My present to me just arrived! - the post guy just brought it through to where I am working hard at my desk (browsing the mustard pages). It's a Suzuki humming tremelo harmonica in G - I've had one in D for a couple of years and of all the heap of miscellaneous harps I've got, it's the best (but they aren't cheap). Must go and play a tune to all my colleagues! What are you getting yourself this Christmas?
Well, I've a few to get for myself...Still looking for a good tenor banjo!
However, I treated myself to my first ever MP3 player on Friday. I've avoided them up until now as the storage space has been too limited and/or not very user friendly but I found a nice 20GB one at a reasonable price.
However, I still intend to keep hard CD copies of my collection and all my downloads...being an old fashioned git, I just can't believe that all this music can stay/last/be found on a hard disc.
One good thing has happened, though. I'm looking through my Cd collection in a discerning manner and copying what I consider to be the "more essential" albums, many of which I've been neglecting. Too often, I would just play the ones which were handy or my most recent purchases. This helps to concentrate my mind a little more.
Kind of early.... you'll have to get yourself another harmonica or two!! To unwrap Christmas morning!
I got mine last month.... wood for a new guitar, I am terrified, the first time going it alone without my teacher. It will be the fourth time, so should work pretty well. I did the last pretty much alone, but in his shop, and that was comforting. Have to leave the nest now though. The wood will be acclimated enough to start soon. Sides in the mold already.
If anyone wants to buy me all the luthier tools I need now, I will give you my address if you email privately!!
I fancy one of those humming tremolos too, but I'm saving up for a 10 hole Richter tuned chromatic harmonica (preferably Paddy Richter tuned with reverse slide, but I can do those modifications myself). I don't think I'll be able to get it by Xmas though, and I am expecting delivery of a baby any day now, which kinda trumps any other possible presents.
I got myself a Vega No2 19 fret tenor banjo with tubaphone tone ring.
I have wanted a good Vega ever since playing guitar in an old-timey band thirty some years ago and listening to the banjo player endlessly going on about the beauty of Gibson mastertones.
I got myself a practice set of Uilleann Pipes the other day. Probably the most expensive thing I will be getting anytime soon. Maybe by Christmas I will be able to get thruogh a couple tunes on them.
I have a question. What kind of tempo can you eventually reach on the harmonica? I've never heard anyone play Irish on one before.
I'd like to try it because I can no longer fiddle (or whistle at speed) due to a hand injury. I can still play piano but I can't exactly drag that to a session.......
My other option could be a squeezbox of some kind. I would have a keyboard advantage, but I'm not sure that I want to play the piano accordian.
Should I try asking this on a new thread?
Any & all input is appreciated.
Thanx.
I'm giving myself a Walden D740 guitar. With luck it may be delivered today. Without luck, who knows; it's coming by postal service--I never knew such a big package could be mailed.
Have played classical guitar for years (and sloppily, I must add); I only took up steel strings a short while ago, and it's great fun having two completely different sounds to play with.
Harmonica players can play along with everything, it just takes a lot of practice to get to the point where you can do it. Ornamentation can be a challenge--I couldn't do a roll to save my life, but I can tongue a fair triplet that fills the bill.
I met a guy once with no hands who learned harmonica because he couldn't play anything else, and he did great.
I sometimes play jigs and reels on the harmonica and I do like the ones with a full diatonic scale (like the Suzuki (all keys available) and the larger Marine Bands that you can get in C and G (I've got the G and that's pretty useful to have). Dont' get the SB marine band unless you really want that note configuration because it's really designed for blues. The Suzukis are really nice and loud. The smaller diatonics (blues harps) are OK but you're missing notes in the diatonic scale at each end so you have to bend notes, which is great if you can do it reliably but the reeds take a bit of a punishment. I mostly grab the harmonica when we do rabble-rousing songs. You can get up to a good speed on the harmonica - check out these Cape Breton samples on the Cranford site: http://www.cranfordpub.com/recordings/Basker.htm
The German chromatic harmonicas I've bought in recent times have been off-tune. Why can't they tune them as accurately as the far-Eastern companies? I bought a cheap chromatic D made in China recently and that's very well-tuned though it hasn't got a really full sound. I have messed around with tuning harmonicas myself with some success (and a complete disaster where I had to buy new reed plates) but it is very time-consuming - almost as much of a time-stealer as making Red Henry style bridges for my mandolin, but that's another story.
I've not tried a Suzuki Chromatic, but I'm sure they're very good http://www.suzukimusic.co.uk/harmonicas/chromatic.htm (the chromatics have a note slide to get the full chromatic scale). Remember that a "C" chromatic might not be the best instrument for session playing. "G" would be more adaptable. The ones I have are tremolo - i.e. they have two reeds for each note and they are tuned slightly apart. I got mine direct from Suzuki http://www.suzukimusic.co.uk/harmonicas/tremolo.htm
I also wanted one in A and I bought a cheaper Tombo http://www.tombo-m.co.jp/eng/ but I must say it plays a bit sharp and I haven't used it much. Perhaps their more expensive ones are better tuned. Here's a nice YouTube clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gudTroU9QkY&mode=related&search=
These are tremolo harps I think - that's the sound, anyway. Hope you find one (or several!) that you enjoy playing!
The most valuable harmonica I have found for this type of music (I generally play unmodified Hohners) is the Low D S20 model. It is an octave below the normal D harmonica, which puts you into flute range instead of whistle range. A little harder to hear in a big session, but much more pleasing sounding. And it is amazing how many tunes you can play with that D major scale--everything in D major of course, the E dorian tunes, and even many E minor and G tunes which avoid the C natural.
I frequently get winded playing dance tunes on harmonica, but have more fun playing harmonica than any other melody instrument, probably because I have been playing it longer than I have been shaving.
Harmonica seems to lend itself to alot of personal musical expression......... bending notes and such. That's one of the things I love about whistle & fiddle too.
My Christmas present to me
My Christmas present to me
My present to me just arrived! - the post guy just brought it through to where I am working hard at my desk (browsing the mustard pages). It's a Suzuki humming tremelo harmonica in G - I've had one in D for a couple of years and of all the heap of miscellaneous harps I've got, it's the best (but they aren't cheap). Must go and play a tune to all my colleagues! What are you getting yourself this Christmas?
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by RichardB
Re: My Christmas present to me
What did your colleagues do to you?
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by woops
Re: My Christmas present to me
I survived unscathed - they are very tolerant
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by RichardB
Re: My Christmas present to me
Glad to hear it. I'm getting myself an electric fiddle so I can practice late at night.
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by woops
Re: My Christmas present to me
I'm getting a titanium-string guitar and electric wooden flute.
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by Janek
Re: My Christmas present to me
I've a watson wooden flute on order but doubt it'll be ready for christmas
I'll have to have another christmas when it arrives
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by iain beag
Re: My Christmas present to me
Well, I've a few to get for myself...Still looking for a good tenor banjo!
However, I treated myself to my first ever MP3 player on Friday. I've avoided them up until now as the storage space has been too limited and/or not very user friendly but I found a nice 20GB one at a reasonable price.
However, I still intend to keep hard CD copies of my collection and all my downloads...being an old fashioned git, I just can't believe that all this music can stay/last/be found on a hard disc.
One good thing has happened, though. I'm looking through my Cd collection in a discerning manner and copying what I consider to be the "more essential" albums, many of which I've been neglecting. Too often, I would just play the ones which were handy or my most recent purchases. This helps to concentrate my mind a little more.
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by Johnny Jay
Re: My Christmas present to me
Kind of early.... you'll have to get yourself another harmonica or two!! To unwrap Christmas morning!
I got mine last month.... wood for a new guitar, I am terrified, the first time going it alone without my teacher. It will be the fourth time, so should work pretty well. I did the last pretty much alone, but in his shop, and that was comforting. Have to leave the nest now though. The wood will be acclimated enough to start soon. Sides in the mold already.
If anyone wants to buy me all the luthier tools I need now, I will give you my address if you email privately!!
ok....Just Kidding!!
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by irisnevins
Re: My Christmas present to me
What I need more of is the stuff that only comes from practice, practice, practice. I got the axes, now I need to master them.
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: My Christmas present to me
I fancy one of those humming tremolos too, but I'm saving up for a 10 hole Richter tuned chromatic harmonica (preferably Paddy Richter tuned with reverse slide, but I can do those modifications myself). I don't think I'll be able to get it by Xmas though, and I am expecting delivery of a baby any day now, which kinda trumps any other possible presents.
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by robharper
Re: My Christmas present to me
A purple, glittery Incredibow - it's brilliant!
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by calum's van
Re: My Christmas present to me
I got myself a Vega No2 19 fret tenor banjo with tubaphone tone ring.
I have wanted a good Vega ever since playing guitar in an old-timey band thirty some years ago and listening to the banjo player endlessly going on about the beauty of Gibson mastertones.
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by millionyears_bc
Re: My Christmas present to me
Mandola. I'm picking it up tomorrow.
It's really hard to wait a further 22hours 53 minutes.
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by c.g.
Re: My Christmas present to me
I got myself a practice set of Uilleann Pipes the other day. Probably the most expensive thing I will be getting anytime soon. Maybe by Christmas I will be able to get thruogh a couple tunes on them.
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by Why Bother?
Re: My Christmas present to me
I have a question. What kind of tempo can you eventually reach on the harmonica? I've never heard anyone play Irish on one before.
I'd like to try it because I can no longer fiddle (or whistle at speed) due to a hand injury. I can still play piano but I can't exactly drag that to a session.......
My other option could be a squeezbox of some kind. I would have a keyboard advantage, but I'm not sure that I want to play the piano accordian.
Should I try asking this on a new thread?
Any & all input is appreciated.
Thanx.
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by morning star
Re: My Christmas present to me
I'm giving myself a Walden D740 guitar. With luck it may be delivered today. Without luck, who knows; it's coming by postal service--I never knew such a big package could be mailed.
Have played classical guitar for years (and sloppily, I must add); I only took up steel strings a short while ago, and it's great fun having two completely different sounds to play with.
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by jonrkc
Re: My Christmas present to me
Harmonica players can play along with everything, it just takes a lot of practice to get to the point where you can do it. Ornamentation can be a challenge--I couldn't do a roll to save my life, but I can tongue a fair triplet that fills the bill.
I met a guy once with no hands who learned harmonica because he couldn't play anything else, and he did great.
# Posted on December 11th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: My Christmas present to me
[Drifting away from the thread's main topic, but...] If you want to hear how a harmonica sounds playing ITM, there are sample tracks at:
http://www.brendan-power.com/New%20Irish%20Harmonica.htm
and
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/trad_irish_harmonica
# Posted on December 12th 2006 by robharper
Re: My Christmas present to me
Thank you to Al and rob. I'll go check out those websites now.
It'll help me to decide what I want for Christmas.
# Posted on December 12th 2006 by morning star
Re: My Christmas present to me
Trident missiles and water charges, whether I need them or not.
# Posted on December 12th 2006 by bodhran bliss
Re: My Christmas present to me
New harmonica and new baby, robharper?
Your house WILL be wailing!
# Posted on December 12th 2006 by oldstrings
Re: My Christmas present to me
Problem is, I'm not sure if we'll be able to tune the baby.
# Posted on December 12th 2006 by robharper
Re: My Christmas present to me
I sometimes play jigs and reels on the harmonica and I do like the ones with a full diatonic scale (like the Suzuki (all keys available) and the larger Marine Bands that you can get in C and G (I've got the G and that's pretty useful to have). Dont' get the SB marine band unless you really want that note configuration because it's really designed for blues. The Suzukis are really nice and loud. The smaller diatonics (blues harps) are OK but you're missing notes in the diatonic scale at each end so you have to bend notes, which is great if you can do it reliably but the reeds take a bit of a punishment. I mostly grab the harmonica when we do rabble-rousing songs. You can get up to a good speed on the harmonica - check out these Cape Breton samples on the Cranford site: http://www.cranfordpub.com/recordings/Basker.htm
The German chromatic harmonicas I've bought in recent times have been off-tune. Why can't they tune them as accurately as the far-Eastern companies? I bought a cheap chromatic D made in China recently and that's very well-tuned though it hasn't got a really full sound. I have messed around with tuning harmonicas myself with some success (and a complete disaster where I had to buy new reed plates) but it is very time-consuming - almost as much of a time-stealer as making Red Henry style bridges for my mandolin, but that's another story.
# Posted on December 12th 2006 by RichardB
Re: My Christmas present to me
I do say "really" a lot don't I? I really must do something about that.
# Posted on December 12th 2006 by RichardB
Re: My Christmas present to me
robharper - Congrats on your new baby & new harmonica!
Wailing can be a good thing!
RichardB - I really appreciate what you've said about harmonicas. Suzuki chromatic sounds like what I need!
Thank You.
# Posted on December 12th 2006 by morning star
Re: My Christmas present to me
I've not tried a Suzuki Chromatic, but I'm sure they're very good http://www.suzukimusic.co.uk/harmonicas/chromatic.htm (the chromatics have a note slide to get the full chromatic scale). Remember that a "C" chromatic might not be the best instrument for session playing. "G" would be more adaptable. The ones I have are tremolo - i.e. they have two reeds for each note and they are tuned slightly apart. I got mine direct from Suzuki http://www.suzukimusic.co.uk/harmonicas/tremolo.htm
I also wanted one in A and I bought a cheaper Tombo http://www.tombo-m.co.jp/eng/ but I must say it plays a bit sharp and I haven't used it much. Perhaps their more expensive ones are better tuned. Here's a nice YouTube clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gudTroU9QkY&mode=related&search=
These are tremolo harps I think - that's the sound, anyway. Hope you find one (or several!) that you enjoy playing!
# Posted on December 12th 2006 by RichardB
Re: My Christmas present to me
Gotcha.
Maybe a Suzuki in D then.
Cheers!
# Posted on December 12th 2006 by morning star
Re: My Christmas present to me
The most valuable harmonica I have found for this type of music (I generally play unmodified Hohners) is the Low D S20 model. It is an octave below the normal D harmonica, which puts you into flute range instead of whistle range. A little harder to hear in a big session, but much more pleasing sounding. And it is amazing how many tunes you can play with that D major scale--everything in D major of course, the E dorian tunes, and even many E minor and G tunes which avoid the C natural.
I frequently get winded playing dance tunes on harmonica, but have more fun playing harmonica than any other melody instrument, probably because I have been playing it longer than I have been shaving.
# Posted on December 13th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: My Christmas present to me
Harmonica seems to lend itself to alot of personal musical expression......... bending notes and such. That's one of the things I love about whistle & fiddle too.
# Posted on December 13th 2006 by morning star