 Surprisingly good instruction |
| Review Date: May 12, 2003 |
| Reviewer: Joanna Daneman, Middletown, DE USA |
| If you tried Jon Gindick's harmonica technique (he wrote a simple method and bundled it with an inexpensive harmonica in the Klutz books series) you might find you are interested in learning more. There are a lot of books on harmonica method, and they range from too simple to too complicated. This book is surprisingly good. It covers what harmonicas to purchase (and the advice is good, the listing of brands fairly complete.) There is a section on bending notes, an essential technique for getting more notes out of a diatonic harmonica and for creating a bluesy sound. The best chapter, for me, was on the structure of 12-bar blues with an explanation of the "call-and-response" structure. It's easy to understand and essential for structuring your blues riffs to make musical sense. There's also a fine chapter on the etiquette of jamming with harmonica when you join up with a guitarist, singer and other instrumentalists. The harmonica plays support, mostly, but does get to solo. When should you chime in and when do you fade to the background? This chapter tells you how not to make a fool of yourself. The only thing this book doesn't have is a CD with guitar or piano for jamming along with. If you are getting started in harmonica, especially blues harp, you will need some CD's, especially of the greats like Little Walter and Charles Musselwhite, to provide examples. You can't listen enough to get the ideas down. But this book is a really worthy text to go along with your practice. |
Not Just for Complete Idiots
|
| Review Date: August 19, 2003 |
| Reviewer: , |
| This book is surprisingly good for a book written for "complete idiots". I expected something very basic but it covers just about every aspect of learning to play a harmonica up to a pretty high level. It goes way beyond simple techniques. One thing I found unique is that the authors treat the harmonica like a real musical instrument instead of just a toy. They explain concepts and techniques from the standpoint of real music but it doesn't get bogged down or complicated. They even give you the option of learning to play the harmonica by reading music or by the more standard tab system, and the chapter that teaches you how to read music is extremely easy to understand. It also includes some information not usually included in harmonica books such as the history of the harmonica, buying and repairing harmonicas and how to play in a band. There are other books that may be better on individual topics, but this is by far the most complete soup-to-nuts harmonica instruction book. I recommend this be the first harmonica book you buy and then you probably won't need to buy any others. |
The best that's out there
|
| Review Date: July 10, 2003 |
| Reviewer: , |
| This was one three harmonica instruction books I bought, and clearly the best. for the best part is its organization, which is easy to follow even for a beginner. It has the usual Complete idiot's Guide structure which emphasizes making it easy to read and find things, like a complete index, easy to read forma, and tips and tricks which are hi-lighted. The resource guide at the end is also useful and gives you additional instructional material, harmonica websites and organizations, magazines and places to purchase harmonicas, etc. |
Makes learning from scratch (at least seem) easy...
|
| Review Date: September 1, 2005 |
| Reviewer: R. Hernandez, Puerto Rico |
This is the only Harmonica book I own so I don't have much to compare it with and I am only on chpt. 4 but I am definately liking this book. It introduces you to the world of the harmonica in a way that doesn't make you feel like a COMPLETE idiot, and that its ok to be totally ingnorant about the subject. So far, I feel that all my questions and doubts are being addressed, and even those I hadn't thought of. It is an easy read and even makes me chuckle every so often, not at all tedious.
A good buy, worth every cent...so far. |
If you really want to learn to play....
|
| Review Date: July 14, 2003 |
| Reviewer: , |
| I really like this book. I have been playing around with the harmonica for a couple of years but had never taken lessons or tried an instruction book. This book helped me understand the mechanics and improve what I thought I already knew, like bending notes and tongue blocking. But it also does a good job of explaining some of the more advanced aspects of playing the harmonica like playing different positions and chord progressions. The chapter on playing blues was the clearest explanation I've seen on the underlying fundamentals. |
Something finally works for me
|
| Review Date: November 9, 2001 |
| Reviewer: , |
| I've tried to learn to play the harmonica several times and even though it looks easier, it's not. This book is great. I have only had it for a few days and I can play some songs that sound like songs. They explain everything really well, AND this book was fun to read -- even funny. Also, I couldn't read music very well and this helped, even though you can use it even if you don't read music and don't want to learn. |
Covers a lot of ground
|
| Review Date: November 28, 2001 |
| Reviewer: , |
| This is a great book. It shows you a bunch of harmonica techniques, with hands-on examples, so you can try them out in a variety of songs. Very informative and fun to read. |
Playing the Harmonica
|
| Review Date: January 18, 2006 |
| Reviewer: LYDIA F. DAGOSTO, Arizona |
| Good clear lessons. Gets you playing right away. Fun and easy methods. |
Idiot's Guide ..
|
| Review Date: October 27, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Mark Fitzgerald, Canada |
| Don't let the name fool you, this is a good book with lots of information on playing and etc. I really enjoyed it and I think anyone will. There is a lot of good stuff in this book and it is well worth the money. It covers a lot of ground and goes beyond just basics. Get it you'll like! |
Idiot's Guide for an Idiot.
|
| Review Date: May 8, 2008 |
| Reviewer: William Ryan, |
| I have a keen interest in music but have no training. I bought the "Idiot's Guide..." hoping to gain some insight into harmonica playing. I was entirely pleased. The authors assume that the reader is intelligent but ignorant of the subject. This book was meant for people like me. |
Far Better Than The Name Implies
|
| Review Date: February 28, 2006 |
| Reviewer: WILLIAM MCLEAN, Medford, OR USA |
| Takes beginners to a somewhat advanced level. It'll keep me busy for a full year of practice hours. |
never played before
|
| Review Date: May 14, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Kelly J. Daubert, Cheney, WA |
| I have never played a musical instrument in my life before but this book is making it fun and if helping out a lot on the basics be reinforcing them the who time as I progress through the book. |
Very comprehensive for a beginner
|
| Review Date: March 22, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Jo More, Mpls, MN USA |
I just begun to learn how play the harmonica. So far, this book is very comprehensive and fun to read. It's not only about how to play, but it also offers wonderful tidbits about the instrument. I know that, as I keep learning as I intended, I'll have to go beyond this book, but that will be a couple of years down the line. One thing though, and this is very minor. Even as a beginner I found some mistakes on a couple of easy songs, as they were written for the harmonica. That actually made me proud for catching these flaws, when I'm only a beginner.
Maybe they were there on purpose!
Other than that, I love the book. |
Great.
|
| Review Date: February 19, 2009 |
| Reviewer: J. Spears, |
| Even though I am not all the way through the book I have learned a lot about the harmonica. It starts at the history of where it came from into the basics and then more advanced. I really like how it has tabs for the harmonica, then teaches you how to read music. I'm really glad I got this book. |
just what i was iooking for
|
| Review Date: October 21, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Edward Brinkle, |
| i was very pleased with my book. i can play the harmonica now like i allways wanted to. its easy to understand and i look forward to other books that i know i can find on amazon.com . thank you. |
Great material for serious beginners
|
| Review Date: March 18, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Gonzalo Vela Medina, Bogota, Colombia |
| Book structure and contents are more than I expected. The history and explanations are really enjoyable and satisfied my curiosity regarding the harmonica origins. |
Great way to start on the Mississippi Sax
|
| Review Date: October 17, 2007 |
| Reviewer: J. O. Foster, Brookhaven, MS USA |
| If you wanna learn the Mississippi sax, this is a great place to start. Take your time, work through each chapter at your own pace, have fun. That is the key. If you find it boring...go watch tv. Learning the harmonica takes time and work. But it's worth it. |
GREAT BOOK
|
| Review Date: February 8, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Leese_Shines, Sitka, Alaska |
| I ordered this book along with another on teaching yourself. this book is by far the best informative teaching book for harmonicas I have bought. |
Very good book.
|
| Review Date: March 6, 2005 |
| Reviewer: Ian McFarlane, Los Angeles, CA |
| This is a very good book. I have been playing harmonica for almost three years now and this is the best tutorial I have seen. |
I can toot this book's horn!
|
| Review Date: April 17, 2007 |
| Reviewer: M. M. RILLEY, Connecticut |
| This book taught me how to play the harmonica. It was simple and fast and fun! Worth every penny! |
|
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