Started to practice a little while driving. Just basic Who who huh huh stuff. Lo and behold drove about 2 miles with my turn signal on LOL. Someone pointed it out to me at an intersection. I held up my harmonica. They just looked at me. Oh well. Can’t wait for next trip.
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Back in the late '60’s I drove a VW Bug from LA to Las Vegas. Being young and stupid LOL, I drove most of the highway using my knees to steer so I could still cup my harp. Almost crashed when I got off onto a curved off ramp. Hahahahaha. But the trip seemed incredibly short being so preoccupied!!! My method is NOT recommended!!!
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I keep a set of Eastops in the back seat , 2 on the console and 1 in the glovebox …lol
Don’t ya just love harp players ( only we understand ) 
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That makes two of us. Ditto on your recommendation. I have enough troble thinking one thought, two at once is out of the question.
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I worked in the Funeral Industry for a long time and conducted many Funerals for young people who died in traffic crashes, because they were distracted while texting on their mobile phones. I know that some of you will think I’m just a grumpy old Man and I thought about not say anything for that reason. But I was and am so saddened by the tragic waste of those young lives, that I feel compelled to comment. Remember with the deep relaxed mouth position, the harmonica is meant to be in front of your teeth, not impaled through the back of your head. Just don’t do it! Listening to songs that you want to play is an important part of learning, so do that while driving and leave the harmonica playing till you get out of the car.
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Yeah I don’t recommend it for safety reasons. (But I do it almost EVERY time I drive alone!!! 
)
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I can’t believe that anyone would play any instrument while driving a car. It’s madness. I drive a car in the UK and, more often, ride a motorcycle. There’s enough distracted car drivers without them playing harmonicas behind the wheel. It would be a straightforward charge of driving without due care and attention, points on licence (c correct in original English 
) and at least a hefty fine. I’m shocked that so many here seem to think it’s okay. Wow, such attitudes may go some way to explain why US road deaths are around 14.2 per 100,000 people while UK is 2.6 per 100,000. The only bends you should go for behind the wheel are in the road. Sorry for the rant, but I’m genuinely horrified.
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@barry.bolton good to see you again! Thank you so much for this. Yeah I should mention. I live in a place where a lot of the roads have very few cars, On the other hand, harmonica might also work in situations where a road turns into a parking lot because of traffic, but yes, thank you so much for this post and is duly noted. Please be careful everybody! 
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This is what I mean by traffic … Harp added after the ride 
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That was some nice playing.
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You’re very kind. Thanks.
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A motorcycle really does cut through the traffic, eh? I used to have a license, but I gave it up years ago.
Thanks for the good advice, the vid, and the jam!
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I don’t actually have a driver’s license due to having amaxophobia (the fear of driving), so usually when I’m playing harmonica in any car, I’ll always take shotgun or the back seat. Back when my mom had XM radio, we’d listen to the 80s and 90s country station all the time. I’d usually carry my C Hohner Blues Bender (it’s more of a carry-on harp for me) with me for one reason: that specific radio station would play “Ain’t Goin’ Down (Til The Sun Comes Up)” and I feel the need to play the harmonica part alongside Terry McMillan whenever I get the chance to.
Sometimes when I buy a new harmonica, I’d like to play a little bit on it to ease into the reeds. For example, when I got my key of A Hohner Marine Band back in December 2024, I was playing a bit of “Take Me Home Country Roads” and “Roadhouse Blues” on it because they were on the radio. I’m not really a fan of the tuning on that harp, but I like its tone and how responsive it is. I managed to get a 6 overblow OOTB.
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Also guilty as charged 
Oops 
Danger Will Robinson 
We must definitely be vigilant behind the wheel. I’ve never given it much thought as I don’t usually seem to be distracted by doing it. But, no doubt, we must be aware when we are behind the wheel 
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I don’t recommend it at all. Especially in Chicago. Looks like a gun or that you are smoking something. Distracted driving is also a bad idea, Pull over and play or play at home. It’s not worth it.
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He truly was one of the best . So sad we lost him in 2007 . There’s a " promo CD " of his on Ebay if you’re interested
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Yes, he was and he still is in my book. It’s a shame that a lot of harmonica players didn’t know who he was and looked down on his playing style because it wasn’t “real blues” (Chicago blues style harmonica) or that it wasn’t technically advanced enough for them. Most of the time, people bullied me for liking his stuff and would tell me to give up playing the harmonica because I was very passionate about learning to play like him. I’m not a religious person, but I grew up listening to country music and that’s where I was introduced to his playing.
However, I introduced many harmonica players to him and met a couple of people who do cite him as one of their favorites or were influenced by him. This is including the guy who became my teacher, Todd Parrott. I will always respect Terry’s harmonica playing as my gateway for getting into the blues and the harmonica in general. He was one of the few, in my opinion, who put his entire soul in the instrument and could make it sound like it’s crying its poor little reeds out.
I consider him as my biggest influence on my playing style and I do get comments about how I sound like him all the time. Sometimes when I play a song with Terry McMillan to other people I know (mainly my extended family), they’re always wondering if it’s me or him. I got to sing and play “Ain’t Goin’ Down (Til the Sun Comes Up)” when my mom and stepdad got married back in 2022, per my mom’s request.
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I always have one in the car for some little practices.
DO NOT whilst actually driving.
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Norton Buffalo also …
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