How To Play The Harmonica?

How long does it take, in months, to learn to play harmonica ?

• How long does it take, in months, to learn to play harmonica to the point where you could jam with some folks playing blues and not get pillows thrown at your head? I'm not ...show more

• Answer:

  I'll ignore the easy and obvious answer of "it depends" and actually give you an answer (or at least a range)...but first, we need to define some terms. 30 minutes a day of practice means 30 solid minutes of real practicing, not just playing around. I'll assume that prior familiarity with music means you at least know I, IV, & V chords, and know what a seventh is...(or at least know enough to know how to find the answers to these). Okay, now for the picky parts... If by "jam with" you mean accompany/fill well, take appropriate solos, and add your part to the synergies of the 1 + 1 = 3 equation, I'd say at least 18-24 months, maybe more. If by "jam with" you mean accompany/fill well enough that you don't distract from the band, can play confidently enough to stay in the general area of the correct chords on a simple solo, and do not cause a 1 + 1 = 1 equation, that could be possible is a month or two (which based on your "having fun" definition, is the more appropriate answer to your question). Fortunately, on the standard 10-hole diatonic harmonica in a blues context, there are only a few "painful" notes and a whole lot of "acceptable" notes. Based on my experience, the trick is to learn the "safe notes" for each of the three chords in a simple 12 bar blues progression (so if you hit a stretch where you just can't find the groove, fall back to these and regroup): I IV I I IV IV I I V IV I V (or I to end) Those safe notes are: I: -2 IV: 4 V: -4 (minus sign is draw, no minus sign is blow). These notes are in more than one place on your harmonica, so play around and find them yourself (an exercise that will be very beneficial). Oh, and if in doubt, draw 4 (or draw 1) is never "wrong". All of this is for second position, which in simplest terms means they key you are actually playing in is five notes up from the key printed on the harmonica. (A C harp played in second position will be in the key of G.) Find a "circle of fifths" chart online, print it, carry it with you everywhere you go, and don't give it another thought...for now. Totally unsolicited advice and no longer specific to your question: Why only 30 minutes each day? Carry a harp with you everywhere you go. Stuck in traffic? Play. Going to the park? Play. Bored and nothing to do? Play. A few minutes here and there spread throughout the day will really help. Don't restrict yourself to just blues music. Play along with the radio...(having more keys will help make this more fun). Play the corny harmonica songs like "Oh Suzanna". Hum or sing a catchy melody and see if you can find it on the harp. Connecting the pathways in your brain between the sound you want and where it is on the harp will ultimately make you a better blues musician (and just a better musician in general). Get some Coltrane CDs, some gospel/folk CDs, and yes, some classic blues harmonica CDs (like Sonny Boy Williamson (I & II), Butterfield, Little Walter, etc.) Go to youtube and search on Gussow. Watch all 50something of his completely free and incredibly helpful 10 minute lessons. Finally, (and I mean well with this comment), who cares how long it takes you to get to that point? The only way this is relevant is if you've committed yourself to a gig in X months and even still, if the answers you get are that it will take longer, the answers could still be wrong.) If you approach this correctly, the journey itself will be fun. The ability to jam with others will come. With the right people in the right setting, you may already be at a level where you can play along. Meanwhile, keep practicing, keep playing, and enjoy the ride...(because I didn't even get to bending, tone quality, timing, phrasing, yada yada yada...)