I’m not familiar with the brand “parrot” but it should be ok if it’s a 10 hole harmonica in the key of C. Hi JP, I recently got a golden cup 10 – hole harp on a school trip. Two, when the paint does rub off and I play the harmonica for long periods, as I often do, I find the wooden combs expand from the moisture. I’m sticking with jp’s lessons, I trust him!!! With what you’ve said I think that I’d like to get a “Hohner Special 20”. Thank you. As in most things, just buy something that is playable & affordable then learn to play it. Still learning the Chromatic, which is much trickier, but it’s quality is excellent. I just landed on this site.I currently own a Hohner Marine Band Key of C Harmonica.I plan on buying another one in a different key.I want to play Zeppelin,Floyd,Who,Sabbath etc. If you can afford it and find it, my ideal recommendation is a Hohner Special 20. jp. Hearing the difference, which was minute when he was playing single notes but very different when actually playing it, made me hurriedly cancel the Lennon harmonica and switch to the Special 20. I enjoyed your lessons and i’m really learning a lot but my harmonica is made in china and it has the brand parrot that my friend gave me. No bad reeds and over blows and blow bends come rather easily right from the factory. In your article, you wrote that you don’t know why any professional such as myself would suggest buying a harmonica with a plastic comb, as you believe this would make it an inferior instrument. Most of online stores doesn’t deliver up here in India. I’ve been watching your videos on youtube. In other words, you need to compare the Special 20 in the key of C to a Marine Band in the key of C. If you compare a Special 20 in the key of C to a Marine Band in the key of G, your experiment will be distorted by the fact that you are comparing instruments in different keys. Are they significantly easier to bend with? The harmonica I got is a Hohner’s 150th Anniversary model. They’re not usually the first choice for professional harp players who want to play Blues, Folk, Country, Rock, Reggae, and Funk. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really liked reading your blog posts. I just bought a Marine Band C on eBay for really cheap. To buy for a first timer .. Dobrý den JP Allen, moc si vážím co pro nás co se chceme učit a zdokonalovat hraní na harmoniku, cvičím podle vás stále i když mi pomáhají i kamarádi z HAFU (asociace harmonikářů u nás v česku) vy to ukazujete a komentujete úžasně ale neumím anglicky tak se musím spoléhat na to co ukazujete. In addition to harmonica he teaches piano, guitar, and drums. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 June 2017 . You’ll find his customized harps at 1623customharmonicas.com. This harmonica is not appropriate for blues music…You need a ten hole diatonic harmonica. Sound advice! Good luck! I’m very new to this wonderful instrument, but I’m wondering if this is a bad harmonica for me. To make a long story short, I went back to it a couple of months later and stayed with it. My technical skills and theory need a lot of work but i am compensating with extreme passion. Recently I purchased a couple of Seydel Classics — one in C and one Low C. I like the feel and the sound of the Seydels and would like to purchase a couple of other low-tuned harps. Jake: have you ever played a Special 20? After fooling around playing 1st position Bob Dylanesque harp for 30+ years, I finally did a 3-day workshop at the Kerrville Folk Festival this May and went to the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonic (SPAH) annual meeting in August. Now I’m on your website and it says that I should be playing a Hohner special 20. I got a Hohner SilverStar lately for my birthday from my mum. Give them a try. hi jp, i was thinking to learn harmonica but you say i need to start with the key c.but i have a question on my mind that am i able to play all songs in key of c harmonica.because what i know is , every song is based on a key.if a song composed on a c than you can play that song in c harmonica or flute with key c .actually i am intermediate guitar player(so i know little bit theory).so can you explain me that in harmonica can you we play any song in key c or g etc.i am very confuse about it . If any one has response to Mark, Ed, April, Sander, Alan, Gedeon, Donald, Jake please chime in…, I understand you want to check out my DVD and CD lessons and you’re finding the interest rate cost restrictive…please call my customer service guy Jason and he’ll will find a way to help you if he can…I don’t want money to get in the way of you getting the help you need in moving forward with the harmonica. For a while I found it fun, but ultimately I found it too time consuming to work with when playing with up to 20 different harmonicas at a time. I was so stoked read all you’re feedback about the harps. What is meant when they say playing a key in second position and also playing cross harp? Overall Lee Oskar in my opinion is the best, with the High “A” that Synde makes ranks #2l. A quick fix to this problem is to soak the harmonica in water first, but this causes the reeds to fail prematurly. Great story. You could very well be overblowing Henry…that can make your notes sound thin and even squeaky. Does anyone? Im just wondering where to go with keys. Maybe the Hering harmonica manufacturers left Germany for South America because they were WW1 war criminals. I thought now would be a good time to try, especially because my piano doesn’t fit in my pocket. However, I have personally found harmonicas with wooden combs to be challenging, because the wooden combs are painted in the place where the harmonica touches the mouth, to prevent moisture absorption. How ’bout looking for a Hohner Pocket Pal? Hitting up the concern, as you said Hohner Bluesband harmonica is the THING for the beginners. Just wondering why you don’t mention or recommend Seydel harmonicas? I wasn’t expecting that. Newer Post Home. Just a casual hobby. Do you have any suggestions on which low-tuned Seydel harp to get: Classic 1847; 1847 Silver; or 1847 Noble? I suspect this is not the best instrument for you to be starting out with. jp, hey JP, here is the problem i just bought a harmonica out of curiosity and i fell in love i got it in china town in Chicago and it is a parrot it doesn’t have ten holes it has 16 is that normal? Also picked up an older looking Hohner Pro Harp in “G” and am very pleased with it. Then when you’re able to play those techniques confidently, you can launch into learning songs, and they will come to you easily and rapidly. What key of harmonica would you play with this? As you can see, I have very strong feelings about the nature of learning. Which is why I have Lee Oskar for back ups. jp, Hi JP, So, i’m a bassist, but i fell in love with the harmonica, and so i entered in the beautiful Harmonica World, but there is a problem. Great volume, easy out of the box bends, a tight, solid construction. Two weeks ago bought a C and a G Seydel. Here’s why: https://www.harmonica.com/hohner-special-20-harmonica-h560-7001.html jp. Hi J.P I have a question the instruction manuals I have picked up all have you grasp the harp between the thumb and forefinger of the left hand I see from your vids you use the right hand why is this ?? When this happens, the combs protrude from the harmonica and create a sharp edge that has actually cut my lips. jp. Which one will b the best? Free delivery and returns on eligible orders of £20 or more. They are, Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2015. I recommend you get off to a great start with the standard 10-hole harmonica (diatonic) first and then you can progress to a chromatic harmonica if you choose. Blog Archive 2011 (193) November (1) October (10) September (9) August (10) … The blues king is 11 here. THE SEYDEL 1847 SILVER The is currently my favorite harp, but it’s tough on the piggy bank. I finally decided to wash it using Jason Ricci’s technique with soap and alcohol, taking it apart and all and using a soft toothbrush….but it appears I may have ruined it due to the wood comb inside (my others are plastic). SO, I’d be really grateful looking after my university expense, if you recommend something ALMOST similar to Hohner Bluesband which I could get easily here. If expense isn’t an issue and you’re NOT a beginner then the Seydel 1847 Silver or the Hohner Crossover are both beasts of a harmonica. please help JP. Second option: Learn how to “Reed Gap”…Lee Oskar has a tool kit you can buy…I learned how to reed gap from Rick Epping as did many harp players… You may have some success do a google search using “Rick Epping” and “Reed gap” or “Reed Gapping”. I so appreciate your honesty and I’m sure other readers will consider you opinion equally valid to my own. Which one should i go for?? Hi! I’m optimistic that my lessons will be a big help to you. My first harmonica idol was Sunny Terry, and he turned me on to the B-flat harmonica. Hey Toby. Hey Brother, I’m happy to hear my course got you going. When you asked, “Why on earth do you do this for free?”, One of my favorite things to do is help people with harmonica for free and I spend a good portion of my life doing just that…and…the truth be told…I also sell my complete harmonica method on line so this is definitely one the benefits of the time we live in…we can get tons of great stuff on the Internet for free and every now and then…when we love what someone is offering we choose to buy more…, I always pray that people won’t think I’m doing it just for the money, I really think music is one of the greatest gift to humanity and there’s nothing I love more than turning people on to playing music via the most massive little instrument…the harmonica…. What made me get into the harmonica in the first place is : I have a Hohner Chromatic 64 that belonged to my Dad. ?// and whats a good harmonica (professional) where i can pull it out and jam the blues to ..i play a d special 20 now wanna use a c key? # Bushman Delta Frost (9.5) # Suzuki Harp Master (9) # Lee Oskar (8.75) # Hohner Golden Melody (8.5) # Bushman (The Original Soul’s Voice) (8) # Suzuki Promaster (8) # Hering Harmonica (8). I’m so disappointed about the Hohners. As Bob Dylan says, “Do what you must do, and do it well.” Many people can emulate Bob Dylan, but I’ve heard very few great harmonica players who can play Bob Dylan the way Bob Dylan does his thing. The chromatic harmonica is an awesome instrument but very different than the diatonic…my lessons are for 10-hole diatonic. I have a bluesmaster of suzuki how is it for learning? I went out with the intention of buying a Hohner Special 20 after reading your recomendations. Especially if someone is just feeling out the waters (i.e. Normally they will last several months but in just under 1 month they had reeds that stopped playing. I have also purchased an A minor harmonica from Lee Oskar and man does it sound cool with the blues. Would taking it apart and modifying it help the bend become easier? Jambone Harmonica. jp. My number-one recommendation is the Hohner Special 20, and I recommend you buy one in the key of C to start. #1 SEYDEL 1847 SILVER IS #1 OVERALL: This is my #1 favorite harmonica, but you will probably need to have it customized by a professional as explained below. Je mi už 70 let tak že musím učení urychlit abych si hraní na harmoniku ještě trochu užil. I read that bendablity comes at the cost of durability… and reeds get damaged quite often. Do you think it would be a worthy investment to buy them? Hey Mangal. I absolutely love it. In your letter you say you want to become an awesome harmonica player, and I would love to help you. I used to have a mix of Lee Oskar, Hohner and Huang in my case. Lower blow notes don’t sound right now….got any advice? If I can help you in the future let me know. Just one more thing, do not buy plastic reed harps! Am new to this ,what to know which one to buy,here i got suggestions for Hohner Silver Star,Hohner Blue Band,Hohner Ocean Star .. Which Harmonica should I buy? Should I get one of the reccomended harps or is this one Ok for now? Please resolve my Confusion .. Instead they had C.A. This prevents air leaks and allows for generous note bending. Their prices are competitive and if you order from Rockin’ Ron’s you get free shipping! I was wonding if you can comment on how big a difference that will make in terms of running out of puff? My personal experience is that the Special 20 could be literally three times easier to bend than the Hohner Blues Harp. any type of harp or music is allowed. Has a different feel from the Hohners. Thanks a lot for yoyr time and effort , Hey Datta, Hohner claims the only difference is the cover plates. I’ve never met anyone that ever heard of him and it’s a shame because he was gooood. I am a self taught player and willing to learn to play systematicly. With the money I save I will be able to take a holiday in Hawaii and take that jam walking the beach. I have a Lee Oscar C diatonic and would like to know which Hohner special 20 would be best for a beginner. So what should I try, not even sure what’s available in key of D natural minor (to play cross on songs in Am), Seydel makes great custom harmonicas and I like their customer service. I want to play indian classical music (ragas) on harmonica. The Trailblazer is a decent harmonica, and fine for beginners. hey JP i recently got a hohner marine band tremolo and didn’t really know if this would be OK to learn to play on. Needless to say, that one has been put away with maybe some day getting new reeds and playing it if I ever get to the stage where playing an instrument like that doesn’t sound like someone is rocking on a cat’s tail LOL. I just don’t recommend the investment as there are many other comparable harmonicas for a lower price. I always recommend starting with C because it is commonly played and all of my lessons are in the key of C…it is the easiest key to start with on the harmonica. If you’re a beginner that wants to learn to bend and you don’t want to spend money for customization then go for the Hohner Special 20 or the Lee Oskar. I want to buy a harmonica, but i’m new to the scene. jawbone… Other amazing harp players have different recommendations so please do take me to be the final word on this matter…. Okay, I got it, I need to buy Hohner Special 20 right but what is actually “Hohner Special 20 Key Of C”, “Hohner Special 20 key of A” because this is what turns up when you search for Harmonica at Amazon. My guess would be to play without the dentures if your denture have the plate on roof of your mouth. Most harmonica teachers seem to agree that the Blues Harp is a more challenging harp for a beginner to learn to bend on…a great harp but definitely a “bigger wave to ride”. Anyway I’ll be subscribing to your blog and I hope you post again soon! It’s been a while since I used a harmonica with a wood comb, but I imagine someone else may know a simple fix that I don’t. The first one I ordered would not make any sound in the first four holes. My girl give me a hohner crossover in the key of G. Reading your page you recomend na harmonica in the key of C. I am a beginner. and I couldn’t wait to try it out. I personally believe that you should start with a C harmonica, because most of the instruction you will find for beginners is in the key of C. The other reason I recommend the key of C is that it’s pretty close to the middle in the range of different harmonica keys. Thanks; Gedeon (Gerry). I have Blues band and silver star harmonicas. Please consider Beginner till intermediate state …. But, I cannot understand the difference between “Progressive” Special 20 and “Marine Band” Special 20. I couldn’t get a teaher until I was sure I wanted to play the instrument so I looked online and found you. Haven’t played in a while..Would like to try your lessons. Because you are ten, and you’ve got a twelve-year head-start one me (I started playing when I was 22), the most important thing in the beginning is for you to have fun and learn some really cool stuff that’s really easy for you to play. I cannot imagine anyone complimenting this harmonica brand. What key should he start off with the Hohner Special 20? I hope I got the right guy to help me out. It has to do with the length of the reeds and other technical aspects of the harmonica. I find with the blues harps they require more air than the marine. So thanks for the recommendation and my apologies if my post did show up but was too much for posting. Trying to get 1,2,3 draws cleanly was not easy, bending was poor, and volume not great either. Anyways, the Hohner Blues harp is nice to, just harder to play than the Marine Band. hey j-p i’m a beginner… do you think the marine band crossover is a good choice? You may want to try opening up the harmonica and covering the wood comb with beeswax to see if you can create a tight seal. And that other day, while youtubing I did listen to few of harmonica tunes that really moved me. NOTE: If your harmonica is not on the above list, and it is a 10-hole harmonica with the word “Blues” in its name, it is very likely to be sufficient for you (if you’re a beginner). I look forward to free lessons to determine if I like blues harp or not! In the end i just prefer the sound of a wooden reed over plastic. Why do you rate it lowest out of all the other Diatonic Harps? This prevents air leaks and allows for generous note bending. Hey JP, i am a beginner and i am planning to buy US BLUES HARMONICA FOR BEGINNERS IN C (that’s what the site says) here is d link- http://www.honkin-harmonica-shop.co.uk/us-blues-diatonic-harmonica/ Would this harmonica model be good for my initial musical training? jp. Hi I am looking to buy a harmonica for my grandson (14) You mentioned the Hohner Special 20. I have found for myself that over time, the paint peels off to expose the raw wood. In honor of “Harmonica Frank Floyd,” it sounds like you want to do some rippin’ train-time chugging patterns. I have been checking out some you tube action. That said, if you want to purchase the best-made harmonica on the market, then the Seydel 1847 Silver is my current winner (all of the various 1847 models are awesome). I want to buy a Hohner Special 20 C key. Thanks in advance. In Thomann (which is the online shop i use for musical instruments usually) there are different options, for example the Hohner Special 20 you suggest, but buying 4 or 5 of them is too expensive for me, or i could buy a set of 7 Hohner Blues Band, or a set of 12 Harley Benton Harps (which is an oriental brand that thomann sells, and i know that they make nice basses, cheap, but a good value for money. If that’s what you’ve got, got for it Sayan! 0 comments: Post a Comment. I am going to try the b flat this week. I been at it maybe 3 weeks. I recently picked up a bunch of Hohner Blues Harps (A,C,G, and E) to attempt to start learning some tunes. zZounds is an Authorized Jambone dealer People who bought this item also bought. As a side note, a lot of teachers make harmonica more difficult than it really is, so please be aware that if it’s not coming easily to you, it’s probably not your fault …make sure you find a harmoinca teacher who you like that makes it easy for you. I got hohner silver star C , it is good for beginner ? Harmonica A. I’m so happy you took the plunge and you are following your inner guide. My mosa g use to play mouth organ.he is playing harmonica from last 10-12 years.he can play cromatic harmonica too..niw he wants to buy a harmonica has crystal clear natural sound ,and should be with cromatic.can u suggest me a harmonica which is best in class…price range doesnt matter…nowadays he is playing super 64.german made…, I personally don’t play the chromatic harp but love the sound of it. If you enjoy the melodic hum of the harmonica or have been wanting to try out this classic musical instrument, then you are in the right place. HOHNER BLUESBAND #1 BUDGET HARMONICA FOR BEGINNERS ONLY: Click here for Hohner Blues Band pricing: If you’re a beginner who would prefer to “test the waters” (i.e., make sure you’re serious about sticking with harmonica before you invest), the Hohner Blues Band will get you off to a nice start. This article was very helpful, although I found it too late. Seriously, with a young song who seems to enjoy music, this is the ideal opportunity to ensure some future jamming. Amazon Customer. I've never owned a harmonica before, but I would assume that this is a pretty good buy for a beginner. And this is the range of the basic twelve keys of harmonica — from G to F-sharp. I always recommend the Special 20 above all. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, See all details for Jambone Harmonica (C), © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. (I prefer to play at low volumes, and I overblow occasionally, so a highly responsive harp is critical). I bought Bb to play along with Slim Harpo. Hey JP! I’d like to play some Bob Dylan tunes with it. Comparable in price. It’s true, Seydels are great harps. The Jambone gets its professional sound from brass reeds that are recessed into its shell. My question is : can I use the chromatic in your lessons, as long as I don’t push the side button ? jp, It is great to “discover” this website. Jambone Harmonica (Bb) Reviews . I am a beginner and have done some assessment on the internet about the harmonica I should buy to start with. Appearance: The cover plates of this harmonica is made out of stainless steel with closed sides to make it more bendable and airtight. So, what advice can you give me? Thanks for sharing your thoughts. And, do you think a beginner can learn to bend the notes on a chromatic? I wanted to ask you though, I recently started playing, and got a Hohner Meisterclaus, in C Diatonic, as a present. I recommend you start with a harmonica in the key of C for several reasons. You’ve been such a huge help. I want to play the blues and you can’t play the blues without bending. The Jambone gets its professional sound from brass reeds that are recessed into its shell. I just bought your learning kit and I am very axcited about learning to play the harmonica. Skip to main content.ca Hello, Sign in. You may be amazed at the result! The 1847 is made in Germany. The air-tight design prevents any … Can you tell me what it mean? 0. In a previous post, I mentioned that there was a downgrade in the performance of the Hohner Special 20’s and Hohner Crossovers. Since i’m still a beginner, can you please tell me if this harmonica is suitable for me. Good harmonica, but these are my faves right now. Your Price $ 17.99 msrp:32.99,lowPrice:17.99. Have fun and enjoy every moment. My recommendations are the culmination of my personal experience of about 30 years teaching harmonica. hey. If you enjoy playing a Bluesband to start you will definitely love playing a better harmonica later. I know is it a great harmonica, but I cannot find any courses or book teaching how to play with a Harmonica in D… I know I’ll get a Hohner Bluesband in C with your package but I still would like some information of my possibilities with my harmonica in D. My advanced products do use the D harmonica. Love reading stories like this. Description; Reviews; The Jambone is a diatonic harmonica that delivers good performance at a modest price. On a chromatic, all of the keyboard notes are built into the harmonica, so bends are purely to make cool sounds. Sorry for the poem, Hey Marco, we currently have a 5 pack of Hohner special 20’s on sale on my website. I regret having sent the previous CD’s back to you and now I find that it is impossible for me to order a new set as the interest rate on the Canadian $ is now 20%. It probably just needs new reeds as it’s about 20 to 25 years old and has been heavily blown on by my kids and grandkids until I found out its MSRP is $175 although I saw them sold for about $125 which surprised me because I didn’t think I really had all that in that harmonica! I’m a retired physician, so over the past 6 months, I have bought 32 new harps, including a full set of all keys for both home and car (for trips playing the Sirius blues station), a Suzuki 48-hole Chromatic, 3 natural minors (Lee Oskar), a C major & minor tremolo, a solo-tuned Seydel C & G and a Seydel Concerta (which I love) and low C-G harps. Remember that my above recommendations are specifically targeting “out of the box” professional instruments that make it easy for a beginner to learn how to bend. JP Bought one of your CD’s (don’t remember which one) a couple of years ago. When you’ve mastered the basics and friends and family can identify and “singalong” to your playing that will be the time to make a good investment. When you are ready to learn how to bend to get that bluesy sound, I STRONGLY suggest you try a Hohner Special 20 or any of the professional harmonicas mentioned above. 1. Prime Cart. Can you help me out? Progressives are the current, new model. It arrived Saturday (love Amazon’s Prime 1-day Saturday delivery!!) Music is the one thing that makes us civilized and I have trouble giving it up. Wish I could help you. jp. Skip to main content. I ordered and ordered again in the same key. They gave raffle tickets at the door to win door prizes. Official Top 5 Review Team May 17, 2020 . Bare in mind that my ratings are just my personal experience and other harmonica players and teachers (that I have great respect for) do have different opinions. I have been running through the Bob Dylan sheets and started to realize that the reason i love Dylan is the Harmonica. So C is a good key, because it’s fairly central. Thanks so much…. I dont want to sound like im bragging but i have been tolds i was “on fire” and one guy called me liar when i said ive only been playing for three months anyway my point being without this website i wouldn’t be playing so thank you for all that you do, Brag on Jacob, sounds like you’ve earned it! They are cheap, and if you want something to start modifying the way Jason Ricci teaches, I suppose they would be okay. Though he does play in cross harp from time to time, I consider him a straight harp specialist. Product information Item Weight 4 ounces Product Dimensions 3.9 x 1.3 x 0.9 inches ASIN B0002F5HME Item model number SO-JAM-AB# Is Discontinued By Manufacturer No Date First Available May 6, 2010 Videos. Good luck, Ed. This harmonica journey you’re on may be full of more fun surprises than you imagine! Diatonic or Chromatic? It looks cool, has a nice sturdy feel to it, and sounds better than I expected. I’m pretty pleased with several Special 20’s and Seydel Session steels. Should I get them? Thanks again Laurel Anne ….. What’s your take on the Fender Blues DeVille harps? I hope that helps you, Sander. Great sound. Mark. Check out my free lessons to start with on my website, https://www.harmonica.com jp, Hi J.P. A few years ago I purchased a complete set of your CD’S. You can play any song in any key you want if you are transposing. This may not be the problem, but it’s my best shot at it …. Hats off to “Harmonica Frank Floyd.” I’m sure he’ll be smilin’ down at you when you lose yourself in some ecstatic rhythmic harmonica groove. jp, Hey JP, I am really grateful for your help through this website. I consider every harmonica on the below list to be a solid professional instrument. Later, when you wish to learn to play in the key of G, or in the key of F-sharp, the differential won’t be so great. They are more airtight than Hohner in my opinion and all parts are replaceable. Congrats, hi dear jp i got hohner rocket it have laod sound and easy for bend did u try that? They all played easily with bendable reeds and no surprises. Any idea where I can find a case only for 5 – 7 harmonicas? Account & Lists Account Returns & Orders. Even a fairly cheap harp can give a good sound. In your posting, you mention you are 80 years old. Joe Spiers is a total “legend” and probably one of the world’s finest though I’ve never had the privilege of playing one of his harps. as I can’t seem to get the purity and notes needed w/ what I have… key suggestions? Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2010. 0 Reviews. It is helping so much, thanks a lot! Hello JP, I love your work. Question..Is this model is too much for me as a beginner? Try. Would someone in our harmonica community give Mangal an answer to his question. Any ideas? What is the best chromatic harps for intermediates ? Any info will be appreciated. As a new kid on the block I feel that many new players do worry too much about their instruments. I plan on getting a Special 20 as soon as I can afford it. Greg’s Jones: I recommend his Overblow/Overdraw set up. Hohner has caught the problem, and the performance of the most recent lot of Special 20’s and Crossovers I received are back to their high performing standard. I’m just a beginner (less than one month) but every time I play the harp, I get to learn something new (for me).