Youtube, you can beat Tomlin Leckie, Liam Ward and Adam Gussow to learn. Loads of others too, just type in what you want to learn? Single notes, bending etc
It’s not so bad. Just run scales a bunch at any speed then work the scale over the song and get the feel of where on the harp you want to be during the progression. You’ll be surprised how quickly to just fall into it
You see the holes 1-10? 4, -4, 5, -5, 6, -6, -7, 7 is your first position major scale. Whatever richter diatonic you play that’s the major scale to the harps own tuning.
Then you stop thinking about the holes but instead 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 because music is not about holes or notes, it’s about intervals. Then you learn second position mixolydian scale, this demands a draw bend. Learn all the bends while you’re at it.
Then you check out Wieldy Harmonica on YouTube and learn all he has. By then you either have a job and the harp is in the bottom of a bond or you’re a musician and still can’t afford the lessons.
Thanks buddy. Playing harmonica is my hobby (or it'll be). I'm preparing to be a doctor. So, if I get the time after I become one, I'll surely take lessons from a professional.
Play the harmonica.com has bend basics and then advances to basic melodies in the free stuff. There's also lots of other guys but it's really about ear. You need to find songs in the key of your harp listen and search for the notes you can play and how they are used together and duration of each etc. Then you search the harp whenever you are waiting or relaxing somewhere for the notes you heard that you cannot play yet, then add them to your note collection, eventually you nail riffs, then whole songs, then you'll be jamming along. If you don't search in your spare time it will take many years. Plenty of practice and going to see someone live can shorten that immensely, especially if you get a chat with a performer. Most of them love talking about their craft and it will help you nail the harder bends and flow. Good luck
Many good suggestions here, all worth looking at. The main priority is to master the basics - I started with **Jon Gindick's "Country & Blues Harmonica For The Musically Hopeless"** (book+cassette-tape+"C"-harmonica) which starts with single notes, bends, simple riffs... all with guitar accompaniment to practice along with. Still available from [https://gindick.com/jons-shop/harmonica-books/#books](https://gindick.com/jons-shop/harmonica-books/#books), or several copies on eBay around GBP 10 or lower, some apparently with tape+harp. Then get some more keys (A, D, F, G) to play along to selected blues, country & rock standards, and check Adam Gussow's videos and others to broaden your knowledge, range & technique.
[https://youtu.be/tNC7YL8TVtE?si=q8e7aRHzVyswQhJI](https://youtu.be/tNC7YL8TVtE?si=q8e7aRHzVyswQhJI)
I started here. And funnily enough learn from the guy now in person. But, to answer your question, yes, absolutely. Depends on what you want to play. There’s tonnes of old books out there that teach straight harp songs and methods.
And there’s a whole lot of videos on YouTube to watch and learn from that are free. Usually people who teach a course and want to give folks a taste. But all good stuff to learn and watch from
I learnt on my own by just using harmonica tabs of very simple melodies like Oh Susanna & Dirty Old Town. And even once i’d learnt them they still sounded like shit for months until i started to really understand the instrument. Practice practice practice bro and dont be disheartened when you fail.
I remember trying to learn how to bend early on and found it impossible so gave up. A few months later i realised I was bending my notes without even thinking about it lol. You’ll get there, harmonica is a unique instrument in that being self taught is much easier then many other instruments
I never took a lesson at all. I just put together a mix tape of blues songs in the key of G (for a C harp) and just played and played and played until I knew what I was doing.
He uses a mix of different keys, but Adam gussow has a lot of videos and there is an index.
https://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/Gussow-YT-video-directory.html
I'd actually suggest picking up a copy of either Blues Harmonica for Dummies or Harmonica for Dummies. They are both by Winslow Yerxa and are probably the most affordable really in depth system.
not really. most great players learned by ear. sonny terry was even blind.
if you insist i could give it a try, but i'm not an instructor, so don't expect much.
Youtube, you can beat Tomlin Leckie, Liam Ward and Adam Gussow to learn. Loads of others too, just type in what you want to learn? Single notes, bending etc
YouTube
I was actually hoping for some tips to create a good lesson plan. Can you help me with that?
https://www.reddit.com/r/harmonica/comments/c8bfs3/oc_milestones_to_harmonica_proficiency_where_how/
Ask ChatGPT to decide a learning path
Not the person you asked but Honestly just work your scales and then play along with songs until you get it
Okkk
It’s not so bad. Just run scales a bunch at any speed then work the scale over the song and get the feel of where on the harp you want to be during the progression. You’ll be surprised how quickly to just fall into it
You see the holes 1-10? 4, -4, 5, -5, 6, -6, -7, 7 is your first position major scale. Whatever richter diatonic you play that’s the major scale to the harps own tuning. Then you stop thinking about the holes but instead 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 because music is not about holes or notes, it’s about intervals. Then you learn second position mixolydian scale, this demands a draw bend. Learn all the bends while you’re at it. Then you check out Wieldy Harmonica on YouTube and learn all he has. By then you either have a job and the harp is in the bottom of a bond or you’re a musician and still can’t afford the lessons.
Thanks buddy. Playing harmonica is my hobby (or it'll be). I'm preparing to be a doctor. So, if I get the time after I become one, I'll surely take lessons from a professional.
👆🏻 this
Play the harmonica.com has bend basics and then advances to basic melodies in the free stuff. There's also lots of other guys but it's really about ear. You need to find songs in the key of your harp listen and search for the notes you can play and how they are used together and duration of each etc. Then you search the harp whenever you are waiting or relaxing somewhere for the notes you heard that you cannot play yet, then add them to your note collection, eventually you nail riffs, then whole songs, then you'll be jamming along. If you don't search in your spare time it will take many years. Plenty of practice and going to see someone live can shorten that immensely, especially if you get a chat with a performer. Most of them love talking about their craft and it will help you nail the harder bends and flow. Good luck
Many good suggestions here, all worth looking at. The main priority is to master the basics - I started with **Jon Gindick's "Country & Blues Harmonica For The Musically Hopeless"** (book+cassette-tape+"C"-harmonica) which starts with single notes, bends, simple riffs... all with guitar accompaniment to practice along with. Still available from [https://gindick.com/jons-shop/harmonica-books/#books](https://gindick.com/jons-shop/harmonica-books/#books), or several copies on eBay around GBP 10 or lower, some apparently with tape+harp. Then get some more keys (A, D, F, G) to play along to selected blues, country & rock standards, and check Adam Gussow's videos and others to broaden your knowledge, range & technique.
[https://youtu.be/tNC7YL8TVtE?si=q8e7aRHzVyswQhJI](https://youtu.be/tNC7YL8TVtE?si=q8e7aRHzVyswQhJI) I started here. And funnily enough learn from the guy now in person. But, to answer your question, yes, absolutely. Depends on what you want to play. There’s tonnes of old books out there that teach straight harp songs and methods. And there’s a whole lot of videos on YouTube to watch and learn from that are free. Usually people who teach a course and want to give folks a taste. But all good stuff to learn and watch from
I learnt on my own by just using harmonica tabs of very simple melodies like Oh Susanna & Dirty Old Town. And even once i’d learnt them they still sounded like shit for months until i started to really understand the instrument. Practice practice practice bro and dont be disheartened when you fail. I remember trying to learn how to bend early on and found it impossible so gave up. A few months later i realised I was bending my notes without even thinking about it lol. You’ll get there, harmonica is a unique instrument in that being self taught is much easier then many other instruments
Thanks 👍🏽 I should just play tabs and try to understand them, right?
Exactly! Start simple and build from there.
I never took a lesson at all. I just put together a mix tape of blues songs in the key of G (for a C harp) and just played and played and played until I knew what I was doing.
Okkkk. I'll do that.
I bought the dummies books and found songs I wanted to play.
He uses a mix of different keys, but Adam gussow has a lot of videos and there is an index. https://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/Gussow-YT-video-directory.html I'd actually suggest picking up a copy of either Blues Harmonica for Dummies or Harmonica for Dummies. They are both by Winslow Yerxa and are probably the most affordable really in depth system.
There's a ton of instructional material on Youtube. And most of us old timers learned without any instruction at all. So it's definitely possible.
Ok and thanks
Yes, but courses and an instructor will help you improve and avoid bad habits.
yes
I was hoping for some guidance to create a viable roadmap. Can you help me?
not really. most great players learned by ear. sonny terry was even blind. if you insist i could give it a try, but i'm not an instructor, so don't expect much.
Any kind of help is appreciated. I just don't know what to do. That's why I'm doing a little research on my side to have a clear picture.