Hi Denny. Immersion is a big part. Listen to harmonica as much as possible all the greats jazz blues classical. Even folk and country. Listen and absorb the particular things harmonica brings
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good advice I’ll do that
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@DavidHiggins Great to have Scotland represented here David! Thanks for joining the forum. Welcome.
@dennyboy48 You got this! 
Welcome to the forum my friend!
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Hi, Luke! I’m Trish.
It’s been many (ok, many many) years, but I do have some musical ability with wind (and other) instruments, vocals and reading music. This isn’t the first time I picked up a harp, but it is the first time having a harp and the internet. Wanting to start playing something, anything again, I picked up a set of spoons a year or so ago, no special equipment needed, and taught myself to play. Thinking out loud a month ago I said I wanted to learn the harmonica and poof, there was a harmonica. For two weeks I played that thing but couldn’t bend anything but the draw 2. So, I ordered a Lee Oskar. Bending right out of the box. After playing the new one for a few weeks, I have a hard time playing that junk harmonica at all now. My point is, that if you can make a junk harmonica sound okay, when you do get a good one, you’ll impress yourself.
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Long time music and instruments lover here, recently I started with the harp; and, right now, I like testing harps, combs, materials and tunings almost as much as playing. So far, faves are kongsheng solist, crossover & low thunderbirds with aluminum comb, and lee oskar’s lowest melody maker. Love this tuning and major cross. Wanna try a crossover/thunderbird with a brass comb (or easttop T006 as far as brass diatonic options I know). Cheers!
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@WhrlWind congrats on your decision to take up harmonica Trish! So much easier to learn things faster with the internet!
@cap_sa Wow have you been busy! Impressive! What’s the lowest Melody Maker? That’s cool you’re putting metal combs on the Thunderbirds. I have a couple that I’ve put plastic combs on. Great sounding instruments for sure!
Welcome the forum guys! Glad to have ya here.
Hi folks Squeak here from Western Australia. Rank beginner harmonica blower (not even a “player” yet 
). Looking forward to learning from others here and possibly meeting any other Perthites… 
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Hi Squeak. Welcome to the forum. Toog
Perth
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Greetings from down south in Holly Springs, NC. I joined the forum to chat with some other harp users and to get an answer to a specific question: I’m learning Dylan’s Tangled Up in Blue with my band and I’m trying to figure out why the harmonica outro sounds so different when I play it versus when Dylan plays it. I’m hitting all of the notes, but it sounds like he is playing two harmonicas. What am I missing? Thanks in advance for any assistance.
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I’m not a fan of Bob Dylan, but honestly does it have to be exactly the same? Johnny Winter did a version of Highway 61 revisited and it was better than Dylan’s. Dylan’s music is very free to interpretation. I would just improvise and make it your own
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Welcome Squeak, I’m not far away - Mandurah.
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Hi Toogdog and PapaCurly. Ive been struggling to find a F2F teacher here in Perth. Im finally found one guy that Im unfamilar with (Gary) I’ll be meeting him this wek do you guys know of other Perth based teachers, Belly (Graham McClelland), Jean Guy, and Mark Constable are not available.
Thanks
Squeak
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No. I couldn’t find one. I found it easier in the end to do Lukes course.
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It’s on my options list , but I know my learning style, and I do WAY better with F2F instruction and immediate feedback. Hopefully Gary is a good fit and I can add to his lessons with Luke’s or Will Wild’s videos
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Sorry I can’t help you Squeak; I haven’t looked for a teacher, I haven’t even done an online course. Just treading my own path. I am enjoying it though, and I encourage you to pursue the best path for you. I imagine that face to face is the fastest way to learn, if you can find someone. Have you tried enquiring through a music shop? I have benefited from the free video tutorials on this site. I’m sure they will help you also, in addition to the lessons you are seeking. Good luck, let us know how you go.
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Hi @Squeak welcome to the forum. Just thought I’d drop a line to you regarding video lessons. I’m a very practical learner too. Back when I started in the 80’s there was nothing, the odd book here and there which were sometimes slightly inaccurate or highly confusing. I’m not that great with TAB you see. But I have found for beginners and even intermediate and even very experienced players should actually go and watch Jason Ricci teach on his YouTube channel. He’s very laid back and easy to follow he gives you the tabs if you need them but he also plays the parts very slowly, he also adds embellishments for intermediate and advanced stuff for experienced players. I’ve been playing for a long time now and I’m still able to learn stuff from him. Another along the same lines is a guy called Ronnie Shellist who I like too, pretty much for the same reasons I frankly marvel at some of these guys and their online teaching methods. And I must admit I didn’t think I could ever learn from videos. There’s also another guy who I don’t go to as much unless it’s for a particular riff in a style I like. That’s Kev, from Leeds harmonica. He’s great at nailing those complicated bits on records you can’t quite hear or can’t quite get if you go on YouTube just enter the names I’ve given you. I think you’ll be surprised. I’m pretty much self taught, I have had a little instruction and in put along the way. I was lucky enough to go and see and meet a lot of my heroes I was always a bit cheeky and asked questions but pretty much self taught. I can honestly say that there is quality stuff on YouTube you can learn ( blimey if I can do it anyone can) so I’d give em a go, you’ve lost nothing if it doesn’t work you can still look for a teacher.
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Thanks for the reply Andy,
As I stated am a rank beginner, BUT, I’ve been pretending/wanting to learn harmonica for over 20 years. I’m familiar with most of the online guys. Jason, Luke, Gusow, Shelist, Barrett, Levy, Tomlin, Jonah, etc… I also have a bunch of “learn to play books” from Progressive etc…
My problems lie in the fact that I’m extrinsically motivated. I need to have commited to something outside myself to drive my learning.
If I commit to something/someone other than myself I ALWAYS follow through. If I am solely committed to myself, I just go MEH…
I’m a recently retired high school and have more time now.
So Im taking on a mentor/tutor so that I can motivate myself to practice.
If I am expected to present progress on a weekly basis, I am much more likely to practice and show my progress.
The people pleaser in my does not want to let that tutor/mentor down.
I’m sure the videos and books will come in hand down the line, but for now I need to be driven by someone else.
This is just a long winded way of saying I suck at doing stuff on my own
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Ahh I see, I think I’m the opposite as I like people but don’t like much contact, I’m autistic but I have managed ( mostly due to my wife encouraging me to meet and be friendly with people, she’s the people person, I’m the people eater:joy:
) to be more outward. I was not always this way but I sometimes suffer from sensory overload and feel uncomfortable in crowded places. When I’m on stage it’s different I take on Different persona and I love that but I revert back to being introverted when I’m done. Sometimes my wife has to explain to people that I’m not being rude or ignoring people I just find people difficult to navigate because I’m not great with social cues.
Dude, Im exactly the same. I DO NOT under any curcumstance do small talk. I hate groups of general people If there’s no common activity or interest I dont want to be there…
My social activities are motorbike riding (solo), Rock climbing (very few people). Skydiving (very few people) and now harmonica playing (solo, for the foreseeable future). I think individuals are generally ok, but PEOPLE (groups) are just annoying
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When I was in the forces, I did a lot of Rock climbing and parachuting ( low level, Jungle and sea,) and up until my son was born I used to ride a chopper. My legs are Knackered ( my hips really, I’m trying to repair 3 yrs of damage) I do miss riding my bikes. I am married to a wonderful woman now who does encourage me to mix with people but sometimes I really don’t want to and she’s understanding of that to
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