Customer Reviews

Instant Harmonica

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

 

 

This is one of the best beginning level harmonica books available. It starts out with easy songs and gradually increases in difficulty without becoming boring. Best of all it has some REALLY nice sounding songs that can be (with a little work & practice) polished into performance pieces to amaze friends and relatives with your new musical skill.

Few beginner's books have such a good mix of basics AND a few great solo pieces that don't sound as though they came from a children's song book.

As a beginning harmonica player, I started with this book and found it very frustrating. The CD being a half-key off is inexcusable. I wanted to be able to play along as the author suggested, and of course it was impossible. Even listening then playing was unpleasant. I was unable to learn to bend from McKelvy's instructions. Also, I found most of the songs uninteresting, but maybe because my interest is mostly in BLUES.

A friend referred me to David Barrett's School of the Blues. I ordered a beginner's package from his web site (also available on Amazon but it helps to look at the site and get the big picture of what's available): 2 books with CD's, and a video. The difference is night and day. You're playing blues from day one. His progression is logical and explanations clear and thorough. I had no trouble learning to bend. And his CD's have one track guitar, one track harp, so you can play along, or shut off the harmonica and just use the guitar back-up. IF you need more help, Barrett offers master classes in various locations around the country or fly-in lessons in San Jose. Harp players of all levels take advantage of this. I'm convinced that if you want to play blues, this is the place to start. I guess I"m not supposed to give a URL, but it can be found by searching for David Barrett or "harmonica master class".

The book seems to be a very good one (I say seems only because I got it so recently that I don't know it thoroughly). I'm an intermediate player and have already learned a lot from it. The problem, and it's a kind of a big one, is that the recording, which was originally a tape, was played at the wrong speed when they transferred it to CD so that you CANNOT play along with the recording with a C harp. The CD is about a half step flat, so that, well, you can imagine how playing along would sound. Also, the track numbering is off.

This is a great harmonica book. Good lessons, well presented.
It doesn't have much blues...but it does have very good
solo pieces in other styles. Beginner to intermediate harmonica
players can learn a lot from this book.

I read the review about the CD being 1/2 pitch off...(could be true...I didn't check),
however, unless you plan to play duets with the CD...1/2 tone flat doesn't make
a difference. The notation is correct, the songs are very
good, and the CD lets you hear what the song should sound like,
(even it if is 1/2 pitch off perfect A440 tuning).