My 40 year old box of harmonicas

Don Grundy
Don Grundy
@don-grundy
4 years ago
192 posts
My chromatics are all key of C. My tenor Hohner CX-12s are my favorite.
I agree about Hohner. I think Suzuki is the most innovative of the big three manufacturers.
I have never had any luck with Seydel chromatics.
I have two 16 hole chromatics. My favorite is the Hohner Super 64X. A piano has 88 keys and you have 64 notes in your hand. Amazing!
I also have a Swan 16 hole chromatic which is fine and only costs about $100.
Grab any instrument. Harmonica or dulcimer: make music and have fun.
robert schuler
robert schuler
@robert-schuler
4 years ago
259 posts

Don Grundy: I have a number of harmonicas. Learning to play the diatonic well is difficult. Google Buddy Greene at Carnegie Hall. I have primarily play my chromatics. When I need the sharp or flat I push a button. And I like to play Broadway music as well as folk music and jazz.

Don, I often desire a chromatic. Problem is mine have broken reeds. I have sent them to Hohner for repair which gets a bit expensive. I always think of "someday" learning to repair reeds myself, but someday never seems to come. 

This is a great time to get into harmonica since new companies are offering instruments with different tuning options, even custom tuning to order. Sometimes I think Hohner is stuck in the past and is reluctant to innovate... Robert

Don Grundy
Don Grundy
@don-grundy
4 years ago
192 posts
I have a number of harmonicas. Learning to play the diatonic well is difficult. Google Buddy Greene at Carnegie Hall.
I have primarily play my chromatics. When I need the sharp or flat I push a button. And I like to play Broadway music as well as folk music and jazz.
Strumelia
Strumelia
@strumelia
4 years ago
2,216 posts

Hey @kjb , you should talk with fotmd member @terry-wilson .... he is a big fan of playing harmonica for fun!  He plays all kinds of music on his harps, I think just about every day.  jive




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Site Owner

Those irritated by grain of sand best avoid beach.
-Strumelia proverb c.1990
kjb
@kjb
4 years ago
12 posts

As a teenager I started playing blues on guitar and harmonica.  I rarely play either now, but still love to play harmonica with other blues musicians.  

hugssandi
@hugssandi
7 years ago
256 posts

I've always wanted to learn to play harmonica, Bob, and your sharing may just be the kick I need...  Thank you so very much!

Jan Potts
Jan Potts
@jan-potts
7 years ago
411 posts

Now THAT's a jam!  Thanks for sharing this!   My harmonica is 73 years old and still sounds good.  It's a chromatic---I know, some of you will probably think I should just get a guitar....I've heard that before!giggle2




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Jan Potts, Lexington, KY
Site Moderator

"Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best." Henry Van Dyke

updated by @jan-potts: 10/12/16 04:40:02AM
Strumelia
Strumelia
@strumelia
7 years ago
2,216 posts

I just stumbled upon this old German movie which has a cute scene where a mandolin orchestra is competing against a 'harmonica orchestra' at a party.  (keep in mind that harmonicas are a German invention).

The music action starts right at the 38 minute mark in the video, 38:00 ....




--
Site Owner

Those irritated by grain of sand best avoid beach.
-Strumelia proverb c.1990

updated by @strumelia: 10/10/16 06:14:20PM
Sue Simms
Sue Simms
@sue-simms
11 years ago
29 posts

i agree with this ! i have one myself and love it.Smile.gif

robert schuler
robert schuler
@robert-schuler
11 years ago
259 posts

Leslie, Do you have any Scotch tape? preferably the gift wrap type. After reading about your mom I applied scotch tape to a nickel harmonica cover and the tape in no way hindered my ability to play the instrument. My lips never touched the metal and the tape is invisible. I think its a workable idea. Yes there are chrome harmonicas as an option but if you still have any nickel harmonicas I would go with the tape... Bob.

Strumelia
Strumelia
@strumelia
12 years ago
2,216 posts

Bob I love this little story. I wish you could take a photo of your old box full of harmonicas and show it to us!

I have a couple of my harmonicas from 20 years ago, but sadly I think i lost my original two harmonicas I had as a teenagers, which would have been over 40 yrs old now. I always liked fooling around with harmonicas, but never got very good at it.

But I agree, it's always good to keep a little harmonica in your pocket- like carrying around a microscopic church organ!

I keep a set of rhythm bones and a limberjack in my instrument case when I go to music gatherings- like a harmonica they are very portable, and sometimes it's just the thing!




--
Site Owner

Those irritated by grain of sand best avoid beach.
-Strumelia proverb c.1990
robert schuler
robert schuler
@robert-schuler
12 years ago
259 posts
Back in the late 1960's I got my first introduction to playing music as a blues harmonica player. For myself it was an easy style of music to master but as I became better at playing guitar I put the harmonicas away in a shoebox never to be played again. In the last year I have spent much of my time learning old time Irish and British tunes on the whistle and this was a good time to pullout my old harmonica box and try what I learned on the tin whistle on harmonica. I was surprised by how many harmonicas I had and in so many keys. Its like opening up a time capsule. Everyone should own at least one harmonica. They fit in the smallest pocket and you can make music everywhere... Bob.
updated by @robert-schuler: 02/25/19 11:59:57PM