How do you guys get really good at harp? Do you practice a single song over and over again and slowly build a quiver of songs you can play? Or should you play whatever slides in front of you and get better that way?
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Can i tell you when i get there? 
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Ha! Sure! 
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@Dk360 Iāve a bit of time off today so looking at the forum for a while. I suspect the answer depends upon the person but for me one moment I couldnāt do anything right and then it just clicked. Iāve a theory but itās only theory, I spent a lot of time listening to other players, not just harmonica and trying to copy what I heard then one day something sounded good, then listening to other players I tried it again and that sounded ok (ish), Over probably no more than a couple of weeks if I could hear the music it was not too difficult to follow and copy the sound. Listening and then trying to follow seemed to be the way forward. After all copying is how babies learn how to talk so why not musicians? It was a very sudden revelation, a WOW! moment and now in my spare time Iām a recording studio session player. Itās only a theory but it might be worth a try. Jay1
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In addition to what @Jay1 has told you, it is a tremendous help to record your playing and critically compare it to what you are trying to copy or sound like (if that is what you are doing, as @Jay1 suggests). Many players cannot hear the little mistakes in timing, pitch, etc while they are learning, but the recording does not forgive and can be quite a brutal shock for those doing that (listening to their own playing) for the first time.
The answer to your initial question also depends on exactly what your goal(s) is/are. Many players never try to ālearn a songā but rather try to get good at improvising over the chord progression or even just the melody that is being played. Their approach is, of course, somewhat different than just practicing a given song over and over again until one can play it well.
Regards,
ā Slim 
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@Dk360 @Slim Of course @Slim is absolutely right, recording yourself is essential and something I should have thought to mentioned. Playing chromatic is mainly about improvising unless playing a solo melody but recording the results is a must. One problem that can be common to harmonica players and vocalists is the inability to hear themselves over other instruments. A personal monitor + open back headphones (so you can hear others) is often necessary. Tried to cover it in my Density of sound post (Density of sound). āWhat are your goals?ā might make an interesting subject unless itās been done before Jay1
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This answer is going to sound snarky but it is not - I mean this very genuinely. The way to get good at the harmonica is to treat it the same way a serious student of any instrument wood. Hereās the basics:
- Find a great teacher. Go to a lesson each week. If that is impossible time or money wise, do it every other week.
- Practice a lot. Recommend 1 hour of focused practice time per day. Note: this does not mean āplay harmonica an hour a day.ā It means spend an hour of methodical time dedicated to figuring out how to do new things, how to refine things you can already do, and most importantly, a sizable chunk of time practicing fundamentals.
- Spend a great deal of time listening to great players. Dissect what they are doing in as much detail as you can. Work with your teacher for things you canāt figure out.
- Keep track of your time and progress. A great way to do this is by recording yourself, so you can hear what you really sound like. Given a computer, you donāt even need any equipment to do this (though a cheap audio interface and standard audio mic will sound better.)
- Spend as much time as you can learning from players who are better than you.
- Be very systematic in your approach to practicing. Jamming through backtracks alone will not get you to your destination.
- Take advantage of the great learning materials the harmonica community produces.
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Thanks!
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I focus on playing single notes more than anything else. Cleaning notes are the foundation of a nice sound. Can can spend millions of dollars on a house but if it has a bad foundation you have a bad house. Like Chris if I get there Iāll let you know. I do have about six different songs I play that force me from 1 through 9 blows and draws. Learning how to play a song is one thing but making it sound exactly as it should is a different story and takes lots of practice.
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Iām always my worst critic, and Iāve discovered what sounds great to an audience if you are honest with your self is not necessarily that good to you
So thatās what Iāve learned be honest with yourself.
Another thing is try play everything guitar solos on harp ( Iād recommend listening to Will Wilde for that one) or listen to the actual guitarists you know who they are! Sax solos (my faves Lois Jordan and Louis Prima, Clean head Vinson and Bullmoose Jackson and for sheer attack Clarence Clemmons Charlie Parker) then thereās many and varied Brass players Iāve come to admire over the years Herb Alpert trumpet,Gene the Mighty Flea Conners trombone a whole ruck of soul brass players. Harmonica players are so numerous and varied couldnāt name em all.
Thing is donāt be afraid to try something new, be a Magpie steal everyone elseās shiny things. And something Iāve learned truly is to be yourself, play you, take all those influences put em in a blender and add you. And practice like the devil.I think that if you see a harmonica player that you think hey heās great, swallow your ego, be a cheeky sod ( like me) go and talk to him learning how other people approach the instrument is very enlightening we all have our methods and Iāve found our brother and sister harp player all too willing to engage another player and chat. Go and see live music you canāt learn it all off a CD or vinyl DVD or book, you need to know how musicians work with each other, learn Timing and how they communicate almost invisibly to the audience. Learn stuff in tiny bite size pieces perfecting each technique (although itās never perfect accept that) and I honestly canāt think of anything else.
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@Dk360 Iām gonna +1 what @Slim @Jay1 and @Hogie.Harmonica have said. Absolute pure gold.
Just take that advice, and implement it for 10,000 hours, and bam! Youāve arrived. 
Just kidding - Iāll echo @Chris3 here āIāll tell you wen I get there.ā But truly, you never arrive, if youāre always curious - thatās why I think itās so important to fall in love with the PROCESS.
Donāt let the lists of things make you stressed or overwhelmed. Find the paths that light up everything inside of you, and take all the detours down rabbit trails that you can.
When it comes to practicing, I donāt think anything is ever wasted. All time invested playing will yield fruit.
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@Dk360 - Also, if you can afford to, come to SPAH 2025 San Antonio Texas August 12-16!
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@Luke -
Sounds like fun!
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Luke
Can you tell me where the SPAH gathering in San Antonio is? I live about an hour west but would like to get a hotel. Any idea of the all stars line up that is going to be there?
For all that are coming no need to pack a coat. I can guaranty you it will not be cold or anything close. The food there is great.
Scott
SPAH 2025 will be in August 12-16, 2025, at the Hilton Palacio del Rio in San Antonio TX. Lineup will probably be available in like 10 months? LOL. Not to be missed if youāre an hour away for sure!!
Thanks I will. It sounds like the gathering will take place near or on the river walk. If you have an extra half day the Alamo area has been completely revamped. It looks great and is worth the trip. Hope to see you there. Michael D will be there and he can play the harp.
Scott
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You have lots of good advice. I especially like Hogieās for providing structure. In answer to your question, I like the idea of learning a song and putting a few in your quiver. It provides a sense of accomplishment. and gives you something to pull out when you want to play with others. Ultimately, youāll change them as your playing improves.
Someone else mentioned recording yourself to hear how your playing sounds. Obvious benefits as you try to improve. However, hereās āthe rest of the storyā taken from a recent issue of Premier Guitar magazine:
ā. . . Many, if not most, musicians I know suffer from something I call music dysmorphia. As people who suffer from body dysmorphic disorder torture themselves with an overwhelming preoccupation of their perceived flaws, be they real or imaginary, musicians often listen back to their musical performances and only hear what they donāt like. (Timing is rushed, toneās too thin or too bassy, note choice too clichĆ© or too weird; itās never quite right to their ears). I know a ton of players who are way better musicians than I will ever be, yet they genuinely donāt like the way they play. Itās not false modesty, itās the inability to process reality accurately.ā
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