are minor harmonicas any good?

Have you considered picking up a natural minor harmonica? In this video, I go over the differences between a natural minor harmonica and a regular diatonic, and discuss if YOU should try one.
⚡️ Get the Scale Cheatsheet (free!): www.harmonicar...
GEAR:
I'm playing a natural minor tuned Hohner Marine Band. I'm running it through a Bulletini mic and a Boss Katani Mini Amp. I'm using a Donner Yellow Fall Delay, Donner Compressor and Digitech Polara reverb pedal.
Backing Track by Quist: • D Minor Blues Backing ...
Hohner Natural Minor: amzn.to/3uibGU5
Lee Oskar: amzn.to/3uYqxCh
Seydel Session Steel: bit.ly/3x5KHx0
DaBell Noble: bit.ly/3NYpHOS

[@kirkgombos4078]

Hey Jonah I had the pleasure of meeting Lee Oscar three years back and he's a wonderful guy ... We talked for about thirty minutes and he was gracious enough to give me a natural minor key in A ... As soon as I started playing it I fell in love with it ... two weeks later I called Lee up and we talked for a little while longer and I ended up ordering the G and E keys from him and like you I like them much more then the major keys ... I'm always playing that A ... Any who great video keep up the great work ...

[@HarmonicaRevolution]

Lee introduced these to you? Right from the man himself! Very cool.

[@gorywriter326]

My first harmonica was a Lee Oskar D natural minor, and I love that darn thing. I may not be good at playing it, but even just playing chords on it to backing tracks is oddly satisfying. I do have a C in standard tuning I'm trying to learn bends on, which has been a very slow process. Managed to get the 2 draw bend, but keep choking it out. To keep a long story short, with some less than desirable life experiences these last couple years, that D minor harmonica will likely be my go to for quite some time and I definitely don't regret purchasing it at all. Might grab a Lee Oskar NM in E later on, too.

[@tonytricks]

Budget option for learning minor scales would be Easttop,the T-008K comes in natural minor and harmonic minor,both C. I bought some minor key diatonics last year,and found them very satisfying-I've got my eyes on a minor key tremolo next.

[@arcanemuses]

Agreed! I completed my NM collection with a couple of Easttops.

[@norfolknwhey4787]

DaBell also makes natural minor harps, and their Story model is very similar to a sp20 if you prefer that style of harp over sandwich.

[@shahriarrabbani3064]

I play the guitar and I had a song in a Minor. I thought I could never play harmonica with it. I haven’t didn’t know that they are harmonicas for minors. I’m so glad I learned about it today. I will definitely recommend your channel for musicians thank you.

[@renard3604]

You could also play in 3rd position on a richter tuned harmonica. This is a super nice and easy scale on your harp that lets you play minor songs. You have to play one tone down. So if you play an Am song, you should take your G harp and start on 4 draw. The greatest advantage of that cool natural minor tuning is to play minor in 2nd position and having minor chords. But you can jam on minor songs without it.

[@Eveningbreeze1]

This is a very versatile tuning. I used it more for playing melodies in the relative major than in the minor key. It has major 7 and minor 9 chords. It’s a step up from Melody Maker, and a step down from Spiral/Circular which I use now.

[@arcanemuses]

Thanks for this video, Jonah. I hope you make more videos on the Natural Minor tuning.

[@garyr3513]

While visiting in Austin, I dropped into a music shop and on a whim got a C minor. While I’m still getting comfortable, glad I invested in one. Thanks for the tip on the case too, as I don’t spend a lot of time looking for gadgets and accessories. Thanks Jonah!

[@ppgwhereeverett4412]

When I leave the house, I leave with the following harp : A, B flat (Rust Never Sleeps) and guitar stepped down one key, C, D, E, F, and G !! I don't know what TWO I would take ! I need SIX ! Playing Neil in the bars at 69 1/2 years old !!

[@b5fremdet]

Thanks for the video man! Really just commenting for the algorithm

[@modularcuriosity]

That sounds amazing. 8:17 There it is. That's the chart which made it all make sense. So the cross harp key is the same as a regular tuning, it's just the minor version? That would mean that a regular C harp will play 2nd position G. And a minor tuned C harp would play Gm in 2nd position. Is that correct?

[@HarmonicaRevolution]

That’s correct for the ones that are labeled in first position. Some brands are labeled in second position, but you can usually tell, because they would say Gm as opposed to G.

[@Twinsonnic]

Well, im playing in band and before have played minor in 3rd position. But with Lee Oscar nat minor its 1) easier, 2) i can play more holes, and 3) less possibility to break a harp, cause in 3td position, when you play very active, a lot, fast and loud, some tongue can crack after time. So, all minor compositions like House of rising sun, Coming into los Angeles etc I play only with nat minor. Great solution for me on stage

[@christophermccarthy6889]

Hi Jonah, very well explained, personally something for me to look forward to in the Future!( I didn't even know I could get harmonicas in minor keys ) Cheers 👍

[@HarmonicaRevolution]

Yeah there’s a lot of different tuning variations that really change things around once you start getting comfortable. I’ll occasionally do a video on the other ones that I use.

[@jayp.2313]

I have been wondering thanks

[@DarkWorldQ8]

So, depending on the harmonica "G natural minor" might be a G Dorian. That is quite confusing from manufacturers. Thank you for the helpful video. I am just starting to learn harmonica, and in a few months if I still play harmonica I do plan to pick up a D minor harmonica, I haven't decided if it would be a harmonic, natural, or a dorian.

[@daHammer5]

i was sold at second 41

[@JunVanMars]

A minor is the first i got for Christmas today, cause i had no idea what too choose for a start but am an emo who loves a minor on guitar... Ill get more over time for sure but feel quite pleased by the sweet sadness it produces. I cannot play yet of curse burt still...sounds great. ^^

[@thearmoredgeorgian2736]

What do you think 8 months later

[@gnawbabygnaw]

Thank You 🤙🤙

[@user-xz3pn5eh6b]

Thanks!

[@stevenbroughton3974]

Hi Jonah. First of all I would like to congratulate you for your great KZbin stuff! I always watch your videos when I am in need of some info or inspiration. I have a question about natural minor tuning. I have a few a Lee Oskar Am a Tombo minorboy in Em & my personal favourite a Special 20 A natural minor. With regard to the S20 I use it on a couple of numbers & it is getting tired. Replacement is not an option here in the UK as cannot get hold of another & would love to get a standby. Thinking about maybe a Marine Band? Would that be marked up in the same way as the S20? AnM? Regards Steve

[@HarmonicaRevolution]

Unless it changed, natural minor marine bands are labeled in the first position key. So a G would be the key of D Minor as an example. I don’t know if you can buy them where you are, but I really recommend Dabell nobles for natural minor harps. They sell them at rockin Ron’s.

[@shawnmontalvo181]

Hello, thank you for the great video. Did you mean that your Hohner harmonica is a G minor key that you’re playing in second position so therefore your plane D minor? I want to make sure that I order the correct one. Thank you much.

[@HarmonicaRevolution]

The hohner marine band is labeled as G, it is meant to be played in 2nd using a G natural minor scale. Most other brands are labeled in 2nd position, so try to read descriptions to make sure you are choosing right.

[@shawnmontalvo181]

Thank you for the quick reply. One more question, if I also need one for E minor, would I buy this same harmonica in the key of A? Thank you sir.

[@HarmonicaRevolution]

@@shawnmontalvo181 yes

[@Oleg_K.]

​​@@HarmonicaRevolutionCould you please explain this a bit further? On a D minor harp, the first hole blow should be the note D, so could you just use it in 1st position to play the D blues scale across the whole harp or would you need to go the 2nd position (as you almost always do for blues harmonica) and play the A blues scale? I'd like to play over a minor blues in Am using a minor harp but some of these comments have gotten me confused as to which key to get.

[@raymondallanwing]

Hi great video had Lee oskar minors in the past and I didn't like them, has they was too quiet. Just got a MARS in Am plays great souind better and feels better I am a G.M player most of the time . I was wondering has other players had the same thing with the Lee oskar minors not getting much volume from them?

[@chickenman7252]

Wilde minor blow plate over a Wilde standard draw plate is the best tuning

[@roberttemple2521]

Do both of those Wilde tunings have the same one hole blow note?

[@chickenman7252]

@@roberttemple2521 yes. The only difference between this and a regular wilde tuning is the 2,5, and 9 blow notes.

[@roberttemple2521]

@@chickenman7252Thank you for the reply. I know that Andre Coelho, harmonica luthier in Portugal, recently posted something using the setup you described, I think. He is on YT, look for his examples. under his name. He's on Facebook as well.

[@chickenman7252]

@@roberttemple2521 guess who asked him to make it

[@roberttemple2521]

@@chickenman7252 Maybe you? Probably not Jonah, What do you like about the Wilde mixed-plates harp?

[@TinaSkrutti]

Thanks! But what is the difference between a natural and a harmonic minor tuned harmonica?

[@HarmonicaRevolution]

They are pretty different. Harmonic minor is a first position tuning. Harmonic means, in this case, that scale degree 7 is raised. This means scale runs up to the tonic sound more definitive, like it does in a major scale. This is often necessary for playing certain songs. Theory wise, this is this is more common in classical, jazz, and European folk music. It’s worth noting that you can pretty easily play harmonic minor on a standard harmonica in fourth position (am on a C harp, starting on -3’’)

[@paulloveridge8619]

I need help, can please somebody help. If possible could you listen to a song called ( Carry me) by the Levellers and tell me what harmonica I should use. It could be G but can’t get the note, but watching him play the first note he plays he blows. Please help! Thanks

[@paulloveridge8619]

I’m thinking Am harmonica?

[@rodrigoapitz7892]

Hello if I want to play in f# menor with chords I have to get a Ab# menor?

[@HarmonicaRevolution]

Some are labeled in second position, so you would just choose F# minor. Lee Oscars and Da Nobles are labeled like this. Otherwise you would get a harmonica in B if it was labeled in first position.

[@SRWeaverWebcomics]

Do they have any Phrygian or Locrian key harps? I can kind of overblow, overdrawing is tricky. Also this is a green Suzuki model. Oh also my first harmonica was a Pocket harp, and I didnt like that one as the holes are way to close together.

[@HarmonicaRevolution]

I’ve never heard of Phrygian or Locrian harps. I do play a spiral or circular tuned harmonica, that is very easy to play modes with, which might be worth looking into

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

So, cool. I want one. I'm seeing Lee Oscars in natural minor. What about your cheaper brands. Anyone know?

[@jeanclaudescandale]

Thanks for you vidéo, just got mine, mind blowing ... every things sound good. My only disappointment is that I bought the Lee Oscar Gm thinking it would be one of the lowest key like with major diatonic G harp ... spolier alert it's not and I still don't know which one is the lowest :(

[@HarmonicaRevolution]

Lowest should be Dm

[@HarmonicaRevolution]

Which is a Gm harp in 2nd pos

[@jeanclaudescandale]

@@HarmonicaRevolution the same lick on a special 20 G major and a Lee Oscar Gm, the G major sounds way more deep to me. Bare with me I'm just starting to learn to play. kzbin.infoVu4hB_ULoqA?feature=share

[@HarmonicaPete]

One natural minor I seem to see allot when online is the Polar natural minor that cost 44 bucks on Amazon. What do you think about these harps and their different tunings they are available in. I'd love to get your take on these before purchasing a few

[@HarmonicaRevolution]

I’ve never tried a polar. I have tried the torpedo from that company and I did not like it, or rather, I felt like it was falsely advertised as being set up for overblows when it clearly was not. I suggest you look into Lee Oscars and DaBells.

[@tonytricks]

Polar natural minors are a different pattern of notes than the Hohner natural minor.

[@przemoharp]

What about Hohner Pentaharp? I have one in C minor.

[@kdavid9228]

What about "Harmonic minor" is it easier ?

[@MrYurski]

-3''? It's Ab but shouldn't it be A (half tone bend)??

[@HarmonicaRevolution]

Yeah, your right. that was a typo. Technically, it doesn’t really matter, because you only have one bendable note there anyways.

[@bertwerbrouck]

The "natural minor" label is soooo confusing. It makes as much sense as if manufacturers were labeling standard tuned harps after the second position key and mode you get from those harps, since a lot of blues players feel like second position is the go to thing. A C harp will become a G mixolydian harp, which is not a great idea and misleading AF. Soooooo, dear manufacturers, please just name the harp after the scale that it's built upon in first position and let the harp players do the math. A dorian tuned C harp (with an Eb and a Bb) makes more sense than a natural minor in G (hohner, etc.) or in C (Lee oskar, daBell, etc.). Harp players will do the math and figure out that G min is G A Bb C D Eb F G, thus making playing in second position on a minor context pretty easy. They'll even find out that stuff without being formally trained, just like the old blues masters did. Another solution is to come up with a name that has no connection to a scale. Country tuning? Fair enough and not confusing.

[@clayharp]

Hey Jonah, will be there some lessons in your harp trainer? Thanks!

[@HarmonicaRevolution]

Hey Stephan, I don't think so. Honestly, I'm not sure how common any alt tunings are to justify me making the exercises (I'm running a poll right now to see). I'm going to do another round of updates later this month, I plan on sending a poll out to my Harp Trainer students asking about what updates people want. I'm really busy at the moment with my upcoming full length course, so I don't want to over commit, I hope you understand.

[@clayharp]

@@HarmonicaRevolution Yes of course! Thanks for your answer!!!

[@faethe000]

What makes that Dm harp your carry-of-choice? Why that one instead of another minor key?

[@HarmonicaRevolution]

Good question. I just like lower harps in general. G is my favorite key, and D minor is the natural minor equivalent.

[@faethe000]

@@HarmonicaRevolution Wow, brand choices on this are kinda limited lol. I don't like the marine band or lee oskar or the session steel. So I went with a DaBell Noble. We'll see how it plays! Got it in the same key as yours.

[@HarmonicaRevolution]

@@faethe000 great! I hope you enjoy it 👍

[@faethe000]

@@HarmonicaRevolution Just got the Dabell. Wow, what a nice harp. Thanks for the rec :)

[@James-hs3tu]

Brenden P. Makes weird tunnings. I just stick with L.O. Hohner is what I use !!!!!

[@franwitz]

Habla mucho???