Why you NEED a low tuned harmonica!

[@tedoliver60]

Just found this program and I find it very interesting. I’ve been playing harmonica for 3 years and I really enjoy your insights on harmonicas and performance.

[@formansbasement2311]

Thank you for watching Ted, I appreciate the support

[@frankburfoot8090]

Bye bye bird , got me interested in low tuned harmonicas classic tune !

[@brendanbosma2773]

I am new the the harp. Got a cheap one as a bit of a joke but it is great get to play it everyday driving around. Always got it in my pocket. Play the sax also but it’s so loud. And you got to set time aside to play but don’t have to do that with the harp. Setting the time aside to do it is hard with having a family. Keep it up like your vids.

[@gregoryporch8395]

I made peace with my F harp because Thunder Road is probably in my top 20 for all-time favorite songs. But I practically had to develop an appreciation for tin whistles to get into it, and when I finally got a F# I insisted on low tuning and went with Lee Oskar. The low harmonicas have a more pleasant 3-octave range, but the higher harps take almost no effort to bend notes.

[@markieproductions22]

I love the sound of the low tuned Harmonicas.

[@cohoa1]

Kim Wilson's cover of Nine Below zero, not sure what low key he's using but dammm its good

[@jeffgillson]

Notes on things you said: A) getting out air. (Important for low key harps which use more air for bigger reeds) 3 BLOW - I use single note 3 blow instead of 2 draw to get air out. Same note. I will sometimes breathe out with nose too on blow notes. I practice this. Sometimes while practicing I am doing this consciously, often while jamming I do this subconsciously. Grunting. Yeah. Jason Ricci will "huff" on the break between phrases and I find myself doing it more lately. Sound often comes out "huh" like a James Brown grunt. It works. "Exercising the muscles for bends" Great concept. I am stealing that to use for my students. Yoink. Mine now. Haha.

[@jeffgillson]

PS: circular breathing is a misnomer. You > STORE< air in your mouth. Breath in while using cheek muscles to push stored air out of mouth. You can practice and learn it, but you likely want to circulars breathe in, and it doesn't work like that because biology. It is more useful for breathing out instruments, particularly didgeridoo, but woodwinds can learn it and use it.

[@markieproductions22]

Kenny G was the first one that I heard did circular breathing.

[@ikust007]

10:28 i totally « hear « you!! And it’s so true ! When someone’s there I am shit …😂

[@hotcitytape]

Circular breathing like frank Sinatra yeah

[@sk22ng]

I'm totally with you regarding d through f are too shrill for comfort. This can be easily overcome while playing amplified and especially using a pedalboard with your favorite pedals. I have a low F and love it. I'll now get low c, d, & e to begin my next journey. The low notes are great for playing rhythm. The "low" sound of Sonny Boy 2 now makes sense after watching this.

[@ikust007]

You are the only that could convince me to buy some. Will send you the bill 🎉😂 Cheers mate . Stay genuine .

[@formansbasement2311]

Hahah thank you man! 😅 I hope you like it and thanks for watching !

[@ikust007]

@@formansbasement2311 you bet !

[@robertmiskov5842]

Low tuned is so cool ❤

[@formansbasement2311]

They really are Robert! Thanks for watching

[@curtiswhite9248]

You need to listen to Junior Wells album HOODO MAN BLUES. I believe all of the songs are in D except for a couple of songs in G. this is the album that taught me how to play.

[@formansbasement2311]

@@curtiswhite9248 I’ve heard the album but never played along to it. I think maybe I’ll do that now. Thank you! And thanks for watching my video

[@Crushbandicoot-wv8xb]

The more tuned lee Oskar also has a reed plate enlarged so it won’t rattle but I like the rockets more if I’m being honest

[@markieproductions22]

I’m not a great harp player but I agree. I love the sound and tone of the low harmonicas. I’ve got a few of the keys and want to get as many as possible. I like the Sydel’s I’ve bought.

[@johnhkent2796]

I’ve been looking for these

[@LEEROY147]

Thanks man, really appreciate the recommendation.

[@formansbasement2311]

No problem bro. Thanks for watching my videos! Have a good weekend

[@catmanbluz]

Dennis Grenuling is the master of play low Harps check him out

[@Crushbandicoot-wv8xb]

The regular c is kinda too shrill for me

[@DT-dz1jc]

Lee Oskar is the 1st low I ever saw & tried. My friend's had one...like 40 years ago. I thought it was too crappy to buy one but I was kinda prejudiced & in those days I had only ever tried 1896 & Golden Melody after my 1st a Special 20 that I bought along with Tony Glover's book. I do have a regular 1896 Low D. It's old & I haven't even seen em for sale in years. Sounds great though the 1 draw always rattled a bit regardless of tinkering. I have 4-5 1847 Seydel's. I LOVE them. The larger holes took adjustment BUT they freaking last forever & overblow out of the box. Hohner is still my favorite so maybe I'll try some Rockets...when I get a dollar. I still have not tried a Deluxe even. I never use the low ones with a band... won't cut through. Magic Dick KILLS on a regular F....First ILook at the Purse & PLENTY MORE. We used to play ZZ Topp's Francine.. also cool w/an F. Your video's fine. Chill. And you're spot on about Black Coffee too. Rice is on the Mt. Rushmore for sure. At your age you wouldn't believe it but when I was teenage or early 20's my favorite 2 music stores had FULL lines of harps out of the plastic on display in the front glass case like jewelry & had these little plastic deals that went between your mouth & the harp...kind of a thick hard plastic mouth condom for trying one out. That's middle late 70's in Decatur, AL & Spartanburg, SC in wayyy different times...

[@josemarcosmonteiro1752]

Have you tried the Easttop lucky 13? I think that extra holes have a very mellow sound

[@formansbasement2311]

@@josemarcosmonteiro1752 I have owned 2 of them, but had to return them. The lower reeds have windsavers on them that make a noise I don’t really like. I think it could be a great harmonica if the design was improved a little bit.

[@ikust007]

Yeah not crazy LO. But a lot of variety

[@catmanbluz]

Little waltets, Paul delay used D Harps with amazing results. Please listen to Carlos del junco's song 'dittle it' for a more than amazing Eb harp playing, especially the last minute.

[@AidanHegarty97]

Taj Mahal also used those higher harps to great effect

[@johnhkent2796]

👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@ikust007]

I wish they would make the lows 1896 :((

[@formansbasement2311]

From my understanding they once did but no longer

[@ikust007]

364 really really don’t like that’s it’s fatter 😢

[@ikust007]

Who plays the 364? Songs?

[@ikust007]

So I could play all My songs in E (second position of an A) but with a lower A…??

[@formansbasement2311]

Precisely

[@ikust007]

@@formansbasement2311 yeah!

[@mikeregan3265]

Lee Oskar are very airtight imo.

[@formansbasement2311]

Interesting! I’ve bought 3 and none have been to my liking. I guess it could be luck of the draw, much like marine bands. The last Lee Oskar I got was a Bb and I was pretty disappointed in comparison to a marine band

[@johnhkent2796]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@cyberprimate]

I'm new to low harmonicas. I see Low A exists, that's very low… When is a low harmonica too low for you?

[@formansbasement2311]

Great question my friend! You definitely can go too low. I guess the question is, what are you using the hwrmonica for? If its sonny boy style blues, id stick to the regulars Low F or Low D. If you want to use the harp as a bass instrument, maybe go for the other ones, or even a LOW low which is 2 octaves down. To get started, I highly recommend the low F and low D, those are the easiest to play and because they're common leys you can use them for anything

[@cyberprimate]

@@formansbasement2311 I've listened to Low Low F out of curiosity, it's crazy low. Sounds almost like a jew's harp rather than harmonica. I'll go for Low D. Thanks from Paris, France.

[@walterensor2947]

Cool video-thanks. I bought a seydel low d few months ago and was real disappointed with how not airtight it was-also a few notes to tune ( I’m learning) I’m in yer boat financially and am waiting soon to get the low D rocket. Is it yer go to low d harp? I am with you on regular f and d harps-they are so high I’m afraid of them. Keep the videos up-you are sincere and to the point and an old soul as well with that great Peggy Lee stuff which rings this old motherfuckers bell. Let me know if you had only one low harp which would you choose? Thanks-no pressure

[@formansbasement2311]

@walterensor2947 hey brother I had the exact same problem with my seydel low D. That was the first low harmonica I got. I think my go to is either a low F or low D. Thank you for watching