what harmonica should i get?
hi,
i have two harmonicas. one is the 'ms blues harp' in the key of c and the other is the 'marine band 1896' in the key of a.
my question is which harmonica do you recommend me to buy if i want the one that will help me the most in improving my bends and in a different key from what i own?
thanks/
i'm having a bit more success with bending in the c harmonica although i have difficulties with both of them in the 2 draw bends. i will check the models you recomnded. thank you
The 2 Draw bend is deeper than the 1, 4, 5, and 6 bends and for that reason can take more work to master. Only the Draw 3 bend goes deeper.
When you bend Draw 2, first play the note unbent and make the tone as full and juicy as you can. Then, as you bend it, try and take all that tone with you. Full tone and bending control go hand in hand.
thank you for all your advices.
If you consider which keys you're going to need most for blues, then in addition to A and C, you'll need D, G, Bb, and F. That's 6 of the 12 keys.
But for bending development?
You don't say how well you're doing with bends with the harps you have. If you're having more success with the C, then I'd suggest someting in that area, either Bb or D. If you're having more success on the A, then maybe Bb or G.
Airtight construction is a big plus for responsiveness overall, including bending response.
What model(s)? I'd suggest something more airtight than the MS Blues Harp, which has only two screws securing the reedplates. Marine Bands are the iconic choice, but I'd suggest moving up to the more airtight and easier to service Marine Band Deluxe or Crossover models. If you're open to plastic combs, then the Special 20 or Rocket models might also be suitable.
Looking beyond the Hohner stable, I've been hearing good things from players about the Seydel Session Steel and 1847 models, and the Suzuki Manji.