Studying two instruments
Hello David and all the others harmonica players! I`m a harmonica beginner from Finland. My wife bought me a harmonica and I`m very exited about it. I have decided to start studying it here in bluesharmonica.com. I have played guitar over 20 years and I have been very lazy for studying it . I`v been playing in bands and doing gigs and all that. So now I have a problem because I have found the blues studies very interesting with guitar also… but I would like to master the harmonica. So how to practice? How much guitar and how much harmonica? I`m a working family man so the time is a challenge also. I can practise 30 min - 1 hour a day.
Hermanni A
Hi Hermanni,
I also started my Harmonica journey using this site about 2 years ago. I would highly recommend going through the Levels of Achievement (LOA) program. It is very structured and is a great way to learn harmonica in the context of blues music. My favorite thing about the LOA program is that it is blues specific, so the music you play is enjoyable - a lot of beginning lessons from other sources has you playing old folk songs that teach the technique but, at least to me, are boring!
I also have a full time career and a family and I just achieved Level 6 and am moving on to advanced Level 7. It took about 2 years for me to get to through intermediate leve with 1 - 2 hrs of practice each day. I'm now finally getting to the point where my frieands and family think my playing is good (woo hoo).
Good luck to you. The people on this site are very helpful and supportive. It's a great place to start blowin harp!
Best,
Ryan
I am a biginer from India. I am using a silver star harmonica. I just wanted to know the difference between silver star and blue band harmonica
Thank you for your comments. I`m definitely going through the LOA program! I`m very convinced about this program and that I´m developing as a musician while learning a harmonica! I´m so exited… but as you told me David I should enjoy and not to hurry… that’s my biggest problem.Ps. Thank you for encouraging rstgelais it is nice to hear that you have passed the intermediate level.
Hello vichu. The Blues Band and Silver Star are both made the same, and budget harmonicas. Though they are playable instruments, they will not serve you as well as a model such as the Hohner Special 20.
When time is limited to practice, you have to make it efficient. Following the LOA program, it is easy to set specific goals for each aspect and divide your available time between each. For example, within an hour, you can dedicate 5 minutes to your major scale, then 10 minutes to your solo harmonica, about 20 to your study song (including the technique part), etc. Dedicate more time to what requires more effort.
Now you may have more time than you think... You don't have to book a whole hour a day to sit down and practice. In fact, it is more efficient to cumulate shorter focused blocks of practice throughout the day, as much as possible. Keep a harp in your pocket. Waiting for the bus? Enough time to practice a few reps of your scale or a solo rhythmic pattern. Have some spare time at lunch? maybe you can work on a specific chorus of your study for 5-10 minutes. Personnally, I eat quickly, then run to my car and use the rest of my lunchtime to practice. Sometimes, I play while I cook dinner (you know while you wait for that water to boil?)
And the biggest hint : BE PATIENT, but consistent, and don't be hard with yourself. A hobby must be fun, otherwise you will abandon it.
Hello Hermanni, welcome to the site. It's better to practice every day on each instrument, instead of alternating days. I recommend you practice each for 30m. Don't be in a hurry, this is your hobby... enjoy the time you have to practice and you'll get better every day.
P.S., the harmonica fits in your pocket, so take it with you! You'll get some extra practice tooting on it when you can.