Harmonica and guitar

drabbag · #1 June 27th, 2006

Just a quick little recording I did. I just got the harmonica and started playing around with it a few days ago. Been playing guitar about 7 months now.

Misty2u · #2 June 27th, 2006

Hey there drabbag..............how u finding the harmonica? My hubby was talking about taking it up (as if there's not enough noise in our house with me playing guitar) but wasn't sure how he'd cope.

Love your mix by the way.......good stuff

fly135 · #3 June 27th, 2006

Nice... You learn to play the harmonica in a couple days!?!? Wow!

Mind if I ask what that chord pattern was?

D-Dawn · #4 June 27th, 2006

Sounds good! Now ya gotta sing it!

drabbag · #5 June 27th, 2006

Thanks for the positive feedback. I actually bought the neck holder for the harmonica a day or so after...cause I didnt think Id be able to do both at the same time but its not bad at all really. I can sing the song fairly decent but havent recorded that just yet... Ill get to it sooner or later lol.

I bought a "G" harmonica to start with because of this song. Then you can just look up tab online similar to the guitar... although a lot less abundant.

The chord pattern for the guitar was A minor to G to D back to A minor

Mary Jane

draw 6
blow 6
draw 5
blow 5
draw 4&5

draw 6
blow 6
draw 5
blow 5
draw 5
blow 5
draw 4&5

Rockerbob · #6 June 27th, 2006

Sounds good!

Misty2u · #7 June 27th, 2006

All I know is that you "blow" into a harmonica to make the sound........apart from that....not a clue

. From what you're saying about this being a "G", I presume you can get them in different notes? Just curious cos may get him one for our anniversary and it would be handy to have an idea beforehand.

Thanks

drabbag · #8 June 27th, 2006

Yeah they come in different keys. They reccommend starting with a C and many of the instructional books are tailored to a C as well.

You also draw in the harmonica to get notes... as listed in the above tab

Misty2u · #9 June 27th, 2006

Aha......got it. Thanks for the info drabbag.

Cheers

Jim · #10 June 27th, 2006

Cool drabbag!

We don't get much harp (harmonica) around here and yet it's an integral part of music like the Blues.

That was really good for starting out and I've often wondered how one knows what to play, and how you know what hole you're over, etc. You did good on that and on the guitar as well!

Jim

Bennett · #11 June 27th, 2006

Hiya Drabbag!

Just had a listen. Sounds great!

I've been tackling the harp since about January this year. Alas it doesn't get the same attention as the guitar but I just love the combination of the two.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misty2u

All I know is that you "blow" into a harmonica to make the sound........apart from that....not a clue

. From what you're saying about this being a "G", I presume you can get them in different notes? Just curious cos may get him one for our anniversary and it would be handy to have an idea beforehand.

I'd be a great present Misty.

My wife bought me mine after 6 months of playing the guitar. I'd been talking about it but I would've put it off for years if she hadn't bought one for me (I thought I just wouldn't be ready or have enough time etc). But it spurred me on and now I have a collection of four different keys.

Oh, and from your question, harmonicas come in different KEYS, well the diatonic ("blues") harps do anyway. You can also get ones that play all notes, known as chromatic harps. On a blues harp you can achieve 'other' notes by "bending"; a technique that takes a little practice.

As drabbag says, they recommend starting in a key of "C". I would also suggest looking at the two most popular harps to start with: Either a Lee Oskar or Hohner Special 20.

The Hohner was my first but I now have three Lee Oskars. Both are great but I prefer the Lee Oskar for it's sound and feel.

Oh, and if your hubby needs instruction I can recommend http://www.harmonicalessons.com. It's a PAID site but imo it's well worth it.

Good luck and keep us posted!

allthumbs · #12 June 27th, 2006

I played harp for a couple of years a long time ago. I could never get past the theory part of cross playing though. I could bend the notes on the in breath but, was shaky on bending with an out breath. I can't believe how much the cost of harps has gone up over the years.

Misty2u · #13 June 28th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bennett

I'd be a great present Misty.

My wife bought me mine after 6 months of playing the guitar. I'd been talking about it but I would've put it off for years if she hadn't bought one for me (I thought I just wouldn't be ready or have enough time etc). But it spurred me on and now I have a collection of four different keys.

The Hohner was my first but I now have three Lee Oskars. Both are great but I prefer the Lee Oskar for it's sound and feel.

Oh, and if your hubby needs instruction I can recommend http://www.harmonicalessons.com. It's a PAID site but imo it's well worth it.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Thanks so much for the info Bennett

. My hubby has been talking about this for a while and he has never played any sort of instrument before that I'm aware of and I just thought it would be a cool pressie. Have a few months until the anniversary so I'll check into your recommendations and see what I come up with. Thanks also for the link to the instruction site.........I'm sure it'll be really useful.

Will definitely keep you posted.