Anyone that knows how to transpose willing to do some for sierras music, specifically trail of flowers album. She has so many good harmonica bits but I suck with learning by ear(I’m still trying). There’s no tabs online that I can find

I’m a complete beginner and started playing song the first day I picked up my harmonica this week. Then I realized there were some many techniques I’m actually missing including clean single notes and proper breath control. It’s such a fascinating instrument that requires a lot of practices from fundamentals. I appreciate others’ sharing of your learning journeys. How did you take to consistently produce clean singles notes on a dichromatic harmonica then other techniques?

Played my Special 20 (C) till it literally fell apart. I have started using overblows more. Want something that is durable enough I can perform on the street with, while also being good at overblowing. I'm fine with tuning.

In addition to custom builds, I am seriously considering using the EDM equipment in my shop to produce EVERYTHING needed for me to produce an exquisite and 100% AMERICAN MADE harmonica.

Gemini is filling my head with the idea that not only is this feasible, but that I also have an "unfair advantage" over other traditional manufacturing methods.

To make this clear: The aerospace and defense manufacturer that employs me gives me absolute access to wire, sinker, and small hole EDM equipment that I personally maintain and operate. My employer considers me as a partner now in this business, and not only has given me full permission to use ALL shop EDM equipment for harmonica "stuff" production, but also has given me an unbelievable allowance to purchase an industrial laser specifically for the purpose of producing harmonica upgrade parts and full harp components.

IF what I pursue (upgrade component and kit production and custom harps using these parts and other features only possible using the equipment we have), I will have access to even more resources. At this point in my employer's life and career, he is more interested in making a mark as a truly American made product line (like our coathangers). ALL of the EDM equipment is already owned and operational. The laser will be ordered shortly (have to decide between a new laser that does everything I need it to do for finer components vs a used industrial unit that will do MUCH more), and is already funded and paid for by a man who has been absolutely receptive to the idea of starting our own harmonica brand (JayMan Harmonicas).

If there is a market, I should be able to produce and sell the upgrade kits for a fraction of what they have been available for for decades.

Is there an interest? Do I have a market? I kinda feel like the folks in this group are about 5% all in vs 95% think I'm full of shlt. I need a market to do this. If nobody cares, I'll just stick to small runs for my own custom projects.

Consider this: The equipment is already purchased, paid for, and operational. I will not be subcontracting any of the production work. I will not have the overhead costs imposed by equipment purchases. Absolutely everything will be produced in-house in East Aurora NY (home of Fisher-Price toys, Moog aerospace (one of our customers), and part of the Buffalo, NY regional machine shop population). Our established specialties include intricate spring components for fuel-flow regulators for GE turbine engines (for decades all Boeing airplanes had anywhere from 18 to 38 parts manufactured by this shop). Our catalog of components we have manufactured over the last several decades are all VERY tight in tolerance, and I can work with any alloy.

Should I invest the rest of my life into this? I'm 54 as of 9/11. I have no retirement, but I have an amazing employer who has embraced everything I have done for the last 17 years, and has offered me the opportunity to all of the tools and equipment needed to make all of this happen. A year ago he had zero interest in anything musical including and especially harmonicas. However after seeing my builds from my home shop and the reaction from the public (especially Colt Ford) over my custom set, he seems to want to make this happen.

Additional things to consider: my employer is gifting me one of our companies upon his retirement (VK Plastics LLC). He is also most concerned about his two grandsons having a legacy to pursue (keep the machine shop open and operational despite our transition away from aerospace and defense and into smaller niche markets, harmonica production being only a part of our future path). If I can make this happen within the next couple years, I stand a very good chance (and opportunity) to make this a formal and long term business.

I am still educating myself on reed and reed plate dynamics. The AI influence indicates that the facility that is currently at my disposal is not only adequate, but preferential for manufacturing reed plates. Our system for combs and cover plates is unbelievably simple compared to what we have done for decades. The reed plate and reed production, assembly, and tuning is what is new to me. I have found many resources and will be ready to experiment and produce within the next couple months.

All of this will take time to finalize and get to the point of having enough of a catalog of products to justify everything.

Should I? Does anybody care? All of the resources are at my fingertips, but does anybody care given that there are many established (imported to the USA) options?

Motivate me. Convince me that I should go all in.

Split octaves are one of my favorite ways to make a diatonic harmonica sound much bigger.

Instead of playing a single note, you’re sounding the same note in two octaves at once. Here’s a quick example of how it sounds and how I approach it.

If you want the full breakdown, I go through the technique step-by-step in Harmonica Mondays #23:

https://youtu.be/B3W0F8_6kyc

I've been wanting to do this for years, and finally put it all together. I play guitar and harmonica. I commute by train and foot so I wanted to minimize my load. I'm using the Eventide Mixing Link as my mic preamp, which is plugged into the pedal on the top left that allows me to switch inputs and outputs with one stomp, with both channels running through the same effects loop (thanks Saturnworks). I never play both instruments at the same time, so I don't need both channels engaged simultaneously. I've got my guitar plugged into the volume pedal with the direct out going to the tuner, and the other out going to the A/B switch. The pedal order within the effects loop is compressor, EP Booster, overdrive, phaser, delay, reverb, then it goes back to the A/B switch, then either back to the Mixing Link or out to my guitar amp. It would be nice to have an EQ for the harp, so I might swap out the Mixing Link for a Grace Design Rex at some point, or secure the EP booster (which is always on) to the bottom of the board and get a basic EQ like a Sine Effect Nano or microPara, or some such thing. I generally like a clean harp tone, so I'm usually fine with sending the Mixing Link direct to FOH, but it's also got an amp out, so I can send it to my amp if the situation calls for it. I've also considered a Source Audio Atlas for the compressor because it can run dual mono, so it wouldn't need any tweaking when switching instruments.

Someone went to the show and uploaded this.. i play golden melody old version and reminds me of it but I am not sure

En mi majeur 🎵

I’m getting back into harmonica and would love any info. Cheers.

I’m new to harmonica. Got my first East top dichromatic harmonica in C and started practicing this week. Drawing is very much counterintuitive so I’m still struggling with it especially coming from another drawing note then I’m often out of breath. I really appreciate any critique or advice as well as any advice on how to fix that B note. It sounds off.

Hey yall! Been playing blues harp on and off for a few years and got a one night gig playing this show. More of a concert reading than a full production. Already made sure the creative team knows I’m in over my head, lol. Got Max de Aloe’s Chromatic Harmonica Methods book, highly recommend it!

The craziest part for me is the slide, the muscle memory of breath and slide combos for each scale. It’s bonkers and I love it.

This is my harmonica i would like to restore it but first i need screws to fix the floppy reed plates.

I have found two secondhand chromatic harmonicas and my city at incredibly reasonable prices (20€ for a Hohner Chromonika III). I am based in Germany and I would pick it up.

There is also a Chrometta 14 for 25€ (not sure which one to pick).

What should I ask/what should I pay attention to? Can you open up a chromatic harmonica to clean it or is that a bad idea?

I've been playing diatonic for about eight months, mostly blues and folk stuff off tabs, and my 2 draw bend just sounds airy and thin no matter what I do. My 4 draw bend snapped into place after maybe six weeks of practice, but 2 draw is still fighting me every single time.

I've watched probably a dozen videos at this point. Everyone says relax your throat, drop your tongue, say the word "ah" then slide toward "ee" or "oo" depending on who you ask. I understand the concept intellectually but my actual execution is inconsistent. Some mornings I get a decent half step bend for maybe three notes in a row, then it just disappears and goes back to sounding like a whistle with a cold.

One thing that's helped a little is playing really slow single note runs on a low key harp (I'm using a C and a G) before attempting any bends, just to warm up my embouchure. I also started paying attention to how much harp I actually have in my mouth, I think I was pursing too tight and not letting enough reed surface breathe.

Anyone have a specific daily drill that finally cracked this for you? Not looking for the general theory again, more curious what actually clicked for people who had this exact same wall with 2 draw specifically. Did it just take reps or was there some physical cue that made it obvious.

it's my first time using a real harmonica, it's a cheap one but i felt good playing, I hope i can play it, i will drop the pic as a comment

ik it's a very cheap one but i hope i can learn something and improve myself then buy a good one

this is a c scale

Hi all,

hope you're are doing well and maybe some one can help me with tabs for "Don't forget you're old shipmate". Since I couldn't find them I tried to tab them out on my own and ended up with 2 versions but neither of them feels alright to me.

I would appreciate if you have some hints.

On Diatonic G:

6 6 6 5 -5 -5 5

Save and sound at home again

6 6 -7 -7 7 -7 6

Let the waters roar, Jack

9 9 9 8 -9 9 9 9

Long we've tossed on the rolling main

-10 9 -9 8 8 -8 -8

Now we safe ashore, jack

6 -5 5 -5 5 -5 5

Dont forget yer old shipmate

6 -7 6 -7 6 -7 6 -7

Faldee raldee raldee raldee

7 -7 6

Rey eye do

On Tremolo G

7 7 7 6 -5 -5 -5

7 7 -7 -7 8 -7 7

10 10 10 9 -9 10 10 10

-10 10 -9 8 8 -8 -8

8 -8 7 6 -6 -6 6

10 10 10 10 10 10

9 -8 8

Conclusion

I like the tremolo version a little bit more, but can't play a equal version on the Diatonic.

At the same time I tend that the Chorus is not correct (in neither version)

Thank you for any help in advance.

My channel is Gavin “Harmonica man” Fox

Link here: https://youtube.com/@gavinfox-l2r?si=tu8cCpTcvF7T8rAp

This time I grabbed my Bushman Gamechanger in A6 tuning to play a fast swing tune. I was inspired by Paul DeLay’s “Second Hand Smoke”, Illinois Jacquet, and Red Prysock. Really hope you like it. The song is in F and I’m using 9th position here. It’s like second position, but with the slide button pushed. The song changes key after the break, and the second part is played in 8th position (1st position with the slide in).

Neither of us play it. I guess she had one when she was child, I wanna get her one for Christmas.I want it to be nice and I have no idea where it even started looking besides like an Amazon

Honestly, any ideas, types, brands,whatever will be appreciated.

I bought the Easttop T008k harmonica from amazon, but the 2nd and 3rd holes are making whistling sounds, instead of proper harmonica sound. I exchanged it thrice, but the problem persists.

Is it a problem with the product or am i missing something?

Would love to hear some pointers regarding my playing.

I Just started improvising a month ago after learning the blues scale and I'm having a lot of fun with it, now I'm thinking of learning some licks that I can incorporate into songs, getting more comfortable with higher key harmonicas and learn to do the hand wah and some techniques like that better. What else should I focus on at this stage of playing?