Harmonica love
Mornin' all.

This is about as off-topic as it can get, but I know some of you are music-types and might be able to help me here.

After years of playing guitar, I've bought myself a standard diatonic harmonica and I'm at the point of learning to play single notes and a basic scale.

I was wondering if anyone could recommend artists to listen to, tips or tutorials or books to help me learn? I know the best way to learn is practice, and I'll put shitloads of that in... but I learned guitar mainly by playing along with tunes and nabbing tab off OLGA back in the day. I'm hoping this technique will pay off again.

My current inspiration is Rory McLeod. Any other offers?
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 22 Aug 2008, 9:21, 12 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Harmonica?
Bob Dylan. That's all I've got :E

And he's probably shite at it!
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Fri 22 Aug 2008, 10:20, Reply)

some Jethro Tull stuff has excellent harmonica
if only I had some new recordings of my band I'd direct you to those, because our harmonica playing is fricking awesome!
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 22 Aug 2008, 10:23, Reply)

Try a bit
of Neil Young.
He uses harmonica fairly often.
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Fri 22 Aug 2008, 10:23, Reply)

Tried Dylan
Unfortunately his voice pisses me off. I'll to filter out the bollocks to get the good stuff.

Thanks for the suggestions... keep 'em coming!
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 22 Aug 2008, 10:26, Reply)

Only one song but a good 'un.
The intro to Bad Seamstress Blues/Falling Apart at the Seams by Cinderella.
It's on their Long Cold Winter album.
(oneinthepink is at your cervix m'lady, Fri 22 Aug 2008, 10:43, Reply)

Happy B3taday Al!
*cakes*

And thanks :)
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 22 Aug 2008, 10:58, Reply)

Blues Traveler.
I can recommend the album "Save His Soul"- there's some truly great stuff on there. The rest of their stuff is shit, but that one album is good- and John Popper can truly wail on harmonica.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Fri 22 Aug 2008, 12:39, Reply)

There's an Irish fella called Don Baker
plays blues on his harmonica. he played with U2 and Rory Gallagher as I recall.
(bazmorningstar efil4nat3b, Fri 22 Aug 2008, 13:56, Reply)

The Boss
Bruce Springsteen uses a harmonica to great effect on several of his tracks. Atlantic City is cracking as is Thunder Road.

I know someone else said it but Neil Young is fantastic too.

Cheery
(Holy Cremola Foam Batman will be back on, Fri 22 Aug 2008, 14:53, Reply)

Thanks ppl
I knew I could rely on you. I was half expecting to be told to fuck off :)

I've got the scale sorted up and down... and I'm learning... ahem... the Popeye theme :)
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 22 Aug 2008, 15:56, Reply)

The Bible
You need "The Guitar Handbook" by Ralph Denyer.

Fan-bloody-tastic book. We all know learning the guitar can be frustrating, but this book outlines how pissed off people like Eric Clapton and Steve Vai used to get (Clapton used to throw his guitar down the stairs in a tantrum when he couldn't get it right_, as well as teaching you the guitar.

It even shows you how to record properly, make a guitar from scratch. In short, it's worth every penny of the 18 quid or so that it costs.

Be warned though. Never lend it to anyone.

I am now on my fourth copy, and it's going nowhere this time!
(dchurch bah, Fri 22 Aug 2008, 17:12, Reply)

Bless you dchurch
I ain't no professional but I've been playing guitar for fifteen years!

Any harmonica tips? :P

Edit: I had a mate smash my guitar over my head once. It was a righty and I play lefty, and the fucking thing just wouldn't go into tune. So we smashed it to bits and I had a nice cut on my head to show for it.

It was seriously carthartic and meant I had to buy a nice, new sexy shiny acoustic lefty, which I did, and I've never looked back.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 22 Aug 2008, 17:39, Reply)