[Harp-L] Gear Shaming Other Harmonica Players

[Chad Nordstrom]

I was going going to ask where in the world you were gear shamed, because after 20 years of playing I have never heard or seen it. I also do not know too many people playing the original Marine Band (but that is just a regional thing). People like what they like, but gear shaming not even close… usually they are just happy that they have someone to speak to that shares their interest. 

Then you said it at the end… on Facebook. It is full of angry people, just get out and play. I may jinx myself but no matter how poorly I have played, I have never had anyone tell me that after a show. 

Just ignore them, block them, stop going on Facebook (numerous other reasons as well), and just play. The tribalism online is toxic. 

Harps are different… mainly due to tuning and construction. If you like it and it stays in tune, play what you like. 

Pat Missin’s website is a treasure trove of information and the best way to experience the larger world of harmonica is to go to SPAH or one of the local harmonica clubs.

Like a Zen mantra… just breathe.

> On Feb 4, 2024, at 18:28, Amy Rister <amyrister02 at xxxxx> wrote:
> 
> I don't know if anybody else has ever experienced this, but I get gear
> shamed every time I mention that I like a certain model of harmonica. I
> often get gear shamed by the Classic Marine Band Player's Cult (I call them
> that because they all play the original Marine Band, play exclusively
> tongue blocked Chicago blues, have a cult-like mentality surrounding tuning
> and comb material, and harass anybody that has a different opinion than
> them) every time whenever I say that I like the Golden Melody. They always
> tell me that the tuning on those harps suck, that I should be playing a
> Marine Band instead, and not use my Golden Melodies at all (which I had
> mentioned in the past). These people are the reason why I hate the Marine
> Band so much is because other than being terrible to maintain, the members
> of its fanbase are almost entirely made up of people who drag other people
> down. I even got bullied because I owned two good playing Chinese
> harmonicas, the Kongsheng Bluebird and the Golden Bird Parrott Tuning
> harmonica (which I received as a gift from my friend/teacher, Todd
> Parrott), and said they are "useless for expression". I don't know why
> "harmonica players" on Facebook are so up their own ass when they criticise
> my choice of harps, when I never did the same thing to them.
> 
> Sincerely,
> Amy Rister