Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15418 in Books
• Published on: 1997-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 44 pages

Customer Reviews

This book is better than all the others.
I can't remember how many times I've tried starting harmonica, but this book finally got me going. Get this book. It has a friendly and humurous approach and will encourage you throughout. It covers everything. The book includes:
A dicography for various artists that demonstrate certain styles
Tips and tricks
Notation
BLUES!
And more..........
It goes from assuming you know nothing at all about music and builds up your knowledge.
This book is the closest thing you can get to a real human teaching you.

A Good Starting Point....
Want to learn to play the harmonica? Then this is a very good starting point. Within minutes of opening the book you will be playing along with some very (simple) songs such as Frere Jacques and When The Saints Go Marching In.

Things then progress onto lip pursing (playing single notes) and the changeover scale. Although I did not recognise some of the songs (Polly Wolly Doodle, Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes, My Old Kentucky Home) I do not think this is a big issue. By playing the cd you can hear exactly what you should be playing. Keep playing along to the cd and you will learn the song. I can now play all off the songs mentioned above without needing to listen to the cd. It does take time (especially on the faster paced songs - Polly Wolly Doodle) but you can/will get there!

Shortly after this you are taken onto reading sheet music. I found this a little difficult. It stopped me playing fluently as I had to think about what note I should be playing. Sadly I have not gone beyond this point in the book (except to play some of the blues riffs found later in the book).

Overall this is an excellent starting point for new harmonica players. It's very cheap and you will be playing in minutes! On the downside to this I found some of the subjects to be lacking detail, especially bending notes. Bending is a major part of playing this instrument and the instructions for doing so are not worth reading! Start with this book and if you find you need something a little more detailed and progressive check out Jerry Portnoy's Blues Harmonica Masterclass (found in the Music section) which I found to be a more thorough teaching method. And builds nicely on what you have learned thus far.

I still can't play the harmonica.
Don’t expect this book to perform miracles. If like me you are not musical it may take more then this to have you playing the Harmonica.

The biggest problem with the book is the lack of recognisable tunes to play whilst learning. If you are familiar with such tunes as ‘Polly Wolly Dolly’, ‘Tenting Tonight’ or ‘Drink to me with Thine Eyes’ then you will have a better chance than me, otherwise you may struggle. It is most difficult to play a tune that you are totally unfamiliar with. The CD, which is included, helps a little, but not a lot.

3 stars