Which harp when?

Straight: melodies, folk, country, ballads etc .Root note is 4 blow

Cross: blues, rock, country, folk, bluegrass etc .Root note is 3 blow or 2 draw.

Slant: can be used when the key of the song is a minor key. Root note 4 draw.

If you don't have a jamming partner, click here and download the free Mp3 file. A 12 bar blues in G. You need to play your harp along with some music so you can hear it in context.

When you're learning to solo, play short phrases. Don't try to play more notes than you're able to. Relax and leave plenty of spaces between your phases. Click here for a great sample of a nice relaxed style, it's a band called The Funky Beans and it was sent to us by Daryl in Florida, USA, Thanks Daz!

An old harp players 'trick' is to soak your harp in a glass of water (or vodka) for a few minutes before you play. This gives more volume with less effort, loosens the reeds and makes bending notes easier. Make sure you shake or blow all of the water out before you play. Soaking can shorten the life of wooden comb harps, due to the wood swelling and contracting. "The vodka thing really does work...JH

Take a few minutes each day to 'break in' a new harp. New reeds are very stiff and can be hard to work with. Blowing too hard on a brand new harp can permanently 'flatten' the reeds. If you take the time to break in a harp it will last you much longer. JH

Don't share harmonicas. Especially with kids! Tip from Tony, Grass Valley, California.

Going to a party and not sure which harps to take? 'A' is great, so is 'D' and it never hurts to pack a 'C'...if you've got a 'B flat' you might as well take that and your next choice would probably be 'G'. JH

As well as singing in the shower, play your harp in there! This is where the accoustics are best! JH

Alco-wipes are good for cleaning the grunge off the top of your harp.

a C Harp can play in the following keys:

C major, 1st position or straight

G major, G minor, 2nd position or cross

D minor, 3rd position, often referred to as 'slant'

These first three positions are the most common ways (and easiest) to use your harp, but from a C harp you can also play in B minor, E minor or A minor

Therefore on a D Harp you could play in: D, A, Am, Em, C#m, F#m Bm

See it's all about being to isolate a particular group of notes on the harp. In theory you could play a C harp in almost any key but it would mean having to miss certain notes, bend some and not others, only blow and not draw on certain notes...It gets too hard so it's easier to play 1st, 2nd or 3rd position where you can utilise the whole instrument.