part is that it is not only keyboard music on
> the CD but that stand 
> > up bass plays the same riff.   
> > 
> > The CD plays 30-second phrases separately in the left
> hand and the right hand 
> > and again with a bass and drums of the same riff. Each
> track is music only; 
> > there is no annoying chatter or even a count off. So
> you can hit "repeat" or 
> > "loop" and play the same section over and
> over again.
> > 
> > Since a lot of the blues riffs come from piano, this
> is a great place to 
> > start.
> > 
> > And if you plan to play harp along with a piano or
> organ when you get your 
> > chops and riffs down, this can get you used to it. You
> get 64 tracks at about 30 
> > seconds each and two tunes at about 2:30 each.
> That's about 30+ minutes of 
> > pure music. Amazon has it in stock new for 10% and
> used copies -- some without 
> > CDs for about half price, considering its 10 years
> old. 
> > 
> > I found the book in my "archive" while
> moving stuff around, cleaning up my 
> > home office. And pulled it out and listened to see if
> it would work with my harp 
> > class. 
> > 
> > Phil Lloyd
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > **************
> > New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your
> destination.  
> > Dining, Movies, Events, News &amp; more. Try it
> out!
> >       
> > (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000001)
> > _______________________________________________
> > Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> > Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> > http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l