Customer Reviews

Harmonica For Dummies

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

I love music but as far as singing, playing or reading music I'm musically challenged..,but determined to try and learn.

Winslow Yerxa has written a brilliant how-to book for those looking to "make music" on the harmonica, or harp.

I purchased a Hohner "Big River Harp" in the key of C and then proceeded to search out the "easiest" to comprehend book that others have recommended. So many other books are really too basic and don't answer all of the questions us begineers struggle with, there's generally a lot of sheet music in them without really telling you how to get there.

This book is very clearly written, concise, has humor and it is just plain fun to sit down with. The CD with it sweetens the package. I put the CD on my IPod for the pure convenience of it.

The book isn't overly heavy on music theory or harmonica history but has just the right amount for me to grasp the essentials.

Before the book I had tons of questions such as 1.)controling notes, 2.)isolating single notes, 3.)how to blow (it's really breathing...,inhale (draw) and exhale (blow), 4.)what you do with your mouth or embouchure (awm-boo-shure),5.) when to start and stop notes, and on and on. Now I'm very well versed in all of these areas...and surprised I could be this quickly.

This book is both for a begineer and I believe even current harmonica players will appreciate the tips and tricks also.

You really can't go wrong and thanks to all the previous reviewers who made my decision easier.

Very worthwhile purchase...,well done Winslow...,thank you.

"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.

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.

So far I've been very happy with this book. I haven't traditionally been a huge fan of the 'Dummies' series of books, but this one is one of the most extensive books written on playing Harmonica ever. I have one ding that keeps it from getting 5 stars though. The marketing and cover of the book do not make it clear when you are evaluating a purchase of the book that you will need a Major Diatonic Harmonica in the Key of C in order for the songs that are presented in the book to sound proper when you play along to the included CD. For example, the default "Editorial Review" of the book does not mention that the book recommends you use this specific harmonica exclusively. I do see see that a Harmonica in the Key of C is in the "Items Frequently Purchased Together" and in the "Customers who Bought this Item Also Bought" sections of the book description but those are not clear indicators that the book will advise you get this specific harmonica. You can 'Peek Inside' the book, but the harmonica requirement information is absent there also. So, buy the book as it is excellent, but be prepared with a 10 hole Harmonica in the Key of 'C' or have one in the works with your order because you will need it in order to have the full 'kit' that will maximize your experience in learning to play the harmonica.

Nice step by step text, and enough theory to get you going. Good incremental jumps on complexity of technique.

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.

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.