[Harp-L] Help Please

["Abner Galdos" <cdgaldos@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Newbie here,
it took me a long time to learn to do a single note. It was frustrating as hell. I still have a hard time playing tablatures and once again frustrating as hell.  I'm using the puckering system and sometimes will try my hand at tongue blocking. 
It took me three months to start hitting the notes, and I have fun just improving.  
The two books mentions below should give you a great start. I have David Barrett's Harmonica master class series. and I will be buying the other two books mention.  also check out you tube "how to play the harmonica" just be careful not all so called instructors on you tube are good. When you get to you tube search out Jon Gindick .  I am musically challenged you may not be. I still cant get the bluesy sound and that's killing me. My wife says I sound like Lee Oskar when his being melodic.
My advise is take it slow when your learning and stick to technique.
My other advise is listen to songs and improvise this way your learning and having fun.
And finally record yourself and don't get upset. I did a jam on Sunday (my house) with a buddy on acoustic guitar, He has been playing since he was a kid so he lets me lead.  I heard myself on the fist two recordings and I sucked big time ( I felt I was wasting my time and would never get it)  on the 3rd one I impressed my self and I liked it...I don't know if I was just warming up of it just click.  Time will tell.

abner (Blueyes, still a newbie and still learning)
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mojo Red 
  To: Mr Nick Boffa ; harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 11:39 AM
  Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Help Please



  Hey Nick,

  Congrats on your recent purchase. I've been playing harp most of my life and I find it a very, VERY rewarding endevour. Though, like anything really worthwhile, there are no shortcuts to success. 

  I don't believe there is a "fastest" way to learn. I suggest picking up a beginner's instruction book such as Jon Gindick's classic "Harmonica for the Musically Hopeless," or the more recent (and more thorough) "Harmonica for Dummies" (by our own resident lister Winslow Xerxa). 

  Aside from that, you should first learn how to blow a single note. You can achieve this either through the pucker method -- narrow your lips as if drinking from a straw, or by the tongue block method -- open your mouth over three holes, cover two with your tongue and blow out of the third. Next try blowing a simple do-re-mi type whole-note scale starting with the 4 blow. On your C harmonica this is a C scale.

  4 blow
  4 draw
  5 blow
  5 draw
  6 blow
  6 draw
  7 draw
  7 blow

  Armed with this easy scale you can very easily start to pick out simple tunes such as Oh Suzzanna, When the Saints Come Marching In, Farmer in the Dell and the like. These songs all start on that 4-blow note. 

  Have fun!

  Harpin' in Colorado,
  --Ken M. 



  ----- Original Message ----
  From: Mr Nick Boffa <nboffa@xxxxxxxxx>
  To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
  Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 10:11:59 AM
  Subject: [Harp-L] Help Please


  Hello,

  I have just picked up a Suzuki Bluesmaster Harmonica set and have never played before. I like the blues sound. Can any offer me some advise of the fastest way to learn so that I can start having a little fun with the harmonica.

  Thanks,
  Nick




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