Harmonica For Dummies (For Dummies Series)

A good friend of mine recently retired after 40 years of teaching middle school science. A month before he retired, a bicycling friend of mine stopped by his house and after a few drinks we talked about what we were going to do now that we were all retired. One thing led to another and eventually he pulled out a spiral notebook with his bucket list. (Apparently, he'd put a lot of thought into it.) There were the usual items--travel, spend more time with the grandkids. Then out of the blue, I read "learn to play the harmonica," I know he'd sung in the church choir for years, but to my knowledge he didn't play a single musical instrument. Well, I decided right there what I was going to get him for a retirement gift. I got him a Hohner Marine Band harmonica and "Harmonica for Dummies." I had already purchased several titles in the "Dummies" series, including Photoshop, Digital SLR's, How to Write a Research Paper (I'm a retired English/Journalism teacher), Bicycling (that one I got as a gift). But they all had one thing in common. They were very thorough, lots of illustrations, and written at a level that the novice could comprehend. When I gleaned through the contents of this book, I knew this was going to be the ideal source to turn my friend into a musician. Maybe not a professional, but competent enough to entertain himself. If you don't have someone who can actually teach you how to play the harmonica, this is the next best thing. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

I'm learning the chromatic harmonica, with the Hohner Chromonica 280 C, and while this book is for diatonic harmonicas, the basic techniques of playing are the same for both. No other book I've tried has so well explained exactly what to do to produce the best possible sound on the instrument. The exercises are well devised for learning and placed for gradual improvement. Since I bought this book I've understood how coordinate breathing and moving from note to note, either in half- or whole steps, and in intervals. I'm sure the book will be a fine guide for improving as much as I'm able to. As a bonus, I'll also learn how to play the diatonic harmonica I bought while searching for the 280 C. Cool!

It's a good start, I'm not knocking the book at all, but there is simply no substitute for a real teacher showing you. I have used most of the book and got the basics, then I found a local guy to help me out. I went from not even knowing how to blow a note to being able to play a basic song in about 2 months. I highly recommend the book, but also look for a local coach.

This is a fantastic book! Buy this book before you buy a harmonica and it will tell you to buy a diatonic harmonica in the key of C. It comes with videos that are easy to follow it tells you to buy a harmonica that is worth twice the value of this book As well as what brands to look for and much more!

Plenty of good information about how to play in connection with what you are playing. Worth the money. Gives you good instruction on playing and good information about the instrument itself (which comes in many manifestations) from basic knowledge to more sophisticated knowledge so as to let you hold your own at the jam session jawing with the big shots. I wish I had owned this book 50 years ago when I picked up my first harmonica. It is always nice to have a book of tips when playing an instrument that you can hardly see when you are playing it! Anybody can breathe as a habit, but the trick is to know when and how to breathe; look in this book for the trick.

Confusing. Jumps around a lot. Tells you to try things like bending notes but not how to bend them or what that even means. Maybe if you know a little harmonica it may be helpful but for a complete newbie it was very confusing. Would give one star but the first couple of chapters were very helpful, then it just flew off the tracks

I play chromatic only and, although its focus is directed more towards the diatonic harmonica, I have found much in this book that has helped me and that applies to chromatic players. This is the best 'Dummies' Book on any subject that I have ever read. It is helping me immensely to learn to properly play the chromatic harmonica. For example, its advice on pucker and tongue blocking, playing chords and music notation, vibrato, etc, will be indispensable to me. I just got it and am only about 40% through, but already it has provided so much information and guidance that I feel I have got more than my monies worth.

Good book, addresses the beginner with the needed basics and moves into higher levels of learning the ere are many good resources in the book and I do recommend it.

Excelenteanual si sabes inglés te va a servir mucho muy claro y empieza desde lo básico Viene liga para descargar archivos y compares como suena contra lo que haces y otros materiales Recomendado para quien va iniciando en armónica

This is a comprehensive introductory textbook on playing the harmonica that starts at the absolute beginning, with rhythm, timing and the basics of musical notation. Then, there's a little dash of music theory, followed by playing simple tunes. The next few chapters (a lot of the book actually) are about getting the right sound out of the harmonica with hands and mouth, and then it goes on to cover some tunes that are above primary-school level. Everything is presented in musical notation, which I find readable even on my phone. The audio and video are freely available from the Dummies website: check out tracks 3-02, 3-07, 5-04, and the videos on posture and breathing to get an idea of Yerxa's teaching style, which I find helpful (and can also tolerate when playing tracks on repeat). It's a steal for 10 pounds.

Simple to read and easy to understand.

This is a very well written book with lots of good information. The author is obviously an experienced musician with a passion for passing his knowledge on to others. The book will be of interest, not only to beginners, but also to intermediate players such as myself.

This is a great book... It has taught me a lot about harmonica but I wish it would make be play well quicker! ;-)