Blues or not Blues...
I am brand new to harmonicas, just purchased a Special 20 on amazon tuned in C . After checking some of the fundamentals on bluesharmonica.com, I realized that the tuning in A is recommended and I also see that it seems to have a high focus on Blues tyle.
It would not be a problem at all to return the C harmonica and get an A one instead, since it's still in the box, but... if blues is not really my thing(I do like blues, just not a big blues fan) and I would be interested in learning in a style-less way(my main interest is improvisation), would you suggest I look for training elsewhere? If so, any recommendations?(I hope recommending other methods/courses/websites is allowed here)
Thanks!
Thank you for all the pointers, but I am still not sure what the answer to my main question is:
If blues is not really my thing(I do like blues, just not a big blues fan) and I would be interested in learning in a style-less way(my main interest is improvisation), would you suggest I look for training elsewhere?
I might want to rephrase it, though:
If blues is not really my thing(I do like blues, just not a big blues fan) would it be best for me to follow a style-less training(my main interest is improvisation), and if so would you suggest I look for training elsewhere? Or is David's teaching path still recommended if you are not into blues specifically?
Thank you!
tatelev: It seems that you may have a lot of questions to review in your own mind. E.g., what is it that you like about the harmonica? What types of music bring the most joy to you, or create the most interest on your part? What are your goals for the process of learning harmonica? To join a band? To play in public? To play with family members? Or simply to play on your own for your own enjoyment?
You can't go wrong trying this website for a few months, where in the process you'll learn how the harmonica works, and basic music theory that can help you learn.
Most teachers have a "style." I.e., a type of music that they love, and that they love to teach. David Barrett loves blues harmonica. New York City-based French player Yvonnick Prene is a jazz artist, who has a virtual "academy" of students learning jazz and jazz improv for chromatic harmonica. Take a look at his site for an idea of what he does: https://www.myharmonicastudio.com/ Marc "Lil' Rev" Revenson, of Wisconsin USA, plays a lot of folk and traditional music, and teaches on line. His website is at https://lilrev.com/harmonica.
Finding a teacher who comes closest to what you would love to do may take a while. One approach would be to listen to a lot of harmonica music, either live, or via sources such as YouTube, interntet radio, Spotify, etc. When you find an artist who you think you'd like to emulate, find his or her website to explore whether or not he or she teaches over the internet or via Skype, FaceTime, Zoom, etc. And nothing can top working in person with a teacher. If you do some searching you might be able to find someone within traveling distance of your home.
Bottom line: There's a lot to love about blues harmonica. This site and David's video lessons, interviews, and tips, are a great introduction to not only the breadth of blues music, but also the full spectrum of what one can do with a harmonica. If after mastering the introductory lesson for C harmonica, and maybe going on to the next level with an A harmonica, you find that you'd rather pursue jazz, folk, Celtic, classical, etc., by the time you've been involved in beginning blues harmonica lessons for a while, you'll also probably come across good teachers of other styles, and perhaps want to link up with one of them.
Good luck in your pursuit of musical skills that bring you joy.
Thank you!
Blues is such a heavy influence on how the harmonica is played nowadays in many other styles, you can benefit from studying it for awhile.
I teach individual lessons in many other styles if you're looking for additional instruction. Check out my webiste at winslowyerxa.com
tatelev: I neglected to mention Winslow, possible because he's just down the highway from me here in California USA. (“A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”?) Not only extremely knowledgeable, but also really aware of what works for various types of students who are just starting out. And a heck of a nice guy to boot.
tatelev:
You may not want to trade that C harp. It's a useful key for various styles of music. Take a look at David's intro lesson that uses a C harp, at https://www.bluesharmonica.com/lessons/c_harmonica_intro_lesson You can spend weeks, or even months, using that lesson as you learn. In addition, explore the site and check out things like the "Watch Me First" video on the home page here, and be sure to enjoy some (or all) of the Interviews with great harmonica players.
If you're thinking about gravitating to styles other than blues, the Interviews with folks like Brendan Power and James Conway (Celtic music) may be of interest. Other stylists are Robert Bonfiglio (classical, on chromatic harmonica) and folks like Charlie McCoy and Jelly Roll Johnson (country). And by all means, start your interview watching with David's interview of Winslow Yerxa, who explains a lot about what one can do with a harmonica.
If you drift to Celtic, folk, country, or other styles, you'll find lots you can do with the C harp. If you decide to stick with David's excellent lesson pathway for blues harmonica, you'll then want to add an A to your collection.
Along the way you'll learn step by step why musicians who focus on harmonica have many different keys, types of tunings, etc., in their collections. It's complicated, but that's the nature of the instrument.
But going back to the beginning, if have a C harp, and maybe the free-30-day coupon, by all means start with the C beginner's lessons and take advantage of all of the amazing information available on this site, and then decide if you want to continue, either paying month by month, or signing up for a year. And if you drift toward other styles and want to pursue lessons in that other realm, check back here and folks will have lots of suggestions for on-line lessons in other styles.