Actually harmonica did change my life in a way that I will always be in love with this instrument. I was in a very toxic relationship with a girl that I didn't know how to end up with and, when it finally occurred (that we broke), to my surprise, I began feeling depressed instead of happy. But so depressed. So much that I was thinking to suicide. Not only because of the girl. My whole life was a mess It al changed when I found a harmonica in one of my bedside table's compartiments (when I was looking for a charger to my phone). Suddenly I remembered my grandpa, who gave that instrument to me when I was a kid (and by the time I found it he was already death). I thought "I can't go without even giving it a try... it would be so dissappointing for my grandpa who rests in piece". All of a sudden I started playing (with no idea at all and no much of musical background either) and felt the black clouds opening over me and leaving space for the sun rays to enter in my mind. Since that moment, I not only bitted depression, but also never quitted playing till now (9 years so far and still counting), started playing in the street and pubs, earned some money with it, and now I'm teaching kids to play through internet lessons. Harmonica is the best thing that's ever happened to me. Thanks for existing.
I love your story. Teaching children and veterans has been the most rewarding part of my journey. Thank you harmonica! (And my teacher that made it possible !)
I started my journey some time ago. A real good reason to learn it is: "It´s a lot of fun". I found that making nice music with a harp is possible before mastering it. Playing a fiddle at the same skill level produces just an awful sound. There is the social aspect too. As a pocket sized instrument it can be carried almost everywhere. Playing Kumbaya at the camp fire makes everyone join in. BTW: Don´t worry. In such a setting nobody cares if you miss a note. Much less is someone going to complain.
Bought one for lungs- copd- my tired brain thouhg has trouble remembering even the simplest riffs (single note ones)- UT keeping at it hoping to Increase reaching ability
I tried to share this via a post.... No option😢. I have been playing harmonica for many years... Mostly chromatic... I recently started pushing myself to learn how to 'comp' tastefully... Here's an example... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-oyvprFTMEaA.html I play many instruments but harmonica remains a favorite...❤😊
No wonder you and me both got started with harmonicas: As a synth guy myself I know that one can go broke fast buying all that gear in the background, forcing one to eventually only afford harmonicas and make country/blues songs about how a man lost all his money and his house, Chewy, wife and dog due to buying synths. 😅 Reason #5 to learn the harmonica: You can play it even if you can't pay electricity bills anymore.
30 dollars is to expensive. I remember when they as instruments cost less when I went to cracker barrel I remember you could get one new for $5 dollars.
Hi Tomlin really grateful for all your lessons! I was hoping you might have the time to explain how Dylan gets the percussive harmonica sound on this song… I’m pretty stumped as to what’s going on overall: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lVTqsT8usS8.html
I do agree that the harmonica is cheap because something like a Hohner Special 20 costs only about £30, but this doesn't account for getting addicted to buying numerous harps, amps, pedals, mics etc. 😱😂
It took me a few month to get to bending notes. The muscles need to get used to the shape and building muscle memory took time too. Not practicing bending too much helped. When the muscles get tired you start building bad habbits. That is detrimental to learning. On the bright side there are plenty of good pieces without the need to bend.
@@TomlinHarmonica Yes, I did and it's a great lesson, as are all of yours. I still couldn't do it. Somebody else's lesson on bending said it's like changing the pitch of your whistle while inhaling and I found that I can't whistle while inhaling at all. I could when I was a kid, but the ability has left me with age. Overall, as much as I liked these lessons, I realized that I'll never be able to play anything that will sound good to me. I'm sure others will; I just lack the innate ability. Some people can hit or throw balls well, some can't and never will. I grew up in a time when making kids learn an instrument was considered a bad thing to do, and I regret that. Only very few who learn instruments later in life get really proficient at them, much in the way that people who learn a foreign language when they're over forty can seldom pass for native speakers. I think what I'm saying is true of many, judging by the number of lightly used secondhand instruments there are. What the heck, it was fun to try and, as you say in this post, a harmonica is a modest investment. It's important to remain positive while learning anything new, but it's also important to be able to accept your limits.
