I can’t believe that on December 29th, it’ll be eight years since I bought my first harmonica. Because I’d never thought that I could be at the place where I am now: performing live shows, chatting with some of the greatest players today, and even having a decently successful Youtube channel that reached over 250 subscribers. I know that being a harmonica player who didn’t go down the traditional route is not really talked about as much, as a lot of harmonica players view it as exclusively a blues instrument. So much so that anything against this so-called “status quo” is considered crap.
I know that because non-blues music on the harmonica is looked down upon by these guys, they’ll try to convert you into playing “real blues” (aka post-war Chicago electric blues). This actually has happened to me many times where I’ll be playing a country song like the original harmonica player then the entire post will get shit on because I don’t sound like Little Walter. Same thing if I share a country song with good harmonica on it because if it’s not Chicago blues, it’s automatically crap to them. Even in the country field, I was told to only play anything before 1970 because they think that “the audience likes that more”. Trying to find an audience that actually respects the harmonica music I like is incredibly tough because so many players want it to be stuck in the past. It’s such a terrible thing that being such a niche community, it’s a lot more prone to gatekeeping players who don’t want to play exclusively blues.
And then, I began to realize something. The reason why I wanted to play the harmonica in the first place was that I wanted to authentically express myself through music. Most of my musical influences come from the country music I grew up listening to as a kid, primarily the stuff from the 80s and 90s. The song that inspired me to pick up a harmonica, “Ain’t Goin’ Down (Til the Sun Comes Up)” by Garth Brooks, had a powerful wailing harp that it sounds like you could hear every single bit of emotion that Terry McMillan played. That was the sound I wanted to have on the instrument even before I considered playing it seriously. Having the ability to take your own emotions and turn it into music was what fascinated me about the harmonica in the first place. There are people out there who still think that I’m not a blues player just because my sound is not traditional, but I don’t limit myself to just one genre either. It was because of the gatekeeping I’ve dealt with that I decided to not label myself. I just play the harmonica, my style shouldn’t be limited.
A wise man once said to me, “if it sounds good to you, it is good!” Not an exact quote, but @Luke knows what I mean!
I just started playing harmonica a couple of years ago, and my music influences are historically rock and more recently blues. I want to play both genres (including blues-rock), so your post inspires me to continue going that way.
Keep up the good work, man, and do your own thing! What comes from the heart is always authentic, always good.
My start a few years ago has been a real gift. No plans to play in band. Frankly none are around me, especially after the 7/4/25 flood. I started at 68 as I always regretted never playing a musical instrument. Time took my ability to play sports and getting up at 4.30 A. M. to fish is not that appealing any more. I have caught more than my share of fish, I lost my favorite fishing lake and had to quit flying. All friends are long distance but they are the same ones I knew in school.
The biggest benefit by far is both parents passed in 2018, both 95 years old. My wife and I moved to the hill country and few people live close by. I had to find something to keep me enthused about life as my kids are adults and each lives many miles away. For the first time in my life there was a ;large void. I picked up a harp my brother gave me and tried it. I liked playing it but the harps were cheap and worn out. I got a couple of good ones and started knowing NOTHING about music other than it is great medicine. I began to practice and slowly things started to improve. I play it every day for at least two hours or more and really enjoy it. I have something new to keep me enjoying getting up and still learning something I always wanted to.
I will never be as good as I would like but the more I practice the luckier I get. Without it I would have nothing a passion for. Few people know I play that I have know for decades as they probably do not want to listen to noise. Once I get to a respectable point I will pull my favored harp out and play a few tunes. This will shock everyone I know as my activities were out doors. Both of my college room mates were diagnosed with cancer two weeks ago and the outcome unknown. Point is the harp is all I have for play time and nothing could replace the benefit I get from it unless I become a grand father. I guess things happen for a reason and the harp sure has been a good one. My son lives in Peru and El Condor Pasa is a treasurer song there and was considered for the national anthem. I can play it pretty well now next trip down I am going to play it while waiting on a flight. My people there have not heard a harp as my son lives in a smaller town. I just want to see the looks i get when a gringo starts playing their song. I was there a few years ago and the tallest person in the town. got some interesting looks, especially when they heard a Texas accent. It will be an interesting experience as if someone from the U.S. goes where my son lives and can play a song they love the response will be interesting. In the meantime I’ll harp every day and love doing it. Best and cheapest entertainment I have ever had and it could not have come at a better time.
Nice post @scott4, I enjoyed reading it. My story is similar to yours; I only took up harmonica playing in retirement. I had not played any other musical instrument except for trying and failing to play the recorder at primary school. A horrid, fiendish, wooden wind instrument designed to put children off music for life. I think most Australian children at the time were subjected to the same torture.
I’m also not as keen on fishing as I once was and needed to fill in some time. I have previously written about developing new neural pathways. So far, I haven’t developed dementia, so I guess it’s working. Apart from my mother, none of my family or friends show much interest, but I get plenty of compliments from strangers, including a few musicians who have heard me and introduced themselves. I have a few cognitive dysfunctions which I rally against, and the harmonica has brought me a lot of joy. 68% of people with my underlying health condition are said to have amusia (tone deafness) Of course, the logical assessment would simply be that I’m in the other 32%, but I like to look at it as a victory.
My start was a couple of years ago when I picked up the harmonica to learn how to play an instrument. My goal was to play Christmas songs. Simple children’s melodies, songs I hear on the radio each year or from old movies. I planned on surprising my wife (for I was practicing in secret) with a few songs on Christmas morning. Unfortunately I ended up with a cold so it did not go well. She did love the gift though! After Christmas, I started to work on Irish melodies for St. Patrick’s Day, then Easter, etc. So for me it was about adding to the holiday spirit and joy that got, and is keeping me motivated. I also found a good teacher for the harmonica, so I am learning much much more which will help me play in other genres. At the end of it, we can’t please everyone. Just keep what is joyful to you and keep playing.
have you played Greensleves? It is the exact music used in What Child Is This, I think its the name. Greensleves was written about 500 years ago. It seems several Christmas songs are debitives of old tunes written long ago. I can take a bit of time and listen to greenselves please let me know if it is W C I T. Not a long tune but fits the harp well. Hope you enjoy.
I thought you were right with the song “What Child Is This” using the melody of Greensleeves. I looked it up as well and you are right. I have not played either of these two songs yet. I just listened to Greensleeves being played on the harp and it sounded great. I will have to look into it further. Thank you for the suggestion.
Took it up 3 years ago when a running injury was getting me down (reminds me, must add that to the interests outside thread) as a something to put some energy into.
But why harmonica? I’ve played guitar since my youth (not very well, but meh, i enjoy it) so why not revive that a bit?
Well, I was thinking about my dad a lot, who is still going strong in his 70s but very noticeably moving to another phase of life and his love of British and Irish folk music and traditions and stumbled across Irish Harmonica on youtube one day and whilst I’d always liked blues and the harmonica as part of that musical tradition I’d never even considered it as an instrument for that - the squeeze boxes I spent my childhood hearing but in the palm of your hand (ok, not quite, but a darn good impersonation), along with the other advantages - affordable, portable, incredibly expressive and vocal.
I am as old as your dad but my wife has no problem sending me out to split firewood. No smoking or drinking helps. frankly age is a number doctors are paid to manage. Ill eat healthy and go 1.25 miles up a very steep drive way and feel fine. Going up a steep inclines sure helps with simulating the train workout as that is jsu how I breath when i am close to the end.
Oh he’s still going strong, don’t get me wrong on that, but he was really struggling to come to terms with retiring around that time, wasn’t a happy camper - he’s come round to enjoying it now.