Customer Reviews

Blues Rock Harmonica Made Easy: Everything You Need to Know

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've been tooting simple melodies on a harmonica for years, and decided to actually learn jazz/blues harmonica for fun. Tried another book first and became frustrated at the teaching technique. Picked up THIS book and was able to play decent sounding chords & licks within minutes! His instructional style is excellent, building on popular chord combinations and licks that we've all heard in popular music. Once I was able to create some self-satisfying "joyfull noise", it was easy to keep going to refine the noise into something better. Another great thing is that his chord combinations match those on my Suzuki Q-Chrd, so I now have some auto-accompanyment. I HIGHLY recommend this book to ANYONE who ever thought about playing a harmonica. I also bought his Music Theory book several years ago and highly recommend that as well. Harp is an excellent teacher!

... Man, if you want to learn how to play harmonica in no time, just get this book. Play along with it on every page as you read through it. Just do what David Harp says, and you will be playing blues and rock on your harp quickly - and you will feel good about what you're doing. This is a REAL EASY book to understand and follow. It's like David is right there talking to you!

... As he says on page 10: "Don't get discouraged, ever. If you're a total beginner and feel a bit clumsy and boggled, just relax, and keep the harmonica in your mouth as you read. You'll get it! If you're a more experienced non-blues or rock player who feels "stuck," just remember that all players get into ruts, and a little instruction is a fine way to climb back out."

... Trust me, you don't need to know ANYTHING about music or harmonicas to be able to benefit from reading this book. It is EXCELLENT! It is so easy and simple! It's a shame more people do not teach what they know the way David does. I wish I had a person like David teaching me MATH in this same way when I was a kid. I would have been an astrophysicist by now! ... YOWZA! - The Aeolian Kid

The one thing I would say about the author is that I like the method of how he teaches: his method of tablature, etc. It is very easy to follow and so forth. However, what he teaches is a different story. As another reviewer noted, there is a LOT of 'filler' and stuff that don't much apply to learning the harp, and you learn so-callled 'popular' riffs that don't sound like anything. I honestly don't feel like I've learned much at all from this particlar book.

I don't understand what the previous two reviewers are complaining about. I do not play any instrument. I wanted to learn how to play harmonica with my 9-year old daughter. We picked up this book, looked at the pictures, and started to play. Then we did what the book said ("read the boxes first, come back later for the rest...") and learned how to play more. Within 30 minutes, we were eeking out "when the saints come marching in". Awesome!

Seriously folks, if you know how to read music, or have some background in music, this may be too basic. But for seven bucks, less than the cost of a movie ticket, my daughter and I are learning how to play harmonica. WoooHooo!

P.S. you need a 10 hole harmonica to use this book. This is the most common kind of harmonica. If you would prefer, the same author sells some kits that have a harmonica, book and CD all in one. Red, White, And the Blues Harmonica is one example for about thirteen bucks.

Nothing sophisticated here, but not a bad introductory book for the beginning harmonica-player. The teaching style is simple and straightforward, with few words "wasted" on theory. The inclusion of an actual harmonica--not the world's greatest, of course, but okay for starters--makes this package a nifty gift for aspiring young musicians.

Yeah, this series is fine if you're looking for a book to help you learn, but what I really wanted was a songbook. Most of the songs in this are in every other learn-to-play book out there, so didn't expand my playlist.
Also, it's not actually pocket sized. The long narrow shape suggests that it is small enough to stick in your pocket and carry around with your harp, but unstead it's oversized and unmanagable.

The author has definitely mastered the art - of the SCAM, that is. This book, and I'm assuming his other opuses on harmonica operation as well, has so little actual usable information in it as to make it a TOTAL WASTE OF PAPER. Unless you're stranded in a Forest Service outhouse and the roll is empty. Not only does he blather on for pages and pages saying absolutely NOTHING, but he introduces his inane "system" and constantly plugs his other publications. And by the way - I'll bet his real last name isn't "Harp." It's probably Shylock. Or Gump.