Author Topic: Harmonica advice?  (Read 807 times)

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Offline Sir GuitarCozmo

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Harmonica advice?
« on: April 04, 2017, 09:32:54 AM »
Okay, so the band I'm getting together does a power ballad from the 80's that has harmonica parts in it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIGriKm60D8

I'm half decent at figuring out new instruments and harmonica is definitely a new thing for me.  The song is in C major and the parts aren't really difficult, but I know literally NOTHING about harmonicas.  Jr. has a very small 10-hole harmonica, about 4 - 4.5 inches in length.  I tried playing around with it and I invariably end up hitting two notes at a time, no matter what I do, so are there other lengths with bigger holes that would make this easier?  I know others have more holes, so is that the way to go?  I really got nothin' here, but I feel confident that if I had the right tool for the job, I could figure it out.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  Thanks!

Online Adami

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Re: Harmonica advice?
« Reply #1 on: April 04, 2017, 09:42:18 AM »
Hit the right notes.

Try to avoid the wrong notes.
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Offline Sir GuitarCozmo

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Re: Harmonica advice?
« Reply #2 on: April 04, 2017, 09:44:20 AM »
That's the tough part.  After 27 years, I can't even reliably follow this advice on guitar 100% of the time.

Offline bosk1

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Re: Harmonica advice?
« Reply #3 on: April 04, 2017, 09:49:53 AM »
I'm sure you've thought of this, but...have you just Googled or Youtube-searched harmonica tutorials?  Heck, if the song is well known and has a prominent harmonic part, you might even find a "how to" harmonica video for that song on Youtube.
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Online Stadler

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Re: Harmonica advice?
« Reply #4 on: April 04, 2017, 09:50:24 AM »
All I read was "Coz needs a bigger hole".

That's rock star, man.


Seriously, though, I have some (limited) experience with this, and other than the higher end instruments being in a certain key (which probably doesn't matter for you) I don't know that there's a huge difference at the lower price points.

Suggestion (if you haven't already) go in to a Guitar Center or other decent music store and check out the differences (though don't ask the help; in my experience they're not the level of expertise you need). 

Online Stadler

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Re: Harmonica advice?
« Reply #5 on: April 04, 2017, 09:50:59 AM »
Oh, and my guess?  "That's What I Like About You" by the Romantics. 

Offline Sir GuitarCozmo

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Re: Harmonica advice?
« Reply #6 on: April 04, 2017, 09:53:57 AM »
For those interested, I posted a link to the song in the OP.  Guaranteed, nobody was going to guess that one.

Offline Sir GuitarCozmo

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Re: Harmonica advice?
« Reply #7 on: April 04, 2017, 10:07:02 AM »
I'm sure you've thought of this, but...have you just Googled or Youtube-searched harmonica tutorials?  Heck, if the song is well known and has a prominent harmonic part, you might even find a "how to" harmonica video for that song on Youtube.

Kinda.  I've tried to get info on harmonica sizes and such, just to see if a bigger one might help, but I'll probably go ahead and watch a few YT vids on the subject anyway - I'll need the knowledge sooner or later.

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Re: Harmonica advice?
« Reply #8 on: April 04, 2017, 01:17:55 PM »
I'm sure you've thought of this, but...have you just Googled or Youtube-searched harmonica tutorials?  Heck, if the song is well known and has a prominent harmonic part, you might even find a "how to" harmonica video for that song on Youtube.

Kinda.  I've tried to get info on harmonica sizes and such, just to see if a bigger one might help, but I'll probably go ahead and watch a few YT vids on the subject anyway - I'll need the knowledge sooner or later.

Never would have guessed, but that's actually a good tune; I'm no fan of Taime Downe but he's not as annoying as usual in that one.