 Highly recommended |
| Review Date: October 11, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Steven R. Webb, Minnesota |
Winslow Yerxa's book "Harmonica for Dummies" should be titled "Everything You Need to Know About Harmonica"
Winslow is one of the most highly respected members of the nation's harmonica community. He has forgotten more about harmonica than most of us will ever learn. As I told him, if this book had been available 30 years ago when I started playing harmonica, I would be a real player now. Anyone interested in harmonica will not find a book with more information, and concise, easy to understand instruction, than this gem.
If you have any urge at all to learn how to play this fascinating little instrument, this will be the best money you have ever spent.
I play harmonica in a band and I can find all kinds of things in this book that will keep me learning. |
Basics to Fairly Advanced, Superbly Written
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| Review Date: January 22, 2009 |
| Reviewer: New England Yankee, Northern New England |
This book is truly well-written. It is crystal clear, follows a progressive course of instruction from end-to-end without any out-of-place interruptions, has no errors that I've been able to find, and actually covers more than most beginning players really want or need to know initially (e.g., playing in other than the first and second positions).
The accompanying CD is also excellent. While the tunes, in typical instruction book fashion, aren't anything you'd want to listen to for entertainment, as they are the usual folk tunes long out of copyright, they are well-recorded and each track is played in exactly the manner needed to illustrate whatever playing principle is being demonstrated. The backing instrumentation never overwhelms the harp, and the harp is played with only the techniques and ornamentation (bends, articulation, wah, etc.) appropriate to the topic. The tracks are already in MP3 format, so there's no need to rip them down to your PC for your iPod.
If you already play an instrument, there is material in this book that you can bypass, including notation, basic (very) music theory, and the like. It doesn't dominate the book and for the most part is contained in the first few chapters. Speedread through this material for the few harmonica-specific comments.
The book has few pictures or illustrations - but those it has are spot-on. Hand positions are illustrated. Tongue and mouth positions are illustrated. There are pictures in the repair and maintenance chapters. That's about it, but that's all that's needed, and I never felt the need for more. In fact, I particularly appreciated the embouchure (mouth and tongue) illustrations, which were better than I'd seen elsewhere to-date.
Harmonica for Dummies will occupy a beginner for a long time. This isn't a book you will buy, zip through in a week or two, then toss aside wanting more. Plan on spending many weeks - or months. If you come out at the other end having mastered all the material in this book, you'll probably be a better player than most non-pros you will meet.
Were I to wish for anything different in this book, it would be more of a blues and rock emphasis. The book is positioned as a generalized harmonica instruction book, however, so a variety of types of music and playing styles are presented. |
For Dummies and Smarty-Pants too!
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| Review Date: October 15, 2008 |
| Reviewer: David R. Fertig, Pasadena, California |
Winslow Yerxa and team produced what may be the best book about harmonica yet. He really covers the whole range of issues with harp which I've encountered in my almost 40 years of playing blues harp purely from feel, and he demonstrates with words that which normally defies explanation.
Yerxa's intellect and humor animate the organization, writing, and tone of the tome, making it both entertaining, and eminently readable, even for a poor book-learner such as myself!
Congratulations on creating a super-resource for our fine and enigmatic instrument!
|
Comprehensive
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| Review Date: November 17, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Michael, |
"Wow! This book is very comprehensive." That is the comment I hear most often after someone takes a look at this book.
The book is, indeed, very comprehensive and well written. All topics are taught in a manner respecting the intelligence of the reader.
The harmonica can be one of the most expressive instruments. There is much to learn from taking care of it, tuning it, playing it, to some music theory to understand why things work. This book covers that and much, much more.
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Truly one of the best!
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| Review Date: April 30, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Betsy G. Johnson, Topsail Beach, NC |
I won Winslow's book at the SPAH convention and was truly thrilled to get it! (For those interested in harmonica, be sure to check out www.spah.org for much useful info). I have probably every book written about how to play harmonica, and this really is one of the best. I wish I'd had it when I was first learning to play. It covers everything from rank beginner to advanced techniques. I would consider it a "must have" by anyone interested in learning this incredible instrument.
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Taking the mystery out of diatonic harmonica playing
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| Review Date: September 7, 2009 |
| Reviewer: James Tonn, Kalamazoo, MI |
| Harmonica For Dummies is as complete a treatise on diatonic playing as can be found. Winslow takes the mystery out of the intricasies of this versatile instrument. As a chromatic harmonica player, I have pecked at the edges of diatonic styles, stying to figure them out with little success. This book lays it all out in depth. While treating all the technical aspects with precision and clarity, the author makes the desired end result accessable. The accompanying c.d. takes the explanation one step farther. I should no longer have excuses for not being able to play a tune in third position, other than I didn't practice. I would not call this book an entry level primer. I would describe it as a continuation for the more serious player, to take him or her beyond the easy stuff many master. It is extremely well done, rather easy to follow, and a necessary addition to the music library of anyone who intends to more fully master this wonderful instrument. We all need to thank Winslow for sharing his knowledge and expending the energy necessary to produce this book. |
Excellent Book
|
| Review Date: December 23, 2009 |
| Reviewer: C. Conover, |
This is an excellent book at teaching you what the title says.... HARMONICA. I had 0 experience with music prior to picking up this book from Amazon. The first chapter starts you out with some basic music theory (something that I really needed)and then slowly takes you into playing. The pace of the book is excellent, you should be playing simple tunes in your first couple days and you have a cd that comes with it so you can make sure your playing the songs correctly. I would recommend this book to anyone starting out with harmonica.
Pros
- EASY READING - The author Wilson Yerxa does a great job simplifying things for beginners. It is easy to understand what he is telling you to do and how to do it. (though some things take practice)
- INCLUDED CD - As I mentioned above... You get to hear the songs before you play them.
- MARKERS - I don't know if this is true for all "Dummies" books, but this one has markers on each page that let you know if you need to remember this section or if doing this could damage your harp or to refer to the CD. I really like this method for teaching as you can skim through the book and find what your looking for quite easily.
- LOTS OF SONGS - And they get progressively harder to challenge the reader.
- PICS - If text and a CD are not enough for you, you get graphic pictures to help you out even further.
Cons
- You must have a Harmonica in the Key of C to follow the book.
In conclusion: Buy this book if you have any interest in learning to play the harmonica, it is easily worth the $14. You really can't go wrong. |
Wrong Title
|
| Review Date: November 19, 2009 |
| Reviewer: H. Stefaniak, Victoria BC |
| What a misnomer for this book. It is so filled with information and so well written that it should be compulsory reading for anyone playing the harp. I was blown away by the extent of the information which was both new to me and reinforcing of my learning to date. Clear, to the point and interesting with full back up on the CD. |
works for me
|
| Review Date: June 30, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Peter Kaiser, Columbus, Indiana United States |
| I've only had the book for a couple of weeks. It does guide one through the lessons smoothly, and the author's sense of humor makes it fun too. |
Harp Newbie
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| Review Date: October 26, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Gray H, New Zealand |
| I know a little about music, playing keyboards and guitar with a couple of guys jamming and I found this book in the local library...very impressed and now buying my own copy!!!!!!!! |
good for different skill levels
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| Review Date: December 1, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Michael Abuja, Chicago |
| well written and in a way you can get eeither basic or in depth information. Good illustrations and pictures. Has good songs and practices drills. Has accompanying CD. |
What a Book
|
| Review Date: July 11, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Teddy L. Nation, |
This is a tremendous book. I play harmonica and am always looking for ways to become better. This book is a big help in that effort. Winslow's book is a must have for any harmonica player, whether you are a professional or are still looking forward to a time when you can jam somewhere.
Harmonica for Dummies is very detailed, yet easy to understand. He covers the things a harmonica player must know like getting clear single notes, to more advanced concepts like bending notes down, to advanced concepts like bending notes up.
It's simple. If you want to play harmonica well, read this book, and put it to practice.
ted |
Great
|
| Review Date: July 31, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Jam, |
This is the best for dummies book I have ever purchased. It is full of information and he goes into great detail. Not only does he show you cool licks on the harmonica, he goes into the history, music theory, and provides a load of information on harmonicas.
Very Highly Recommended |
Terrific Book!
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| Review Date: August 2, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Donald L. Grundy, KCMO |
| I own several harmonica "get started" books. This is one of the very best. |
Dummies are great
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| Review Date: September 24, 2009 |
| Reviewer: G. Thomas, CA |
| I love the Dummies series. I have a number of their books, and they've all been great. It starts you off from ground zero and takes you. You won't be cutting CD's, but you'll have a beginning foundation to build on. Since I've began using Dummies, wifey says it sounds like music...since she's my hardest critic...that's pretty good. |
Happy grandson
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| Review Date: January 18, 2009 |
| Reviewer: J. E. Lyons, Highland, CA USA |
| This was a gift but my grandson and he seems to really enjoy it. He is 10 years old. |
This book has everything!!!!!
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| Review Date: November 30, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Uncle Ben, Walnut Creek, CA USA |
If you want to get started playing the harmonica, this is the book.
It is very complete, from practice songs, what to buy, where to buy.
|
Useless - unless you have or buy a harmonica in C
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| Review Date: August 16, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Ellen E. Uhrbrock, Palo Alto, CA United States |
The book was recommended by a harmonica instructor for beginners to whom he sold harmonicas in G.
The book is written for the key of C - and clearly says so on page 17 Chapter 2. It tells you to buy one, if you want to follow the lessons.
Eventually, in Part III, Chapter 9,Harmonica For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies)) Positions: Playing One Harp in Many Keys, the author explains how you can use a harmonica in one key - to play in another - but without a C harmonica you'll never get to this chapter.
Unwilling to invest in a new harmonica at this time - I returned the book to Amazon |
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