Ask Harmonica Expert Winslow Yerxa

Winslow

David recently reviewed a microphone from a company called Blue x-lab, based in Italy. I have ordered one to try out. While on their site I saw a product they call the Easy Bend harmonica which they claim makes bending, and overbending, easier. I would be interested to hear if you have heard of this and any opinions you might have on its potential use. The link is attached

https://www.bluexlab.com/en/product/easybend/?v=2a47ad90f2ae

Winslow,

Can you please suggest the best possible chromatic for me to buy?

I have been playing a Honer Super 270 for two years, but I am not entirely happy with it--the tone, the response of the reeds, the ease of the slide mechanism.  So I am willing to pay more for a superior instrument.

I use my chromatic mostly for melodies and classical music.

Many thanks!

Peter

Hi Winslow,

the chromatic harmonica sounds quite different from a diatonic harmonica, even when just considering single draw/blow notes (no bending, no special techniques).

Why is that?

In my mental model of the harmonica (and I don't know things about chromatics), the sound should be very similar,

as it is very similar reeds that produce the single notes (and, as there's no bending, only one of them), that are housed in slightly different casings.

But I don't see why the chromatics sound so much "sweeter".

Can you help me?

Best, continue reading...

HI,

I just got a set of Hohner 5 X Marine Band 1896 to begin my harmonica journey with. I have already been teaching myself for a few months on a Hohner Blues Harp but wanted to get more serious and have begun my studies form the beginning with the Level 1 study lessons here. continue reading...

I'm thinking of giving the chromatic a go and have noticed the Hohner Discovery 48 Chromatic Harmonica is more affordable than others from the Chromonica series.  It apears to be similar to other Chromonia's but with an ABS comb and mouthpiece.  What are your thoughts on this model, would it be a good initial purchase for someone just tesing the waters.

Thanks Glenn

Hello Sir

My technique is improving a great deal.  Im in my 5th year now.  You got me bending some time back.  Thanks.  It worked.  Now Im focued on being in tune on bends.

Here is my challenge.  I hear good players play a fast series of notes and hear smooth slured sounds.  Even if I can play the notes I still get more seperation than the tune demands.  

Example- Im playing 8 16th notes as follows

2d" 2d 3d 2d   2d 2d"1d 1d'

Is this just practice or is there a technique to be able to slur these notes? continue reading...

Is if feasible to repair a Hohner 260 C?

My father got this harmonica in the mid 1960's. He would periodically try to play a Schottische that he heard as a child growing up in a Polish neighborhood in the 1920s.

I ran across it today while looking for something totally different...

The slide slides, but the button fell off around 1975 and he somehow bent the end of the slide while soldering the button back on. The reeds all make noise... 

Is if feasible to repair this thing, or is best to keep it as is just for the memories?

My question is actually in regards to something that Ronnie says here about it being a "good choice for beginners" who maybe are using a lot of air compared to more advanced players:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vadsUUSzis

Now, at this point, I consider myself an "intermediate" player.  I can hit all of the bends (blow and draw) on MOST of my harps with fairly good precision (sometimes I overshoot the 3 draw).  I own a number of Hohner "Blues Harp" harps (G D and E) that I bought when I was a beginner. continue reading...

Hello Winslow,

I would need your help to demistify the hohner meisterclasse "A" harmonica that I have recently bought.

The reason I have chosen that specific model was...well it was the most expensive model I saw in my local store and the fact that I had got tired of the several unpropperly gapped "marine band deluxe" A harmonicas that i had previously bought and then returned...well I kept one of the marine band deluxes but later i found out it's bamboo comb is badly shaped. continue reading...

Hello Mr. Winslow or anyone else who can help continue reading...