“Harping the Blues” …. you may have  never associated that term with a harmonica. But a harmonica can be referred to as a blues harp.  Folks who can play blues music on a harmonica are a fascinating bunch.  The aim of this blog-site is to go on a little musical journey of discovery and see what can be learned about the blues harp harmonica genre.  It will seek out the great players in history and the modern masters as well.  Maybe we can  find some free harmonica lessons for beginners as well as advanced players and where to buy a decent harmonica !  

There’s much more to playing than just simply putting the harmonica up to your mouth and move it about as you blow.  It is a serious musical piece.   It is a real instrument – which you have to learn to play with lots of practice and even some lessons. 

There are some great teachers on the web and tons of tutorial videos on YouTube. You can find videos and websites featuring these amazing artists who stop concert-goers dead in their tracks when they play a screaming blues harp solo. 

Let’s search the web for some really cool blues harp stuff – videos, blogs, harmonica lessons and the lot.  So, if you want to learn more too – come on the journey.  If nothing else you will surely find some great blues harp music for your iPod.  Nothing ventured – nothing gained!

Hohner Special 20 Harmonica, Key of C

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They are both good. I have both types as well as some Oskars. The only down side to the Blues Harp is the comb is wood which is susceptible to swelling although I believe the newer ones use a better wood in that regards. The only personal negative experience with wood comb harmonicas is last summer I played wood comb harps for several hours and I got a small cut on my lip. As far as buying harmonicas on line, I have had good luck with Musicians Friend, Music123 and Coast to Coast. All very good. I would stay from Harp Depot though. I and several others had bad experiences with them. As far as buying locally, I like Guitar Center Stores.

Harping The Blues!

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You can get one at www.Coast2CoastMusic.com You can go to Amazon.com and get the Complete Idiot’s Guide or the “For Dummies” guide. 

Harmonica For Dummies

Or you can do what I suggest and go to these two places for free! www.harptabs.com http://www.angelfire.com/tx/myquill/

Harping The Blues !

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www.harmonicalessons.com or

Jack’s Harmonica Heaven :www.volcano.net/~jackmearl

I got this from www.harptabs.com. Asked and answered. See my sources below. Pianoman 6 6 6 6 -5 5 -5 5 4 Its nine o-clock on a Saturday 4 4 4 4 4 4 -4 -4 the regular crowd shuffles in 6 6 6 6 -5 5 -5 5 4 there’s an old man sitting next to me 3 3 3 -5 -5 -5 5 4 4 making love to his tonic and gin 9 9 9 9 9 9 -9 8 -9 8 7 he says son can you play me a memory 7 7 7 7 7 -8 -8 -8 im not really sure how it goes 8 -9 9 9 9 9 -9 8 -9 8 8 8 but its sad and its sweet and I knew it complete 7 7 7 8 -9 8 7 7 when I wore a younger mans clothes -6 -6 -6 -7 7 -7-7 da – da – da – de – de – d-a -6 -6 -7 7 -7 -6 6 da – da – de – de – da – da – da 9 9 9 9 sing us a song -9 8 -9 8 7 you’re the piano man -6 7 7 7 -8 -8 sing us a song tonight 8 8 9 9 9 9 -9 8 -9 8 7 well were all in the mood for a melody 7 -6 7 7 -9 8 7 7 and you’ve got us feeling alright. 6 6 6 6 6 -5 5 -5 5 4 Now john at the bar is a friend of mine 4 4 4 4 4 -4 -4 He gets me my drinks for free 6 6 6 6 6 6 -5 5 -5 5 5 5 And he’s quick with a joke or to light up your smoke 3 3 3 -5 -5 -5 5 4 4 But there’s someplace that he’d rather be 9 9 9 9 9 -9 8 -9 8 7 He says, bill, I believe this is killing me 7 7 7 7 7 -8 -8 -8 As the smile ran away from his face 8 -9 9 9 9 9 -9 8 -9 8 7 Well Im sure that I could be a movie star 7 7 7 8 -9 8 7 7 If I could get out of this place -6 -6 -6 -7 7 -7-7 da – da – da – de – de – d-a -6 -6 -7 7 -7 -6 6 da – da – de – de – da – da – da 6 6 6 6 6 -5 5 -5 5 4 Now Paul is a real estate novelist 4 4 4 4 4 4 -4 -4 Who never had time for a wife 6 6 6 6 6 6-5 5 -5 5 5 5 5 And he’s talkin with davy whose still in the navy 3 3 3 -5 -5 5 4 And probably will be for life 9 9 9 9 9 9 -9 8 -9 8 7 And the waitress is practicing politics 7 7 7 7 7 -8 -8 -8 As the businessmen slowly get stoned 8 -9 9 9 9 9 -9 8 -9 8 7 Yes, they’re sharing a drink they call loneliness 7 7 7 8 -9 8 7 7 7 But its better than drinkin alone 9 9 9 9 sing us a song -9 8 -9 8 7 you’re the piano man -6 7 7 7 -8 -8 sing us a song tonight 8 8 9 9 9 9 -9 8 -9 8 7 well were all in the mood for a melody 7 -6 7 7 -9 8 7 7 and you’ve got us feeling alright. 6 6 6 6 6 6 -5 5 -5 5 4 Its a pretty good crowd for a Saturday 4 4 4 4 4 4 -4 -4 And the manager gives me a smile 6 6 6 6 6 6 -5 5 -5 5 5 5 cause he knows that its me they’ve been comin to see 3 3 3 -5 -5 -5 5 4 4 To forget about life for a while 9 9 9 9 9 9 -9 8 -9 8 7 And the piano, it sounds like a carnival 7 7 7 7 7 -8 -8 -8 And the microphone smells like a beer 8 -9 9 9 9 9 -9 8 -9 8 8 8 And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar 7 7 7 8 -9 8 7 7 And say, man, what are you doin here? -6 -6 -6 -7 7 -7-7 da – da – da – de – de – d-a -6 -6 -7 7 -7 -6 6 da – da – de – de – da – da – da 9 9 9 9 sing us a song -9 8 -9 8 7 you’re the piano man -6 7 7 7 -8 -8 sing us a song tonight 8 8 9 9 9 9 -9 8 -9 8 7 well were all in the mood for a melody 7 -6 7 7 -9 8 7 7 and you’ve got us feeling alright.

Where Can You Get Free Sheet Music for Harmonica?

As far as sheet music, I have no idea. However there are tabs for at least a couple of thousand songs at :http://www.harptabs.com/

HARPING THE BLUES !

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I know you’re supposed to suck on 5 and lower your tongue but I can’t bend the note at all. Can some people just not do it?

Yeah, the first guy doesn’t know what’s what. Martin is right on. I just want to stress that 5-draw does not bend a whole semi-tone. It’s probably the WORST hole to try to learn a bend on. You’re better off focusing on holes 3 or 4.

1.Get a clear clean single note. If you can’t play only one hole at a time, you’ll have a tough time bending.

2. Relax and draw your air (don’t suck or huff and puff)

3. Keeping the airflow smooth, playing one hole only, change the direction of airflow until the tone of the note changes dramatically. If you have a piano, hit a white key, then the black key next to it. The pitch should change at least this much if you’re bending properly on blues harp.

I just saw a great video by Chris Michalek (below) where he talks about learning to bend with a straw. Look him up on YouTube. I have a bending video (12gagedan) and there’s a ton more. One of them, plus much practice will likely get you there.

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