Discussion:
Frustrated
(too old to reply)
Yard Dog
2007-11-27 20:59:18 UTC
Permalink
Been trying to learn harp for over 2 months now and can't seem to even
get through simple stuff. I am using the correct key's but just can't
seem to get the techniques down. I do have a sense of melody as I have
been a musician for years but it's mostly the technique part.

Songs I've tried and can't get down:

Amazing Grace
The First Noel
Silent Night
Down in the valley
Oh Susanna


Any other suggestions for easy ones?
Robert Reynolds
2007-11-27 21:12:30 UTC
Permalink
Try La Cucaracha, and the Mexican Hat Dance. They're pretty easy.
Start on hole 7.
Post by Yard Dog
Been trying to learn harp for over 2 months now and can't seem to even
get through simple stuff. I am using the correct key's but just can't
seem to get the techniques down. I do have a sense of melody as I have
been a musician for years but it's mostly the technique part.
Amazing Grace
The First Noel
Silent Night
Down in the valley
Oh Susanna
Any other suggestions for easy ones?
Keith Adams
2007-11-28 16:44:39 UTC
Permalink
Dont even mess with that stuff.. Playing anything is good exercise but thats
about all you'll get out of them.
Jam to the radio instead. Much more fun. Remember that you need the correct
key of harp for any given song or it wont work for you.
Post by Yard Dog
Been trying to learn harp for over 2 months now and can't seem to even
get through simple stuff. I am using the correct key's but just can't
seem to get the techniques down. I do have a sense of melody as I have
been a musician for years but it's mostly the technique part.
Amazing Grace
The First Noel
Silent Night
Down in the valley
Oh Susanna
Any other suggestions for easy ones?
Lamneth
2007-11-29 02:40:19 UTC
Permalink
Post by Keith Adams
Dont even mess with that stuff.. Playing anything is good exercise but
thats about all you'll get out of them.
Jam to the radio instead. Much more fun. Remember that you need the
correct key of harp for any given song or it wont work for you.
Post by Yard Dog
Been trying to learn harp for over 2 months now and can't seem to even
get through simple stuff. I am using the correct key's but just can't
seem to get the techniques down. I do have a sense of melody as I have
been a musician for years but it's mostly the technique part.
Amazing Grace
The First Noel
Silent Night
Down in the valley
Oh Susanna
Any other suggestions for easy ones?
Funny you said that cos I took my harps to work with me today and jammed to
some cd's and it was pretty cool sitting in the car jamming.
Lamneth
2007-11-29 02:42:39 UTC
Permalink
Post by Keith Adams
Dont even mess with that stuff.. Playing anything is good exercise but
thats about all you'll get out of them.
Jam to the radio instead. Much more fun. Remember that you need the
correct key of harp for any given song or it wont work for you.
Post by Yard Dog
Been trying to learn harp for over 2 months now and can't seem to even
get through simple stuff. I am using the correct key's but just can't
seem to get the techniques down. I do have a sense of melody as I have
been a musician for years but it's mostly the technique part.
Amazing Grace
The First Noel
Silent Night
Down in the valley
Oh Susanna
Any other suggestions for easy ones?
BTW Yard Dog = Me.

I forgot to change the name on my google account. Thanks for the info
though, it is much more fun jamming to stuff. I still have to carry the
stupid little cross chart with me but I'll get it one of these days.
Ralf K. Buschner
2007-11-27 22:36:10 UTC
Permalink
Post by Yard Dog
Been trying to learn harp for over 2 months now and can't seem to even
get through simple stuff.
That's normal. It takes time. Maybe you should lookout for someone showing
you some basics. Start with extremely simple songs from your childhood.
That way you'll learn the layout of the harp, and you'll know where which
note is...later then it's easier to play new melodies without having to
think a single second about note layouts and similar stuff.
And please: Learn and practice scales on your harp!

cu,
Ralf
Harpman
2007-11-28 18:05:58 UTC
Permalink
Post by Yard Dog
Been trying to learn harp for over 2 months now and can't seem to even
get through simple stuff. I am using the correct key's but just can't
seem to get the techniques down. I do have a sense of melody as I have
been a musician for years but it's mostly the technique part.
Amazing Grace
The First Noel
Silent Night
Down in the valley
Oh Susanna
Any other suggestions for easy ones?
Go to harmonicacountry.com Allen
Keith Adams
2007-12-01 02:19:23 UTC
Permalink
Just remember this when trying to find which harp to use when playing cross
harp. Say you're at a jam night.
You ask someone which key they're playing in. They say G. So you count
forward four keys. G A B C.
You'd use C.
Post by Yard Dog
Been trying to learn harp for over 2 months now and can't seem to even
get through simple stuff. I am using the correct key's but just can't
seem to get the techniques down. I do have a sense of melody as I have
been a musician for years but it's mostly the technique part.
Amazing Grace
The First Noel
Silent Night
Down in the valley
Oh Susanna
Any other suggestions for easy ones?
Yard Dog
2007-12-03 16:21:24 UTC
Permalink
Post by Keith Adams
Just remember this when trying to find which harp to use when playing cross
harp. Say you're at a jam night.
You ask someone which key they're playing in. They say G. So you count
forward four keys. G A B C.
You'd use C.
Cool thanks!
Robert Reynolds
2007-12-03 18:42:57 UTC
Permalink
Post by Yard Dog
Post by Keith Adams
Just remember this when trying to find which harp to use when playing cross
harp. Say you're at a jam night.
You ask someone which key they're playing in. They say G. So you count
forward four keys. G A B C.
You'd use C.
Cool thanks!
This method works great, but don't forget that there's an exception.
You play a Bb harp when the band is playing in F.
Mukluk
2007-12-04 10:48:13 UTC
Permalink
Post by Robert Reynolds
Post by Yard Dog
Post by Keith Adams
Just remember this when trying to find which harp to use when playing cross
harp. Say you're at a jam night.
You ask someone which key they're playing in. They say G. So you count
forward four keys. G A B C.
You'd use C.
Cool thanks!
This method works great, but don't forget that there's an exception.
You play a Bb harp when the band is playing in F.
Another very handy tool for training your ear to pick up a song key is
this:

http://coast2coastmusic.com/cgi-bin/cart/KRMK.html

I always carry mine with me. Dirt cheap as well. Beats the hell out
of trying to find a song key by pulling out a bunch of different
harps..

Chuck
Chromatonic
2007-12-04 17:00:44 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mukluk
Post by Robert Reynolds
Post by Yard Dog
Post by Keith Adams
Just remember this when trying to find which harp to use when playing cross
harp. Say you're at a jam night.
You ask someone which key they're playing in. They say G. So you count
forward four keys. G A B C.
You'd use C.
Cool thanks!
This method works great, but don't forget that there's an exception.
You play a Bb harp when the band is playing in F.
Another very handy tool for training your ear to pick up a song key is
http://coast2coastmusic.com/cgi-bin/cart/KRMK.html
I always carry mine with me. Dirt cheap as well. Beats the hell out
of trying to find a song key by pulling out a bunch of different
harps..
Chuck
The Kratt pitch pipe is also available in an "F-to-F" version (like
harmonicas).

I know a lot of guys carry something like this
Loading Image...
printed on a card in their harp case to help find the right key (keys
on the inside circumfrence are the Relative minor).
I also keep all my harps in the case in Circle of Fifths order (Bb, F,
C,. G, D, A, E -top tray & E, F#, Db, Ab, Eb - bottom tray) to make it
really simple to find the right key in a hurry.
Robert Reynolds
2007-12-04 20:06:15 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chromatonic
I also keep all my harps in the case in Circle of Fifths order (Bb, F,
C,. G, D, A, E -top tray & E, F#, Db, Ab, Eb - bottom tray) to make it
really simple to find the right key in a hurry.
Is that easy? I put mine in alphabetical order.
Chromatonic
2007-12-06 04:20:44 UTC
Permalink
Post by Robert Reynolds
Post by Chromatonic
I also keep all my harps in the case in Circle of Fifths order (Bb, F,
C,. G, D, A, E -top tray & E, B, F#, Db, Ab, Eb - bottom tray) to make it
really simple to find the right key in a hurry.
Is that easy? I put mine in alphabetical order.
Well, yeah, it is easy - IF you know your circle of fifths.
This way, If you're playing in 2nd position, it's forward from the
tonic-keyed harmonica; if 3rd, 2 harmonicas forward. If 12th, 1
harmonica back from the tonic. Easy.
C

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