Why do I need more than one harmonica?

[@edkittens75]

You keep saying this, so just to be clear: for me, your videos can NEVER get too long! Ive just found your channel during a sleepless night in the UK. First thing tomorrow, I'm buying a marine band again. I got stuck in noodle town and gave up 15 years ago for the lack of good tuition and advice (no Internet). I'd forgotten how much I used to love jamming along to backing track cassettes (albeit badly!). Much love!

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

Thanks for this feedback. If one or more of my videos has reawakened that passion--well, that's what I was trying to do.

[@paulmazurek3608]

I was at a big flea market I knew one of the venders he sold all kinds of stuff . He knew I played the Harmonica . He said I have something that might interest you , he showed me a large box full of all kinds of harmonicas . I took one out and tried it played great well taken care of He said I bought these from a young man for $250 , him and the young man knew nothing about the value . I asked how much give me $300 there yours. . A deal . I get home look through the box of over 200 harps. Mostly Hohner diatonic . In the bottom f the box were the Cromatics About 30 of them one box I opened was a Hohner Misterclass about $2500 plus. What a find

[@yourleftisttesticle]

A toast to your victory! Even after all this time, it's a story worth me lifting a glass to.

[@rodrigonoyola9555]

I would like to learn how to play the harmonica frome scratch. I have 1000 of things to talk to you please Helped me. Money it.ll be ther.

[@sagnikpaul1811]

@@rodrigonoyola9555 I can help.

[@cecilia8892]

So happy for you, a dream comes true.

[@projectx5154]

Great find but good luck cleaning all of those 😂

[@bsg75husker]

My Gods, i haven't picked up a harp yet. I promised myself i did when i found your channel a few months ago. Unfortunatly my health is taking up all the energy at the moment. But i keep watching your video's because 1: want to keep the fire burning. 2: You're a great motivator. ;). Not just for the harp. Thanks for your lovely analogies in life when comparing them to the different harps. I loved this video ;)

[@yuriythebest]

How's your health / are you still alive / did you pick up a harp?

[@DocM.]

I and many people appreciate this video that you showed and demonstrated multiple keys! Please make a video showing every diatonic harmonica key and how they sound if you have all of them! I've always wanted to hear what a B harp sounds like, but I'd love to know what an F# sounds like before buying, thanks! Love your work Adam! You are without a doubt my Harmonica Hero. You gave me so much when I first started in 2011 after rewatching Crossroads 1986. Thank You Adam Gussow. You're a legend and you are always credited when I get asked about playing and refer new players to you!

[@a.s.v4261]

What a great singer you are!

[@ryanlseaton]

Well said Adam. Bb is probably my favorite too. The tones are just so comfy.

[@kilgoretrout6136]

Yes they are.

[@mrtambourineman6107]

I like playing a G in first position for neil young and Dylan stuff, e.g. Heart of Gold & Knockin on Heavens door. Also lovely low pitch train stuff AND as a guitarist I play a lot of stuff in 'drop d' on guitar - D is a damn key for blues on guitar for sure!

[@Chad-ski]

Just what I’m wanting to know ‘my next harmonica in which key’. Great stuff

[@owenbosen4254]

Thanks Adam. Always enjoy your videos. Struggle with the low G harp. Much harder to play than the others. Hope to find some help on that somewhere!

[@TmickyD1]

My first two harps were an Eb and an Ab, I quickly learned why I needed other keys.

[@jamesmares4206]

thank you Adam I'm out walking the dogs this morning and I have my full rack of 12 keys suddenly you reminded me I forgot to bring my High G. it is very important to warm up in the different ranges if to get your mouth used to it thank you for this video

[@julianbutler6298]

Nevermind your great harp playing, your singing voice is also off the chart!

[@blueskeyofh]

Adam you are a treasure

[@AndrewKomarharp]

great lesson Adam)

[@molder72]

Thank you Adam! It is very useful! All the best from Serbia!

[@ERRoRC0DE9999]

Thanks for these videos, I picked up a c harp on a whim about a month ago, and i've been learning to play it in between competitive video game matches. It's the perfect instrument for me because i've been learning it without a major time commitment. as a plus it also helps me win my competitive matches by hyping up my team.

[@DarkWorldQ8]

From my experience, probably the least 2 common keys for songs are F# and G#. Sometimes the singer would find certain keys easier to sing in, so the rest of the band would switch to that key, I personally find myself singing mostly in the key of D, but not always. Some people would find that certain keys would make them express certain emotions better, for example Am would be cool, A#m would very depressing, while Gm would be a bit sad, and so on, of course that is totally subjective. You might need to get a different harmonica if you want to play in different scales, such a natural minor, phrygian, a harmonic minor, or a phrygian dominant scale.

[@markieproductions22]

That was a very informative video. That question has gone through my head many times.

[@person893]

Im saving this video for the next time my girlfriend asks me why i bought another harmonica lol

[@SlottedDiamond]

I would think it depends what you're listening to as you're "coming up". Sonny Boy introduced me to the A, Paul Butterfield introduced me to he Eb & C, and Little Walter introduced me to the Bb...since then, I've added the D & the G. These are my six that I carry in the cup holder of my car.

[@magiccruislng]

I want you to show us how to play C, D, G and A harps in all the regularly used keys.

[@samasg3746]

you are so lovely man... inspiring human... toons of respect to you, sam from iran/persia

[@Lucaswell78]

thanks from China !

[@keelanp53]

An B harp is good for the solo in Long Train Running by the Doobie Bros if your guitarist's tune down a half of a step to Eb. The solo is played in F# cross harp.

[@blitzfultime]

Great vid as always mr gussow helped me out a lot.

[@Voltanaut]

B harps are good if you like Sonny Terry. He and Brownie McGhee loved playing in F#.

[@robertbrunston5406]

Very good lesson explanation and demonstration! Thank you.

[@joemazmo7981]

Very informative. Good.

[@patcoughlin3104]

cause ya gonna get drunk and lose some...

[@deborahergin9477]

Lol ml yeah xx

[@markwathen975]

Impressive set 👍

[@Voltanaut]

Adam says you don't need a B harp, but he's wrong. Sonny Terry played loads of songs in the key of F#, so you definitely need a B harp if you like Sonny or Piedmont stuff.

[@wealllame]

Favorite is definitely D for some lightning blues and the A for the sonny days

[@rayjukenl3497]

D harp just feels good

[@sambamachineryrecords6498]

WE WANNA LEARN THE LED ZEPPELIN TRACK [ WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS BOSS ...PLEASE

[@evelflem1144]

Thanks Adam, just shared this to my wife in the vain hope it may stop her asking!😆

[@danhaywood5696]

Nice, get me a Bb now. Was thinking about it because it just makes sense to me. Now Im gonna get one right away. Hope I learn to use it well.

[@philippeberland9276]

Tenk'you'mister''boss'gussow

[@7884golfguru]

Thanks my man now a big fan

[@FlickSuicide]

I have 3, an Easy Rider C, a Folk Master Em, and a Hohner Blues Harp (MS) in F#... I think the next one I want is another Hohner Blues Harp (MS) in A.

[@FlickSuicide]

I started playing 6 days ago.

[@OldManOnTheMt]

@@FlickSuicide are you still playing Tara ? If so how’s the progress been ? My understanding of all things music and instruments is that 2 years means an awful lot to some and not a whole lot to others .

[@FlickSuicide]

I love your videos!

[@otisskopik1400]

great video as all of yours. I got an C, D, E, G, A and Bb ;)

[@zootallure8913]

OK, many do not have a"trained musical ear", and obviously they are not "heavy" players. I use to be, perfectly happy playing (yes, also bending) any music I manage to "follow", not knowing the meaning of my C harp or the music key. Like many I ad a low musical education in school. Luckily, and very early in my life, I ad someone calling my attention to the fact that I was out of tune, on my Blues attempt (????), and that started the nightmare... Today, I have a little collection of Harps and do understand that a certain harp key, will play some specific song keys, that I still need to get some extra Harps, to play some other songs I like. Satisfaction, yes! I do love to play the harp,,, but that happiness and fluidity, that pure pleasure of just play for the sake of it, that is lost.

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

I love your handle, Zoot Allure.

[@Sturmhawke]

I’ve got Marine Band harps in C and A. What are the next couple of keys that I should get and in which order? Thanks.

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

The next three keys you get should be G, B-flat, and E-flat. G is the lowest standard harp; except for Dennis Gruenling, almost no harp players record on the low F, low E-flat, and low D harps. B-flat and E-flat show up with some frequency in the harp repertoire-Sonny Terry, Little Walter, Paul Butterfield, and Mark Wenner use them-and they’re particularly important if you’re going to be jamming with horn players, since horn players love the keys of F and B-flat. B-flat harps play cross in F; E-flat harps play cross in B-flat.) Once you’ve accumulated G, A, B-flat, C, D, E-flat, and F, you’re ready to rumble.

[@Sturmhawke]

Gussow's classic blues harmonica videos Great advice and great channel thanks Adam.

[@martinviale2410]

Hey how can i make subtitles in spanish? so that my dad can watch this videos

[@ismaeln6483]

Pienso lo mismo

[@dumperdan3446]

I hope you find out! Great instructor

[@sonnyboywalter]

Dbm sounds great for getting an Eastern type sound

[@fookme7011]

what do you think about vintage/used vs new marine band? There is a big difference in price.

[@rileylong8000]

So I listen to a lot of different harmonica players and there is something that I "think" I've noticed . I'm not even convinced that I'm hearing what I think I'm hearing. anyway it seems like Adams harmonica playing has a more high-pitched sound than everyone else I listen to. Even when he's down on the number one and two holes it still doesn't sound like it's as deep as it should be. Anyone.

[@rhondaflanders4386]

My husband usually asks me the same question, why do you need more than one harp?

[@AllahisWithin]

I just got a key of C harmonica. Could you recommend what I should try next?

[@christ6493]

sometimes you're gonna blow out a reed - if you don't have spares at a gig , you are screwed - also different songs need to be different keys

[@ravengangcharlie]

thanks adam

[@TimGreig]

The woman analogy went off course when you mentioned multiple harps at the same time 🤣

[@onlybugwit]

So confusing,, I like to play my guitar kapo'd to the second fret using an a chord and I had to go to my local music shop to ask what harmonica I would need to blend in they said an F they were right but how do you arrive at that??

[@harpinbrad]

onlybugwit sounds like they guessed to me haha 1st frett would technically make it f but then i suppose what key and notes your playing once your capo is on 😂 aslong as your in tune with what your playin fair do’s

[@kevinparker9407]

If you are playing blues with a guitarist playing in F you need a Bflat to play F in 'second position'. (More draw notes for bending available).

[@spyralspyder]

A Bb C D G is what I got.... caus of guitar and singing Will get more in the future but I am lucky caus my friend plays open tuning with a capo

[@spyralspyder]

What key are you in? Oh,... can you move a tiny bit?.... Wow we sound awesome now.

[@thomascollins3952]

If you play the exact same tab on a different harmonica say you have a c harp and an a harp would it sound wrong. I'm asking cause I only have one

[@bigmonke6911]

It would sound different.

[@thomascollins3952]

Resyk 2000 oh ok thanks

[@fljetgator1833]

If you're NOT playing with a musician or band playing in a diff. key it would not 'sound' wrong. Playing the harmonica alone it would only be a difference in 'key'

[@tnysteph]

Good info. I am not a pro, but take 8 different keys with me when I am lucky enough to play with other musicians.

[@benwhitebluesmusic]

Brother, you compared a harp to a woman.. harps don't cheat on you though! :') Top video again though man, keep it up!

[@gussowsclassicbluesharmoni2726]

You know, you're right. I'll need to rethink that analogy. :(

[@Bootsharmonica]

That's true but you can treat your harp wrong... Then she'll never be the same.

[@whiskeyoo7]

Why is g bad to start with? Have a c. Thought that was difficult. Did go to a music shop and he recomended g. Its eayser to start with. I bought a g. Easyer and better sound i think.

[@whiskeyoo7]

Adis - Ad : hehe! Ok😂👍

[@nacoran]

When I was starting out I started mostly in first position and one of my first insights was that a lot of early 60s bubblegum pop melodies worked on the C harp. If I heard a piano I knew to grab a C. (I still might. My F harp is not great). I think it's always funny the way harp players seem to always assume that everyone who plays piano or guitar has a lot of theory, but then you see how much those guys stick to C on piano and E on guitar. (Not that I'm a theory master. My chromatic is an $80 paperweight!)

[@oldschool7207]

nacoran .....I’ll give ‘ya $40 for your paperweight.....

[@astragreen]

The problem with all these harmonica experts is they just can’t help trying to show how great players they are, after a minute or two it was all double Dutch

[@georgemas]

If I had seen this earlier I would have gotten an A one instead of a D as my second...but not a big deal hopefully...

[@adammalkovich187]

Just buy them all at once!!!

[@connornoonan9999]

I would play don’t fence me in by riders in the sky

[@Voltanaut]

Ab is good when your guitarists downtune a hanfstep.

[@azmildman]

I never heard of a high G, only a low G. And since the alphabet starts with an A, isn't that the lowest key, normally???

[@Gacoperz]

well, music uses letters, and other signs to mark notes, but doesn't COMPLETELY follow the alphabet. And the basic "Do re mi..." starts with a C to G and then A B. and then starts a new octave with another C and so on. But to have better understanding of this, you need to learn some music theory.

[@TheEDZEPPELINBAND]

I'm having trouble reaching that high 'H' note- i can do the 'C', but the 'H', you must REALLY be good....is there an 'H' harp? cos they didnt have one at the local music store-

[@blazenblues8031]

And then the Several Hour Debate you have with yourself in the morning upon waking, when you can carry only 1 for the day, Which one, Why, but what if? , lol

[@harpinbrad]

Kurtis Greiner and the girlfriend doesnt get the dilemma or if you get two in the pocket.. she still doesnt understand :( we all do though!

[@blazenblues8031]

And then comes the must have Low Keys.......Low F, Low Eb, Low D, Low C

[@Trailtraveller]

Can you do a Led Zeppelin song please ?

[@kishascape]

Can I wear harps on a sling strap over me Rambo style too?

[@joseluisperezjimenezcao1637]

GENIAL.....YO APENAS TENGO 7 HARMONICAS....

[@MarlonOwnsYourCake]

So basically, you're telling me i didn't need to buy an F harp to play a blues song in Dminor and I could have just used my C?

[@oldschool7207]

Different guns for different hunts.

[@mariuszhercberg3466]

Gut men

[@dn9821]

Such a great video ... until the analogies began

[@cs39241]

Why waste so much money on so many , buy yourself a 64 holes chromatic harmonica and learn some music.

[@ilhamakbar5482]

I think 10 holes diatonic are the most suitable for playing blues

[@OneHarp]

You crazy old goat! Everyone knows that since the invention of the Chromatic harmonica, you don't need more than one. It's got all the notes, don't it!? ;)

[@clarencelee7169]

OneHarp - That's right but - a chromatic with all the keys, just doesn't have that same diatonic tone and sound... (hear it?) Gussow is the man - much respect.

[@oldschool7207]

Chromatically are great for classical and jazz but diatonic rules for blues and boogie. They bend and overblow better.