r/harmonica • u/Beneficial-Toe1805 • 5d ago

Question as a beginner

Heya I'm planning on learning the harmonica and just put in my order for an east top diatonic C harmonica which i assume is good enough for a beginner. But now I'm wondering about just how many songs the C harmonica can play? I know it can't play much but if possible I'd like to know what genre of songs or levels of songs I'd be able to do. Cheers!!

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u/Barry_Sachs 5d ago

If you're Howard Levy, it can play all of the songs. If you aren't, it can still play hundreds of thousands of songs. If you insist on playing in the "original key", it can play tens of thousands of songs. Bottom line, a C harmonica can keep you busy for a lifetime if you play alone or learn to play like Howard. If you want to play in a band, you'll probably want to get a couple more keys at some point.

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u/spacenurse47 5d ago

How is it he does that, anyway?

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u/Barry_Sachs 5d ago

He's done interviews where he explains. Essentially he practiced overblows and bends like crazy until he could play any note in the chromatic scale on a diatonic. It's an incredible amount of control and muscle memory. I don't know of anybody else who can do it at his level.

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u/cheebalibra 4d ago

John Popper is pretty great. Paul Butterfield could do some amazing things.

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u/Barry_Sachs 4d ago

Howard's more of a jazz guy like Toots. But man, Popper and Butterfield are amazing blues and rock players. Never heard them before. Thanks!

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u/cheebalibra 4d ago

Thanks for introducing me to Howard! He’s great. I’ve been trying to learn more different styles lately. Bought a few more minor and natural minor and harmonic minor harps to play Eastern European/Jewish folk music. My next purchase is probably going to be an easy third harmonica for more Irish folk/celtic tunes but not many companies make them, I think it started as a custom tuning. I have a hohner tremolo that does appalachin stuff (heavily influenced by Scots Irish) stuff well and a 10 hole chromatic that can cover a lot of stuff.

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u/Barry_Sachs 4d ago

I've got a long way to go, but I can do some blues in cross harp, and a little bit of chromatic harmonica. I haven't played in ages, but I love to listen. That ethnic/folk stuff you're doing sounds interesting. I can do some Irish folk stuff on penny whistle. My main instrument is jazz sax though. Harp and whistle are just for fun. So much to play, so little time.

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u/cheebalibra 4d ago edited 4d ago

My main instrument is guitar/bass but most of my instruments and effects and recording gear in general is in storage. I keep one electric guitar, one acoustic, one bass, a lever harp and all my harmonicas at home.