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The Blues Harp and Harmonica Specialists
 The Music Box
 30/31 The Lanes
 Meadowhall Sheffield S9 1EP

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blues harp picture

This is the famous Hohner Blues Harp, a much-prized professional standard harp, yet costing less than £20

COULD I LEARN TO PLAY HARMONICA
?

How difficult (or Easy) is it to Start Playing?

The harmonica is one of the few instruments you don`t have to learn to use specific fingers to make the notes, in fact you hold it in your hand and don`t have to move your fingers at all.

All you have to do is move the instrument to and fro across the front of your mouth lining up the holes (which are numbered) and choose whether to blow or draw (“suck”) to get the notes.

You Only Get The Right Kind Of Wrong Notes!

In the case of the diatonic model (also frequently known as blues harp) it is actually impossible to play wrong notes outside of the key of the tune you are playing.. (Notes in the wrong key are the ones which usually sound worst!)

The reason for this is that a diatonic harmonica is made to play notes in its named key and literally cannot play any others!

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IF YOU CAN COUNT FROM ONE TO TEN YOU STAND A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF PLAYING A TUNE ON A HARMONICA!

Beginner`s Harmonica music is so easy

 

 

It just shows you (written over that conventional music notation you`ve been avoiding) the number of the hole (from one to ten) and whether to blow or draw, it is as simple as that!

It`s as simple as 1 - 2 - 3

  1. Numbers over the music tell you which holes to use

  2. Arrows up or down tell you whether to blow or draw?
  3. Did I say three?

NUMBERS ON THE MUSIC TELL YOU WHICH HOLES TO USEARROWS UP OR DOWN TELL YOU WHEN TO BLOW AND WHEN TO DRAW (OR SUCK)

We even have tutors in video or CD-ROM form, and complete outfits are available, consisting of a video with booklet and basic diatonic harp to learn on packed inside.

You can also of course learn from video tapes and decide on what harp to buy, cheap to save money, or get a professional model to give you a really advanced start, and an instrument to be proud of without breaking the bank.

NOT ME, I CAN`T READ MUSIC!

WHAT ARE CHROMATIC HARMONICAS?

Don`t feel bad, unless you already play a musical instrument there is no reason why you should be able to read music. After all, if you knew you were never going to meet a person from Russia, there would be no point in learning Russian, either.

You only need to read music to helpout when you play an instrument and even then, there are many fine players who can`t read a note. Musical knowledge comes easily only when you are use it to play a tune.

On the harmonica the step between reading music and not being able to is very small, but many players can soon feel their way round the notes by instinct.

The first time you pick up a harmonica and just try it out you will hear bits of familiar tunes coming out of it automatically. It`s being able to do the whole tune that makes you a player!

Of course, once you can play basic tunes, you can have even more fun by learning the wild bends, vibratos and effects that expert players use.

Charlie Musselwhite chrokmatic

Chromatic harmonicas are special harps that are capable of playing any tune at all, no matter how strangely it wanders around between different keys.

They are larger than diatonic harps, with a lever across the right hand side to give you extra notes.

Famous players include Tommy Reilly and Larry Adler - they could even play classics - because they used a chromatic harmonica.

Think of diatonic harps as having only the white notes of a keyboard but if you havr a chromatic, its lever gives you the black notes, too.

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Blow

C

E

G

C

E

G

C

E

G

C

Hole

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Draw

D

G

B

D

F

A

B

D

F

A

Here is the note sequence on a C diatonic harmonica or "blues harp" - its popular other name.

NOTE SEQUENCE OF A C "BLUES HARP"

Notes on the draw also repeat fairly regularly, the sequence B D F A repeats over the top eight holes, but this logic is broken on the bottom two holes, which are D and G.

The diatonic harmonica is designed to give a range of three full octaves on only 10 holes.

As you see above, the blow notes repeat regularly all the way up the 10 holes and enable the chord of C to be blown. NB The harp shown is in C also..

This series of notes enables the two main chords C and G to be played.

Notice that different notes of the scale are available in the upper octave than in the bottom one.

We stock diatonic blues harps in all keys and chromatic harmonicas in sizes 8, 10, 12, 14 or 16 hole. Makes include HOHNER, LEE~OSCAR, TOMBO, and we even stock spare Lee Oscar Reed Plates as a matter of course for replacement into existing Lee Oscars.

 Contact us to order or enquire
Click to go Back to top of page Back to Basic Playing Info
order info who are we how to play site navigation

You can bring up our secure order form to use from here When on-line you may if you wish, copy titles and prices of these items into our secure order form from here. On this page we have now mostly included the order info in green text after the other book description.Our order form will stay in view in a separate window, provided this page is put over to the right and not in full-screen mode.
You can also ring us on 0114 256 9089 if in the UK.
Unless Bank holiday (which will be 10am-6pm) Closed Xmas Day Boxing Day Easter Sunday

Diatonic harps HOHNER - The Original Classics
Blues harp, the classic model, wood body, bluesy growly tone, £22.99
Marine Band, wood body, good all-rounder, nice fruity sound £22.99
Pro harp, synthetic body gives this version excellent air-tightness and blowing efficiency £23.99
Big River Harp, a bargain entry-level genuine Hohner made instrument, bright clear sound in proper plastic case - key C only for £14.99

UK postage on diatonic blues harps £1 only
For Chromatics £3.

LEE OSCAR AND TOMBO
Known of and demanded by many pro players, these are now forming a large part of our sales. They come in a unique style plastic box, which slot together helping to keep your various key harps organised.
Lee Oskar, beautifully presented in slot-together style case for easy transportation, this is the POWER HARP, not just loud, but bright, cutting tone efficiently and effortlessly produced £21.99 You cna also get these in minor and special major key tuning
Tombo Folk-Blues, Tombo quality instrument for just £16.99
Tombo Ultimo a de-luxe version of the Lee Oscar, even smoother sound and playing feel £26.99
Lee Oscar Reed Plates for replacement in that model in stock in most keys £13.99

CHROMATIC HARMONICAS
Note: 8 hole = 2 octave, 10 hole two and a half, 12 hole - 3 octave, 14 hole is 3~1/2 octaves, 16 is 4 octave.
The Original Hohner Superchromonica square hole, 12 hole £79.99
Larry Adler 12-hole £99.99
Larry Adler 16-hole £149.99
Hohner Chromettas, cheaper round-holed, but still good,
8-hole £35.99
10-hole £44.99
12-hole £53.99
14-hole £59.99

MORE on DIATONICS ("Blues Harps") Click here

MORE on CHROMATICS
 Click here

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www.harmonicas.co.uk is operated by a real music shop, The Music Box, 31, The Lanes, Meadowhall, Sheffield S9 1EP Tel~0114~256~9089. We accept all forms of Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Switch (Electron and Solo for personal shoppers only). You may phone or e-mail details as you wish. Ordered Goods will not be charged to you until ready for despatch to you.

WE ARE OPEN

From

Until

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10p.m.

Thursday and Friday

10 a.m.

10p.m.

Saturday

9 a.m.

7 p.m.

Sunday

11 a.m.

5 p.m.

You can bring up our secure order form to use from herePostage costs are kept as low as possible and you will be informed in advance of them. Ordered Goods will not be charged to you until ready for despatch to you. - Prices and availability may change but price increases will not be added to your bill unless you authorise it.

Welcome to Harmonicas.co.uk

YOU CAN PLAY A TUNE RIGHT NOW!

VISIT OUR REMARKABLE PLAY-A-TUNE PAGE AND PROVE IT FOR YOURSELF

CLICK BELOW TO GENERAL PAGES

Welcome To The Website

Introducing The Harmonica

Readers Letters and Playing Tips

Harmonicas Price List

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BEGINNERS PAGES

Why choose the harmonica as my instrument

Learning to Play
How Easy is it?

What type of harmonica will suit me best

Learning harmonica list, Books, CDs, Videos

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EXPERT PLAYERS PAGES

Cross Harp Playing
What Key To Choose

Minor Key Playing
& Minor key harps

Adapting to
Chromatic Harmonicas

Melody Maker Tuning for Major Key Playing

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