Blues Harp
Q: What's the common/terrible advice one hears from well-meaning blues harp teachers?
A: You've got to listen to music, man. You've got to jam along with records.
That advice comes from people who know music. People who know blues rules. If you are a total beginner, that advice is worthless.
If you had never played ice hockey but developed a curiosity, you would not be instructed to feed your new hobby by getting on the ice with NHL players, right?
Your interest in blues harmonica music begins with such passion. You hear Little Walter backing up Muddy Waters. You buy some music by the greats (Little Walter, Big Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, etc.) You buy your first harmonica -- says it's Key of C, and you have no idea what that means.
Pretty soon you are exposed to some cruel stuff: a) Tongue blocking and b) realizing that the sounds coming from your harmonica are nothing like Little Walter. Not even close.
You can acquire harmonica instructional materials, sure. You can try to memorize the patterns. But you don't know the blues rules, and all you are doing is cramming for the test without understanding the material. Big difference.
Solution: Teach yourself ukulele.
I'm not kidding. If you have no foundation in music, you are limiting the progress you will make with your blues harp. The good news is you can build the necessary music foundation with the humble ukulele.
- Ukuleles are easily found.
- You can teach yourself (with online help).
- You now have an instrument to accompany other blues harpers with.
