Does anyone know what all is invoved with learning to play the harmonica?

Question:My son plays the guitar and has an intrest in this.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: My son plays the guitar and has an intrest in this.

If your son already plays the guitar and has a good "ear" for music, I would think he would be able to teach himself the basics, at least enough to see if it's worth pursuing further. I imagine there are teach-yourself DVD kits or subscription sites online somewhere.

Go to a local music store and get them to recommend a starter harmonica and maybe a book or tape to learn to play.

It's really just a matter of learning the breath control plus finding the notes on it by ear and picking out melodies. I don't think they are that expensive. Depending on where you live, you might be able to find someone through a local college or music school who would even give him some lessons in blues harp technique.

Messing around with it long enough to know what sounds good.

Pucker up. Blow.

GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO PLAY THE HARMONICA

How to play the harmonica?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

How do you play sharps and flats on a harmonica?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://www.overblow.com/

What does it mean to play in different positions or modes?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Why can’t you change position in order to change the key you are playing?
Because you also change the mode when you do that!
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Minor keys?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_min...

Do you need big hands or any other quality or talent to play the harmonica?
No, everyone plays differently anyhow!
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...
If you have to play well to enjoy it, you are 95% certain to fail.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Where can I find song lyrics?
http://www.sing365.com

Where can I find free harmonica music online, and how can I learn to play for free?
www.Harptabs.com
http://www.volcano.net/~jackmearl/
Everything I’m giving you here is free and online! Harptabs has catagories of songs in it’s search engine. About 2000 songs!

How do you play drones, or one long continuous note?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Can I get someone to teach me how to play the harmonica online?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

What are the best and most popular songs to play on the harmonica? I’m looking for something to help with learning!
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

How do I sound like my favorite artist? It’s harder than you think!
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Free sheet music, as opposed to tabs? Lots of luck finding anything you want for free!
http://www.library.ucsb.edu/subjects/mus...
www.Sheetmusicdirect.com

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HARMONICA ITSELF!

Which harmonica should I buy?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...
Diatonic!
Hohner; Hand Made; Golden Melody; Special 20; MS Big River; Blues Harp, Pro Harp
Lee Oskar
Seydel Blues: Session; Soloist, Soul’s Voice marketed by Bushman Music
Hering: 1923
Suzuki: HarpMaster

Tremolo and Octave!
The better Huangs and Hohners. All Seydels are good. The Seydel Concerto and the Hohner Autovalve are excellent. Keys D to G are best in both models.

What key should I buy?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://answers.yahoo.com/my/qa/index;_yl...

Where can I buy a harmonica? Online! They won’t let you test them in a music store except with a bellows. Online prices are pretty good anyhow.
http://www.coast2coastmusic.com
http://www.harpdepot.com/
http://www.1847.com
http://www.harphouse.com

How much should I pay for a harmonica?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

How do I tune, gap, and maintain a harmonica?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://patmissin.com/tunings/tunings.htm...

My harmonica is broke, how do I get warranty work done?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

How to clean a harmonica?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Is there a computer program to convert music and sound files to harmonica tabs? No!
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...
Download at guitarpro.com if you want to do this with sheet music.

Where can I get a harmonica engraved or gold plated?
http://www.goldharmonica.com/engharps.ht...

What is the old harmonica that I inherited worth? Nothing! There’ve been more than a billion harmonicas made in the last 160 years.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://patmissin.com/ffaq/q4.html

Good tuners?
http://www.download.com/AP-Tuner/3000-21...
http://www.amazon.com/Peterson-StroboSof...
http://store.strobosoft.com/Merchant2/me...
http://www.petersontuners.com/

Tools
http://www.grizzly.com/products/h7545
http://www.grizzly.com/products/g9615
http://www.grizzly.com/products/h1421
http://www.grizzly.com/products/h3129
http://www.grizzly.com/products/h6156
http://www.grizzly.com/products/h8164
http://www.grizzly.com/products/g7086
http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp
http://www.micromark.com/
http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp...
http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp...
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stor...

Just intonation explained?
http://www.kylegann.com/tuning.html
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/studio/rpro...

Music theory is easy with a harmonica!
http://www.angelfire.com/music/HarpOn/in...
http://www.soundfeelings.com/free/chords...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mea...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_key_f...

Someone with more expertise if you don’t like my advice?
http://patmissin.com/index1.html
http://www.hunterharp.com/huntmenu2.html
www.Harmonicalessons.com
www.Harmonicastore.com
http://harp-l.org/pipermail/harp-l/
http://www.angelfire.com/music/HarpOn/in...
http://ohw.se/