I’m not gonna guarantee you that playing the harmonica well is going to make you more attractive to the person that you’re crushing on, but in my experience….
About 10 years ago, I was crushing on this girl from NYC who was turning heads playing trumpet around the island of Hawaii.
I was impressed with her. She had it all: beauty, soulfulness, creativity, humility, and a high level of musicianship. I wanted to collaborate with her musically in any way that I could.
I was happy to get to audition her for the 10-piece funk band I played in. (Needless to say, she passed the audition!)
Fast forward a year, and I’m asking her to marry me. Yes, it’s true, I really did meet my wife (pictured above) through music.
Now, music may or may not be a part of the unwritten chapters in your love story, but I’ll just say this:
My wife often says that my “soulful” harmonica playing was a big part of what attracted her to me.
So, while results may vary, all your practicing could pay off in more ways than one!
That’s great stuff, Luke! Fabulous story and there’s some funny scenes in that video. Very happy for both of you.
Earlier this evening I sacked up and sent this lady I’m pursuing a Train Groove recording using all of the articulations I learned from you. It went over surprisingly well, so thanks much, bro!
I too met my wife via music: I was not yet playing harmonica but was doing my music with a flute and she was playing acoustic guitar. That was our first meeting ever, and that was 40 years ago … As they say,
It was “Shakin All Over” that hooked my wife!
Her and her friends were part of our pack of ‘groupies’ in 1987, in 1989, I moved in with her, in '91, at the age of 21, I married her!
Now, at 52, I’m trying to impress her with my harmonica playing!
So far, so good. She questions if I really needed to buy 11 harmonicas in the last month, but she was impressed that 10 minutes after receiving the first one, I could play a 12 bar blues on it! So I have her full support now!
(I did spend $1500 on saxophones the year before last, so it was touch and go until then! )
Ha! You’ve got serious G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome.) I’ve got the same GLORIOUS disease. Ain’t it grand?
BTW - I did support my wife in buying a $3k trumpet at the beginning of my marriage, so the road was pretty well paved for her to support me from then on.
I shudder to think of how much money I’ve spent on gear over the last 10 years. Of course, I also built a recording studio so it’s well into 5 figures! If we examined it as a percentage of annual income, I could probably make Forbes “worst financial decisions” list if they have one.
As I always say:
They’re not TOYS
They’re INVESTMENTS in my CRAFT!!
You’ll notice that I said saxophones were the year before last, last year, I bought an interface, lots of microphones and accessories, acoustic treatment for the spare room, and built a little studio.
Earlier this year, it was multiple parts to rebuild an Epiphone Les Paul (which I haven’t yet completed).
What is this syndrome you speak of?
And are our wives enablers?
@Dave_Dunn, @Luke,
oh boys I’m having a blast reading the comments right now.
But it speaks for you that you have respect for the opinion of your wives.
Happy wife, happy life.
Most definitely Astrid!
It cuts both ways. Me spending money on musical equipment, means that my wife can ask me for, or buy herself, anything she wants, I can’t possibly object!
How many hobbies encourage their enthusiasts to walk around with their organs in their mouth for a good part of the day, blowing and sucking on them as they please?
Oh, and to boot, it’s much more fun when we do it with friends!
My deal with my wonderful wife: I play in my “studio” in the basement, where the washing machine and the dryer are, and enough concrete and doors are between it and the bedroom
Moreover, she didn’t find the high octave of a C harp pleasant → hubby has a reason to explore lower harmonicas and to start breakthrough blues course, as most stuff ends at 6 blow
If we examined it as a percentage of annual income, I could probably make Forbes “worst financial decisions” list if they have one. 
ALL FOR THE MUSIC!!!
and to start breakthrough blues course, as most stuff ends at 6 blow 
