Introduce Yourself!

Greetings, @Piglet !

Welcome to the forum. Look around here and you will find a great collection of tips, advice, etc.

So tell us: what kind (manufacturer, model, key) harp have you purchased?

Regards,
– Slim :sunglasses:

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Be Brave Piglet :pig_nose:

YOU ARE GONNA LOVE IT!

Welcome to a new and wonderful world :blush:

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HI Slim,

I got a Seydel Blues session std (i.e. brass reeds) in a beginner pack with a booklet. I saw a lot of recommendations for Hohner special 20 but i just liked the look of the seydel, i thought the rounded off cover plates would be comfey and anything above the “toy grade” harmonicas would probably do to get started. Figuring out what i really want out of the instrument I fugure you can’t know until you get stuck in.

Arrived this morning :slight_smile: key of C, as I think all the beginner offerings tend to be.

First experimental blowing and sucking (pun intended) and I’m positive about the instrument - it clearly has a nice tone and seems to respond readily to air moving through it.

As well picking up some bluesy stuff, i’m quite keen to learn some traditional music on it as well, reels and jigs and so on.

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I hope you enjoy the ride. Luke is a great teacher.

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Hi @Piglet

I personally like those Seydel Session harps with the brass reeds: easy to play for beginners, nice tone, cheaper than the Session Steel models with the stainless steel reeds.

Once you get more experience on the harp you might consider one with those stronger reeds, whereby the extra price for moving up to their 1847 models is (in my opinion) worth every penny. I was always a little disappointed with the Session Steel models.

Regards,
– Slim :sunglasses:

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Im a harp player. Im new here.

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Welcome to the party.

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Allen here! New to the site and the Harmonica world and loving it. Just a few month in but enjoying this great instrument! Been dabbling with it for years but got nowhere with it. Finally decided I’m ready to get serious and finally really learn it!

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Rock on, you are in a good place. Luke is a great teacher. Kinda reminds me of the Marty Schwartz of harmonica.

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Hi: Slim Jim here (newbie): I bought a Lee, Oscar diatonic in the key of low C. I love it, and have been taking the lessons to become a boss. I also was able to jam with some of my friends who play guitars drums and ukulele. For the songs in the key of C, it works great, but they are telling me I need to get harps, also in the keys of G,D, and A. I want to get another Lee Oskar diatonic, but am confused. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I am thinking my current harmonica is in key of C on the blow notes and key of G on the draw notes. First of all, is this correct? If this is right, do I need another harmonica in the key of G, which I is an option? So I’m thinking if I get another Lee Osker in the key of D it will also play in the key of A on the draw notes. Is this correct? I found this chart which I am basing my guesses on. Chart shown in photo. Basically, I want to be able to cover C,D,G, and A keys and want to do this with as few harmonicas as possible. Please give me some direction. Thanks!

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@Horn welcome to the forum! So glad you’re back playing again, that the vids have helped, and that you’ve joined us here in the forum. I can’t quite understand your question. Can you please try and ask it in a different way?

Have you seen this? How to Bend Harmonica – For Beginners

@Piglet - sweeeeet. Congrats on the best musical decision you coulda made and I hope you love your birthday present!

@Bruce_Higgison welcome to the forum my friend. Great to have you. How long have you been playing for?

@AllenJP WOO HOO! Stoked man. Can’t wait to hear how it continues to go for you. Congrats on your decision to get serious with it.

@Jav Welcome to the forum! You are going to eventually want to get all the keys your friends have recommended.

I’m not sure if you’re talking about chords or positions. Positions are confusing at the beginning and take time to understand. But the gist of it is:

1st position means using a C harmonica to play a song in the key of C

2nd position means using a C harmonica to play a song in the key of G.

The root chord for 1st position is 123 (or blowing anywhere on the harmonica) and the root chord for 2nd position is -234 (but -1 is also in the chord.)

To get a little more insight on 1st vs 2nd positions: What the Heck is a Harmonica Position? (And WHY do I need to know?)

Hope that helps?

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Hi, this is Jose, from far away. I live in Spain. I´m very hopeful with this course. I´m just starting to play harmonica. I would like to learn how to play the blues in the future. I have enrolled to this course for starting from the very beguining, acquiring good habits and fundamentals and improving my skills with the harmonica.
Best regards

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Greetings Jose @joserichart1 !!

Welcome to the forum. We are an international group with harpists in Germany, England, Australia, USA and more.

As you progress and your harmonica skills expand you will perhaps eventually wish to purchase a harmonica that is set up properly to enable you to show your best musical abilities. I tell you this because there is an excellent harmonica customizer not far from you – not in Spain, but in Portugal. His name is Andre Coelho. I can tell you from personal experience that his work is very, very good. It is now probably too early for you to consider buying a harmonica from him, and perhaps you will never get to that point. But just in case you do continue learning to play and to play blues harp, then I can tell you to please make a note of his name. :+1:

If you have any problems or questions while learning to play, then just ask for help on this forum. Look around first for answers to any question you might have, since this forum already contains very, very many answers to common questions. :point_left:

Happy harping,
– Slim :sunglasses:

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Hi. I’m a beginner harmonica player and just decided to buy this course. I’ve watched several of your videos and enjoy your style so I joined! Here we go… Steve Brown

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Rock on, Luke is a great teacher. He reminds me of what would happen if Marty Schwartz taught harmonica.

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New to the harmonic jams

Im 42 and been playing brass instruments since a kid. First instrument my wife dosnt complain about. Learning the harp to jam out on overland camping trips. Friends already want to play the spoons. haha
Howln wolf… wow. Thanks for the mention. My new favorite tracks

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Welcome to the fun. Music is just awesome.

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Using two harmonicas. If a song begins with Melody Maker in G then progresses to Harmonic Minor what are the best key choices? Consulting the Camelot Harmonic Wheel the choice would be ‘Em as I read it. The Melody Maker is a bit different then the G major on the Camelot Wheel so I wonder if the ‘Em is still the best choice.

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@joserichart1 bienvenidos to the forum mi amigo! So smart to start with good fundamentals. You’ll be rocking the blues in no time! :sunglasses:

@steveb189 Welcome to harmonica town Mr. Brown! So glad you’ve decided to join us here. Thank you for your kind words. I really appreciate it! Looking forward to hearing about your journey.

@Wesley.a.duff YES that’s part of why the harmonica is THE PEOPLE’S INSTRUMENT! So portable. The only instrument played on the north pole, the south pole, and the MOON! Glad to have you here. Rock on! :sunglasses:

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Hi. I’m Derek, from Scotland, UK. Looking forward to getting those blues techniques mastered and actually becoming a good blues harmonica player. Loving the course with JP so far. Look forward to being part of this journey with all you guys. We can do this. :notes:

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