Ask Harmonica Expert Winslow Yerxa

Hello!

I have a Hohner 270 Super Chromonica & I love playing it & have completed the first 3 Chromatic studies.  I've had it for 6 months or so and set it down for a couple weeks while concentrating on diatonic.  When I picked it back up the 3 draw rattles really badly when the slide is pressed in.

I looked at the Hohner website video on taking it apart and it talked about buying a toolkit for like $150 that they offier.  This made me wonder if I should just take it in somewhere instead of trying to do it myself. continue reading...

Hi Winslow,

I have been integrated in a band (singer, bass, guitar) that plays pop songs.

I ask for the chords before the song and I try to find out the best harp to play. That is not easy.

For example if the chords are : Cm-Fm-G, I translate that into i, iv, V and I try to find the best position to play these chord progression (let say that I will try to play the pentatonic scales of these chords). continue reading...

My harmonica training (lip puckering) started out with learning basic articulations Tah for draw notes and Too for blow notes and Kwee for bent notes.  This at first was applied to rhythm chords and eventually single note. Now that more complxities are being added to my lessons (throat vibrato/hand vibrato/breath control) I find trying to remember and use the correct articulation (Tah or Toe) for single draw and blow notes is distracting and slows me down. Do seasoned harpists always articulate very chord/single note when playing or is it more selective? continue reading...

Good evevening

I have just bought a download of Luther "Houserocker" Johnson's album "Houserocking Daddy" from 1991. Unfortunately I did not find any information about the musicians. Do you know was playing the harmonica on this album?

Best regards

Michael

Hi Winslow,

Are you aware of any songs that work with just harp & bass besides "Mighty Long Time" or even songs like "Easy" where the guitar plays the bass line. Also any songs that "you feel might work" of would be helpful.

Thanks for your time.

Hi,

I have an older model of the 64 chromonica which needs a new comb.

My model is crosstuned, the lowest octave is marked 1 to 4, the following are marked 1 to 12.

The comb looks like some sort of laminate.

I dont have a case to help ID it.

Is it possible to find a new comb for this harp or do I have to find a donor?

Will a comb from a straighttuned model fit?

Hi Winslow,Today I received a Hohner Crossover (in A) to replace the old (1995) second hand Blues Harp MS (also in A) that I have using with these lessons.  The new Crossover is great, except for one thing - I am having a lot of trouble getting it to sound with the 9 draw note. continue reading...

How should you tune a chromatic Super 64? Do you tune it to equal temperament?

I'm tempted in buying a sugar cain custom harp because I think they look great and I hear good things about his work.

So I'm still struggling to get bends right ( I've only been playing for 2 months now and I'm secretly hoping a custom harp will make it easier XD ) and while I see the experts ( including my teacher ) bend no problem on say a special 20 harp; I hear and read that a custom harp will bend more reliably because every reed's been adjusted and it's quality is higher. continue reading...

HI Winston,

Could you explain the half valved diatonic harmonica technique of PT Gazell?

Thanks