Re: [Harp-L] A harp for home, and one for work?

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Stephen - 

Glad you're enjoying the book. I hope it serves you well in learning to play.

Another C harp is a good idea, and so is getting additional keys and trying different models.

You'll find that different models - even in the same key - will respond differently and ofer diferent tonal qualities.

Keys lower than C, such as A and G, will fell more ponderous - less bright and slower to respond, while higher keys such as D and F, will sound brighter and feel quicker.

For a new key choice, A and D are both good, as so much music is played using these keys. This is true of blues, string band music, fiddle tunes, and folk.

Vern makes a good point about the chromatic, but I wouldn't worry about that yet. If , at first, you stick fairly close to the music that's in the book, you won't start bumping into the difficulties he describes.

Winslow
 
Winslow Yerxa
Author, Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
            Harmonica Basics For Dummies, ASIN B005KIYPFS
            Blues Harmonica For Dummies, ISBN 978-1-1182-5269-7
Resident Harmonica Expert, bluesharmonica.com
Instructor, Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance


________________________________
 From: Stephen Starling <sgstarling@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Harp-l Harp-L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2012 3:51 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] A harp for home, and one for work?
 
First 'post.'
I have begun my harp adventure with a c diatonic harp and the "Harmonica
for Dummies" book.  Really enjoying both! My wife is a guitar and piano
teacher, I can't wait to be able to jam with her!

So my last hour at work is very slow, I expect to practice my harp
regularly at this time.  Yesterday, I accidentally left my harp at work,
right before a 4-day long weekend/Christmas holiday.  I had to travel all
the way back to work today to retrieve it.  My wife suggested I buy a
second harp to keep at work to avoid this problem again.  (Yes I'm very
forgetful!)

Now to the question: should I get another C harp, or perhaps an A harp?  I
understand that the A harp won't sound the same as the books' samples, but
I have read that there is value to practicing in other keys?   Can you
offer any advice?  Thanks!