Hi. Enjoy listening to your program. And am learning a lot. New to harmonica. At 81, am putting joy in my life. Learning something new and enjoying the sounds coming from such a small instrument that can go everywhere with me. Thanks for teaching and encouraging everyone to "make music". Theresa
OMG I just got my first Crossover in the key of G ( I want to learn The Wizard by Black Sabbath) in the mail today! It is way better then my 25 year old Blues Harp MS that I found in a box a few weeks ago. Now I want to buy a Crossover in the key of C to replace that Blues Harp.
Thanks! I think I only have one or two Suzuki Harpmasters and I agree they would also be a good choice. Hmmm, maybe I'll have to make a "Beginner Harps Part 2" video!
I can tweak harmonicas so Lee Oskar is my favorite. As you accumulate broke harmonicas, it is easy to take parts from other Lee Oscars and pair with a new set of reed plates and have a new harmonica for half the cost. Lee Oscar’s are good harmonicas. Over time l switched from Hohners to the Lee Oskar.
nikcobos Glad you liked the video. Yes the Marine Band as long as it’s the 10 hole harmonica is great for beginners and pros alike. The plastic comb harps are also great such as the Hohner Special 20 are also great.
By far the best and easiest to start on 👉 a powerbender from a well known manufacturer with just a little practice you can bend notes and sound great ..with a slider is even better ..happy Harpen 👍
Free Will I have one of the first power benders BP came out with and I like it a lot although after so many years of playing richter tuned harps it’s a little difficult to get my head around the tuning, I forget about all the extra bends that are available. I need to spend some more time with it.
I have a hard time thinking the Big River is much beyond playable. ...but the Kongsheng Mars 1 is incredibly comfortable and is a lot easier for beginners to get comfortable high notes that don't sound like tin.
I want to just strat Learning Harmonica. Do you think i should choose Special 20 or lee oskar? There is a country tuned special 20 what is that? Should I considered that?
Ramtin Muhamadi Great question! The Hohner Special 20 and the Lee Oskar (with the orange label on the box) are very similar so I can recommend either one of them very highly. The country tuned harps are tuned a little different in that they have hole 5 tuned up 1/2 step which gives you the major 7th when playing in crossharp. I would stay away from the country tuned harmonicas if you are starting out.. Go with the Special 20 or the Lee Oskar. Thanks for the question!
I had a blues band and lost it so I got a new one and the 2 hole doesn't work. I thought it was because I wasn't good then my wife bought our son a fender blues deluxe for a stocking stuffers and it works right. I was getting frustrated but a poor quality instrument.
I haven’t played the Fender harmonica so I can’t comment on it but I have had good luck with the Blues band harps but it’s about the cheapest harmonica you can buy so I don’t expect too much from it. It’s not a Special 20 or Marine band quality.
I bought a couple for my 11 year old that wants to learn to play, but now am not sure which one I should keep. Hohner Blues Band 7 piece set or Hohner blues harp MS-Series?
Sarah Williams Thank for the question! The MS series Blues harp is far and away much better than the Blues Band even though you get more in the set. I would keep the MS series Blues Band.
M P There are a few other low priced harmonicas out there but I can’t comment on them because I have not played them. I think the best value is the Hohner Special 20 or the Lee Oskar. They last a long time and sound good.
M P I almost forgot about the Hohner Big River. It is also a great value for the money and less expensive than the Special 20. I have a few of them and have played occasionally them over the years.
M P Good question, I don’t know if there is a standard size but most 10 hole diatonics are about the same size. I notice the Lee Oskar is a little longer but not by much. Other 10 hole models such as concert tuned and tremolos etc can vary in size quite a bit.
Hi Joe, I am a total beginner. I am interested in jazz, pop and asian music and less interested in blue, should I still choose diatonic or should I chromatic? I heard lots of beginners start with special 20, will choosing special 20 help me learn the techniques or should I choose some other model?
Thanks for the question! I think you could go with either one or both! The 10 hole diatonic like the Special 20 is a great harmonica to get the basics down before moving on to the chromatic. You can still play a lot of pop and international folk music on the diatonic. The chromatic is a great instrument and I love it but it can be a little overwhelming for some beginners. The nice thing about the diatonic is that they are inexpensive so you can try a few out before purchasing a chromatic which can be quite expensive to get a good one. The cheap chromatics are in a lot of cases harder to play and can cause problems when learning to play single notes than a good quality chromatic. If you are interested in some Skype lessons, send me a message. My email is in the description box. Thanks!
Alexander Gudym Yes the Golden Melody harmonica is great! The only difference is that they are tuned a little differently than the Special 20 and marine band. The Golden melody is tuned to equal temperament which means that the individual notes are tuned to sound in tune when playing single note melodies with other musicians. The downside to this is that your chordal playing will be slightly out of tune. The marine Band and Special 20 and most other harmonicas are tuned so that the chords sound in tune and the single notes sound in tune. This is called compromise tuning. So for a beginner I would not buy a Golden Melody and instead get a Special 20 or Marine Band.
I had a Big River for a while back in the day. I wouldn't recommend it. It played very "loose" - it took more breath than a Blues Harp or a Special 20, and I would not recommend that experience for a beginner. Then again, that was a long time ago (30+ years) and if pros are playing them, maybe they know something I didn't/don't. Still and all, if you're going to go cheap with your first harp, I'd go with the Blues Band (~$10), then upgrade to the Special 20/Marine Band/Lee Oskar (~$40-$50). The Big River is almost as much as the Special 20 (~$32). It's a skip.
donpilo20 Definitely get a harmonica in C major! I put some links in the description box for the harmonicas I am describing in the video. Thanks for asking!
@@HarmonicaJoecom Thank you for responding! Try covering the 2 cells and blowing one at a time to see if they sounded good (just blowing 1). They all sound good except for the number 2 which sounds very soft, when I aspirate it in, this is normal? thank you.
donpilo20 sometimes when starting out, the draw 2 hole is a little harder to play than the others. It can sound softer or a little funny. It just takes a little time practicing working on getting it to sound with the same volume as the other draw holes and also be sure to notice if you are accidentally bending it out of tune which can happen when drawing the air too forcefully. If you need help send me an email (my address is in the description box) and if you like we can set up a skype lesson and I can help you with this. Good luck!
I've never disagreed with you before Joe, and I'm an avid follower of your channel, but I think you are making the mistake that so many harp teachers make. Instead of thinking price first you should think of quality first. Most beginner's are happy to pay for quality, and although I'm not suggesting that you recommend a handbuilt Dannecker as the first harp the really good production harps begin at about £60 and wouldn't disappoint a beginner. You don't have to start with the lower end of the market first, start with the quality end. I hate seeing ads for harps that say recommended for beginners because they assume that beginners don't want, and are willing to pay for, quality. Thank you though for starting the debate and keep giving us your quality submissions.
Thanks for commenting Terry! My goal with this video was to present 4 good quality, readily available harmonicas that are affordable to most people whether for themselves or their children. I think I did that. Yes the Hohner Bluesband harp is a the lower end of the scale but it is still an acceptable harmonica to begin playing. In fact I used to teach a music class at a community college a while back and we used the Hohner Bluesband harp and the students thought it worked well. The key is to get someone interested enough to want to continue playing and they will discover the vast musical world around them which includes better instruments. Notice I did not recommend any of the cheap plastic cover harps that even Hohner sells. The Hohner Big River I feel is an excellent harp to play for beginners and pros alike. I feel the Hohner MS series harmonicas are very under rated. As for the Special 20 and the Lee Oskar, I play them as do numerous pros and they are good quality, consistent and won't break the bank. I have taught music lessons for many years on band instruments, harmonica, guitar and bass and parents are getting more and more reluctant to spend large amounts of money for the higher quality instruments because in many cases the students and even the adults don't stick with it. I have several higher end harps such as Seydels and I love playing them. Unfortunately I don't have any custom harps yet because for me the cost is too great at least for now. Terry I think you're point is valid and I'm glad you brought it up. I do think that I presented several harmonicas that are consistent in quality that are affordable to most.
Hi Joe. Thank you for taking the time to reply and I have to say that I agree with almost all of what you say. I sometimes use a Special 20 and I love it. I think to illustrate the point I'm making is to use the 2 and 3 hole draw as an example. I've found that the problem is much less obvious on the better quality harps. I worry that a beginner would be put off continuing if they can't get that 2 draw right, a problem that would be minimised with the better quality harps. Anyway my friend I love your channel and to have this opportunity to talk to you is a privilege so thank you for listening to me and for putting your case so persuasively. Best of luck, keep harping.
Hi Terry, I agree the draw 2 can be challenging when starting out especially on the lower key harps. All in all it's fairly easy to get on the Special 20, Lee Oskar and even the Big River. I just pulled out a few MS series harps and checked the draw 2 and they were pretty consistent. My Seydels 1847 and Session Steels seem to have the easiest draw 2 so I'll agree with you the higher priced harps are a little easier to get the draw 2. Good point and thanks for bringing it up!
I have some Seydel Session Steels and I find them one of the best out of the box harps on the market, and they are within the price range of the beginner as is the Suzuki promaster, another great harp on the two draw. If I had to name four beginners harps at a good price I would say, Suzuki Promaster valves, Seydel Session Steel, Hohner Meisterklasse, and the newish kid on the block, the Yonberg Storm. I think all of these provide really good quality at a reasonable price, plus they will give good service right through from beginner to advanced player.
Hey Joe, I'm completely new to the scene and have never played harmonica. I'm curious why isn't the chromatic Harmonica the best choice? Doesn't it gives you the most flexibility because of the complete access to all keys instead of being restricted but a single key. I know I'm a beginner but I hate the idea of "locking away" certain notes that aren't in the diatonic.
The short answer is that a beginner can start out on a diatonic or chromatic. It depends on what type of music you are interested in playing. For example if you want to learn classical or jazz then the chromatic is the harmonica for you. If you are interested in blues and folk music (and even jazz)then the 10 hole diatonic harmonica is the best bet. It also depends on how much effort you want to put into learning to play the harmonica. The 10 hole diatonic is by far easier to learn to play than the chromatic. With the diatonic there are advanced ways to play in different keys and also to get the missing notes but not always easier than the chromatic. If you are just starting out I suggest working with the 10 hole diatonic harp for a while and get some basics down and see what it is capable of and then if you still want to play chromatic then go ahead and get one. If you are interested in some Skype lessons to help you get started send me a message, my email is in the description box. Thanks, great question!
Started on Hohner Golden Melody in C & E in 1977 + one Thorens in F..Now I'm using Hohner Meisterklasse Diatonic, Crossover, Marine Band Regular, Blue's Harp & Pro Harp + Suzuki Bluesmaster,Manji & Overdrive.. I also have full set of Hohner Bluesband Tuned from Trossingen.. As for my Chromatic Harmonica's.. I'm using Chromonica 64 280 c 16 Hole's & Meisterklasse 7565 14 Hole's in C..By the way I also have one 26 year's old 24 Hole's Tower Chromatic still in impeccable condition.. 😂
I was born in 1952 and when I was a kid, the Hohner Marine Band 1896 was cheap ($5-10) so we got them on christmas as a stocking stuffer. When you see pictures of the old blues guys in Chicago, New Orleans, etc., they are using the Marine bands. If you want to go cheaper at first, you can get the Big River that he mentions in this video cheaply so it is a good beginning harp. Also, the Hohner Special 20 sounds really good with plastic comb, a recessed cover plate and no reed plates hanging out to cut your lip or tongue. Either of this is about $40-50 online. I like the screw attached harps with recessed reed plates and cover plates, plastic combs, and rounded corners.
@@HarmonicaJoecom Yes it is 😂 I Sleep with my Harmonica's.. Even at age 50.. I reside in Hamburg Germany & My Wife Is from New York & I've some of my paternal cousin's residing in San Francisco Bay area..Who happens to be the same & they are older than I'm..It's runs in our genes I assume.. 😂 It's ain't worth playing the vintage Harmonica's till the lips 💋 get bruised.. 😂 I favour any brand's which suites my ear 👂.. I'm not finicky about how it feels for so long it sounds like it should be since the day's of vintage legends..Who had no modernised modifications...
HarmonicaJoe.com you're a very Humble & Intelligent Human being regarding Harmonica's.. That you've recommend for the Beginners.. Because everyone can't afford Harmonica's above 50 to 100 $ range.. Chinese Brand's like Easttop, Huang & Swan are gradually honing in to producing fairly reliable Harmonica's as well & Price wise is also suitable for many budget conscious enthusiast..
IsntSebsHere There are harmonica combs made from all kinds of materials. The easiest to find are the plastic ones such as the Hohner Big River and Special 20They are great to play and will last a long time.
tubeisace Everyone has to start somewhere! Check out my latest videos they are getting better! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-2gEKv8PvU28.html
I bought one of these a long time ago to see if it was any good...it’s not. If you are looking to start playing chromatic harmonica there are a lot better choices available.
Churva Ek ek I don’t know much about the Folkmaster because I haven’t played one. I hear from people that do play them that they are good harmonicas especially for starting out.
I was wondering if anyone could please let me know what a cross harp is? I’ve got a strong interest in buying and learning harmonica but I was told by a music shop that a cross harp would be a good one to start with, I’m very confused about this HELP! I would really appreciate if anyone would explain this to me. Thank you in advance. 🌠🌅
They obviously don’t know. This subject is way to big for the comment section but you can learn on any key harmonica. Just get a standard 10 hole harmonica in the key of C to start. The Hohner special 20 is a great harmonica. I generally recommend key of C because that is what most instructional material, books, videos use. Let me know if you are interested in a few lessons, I can help. My email is in the description box.
Invader Zim I don’t think it matters at all. All the harmonicas I know of uses brass for the reed plates and brass or steel for the reeds. The center part which is called the “comb” can be made out of most any hard material. Most are plastic, sealed wood , aluminum and several other materials. The covers are usually metal but I know of some cheaper harps that have plastic covers. I think it is mostly personal preference. I would suggest starting out with a standard diatonic harmonica made by one of the big companies and figure out after playing some different harmonicas for a while what you prefer. Harmonicas don’t last forever but with good care and proper playing style they can last a very long time.
there's about 95% harmonicas in indonesia is tremolo. it's hard to find diatonic coz most of asian people don't like blues music or blue notes. no blues or jazz music on tvs. most of indonesian like simple and melodious songs without bending or chromatics notes.
Funny cuz in Malaysia, which is next to indonesia, has all kinds of harps. Diatonics are easy to find to some degree because some stores only have them. Hohner harps, Suzuki harps etc. We have jazz music. In fact some of our songs we inspired by jazz and blues. But they're kinda in the minority now. But who knows really, we have all types of people. Foreigner or not, they'll bring their instruments along with culture. Very interesting stuff.
Your Englishteacher The Chromatic harmonica is a completely different animal. Yes the holes are a little bigger and most chromatic harmonicas use wind saver valves which gives it a different feel than a diatonic harp. It’s a worthwhile challenge to learn to play the chromatic. I’ve been working on it for a while now and love it.
If it is indeed a faulty harmonica, you could take it to the store you bought it and they might be able to contact Hohner. I’m not sure how that works though as I’ve never done that. All in all, Hohner makes great harmonicas that are pretty consistent.
fenni fenni If you want to play the diatonic harmonica ie. blues harp or most styles of music then definitely get a 10 hole harmonica to play. If you are wanting to play Chromatic harmonica, for the most part the 12 hole Chromatic is great but the 16 hole is also great because it has a lower octave than the 12 hole.
@@HarmonicaJoecom my girlfriend ordered me a hohner special 20 in c as I read they're better for beginners than the rocket. Maybe rocket will be my 2nd harp.
pabslondon I wanted to cover a range of harmonicas. For the price, the Blues Band works well enough and if someone doesn’t want to commit the $$ for a Special 20 or other harp to get started on then it will work ok for a short while until they decide if they want a better harmonica. Thanks!
