The Dummies book has a section called "Blues Harmonica Songs to Get in Your Ears", which has been massively useful for me. It's just a long list of classic harmonica tunes including the key of the song and the key, position and tuning of the harmonica you'll need to play along. Super useful.
Jon Gindick's book is the one I started with. It was lots of fun. I'm now working on Howard Levy's breathing book. What a completely new way of thinking about the instrument. Howard's book reminds me of something Mike Marshall told us at a mandolin symposium. He said "The reason we practice scales isn't just to go up and down. It's to internalize what those scales sound like until we get to the point where we're no longer playing the scales, we're playing the melodies we hear in our head. If we analyze those melodies later we realize "Oh, they work because I used the right scale for that mode." But it was the sound that guided the melody, not the scale." Howard's book feels the same way. We're learning mechanical techniques, but we're also learning how those patterns sound. There are cool little melodies in those patterns which we should internalize. My next favorite is "Method for Chromatic Harmonica" by Max De'Aloe. That's probably the best chromatic method out there. I also really like "Irish and American Fiddle tunes" by Glenn Weiser. Tons of great tunes which require really clean technique.
nice video! I learned by buying dozens of harmonica books and harmonica methods on Video and CD, DVD, and even more by teaching thousands of lessons and developing my own materials. I studied most of the books you mention here. Though not mentioned here, I find David Barrett's books to be the best harmonica instruction materials available.
Great video. I tried the dummies book and got lost in it. I have given up on harmonica several times. Your videos have inspired me to try again. Your free course was just what I needed. Your video about being your own teacher exposed me to be the idea of being self critical and now I have a plan to move forward. Thanks!
Hello my fellow harmonica some of those books you mentioned were written by friends of mine I taught myself how to play both chromatic harmonica and blues harp I also met Stevie Wonder one of my best friends is WILLIAM GALISON he is a jazz chromatic harmonica player
I have the David McElvey book, and I’ve learned a number of the songs in it. A couple of points: some of the songs have more than 1 recorded version. If you’re trying to follow along and it’s not making sense, that could be why. In particular, the ‘Checking up on my baby’ tabbed out in the book is a very rare track. It is not the issued ‘single’ version. The Little Walter ‘Ah’w Baby’ is the alternative version. It’s fairly easy to find at least. Finally, there are some errors in the tab. I’ve found tab errors in several songs. In every case, when I compared the tab to the standard notation I could see they were different, and the standard notation was correct ie it was the tab which was wrong. So if you can interpret standard notation, there’s no real problem. Mainly though, trust your ears I think.
Great idea for a video. Thank you. To anyone wanting to buy the 2nd book in Jonah's list (Rock n' Blues Harmonica, by Jon Gindick) through his affiliate link, just be aware that the description is for the version published in 2000, while the picture of the book is for the revised version from 2010. I did report the inconsistency to Amazon. Hopefully they fix it soon.
Yeah, it is. I feel like it's for intermediate+ players. Being able to play some of those patterns at speed is hard, and he is very liberal with odd time signatures, which doesn't help.
@@HarmonicaRevolution Yeah I tend to jump into things, barely have a structured practice as it is, so I'll be sitting on it till I can get some basics down. Thanks for the content, love the new graphic!
You mentioned some books by friends of mine some of them play jazz chromatic harmonica I'm from New York some of them live near me. PS some of the books you mentioned went out of print
I have the Dummies and Gindick books, but due to laziness and depression have done nothing with them. I'm curious though if others find the Gindick approach with the Cave Boys to be quite silly. Perhaps irritatingly so.
I am one week into learning my Special C diatonic harmonica. I'm looking for a good beginner's book which has a lot of blues riffs. The Yvonnick Prene appears to be a good choice for me. Comparing to the Steve Cohen 100 Blues licks book from the reviews that I have read most of them say it is not good for beginners. As I advance further into my playing my thoughts are that I would grow into and with his book. Would Cohen's book be too advance initially or would you recommend it for a beginner or should I go with Prene's book? By the way after watching your video on bending I got a pretty good one on hole 4 using the inhaling Ku sound. Your suggestion was the only one in comparison to a number of other videos teaching how to bend. Thanks!
Do any of these give lots of bending practice? I'm looking for something that progressively takes me tgtough bends. Like, for example, "this is how you do hole 4 bend, and here are simple songs with hole 4 bend" then..."here is hole 1 bend, and sone songs with hole 1 and 4 bends" etc etc
Hi, Jon ah,, I'm looking for a book with online or cd backing, I'm looking for a book set out in the blow /draw method, not blues, but songs in general. Looking forward to your reply, Alan
Que opinas de una Seydel 1847 Classic, tengo Hohner Rocket y no termino de estar cómodo con la embocadura, por la altura superior a la de Crossover. Tendré el mismo problema con la Seydel 1847 Classic ?
![[Limbus Company - PV] Chapter.7 - Oblivion](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/VUpkXPkvoxU/mqdefault.jpg)
A full review of Rhythms of Breath would be great.
The Dummies book has a section called "Blues Harmonica Songs to Get in Your Ears", which has been massively useful for me. It's just a long list of classic harmonica tunes including the key of the song and the key, position and tuning of the harmonica you'll need to play along. Super useful.
Just found it on P288 of Blues Harmonica for Dummies - very interesting lists of Blues classics - thanks.
Jon Gindick's book is the one I started with. It was lots of fun.
I'm now working on Howard Levy's breathing book. What a completely new way of thinking about the instrument.
Howard's book reminds me of something Mike Marshall told us at a mandolin symposium. He said "The reason we practice scales isn't just to go up and down. It's to internalize what those scales sound like until we get to the point where we're no longer playing the scales, we're playing the melodies we hear in our head. If we analyze those melodies later we realize "Oh, they work because I used the right scale for that mode." But it was the sound that guided the melody, not the scale."
Howard's book feels the same way. We're learning mechanical techniques, but we're also learning how those patterns sound. There are cool little melodies in those patterns which we should internalize.
My next favorite is "Method for Chromatic Harmonica" by Max De'Aloe. That's probably the best chromatic method out there.
I also really like "Irish and American Fiddle tunes" by Glenn Weiser. Tons of great tunes which require really clean technique.
nice video! I learned by buying dozens of harmonica books and harmonica methods on Video and CD, DVD, and even more by teaching thousands of lessons and developing my own materials. I studied most of the books you mention here. Though not mentioned here, I find David Barrett's books to be the best harmonica instruction materials available.
I would also recommend the David Barrett series of books
Great video. I tried the dummies book and got lost in it. I have given up on harmonica several times. Your videos have inspired me to try again. Your free course was just what I needed. Your video about being your own teacher exposed me to be the idea of being self critical and now I have a plan to move forward. Thanks!
That's great to hear. Good luck! If you get stuck, send me an email (jonah@theharmonicarevolution.com) and I'll help you out!
Thanks for the recomending Rock n'
I was just thinking about looking into harmonica books. Thanks!
Hello my fellow harmonica some of those books you mentioned were written by friends of mine I taught myself how to play both chromatic harmonica and blues harp I also met Stevie Wonder one of my best friends is WILLIAM GALISON he is a jazz chromatic harmonica player
I have the David McElvey book, and I’ve learned a number of the songs in it.
A couple of points: some of the songs have more than 1 recorded version. If you’re trying to follow along and it’s not making sense, that could be why.
In particular, the ‘Checking up on my baby’ tabbed out in the book is a very rare track. It is not the issued ‘single’ version.
The Little Walter ‘Ah’w Baby’ is the alternative version. It’s fairly easy to find at least.
Finally, there are some errors in the tab. I’ve found tab errors in several songs. In every case, when I compared the tab to the standard notation I could see they were different, and the standard notation was correct ie it was the tab which was wrong. So if you can interpret standard notation, there’s no real problem. Mainly though, trust your ears I think.
Dude rad thanks for the video great recommendations I already have a couple of those books want the Howard levvy one for shure
Yeah, it's pretty fun at least. Check it out!
Great recommendations..would also add, Blues and Rock Harmonica by Glenn Weiser, or anything by David Barrett..
Great idea for a video. Thank you.
To anyone wanting to buy the 2nd book in Jonah's list (Rock n' Blues Harmonica, by Jon Gindick) through his affiliate link, just be aware that the description is for the version published in 2000, while the picture of the book is for the revised version from 2010. I did report the inconsistency to Amazon. Hopefully they fix it soon.
Interesting. Thanks for the tip; do you know where they sell the updated version of this?
@@HarmonicaRevolution I do not at this moment. Hopefully the link you provided would be for the revised edition, but that remains unclear for now.
Great topic Jonah!
Thanks! 🙏
Seen Rythm of Breath 6 minutes after he posted it to youtube and ordered that night.Tricky for beginners.
Yeah, it is. I feel like it's for intermediate+ players. Being able to play some of those patterns at speed is hard, and he is very liberal with odd time signatures, which doesn't help.
@@HarmonicaRevolution Yeah I tend to jump into things, barely have a structured practice as it is, so I'll be sitting on it till I can get some basics down. Thanks for the content, love the new graphic!
Didn't mention David Barrett books. That's my Goto book 📖📖📖😁😁😁😁👍👍👍👍👍👍
You mentioned some books by friends of mine some of them play jazz chromatic harmonica I'm from New York some of them live near me. PS some of the books you mentioned went out of print
I have the Dummies and Gindick books, but due to laziness and depression have done nothing with them. I'm curious though if others find the Gindick approach with the Cave Boys to be quite silly. Perhaps irritatingly so.
I am one week into learning my Special C diatonic harmonica. I'm looking for a good beginner's book which has a lot of blues riffs. The Yvonnick Prene appears to be a good choice for me. Comparing to the Steve Cohen 100 Blues licks book from the reviews that I have read most of them say it is not good for beginners. As I advance further into my playing my thoughts are that I would grow into and with his book. Would Cohen's book be too advance initially or would you recommend it for a beginner or should I go with Prene's book? By the way after watching your video on bending I got a pretty good one on hole 4 using the inhaling Ku sound. Your suggestion was the only one in comparison to a number of other videos teaching how to bend. Thanks!
I made a mistake I meant to say hello my fellow harmonica player by the way what type of harmonica do you play I like the chromatic you can do more .
Do any of these give lots of bending practice? I'm looking for something that progressively takes me tgtough bends. Like, for example, "this is how you do hole 4 bend, and here are simple songs with hole 4 bend" then..."here is hole 1 bend, and sone songs with hole 1 and 4 bends" etc etc
Hi, Jon ah,, I'm looking for a book with online or cd backing, I'm looking for a book set out in the blow /draw method, not blues, but songs in general.
Looking forward to your reply, Alan
Que opinas de una Seydel 1847 Classic, tengo Hohner Rocket y no termino de estar cómodo con la embocadura, por la altura superior a la de Crossover.
Tendré el mismo problema con la Seydel 1847 Classic ?
What is your opinion on The idiots guide to Harmonica book?
I haven’t looked at it, I don’t know.
What do you call a harmonica player? No, really?
a harmonica player. Harmonicist is silly and Harpist is confusing since there are actual harp players. I wish there was a better word for it!
A harmonicacist. 🧠🧠🧠