Beginner Blues Harp

What's The Purpose Of This Stuff?

These ideas are intended for the guy or gal who is taking those first steps with playing the blues on the diatonic harmonica.

Blues Harp

Q: What's the common/terrible advice one hears from well-meaning blues harp teachers?

A: You've got to listen to music, man.  You've got to jam along with records.

That advice comes from people who know music.  People who know blues rules.  If you are a total beginner, that advice is worthless.

If you had never played ice hockey but developed a curiosity, you would not be instructed to feed your new hobby by getting on the ice with NHL players, right?

Your interest in blues harmonica music begins with such passion.  You hear Little Walter backing up Muddy Waters.  You buy some music by the greats (Little Walter, Big Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, etc.)  You buy your first harmonica -- says it's Key of C, and you have no idea what that means.

Pretty soon you are exposed to some cruel stuff: a) Tongue blocking and b) realizing that the sounds coming from your harmonica are nothing like Little Walter.  Not even close.

You can acquire harmonica instructional materials, sure.  You can try to memorize the patterns.  But you don't know the blues rules, and all you are doing is cramming for the test without understanding the material.  Big difference.

Solution: Teach yourself ukulele.

I'm not kidding.  If you have no foundation in music, you are limiting the progress you will make with your blues harp.  The good news is you can build the necessary music foundation with the humble ukulele.

• Ukuleles are easily found.
• You can teach yourself (with online help).
• You now have an instrument to accompany other blues harpers with.

You will gain an understanding of I-IV-V . . . of turnarounds . . . of chord changes . . . and then when you return to your blues harp, all this harmonica instruction starts making sense.

Harps to Consider

Context: For the beginner blues harper with a limited budget who wants to get to know some different harmonicas.

In no particular order . . .

1) Hohner Big River.  Price is right.  Sounds, feels, tastes like you would expect.  Recommended.

2) Turbo Jammer.  Price is right.  Take a chance with this new plasticfantastic harp.  Recommended.

3) Suzuki Harpmaster.  Price is now a little higher . . . but it's worth it.  Easy to play.  Recommended.

* From my experience, one should avoid purchasing the Suzuki Easy Rider and Hering Black Blues.

Recommended Listening

Looking for a new blues harp CD?

I suggest you check our Bill Lupkin's Where I Come From.  The playing is sharp, of course, but it's the overall "real" sound you hear on this CD that you will dig.  I mean the recording sounds like a talented group of human musicians gathered in a studio and did their thing.  Very different than the over-produced, over-computerized, over-slick recordings you can hear today.  Recommended.

Don't Sweat Tongue Blocking

Remember that folded up bit of instruction that often accompanies your harmonica?  That's the first intimidating introduction to tongue blocking . . . followed by blues harp instructors who are genius tongue blockers.

This Vox entry will serve as your official license to forget tongue blocking and just enjoy playing harp with your squeezed down lips.  Print out the form below.  Sign and date the document, of course.

* * *

I have permission to forget about tongue blocking, so I can move on to other aspects of the Blues Harp.

_________________________

sign here

________

date

Adam Gussow is your Harmonica Teacher

There's this deal called YouTube, right?  And there's this brilliant harp player who has chosen to brilliantly teach you harmonica via YouTube.

The guy is ADAM GUSSOW.  

Adam Gussow

He has done lots: recorded CD's, written books, taught English to college kids.  Now he is your harp teacher.

You can find plenty of online harp instruction, but you will find nobody like Adam.  Really, don't bother with the other stuff.  Just get comfortable with his (many!) YouTube lessons, and you will  benefit.

***

Prediction: If you have not already figured out how to save videos found on YouTube, you will get working on that task after checking out Adam's lessons.  You will want to keep these for additional study.  Two hints -- keepvid.com and iSquint.  That's all I'm saying.

Sonny Boy's "Down And Out Blues"

Reflections On A Harp Album Purchase

In 1959, Chess Records released a Sonny Boy Williamson LP called Down And Out Blues.  When I bought that record as a teenager (many years after its original release), I assumed the gentleman on the album sleeve was Sonny Boy Williamson.  Not the case.  Do you know the album artwork I reference here?  If so, you might be giggling.  I am.  If you are unfamiliar with this record, check it out over at Amazon or some such.

Sonny Boy's singing style is just not that great.  There, I said it.  I know he is recognized as a fine songwriter, harp player, and legend.  But I have to file him under Howlin' Wolf . . . meaning, this is a significant blues man and all but the emperor is not wearing any clothes.

OK, Mr. Smarty Vox Pants, then who is a great blues singer?  Muddy Waters.

Huang Star Performer doesn't feel right

Huang Star Performer Review

You look at this harp, and you think it's an inexpensive way to flirt with the Hohner Golden Melody harmonica.  Same shape, right?  But one is cheaper, and it's fun to experiment.

After fooling around regularly with the Huang Star Performer, I must tell you that this rig just doesn't feel right in your mouth.  I'm spending too much time thinking about how this thing feels and not enough time on the important stuff like tone.

Does it feel good in your hands?  Yes.  Is it nice to eliminate the sharp edges?  Yes, of course.  But the business end of this hard it just too flat, too vertical.

My Huang Star Performer doesn't end with its feel-in-the-mouth.  I also find the harp doesn't respond so well.

A better idea: Get a Suzuki Harpmaster.  That's a harp that feels just fine in your mouth.  That harp responds.

Suzuki Nails It With Both Harpmaster and Bluesmaster

You Know I Like The Suzuki Harpmaster . . . Now Sign Me Up For the Suzuki Bluesmaster

Discovering the right harmonica for you takes some time/money.  You must buy a few busts along the way.  But if you stay on target, you will eventually meet your harmonica soulmate.  I thought I had done so with the Suzuki Harpmaster.  This is a harmonica that responds better than the rest of my stable.

And now, I welcome the Suzuki Bluesmaster to the team.  Different shape.  Same responsiveness.

While I have not played everything in the Suzuki line up, I can tell you that these two are keepers.

Get Into SLIM HARPO

A Harp Hero For The Comman Man

I have been aware of Slim Harpo's name for years and years.  My interest ramped up a couple years back when I heard Slim Harpo covered by the Rolling Stones (see Exile On Main Street album).  Now my Slim Harp-o-meter is all the way over in the red because I secured a copy of The Best Of Slim Harpo.

We all agree that Little Walter is a harp champ, right?  Right.  However, there is a w-i-d-e gap between listening to Little Walter's harp and playing like him.  Can he really be holding the same instrument in his hands that I'm holding?  Do his lips and lungs work like mine?  The bar is so very high.

If you can relate to the above Little Walter analysis, then let's continue the line over to Slim Harpo.  This is harp playing that the common blues harp guy can connect with.  Hooray for Slim Harpo.  Thanks for encouraging the harp fan who wants to play along.  Now, Slim Harpo is dead.  So he can't really accept my thanks.  But you can accept my recommendation to get yourself a copy of The Best Of Slim Harpo.