Hi everyone. I am about two-thirds through the Beginner to Boss course and it is awesome. I am a 5 string banjo player using Scruggs style. Been playing that for over 20 years, though I took a solid 5 years off. Have now formed a band and wanted to expand beyond banjo and thought, rightly so, that introducing the harmonica to the group would be fun. Anxious to learn and don’t know a ton about music theory.
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Hi Luke, My name is Stewart from Melbourne, Australia and I have been playing the Bagpipes for about 7 years and thought i should move to something that can move more easily with you. So far the course is really great and whilst I’ve played with the Harp for a couple of years I really want to get into as many genres as possible. I find a lot of the country stuff can be slow and cathartic as its played but looking forward to all of it. Have done a few blues lessons but a long way to go so I’m starting at the beginning and working through it all.
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Hi im Paolo, ive only been playing tremolo harmonica for four years mainly playing elvis presley, some background music from rpg games from the 90s like final fantasy for example, some city pop and mostly classical songs from joe hisaishi and other ghibli related songs. My long term goal is to really play big band jazz music using a combination of diatonic harmonica and chromatic harmonica such as art blakey’s moanin’ , freddie hubbard’s red clay (someone played a version of it using the harmonica) and afrojazz.
So far, im moving from tremolo harmonica to chromatic harmonica (I just havent pressed the button yet) now. And with the diatonic it’s only now that I’m able to bend notes. For the diatonic id like to play muddy waters and junior wells, big daddy wilson, and dudley.
I practice more or at least two hours a day when i can.
Paolo C
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@jim5 Wow man so cool! Can’t wait to see some vid of the band some time. welcome to the forum! May God bless your musical journey.
@stewartsmillie80 Hey Stewart from down under. WOW, bagpipes?!?! Cool! Yeah, harmonica is definitely more portable. Can’t put bagpipes in you pocket. Looking forward to hearing how it goes for ya. Welcome to the forum!
@Hirayamanawari Ok, what an interesting range of music you’re working on! I love Red Clay and Moanin’. I’ve played Red Clay on bass with bands on gigs before, but I’ve never tried it on harmonica. I did try Moanin’ - it’s a lot of fun! In fact when I included it as one of the 50 songs that I had people vote on when I was working on the 9 Impressive Riffs video. You can see my version of Moanin’ on that original private video here. Keep up the great work my friend, and welcome to the forum!
Hey Charlieek here. New to Forum. Have ordered C harmonica and will sign up for “ ……to Boss” lessons when received estimated at 12/8/25. In tve meantime I’m interested in a Harmonica theosaurice giving definition to nomenclature. For example
Harp
Riff
Groove
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Good morning, Gents! I’m new here! My name is Richard and I am 24 years old. I am from Pennsylvania, USA. I am an old soul. I like music a lot. I collect a lot of physical media. From 8-Track tapes, cassettes, vinyl records, shellac records, CD’s and I have like 4 Edison Cylinders. My favorite genres of music are Soul/R&B, Jazz and Blues.
I’ve never played an instrument before 2 weeks ago. I signed up for the 3 free lessons with my email and started watching a few and learned deep mouth position(I always thought you kissed the harmonica haha), lip pursing. I wanted to start taking this even more seriously and I really enjoyed the free courses, so I bought the Beginner To Boss course. So far I’ve learned about EE-OO mouth shape make different sounds, breathing and posture.. I’m really enjoying it. I feel like I’m starting to make music instead of random sounds.
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Hey I’m Collin! 
I’m a major fan of Tom Petty. Ive already posted a new topic in the gear category of what harps he uses, as it took me 2 months to find a definitive answer lol. I’d love to see some Tom Petty harmonica song lessons on the YouTube channel!
My favourite song from him is: Swingin’
Harps I have: Marine Band 1896 (E and D), Fender Blues Deluxe (A,C,G). Blues Harp with 3d printed comb (B).
Harps im planning to get: Special 20 & Pro Harp.
Much love harmonica community!
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Welcome! You picked what I believe is one of the best introductory courses to the harmonica. Luke does a great job introducing terms and explaining concepts along the way. I think most of your questions will get answered. Nice to have your here!
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Hello Luke, and everyone here on the forum!
I’m Franklin, and I’ve been playing the harmonica for four months and a few days now. I’m learning from everything I can find on the internet, and I really practice every day. Today, I’m super excited to start the Step-By-Step Harmonica Lessons!
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Hello, everyone. My name is Victor, writing from Boston. I’m a novice who is very much enjoying Luke’s course. I played baritone horn and trumpet many years ago, but have not played any musical instrument since then. The harmonica seems to be a great way to get back into music (and the compact size is a big plus compared to the baritone).
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Hey! I write under the pseudonym “Slayer of Virtues” and I have been playing guitar gigs for years.
Due arthritis and loss of voice as I age, I bought a few Lee Oscar harmonicas.
I play guitar and write Blues original songs. I like having an instrument with me when I travel. I used to fly to Houston and Chicago, New York City and San Francisco and Detroit to give speeches on mental healthcare at conferences.
So I have an aircraft guitar case.
Now I’m retired and like having a harp in my pocket.
Lee Oscar harmonicas treat me right but I’m thinking about a chromatic harp.
Something in the key of C to start.
I love just improvisation to start my day: I pray with music and poetry.
I’m coming out with some books of Haiku poetry written with my wife. She’s a gifted pianist and writer.
That’s us.
Slayer of Virtues!
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Hey there! I’m a 40 year old beginner from Nashville, Tennessee. Once upon a time, many moons ago, I was a music education student at the University of Houston. I played baritone, trombone, and sousaphone. I also sang in the men’s choir.
I love to sing, play guitar poorly, and write songs. I’m a city bus driver by trade. My musical goal is to play open mics with my original songs, some time around January 20th, 2026. I want to learn harmonica to do a folky thing with some of my songs, and just enjoy the harp for itself as well! Feel free to talk to me. I’m nice. lol I will probably ask you boring questions you’ve heard a thousand times, so be warned lol.
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Welcome @Slayer_of_Virtues, that’s some name you have there. Mental health is a topic of some interest on this forum, mostly relating to the benefits of the harmonica of course. I’m interested in poetry also, although I hardly write any more. I recently completed a poem that had been brewing for years, and only after I completed it, realised it’s in the Haibun style. I knew about Haiku but not Haibun, so not sure how I managed to do it. I need to be careful to not deviate too much from the topic of harmonica, but I guess both are artistic outlets, so these things will be mentioned from time to time. Music and Poetry are not so different after all. Well done to you and your good lady.
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Hello all, I just joined a moment ago. I’d like to try and play a little blues on the harp.
I’ll start off by saying I know precious little about the harmonica. I own 1, an old Honer International Blues Band, which I’ve had since childhood. It’s probably a not very prestigious model, right?
Either way, despite recommendations that a good starter for blues harp should be in he key of C, which the stamp in the corner indicates it is, every note that comes from it sounds too damn happy to be bluesy.
Any help you could offer would be a big help.
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@Charlieek - welcome to the forum! Thanks for asking for the Thesaurus. @Hogie.Harmonica worked so hard on, bringing in Joe Filisko for help. I’ve gotta dig it up and get it published on the site!
@Richardw72 wow that’s so cool you’re so young man! Welcome to the forum. Keep on rocking!!!
@CollinTheTomPettyGuy hey there. That’s cool I’d never heard Swingin’ before!! I saw your post on what harps Petty used. Glad to have you here!
@Franklin Woo hoo!! Welcome. Glad to have you on the forum. Can’t wait to hear how it goes for ya!
@allenbalte Yeah you can’t beat the size/portability of the harmonica!! Welcome my friend.
@Slayer_of_Virtues Welcome to the forum. Thanks for sharing your story. Glad the harmonica is helping you keep the musical journey alive. It’s done that for me as well!
@palbatross Ask away bro! I love your goal, and believe you will accomplish it. You’re lucky to live in a place where you can easily perform. Keep us posted. Ask away on the “dumb’ questions (there are none.) You got this! 
@ApprenticeBluesMI The trick to sounding bluesy is to draw as much as you can (and blow as little as you can) and say “Dwah” or “Oy” a lot. That should help! But yeah, I’m not a fan of the Blues Bands. Here’s my page on brands: Which Harmonica to Buy? – The Best & Worst Harmonicas
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Greetings from South Africa.
My name is Drysdale and I, for some reason, have just bought myself a harmonica and signed up for these lessons.
I know absolutely nothing about music. I think that is why I am here, this sales pitch caught me and made me feel like I might be able to play with a level of acceptability at some point. I also watched a few other online teachers and decided Luke is the person I could connect best with and would want to learn from.
I am absolutely terrified about this journey.
Wish me luck.
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@Drysdale I think your going to enjoy the journey most importantly is to have fun and keep at it. There’s lots of good people on this forum to help and encourage you.
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Thanks @Moman. It was amazing how, even after just those first few lessons with Luke the fear has been taken out of it. My new motto, “Approach this journey from a place of fearlessness and playfulness”. I recon if I keep those pillars forefront of my mind, you right, I will enjoy this very much. Stoked to have people like you on this forum to help me as I go.
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Hi. Welcome. Just a word of warning. These little creatures can become an addiction of a kind. They can even lead to GAS. I think it’s called. Gear acquisition syndrome. Some of us can nolonger leave home without tapping our pockets to make sure it’s sitting there or checking it’s in it’s special little spot in our handbag. But don’t worry too much the benefits outweigh the dependent side affects.
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