Playing the Harmonica

Image
Found something interesting but don't know where to put it?
Post in here.
Viewable by Members and non-Members.

Playing the Harmonica

Postby Hugh-AR » 22 Mar 2022 17:04

I don't think we have any examples of anyone playing a harmonica (mouth organ). Came across this post on YouTube. It seems quite a difficult instrument to play. From what I remember (I used to have a mouth organ many years ago) you get a different note when you blow and when you draw; and then there's a button at the end to press for the semitones.

It's all about the music ♫ ♪ ♫ Organ: Yamaha AR80 & Keyboard: Tyros 4
Image .. Image
Challenge Winner
2021 May (Joint Winner); July; September
2022 July; August
2023 April; June; September
User avatar
Hugh-AR
Prolific Poster
 
Posts: 7337
Joined: 07 Feb 2015 14:34
Location: Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, UK

Re: Playing the Harmonica

Postby Hugh-AR » 22 Mar 2022 17:16

I have found some lessons on playing the harmonica - by Mitch Grainger, who lives in Sydney (Australia). I have watched these videos and have realised that playing the harmonica is not as straightforward as I had imagined. Playing a 'scale' is not just a case of running up the notes blowing and drawing alternately, as the notes are arranged so that when you 'blow' across multiple notes you get a C chord (on a C harmonica); and when you 'draw' you get a G chord. So playing a scale has to fit in with this.

Also .. he has no 'button' for semitones. In Lesson 5 he shows how to 'bend' notes. That is how he gets his semitones.

A harmonica is designed to play in one key, the basic one being C. So harmonica players will carry 12 harmonicas with them so they can play in different keys.

When adverts appear across a video, click the X in the top right hand corner of the rectangle to remove it.

Step by Step Harmonica Lessons - Lesson 1



Step by Step Harmonica Lessons - Lesson 2



Step by Step Harmonica Lessons - Lesson 3



These next two videos are not 'embedded' videos and are watched on YouTube itself.

Step by Step Harmonica Lessons - Lesson 4
Click the back arrow at the top after watching to get back to this page.

Image

Step by Step Harmonica Lessons - Lesson 5
Click the back arrow at the top after watching to get back to this page.

Image

Fascinating! I had no idea playing a harmonica was as intricate as this!

Can any of you play a harmonica?

Hugh
It's all about the music ♫ ♪ ♫ Organ: Yamaha AR80 & Keyboard: Tyros 4
Image .. Image
Challenge Winner
2021 May (Joint Winner); July; September
2022 July; August
2023 April; June; September
User avatar
Hugh-AR
Prolific Poster
 
Posts: 7337
Joined: 07 Feb 2015 14:34
Location: Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, UK

Re: Playing the Harmonica

Postby JohnT » 22 Mar 2022 19:29

Hi Hugh. Not easy. Wouldn’t have the puff. My dad used to play a little but can’t remember much. We had a guy at the keyboard club who used to play a bit. Made a pleasant change. John
Keyboard: Tyros 5
Image .. Image ..
Challenge Winner
2019 July (Joint Winner); August (Joint Winner)
2020 October (Joint Winner)
2021 June (Joint Winner)
User avatar
JohnT
Prolific Poster
 
Posts: 6047
Joined: 25 Mar 2014 18:22
Location: Chester-le-Street. Co. Durham

Re: Playing the Harmonica

Postby kens » 22 Mar 2022 20:57

When doing army service in Germany I purchased a harmonica and paid 5 cigarettes for it. That was the currency of the day. Became quite good at it but not played it for many years. It is tucked away in a drawer as a memento of days long ago. I always thought the push rod on the end changed the key but agree it gives half tones. There used to be a harmonica band on radio but unable to remember the name. They were fabulous. Ken S.
Organ: Yamaha EL700
Image .. Image
Challenge Winner
2023 August (Joint Winner)
User avatar
kens
Prolific Poster
 
Posts: 1333
Joined: 05 Sep 2015 07:45
Location: Downend, S Glos.

Re: Playing the Harmonica

Postby Hugh-AR » 23 Mar 2022 00:27

Ken,

A harmonica band! Now that sounds interesting! (Hope all members of the band have harmonicas in the same key!)

Morton Fraser And His Harmonica Rascals (1947)



Hugh
It's all about the music ♫ ♪ ♫ Organ: Yamaha AR80 & Keyboard: Tyros 4
Image .. Image
Challenge Winner
2021 May (Joint Winner); July; September
2022 July; August
2023 April; June; September
User avatar
Hugh-AR
Prolific Poster
 
Posts: 7337
Joined: 07 Feb 2015 14:34
Location: Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, UK

Re: Playing the Harmonica

Postby JohnT » 23 Mar 2022 07:06

Hi Hugh. Also remember Larry Adler playing. John
Keyboard: Tyros 5
Image .. Image ..
Challenge Winner
2019 July (Joint Winner); August (Joint Winner)
2020 October (Joint Winner)
2021 June (Joint Winner)
User avatar
JohnT
Prolific Poster
 
Posts: 6047
Joined: 25 Mar 2014 18:22
Location: Chester-le-Street. Co. Durham

Re: Playing the Harmonica

Postby Rev Tony Newnham » 23 Mar 2022 07:14

Hi

I'm no expert, but it seems to me that there are two types of Harmonica. Hugh in the original post mentions a "Chromatic Harmonica". Dad used to have one (I wonder what happened to it!) which I used to try & play sometimes when I was much younger. Then there's the (probably) more common version that is Diatonic (i.e. basically plays in one key - and seems to me to have an odd arrangement of notes). Several years ago when we were on holiday I saw & bought a set of 12 (one in each key) , along with a "how to play" book intending to learn. I haven't got round to it yet! I must dig them out and have a go!

There's a channel on You Tube (https://www.youtube.com/user/HarmonicaAcademy) that's worth a look if you're interested. They sometimes include rarer Harmonicas such as a bass version - rather larger (and longer) than the normal instrument.

Every Blessing

Tony
Image .. Image
Challenge Winner
2020 July (Joint Winner)
User avatar
Rev Tony Newnham
Super Poster
 
Posts: 736
Joined: 16 Dec 2012 16:08
Location: Rugby

Re: Playing the Harmonica

Postby dentyr » 23 Mar 2022 13:07

I think that most kids of my era had a mouth organ of some sorts. One of the famous groups, 3 people, the Harmonicats had a great following in the US and in Europe.
Must admit, it was, and still is, a lot easier to cart around than a Wurlitzer theater organ! :D

Jerry Murad and his Harmonicats play the Orange Blossom Special at a performance in the Bay area.
This is the artist who had the hit "Peg O'My Heart".
Click the back arrow at the top after watching to get back to this page.

    Image

Regards, Den.
Keyboards: Yamaha Tyros 4, PSR SX700, PSR S970and StagePa300
I knit dolls and animal toys.
I always try to do things which I can't do in order to learn how to do them. ..
Werk maakt je vrij. Muziek maakt je blij. Work sets you free. Music makes you happy.
Image .. Image
Challenge Winner
2020 September (Joint Winner); November
2021 May (Joint Winner)
2023 May; August (Joint Winner)
User avatar
dentyr
Prolific Poster
 
Posts: 1684
Joined: 23 Jan 2018 16:14
Location: Victoria, Australia


Return to This & That

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests