New here? Introduce yourself (and tell me where you’re at)

[Mitch Grainger]

#27422

Hey Guys!

Quick check-in 👇

Are you brand new to harmonica, or have you played a bit before?

What styles do you want to play (blues, country, rock, folk, etc.)?

Which harmonicas do you have right now (keys/models)?

Drop your answers below, and if you’ve got a question, ask it here too.

That way, I can point you in the right direction.
~ Mitch

[Brandon Toh]

#27436

Hi Mitch,

I am Brandon, from Malaysia. I am completely new to harmonicas, hence I am looking for something easy to start with. I have a Hohner Silver Star in C major. It is my first musical instrument in 30 years. I haven’t touched one since elementary school. I probably have to start learning how to read the musical notes as well. The main motivation for me to pick up the instrument is to find something I can do together with my 2 sons, hoping that someday the three of us can jam. Anyhow, please point me in the right direction. I may not be too good at music, but I believe I can navigate through it.

Thank you.

– Brandon

[Mitch Grainger]

#27439

Hi Brandon,

Thanks for being the first to answer this post. You have a great motivation to learn, and that is really the biggest driver for success on learning harmonica. So, that’s a great start. You also have the right key Harmonica. C is perfect.

Don’t worry too much about learning to read music. At this stage, it’s not essential. Learning to read harmonica TAB is definitely worth doing though, and there are a few different variations out there. But, it’s easy once you know how, and they are all based on arrows. The step #1 lesson document gets you started on that, so check that out.

As a total beginner, Step 1 really is the right place to start. With the 2 main goals of getting used to balancing your breath, with “The Train” and learning to play single notes. Fyi, in my experience it’s about 2 weeks before both these things really start to clik in, so don’t feel disheartened if it’s not coming straight away.

[Joseph Duppen]

#27441

jos, 62, uit enkhuizen, nederland en geheel nieuw in en met een harmonica en ik wil het dolgraag leren

[Mitch Grainger]

#27442

Welkom Jos, fijn dat je er bent. Laat het me weten als je vragen hebt tijdens je eerste stappen!

[Arthur McCulloch]

#27520

Hi. My name is Arthur, live in the rural hinterland of the NSW mid north coast. As a late age/retirement frolic I have been trying to learn the concertina for a bit over the last 12 months (having never done any music study – other than changing the radio dial – in the past). An introduction to the free reed world. Thought I’d try something a bit more portable than the ‘tina, and take advantage initially of the 30 day free trial with a hohner special 20, key of C. Been fun so far. I’ll probably drop in and out of membership after the trial finishes. Have just started lesson 5, and I think this will be a cathexis point, taking up the balance, and probably more, of the trial period. Anyway, Hi Brandon and Joseph; hail and well met fellow new learners – I’ll look forward to comparing notes and progress over time. Regards and best wishes, Arthur

[Joe Dsousa]

#27565

I am Joe, from Canada. I am completely new to harmonicas, looking for something easy to start with. Just bought a Hohner Cross Over in C major. I am impressed by your playing and so many others players.I played the Alto for a year as a total beginner but gave up. I am hoping to get good with the harmonica. thank you.

[Lance Vanderhoof]

#27577

Hello Mitch,
My name is Lance and I’m very new to the harmonica. I’ve played trumpet (45 years ago) in high school and play some guitar. I’m recently retired and have always wanted to learn the harmonica so I can take it with me when we’re going camping. Live here in the states in Utah. I have a Special 20 in C and a Blues Bender in F, it was free with my Special 20. I’m looking to play some country, blues and jazz. I just started on lesson one, so far I’m loving it.

I think my first question is when I’m playing a single note and I find that I’m playing a couple other notes at the same time, do I pucker up more with my lips or do I move the harp in and out a bit with some pressure to get just the one note? I’m probably not explaining this well, sorry.

So far I love it and have now watched you in a lot of videos, you are very talented. Looking forward to getting better with your lessons and help.

[Vishnu Raji Vidhyadharan]

#27640

Hello Mitch ,

Iam Vishnu from India , and now iam in Italy .
Iam completely new to harmonica,
I would like play blues and I have BLUES HARP MS – E harmonica.

Thank you 🤍

[Jason Sutherland]

#27645

I’m brand new to harmonica. Would like to learn country blues and rock! I have a Hohner special c that’s the only one so far saw it was the best for beginners

[Ron Miller]

#27673

Hello! I’m Ron from Massachusetts. I’m a 79 year old retired school counselor. I played guitar (folk songs) through the 60s, 70s, 80s, etc. I’d also received parts of my grandfather’s fiddles (which i never heard him play!) and a couple harmonicas that only functioned around the house as toy distractions for the grandkids. None of my progeny developed an interest in learning any instrument so I decided to get the cluster of fiddle parts together and have a luthier assemble them into one functioning unit. I opted to take some (classical music) lessons and maybe get proficient enough to play behind other musicians.
A couple of months ago I figured I’d try to play harmonica. Initially I found that I could play something that sounded better than noise and thought I’d take advantage of Hohrner’s offer of free lessons where I then stumbled on Mitch’s section.

A couple of weeks ago I discovered that I could play “Amazing Grace” (or something that sounded like it!). As life would have it, a very good friend of mine was just moved into hospice care. When I visited her she was unable to communicate. While talking with her family I mentioned that I’d just learned Amazing Grace on my C harmonica. They wanted me to play it! I did. It was a slow, halting effort but recognizable. My friend passed away that evening. I like to think she heard the song.

I now have 2 diatonic harps: Hohner Marine Band C, and a Crossover A

and one tremolo concert harp, A/D

I’m hoping to learn to play blues. I’m finding that almost anything is sounding good on a harmonica!

[JOSE QUINTANA]

#27674

Hello Mitch:
I play harmonica since a year, more or less. At the beginning I was very motivated trying and trying blows and draws, first, and overblows and overdraws after. I play harmonica by my side, watching some videos from Angel Vera (Harvard), but I haven’t received harmonica lessons from anybody. Now, I’ve superated that level. I got to play C major scale, at last!
But, the next level is more difficult because the motivation of the beginning to play the harmonica has disappeared, or, really, I don’t know what to do after playing C major scale, and playing harmonica alone is bored. I’d prefer play with other musicians. But I have to get over this thoughts, I must continue learning and playing harmonica, alone, by the moment. I´d like you help me.
I have one harmonica on C major, of course (the same than the beginning). I like blues and rock
It will be a pleasure to receive harmonica lessons from you, from your experience
Nice to meet you. Best Regards – Jorge

[Mitch Grainger]

#27677

Such great introductions from everyone in here. Nice guys, Keep em coming!

@Joequin2026 — Did you see step 4 yet? With your major scale alone, you can play (or download) the jam tracks with that lesson and start improvising. That might give you the little spark you need, and a light at the end of the tunnel that helps keep you on moving and learning!

@lancev — That’s perfectly normal at this stage, and you have the right ideas on how to fix the multiple note thing. It’s actually a combination of both those ideas you mention. I’m assuming you’ve watched the step 1 video?

@graingermitch 😎

[Bonnie Sawyer]

#27700

My name is Bonnie I live in Monterey, CA. I am 62 years old and want to play harmoica for a fun hobby. I would like to play so that other people dont mind hearing me do it. I am brand new to learning how to play a harmonica. I can blow through and make sounds. I can play super simple songs like ‘oh susanna’-but not too good, I make errors. I want to make sounds through it like blues players do. I have an East-top brand blues harmonica in the key of C I bought on Amazon because it is a pretty blue color. Kieth Richards said, “If you cant play the blues there is no point in playing”. plus, Johnny Winter said, “Im always happy when Im playin’the blues”. As for me, I know my life would be a better sounding place if I could play blues on my harmonica.

[Zaria Nobilo]

#27781

Hello, I’m Zaria from New Zealand. I’m 19 and I am new to harmonica. I have just bought a C harmonica because I really want to be able to play Piano Man by Billy Joel on it alongside a friend on piano. I’ve never played one properly before(I would play my dad’s one for fun as a kid) and I am excited to learn some cool songs.

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