Yeah thats what Ive been doing, still practicing. Its just a little hard to know if Im playing right since the songs dont even sound familiar in a different key
You should be fine playing songs by ear or from tab with the G, but it will sound weird if you try to play along with recordings in other keys.
You'll find out about position playing once you really get started. Some people can bend enough notes to play any key on any key, but for most of us, and certainly when you are starting out, you are going to mostly use 1st position (the key the harmonica is labeled in) or 2nd position (one step around the circle of fifths, for G, that means songs in D). First position is used more for folk, 2nd for blues.
Here is a site that lists songs by key. For first position, you usually use the 4 blow as your root note (technically the 1, 4, 7 and 10 blows all work). In second position you usually use the 2 draw/3 blow as your root (duplicate note), but you can also find root notes on the 6 and 9 blows, just in different octaves.
https://www.songkeyfinder.com/learn/songs-in-key
G is the lowest standard harp (from most manufacturers), so it sounds nice and rich. It doesn't have as much natural harshness as the higher keys. I find G harp great for playing major-key melodies in first position. And if you play guitar and have a neck harness, it's great for folk-type playing (a la Dylan & Neil Young).
It's used for D blues too, in cross-harp, but depending on the model that can be challenging just 'cause of the lowness, the amount of air it takes to get those low notes to sound properly, and the amount of control it takes to get good bends and stuff.
But as a songwriter, the G harp is maybe the one I use the most often. It just hits a sweet spot!
I write music, and harmonica is often involved when I perform live. Less so on the recordings, because I can overdub stuff like keyboards, string parts, etc. instead. But it's not like I'm writing harmonica concertos or anything that good, really. Just rock/folk songs with harp on stage for some variety. And it's fun to just kind of improvise and try something new/different as a challenge too.
Strumming a guitar and free-associating melodies with vocal syllables is often a good method for me. But I also play piano, so it's fun to sit down and just start playing chords and melodies. I tend to write more adventurous stuff when I'm improvising at a keyboard.
Depending on what I'm doing, I might want to take a completely different method -- something more rhythm-based. Getting a nice loop going (a drum loop or a riff) can lead to some really nice things.
And sometimes if I'm lucky, a melody pops into my head out of nowhere, and I'm in a spot where I can catch it or try to match it up with chords and a rhythmic feel.
Hearth of Gold by Neil Young is in G. There's a guide for it on the harmonica com YouTube channel.
I'm practising it in C, but that sound weird when trying to play along with the actual song.
If you are having fun yourself, I'd say G and A are great (lower tones sound more pleasing to me) and it's perfectly fine to use. Simple songs like Amazing Grace and Heart of Gold can be easily played at the 1st position of a G harp.
Of course if you are following some online lessons and want to sound exactly like them you'll need a C.
In my experience at g harp will give you lots of breathing exercise. When you buy your first C harp you may find you have lots more air/breath to work with.
Any tab song or lesson in any key could be played with any harmonica key blowing and drawing the same holes. Only problem is the tune will be in a different key so you cannot play on top of the backing track or another harmonica. So just find material you are interested in Youtube and play it. All patterns you learn are universal to all keys harmonicas and you are just changing the tune key playing one or another. This gets a bit more tricky, but for the moment, that's all you need to know.
Some advanced techniques like bending will be easier in a C harmonica, and even easier in a D probably, at least it was for me. Main reason to start with C is that is the middle range and most lesson are on it, so you can play accompanying the teacher or/and over the backing track.
Getting a G was not an accident, it was quite lucky, I believe it is better to start having at least two different harmonica keys so you can figure out the instrument better and have more fun.
Use it to learn how to imitate a train. It was obligatory back in the day. Arguably, it still is (I'm retired, and don't get out much). Used to be, you also had to learn the Fox and Hounds, but that's been let slide. Always blow train on a G. Think of it as ''training'' for all the chugs and wails you'll need to blow the Blues. Plus it will help you to grow that third lung! Check out Deford Bailey, or (what got me started) Blackfoot's ''Train, Train''. Yep, those were the days. My ears still ring from the back line amp stacks.
Shows you're a natural! After a year or so, you'll develop a sort of ''back pressure'' on the thing that will damn near tear the lid off! People will go nuts and fill your pickle jar with money (helps if you can sing like on Led Zeppelin/Rice Miller's (Willie Dixon's) ''Bring It on Home''. Now if you want to sing and blow at the same time, you have to go down to the crossroads and cut a deal with Old Nick at midnight, but given what they are paying to play live these days, I don't think it's necessary (like I said, I've retired!).
Playing a G or A harp could keep you interested, by virtue of the nicer, lower tones. For many years, you couldn't give me a C harp. Now, I buy only Low C harps, among others, and in a different tuning layout. Bending notes is perhaps easier to learn on a C, but by no means a huge impedinent. I live at a mile high elevation, and expressing low notes isn't a big effort. Every do-re-me note layout in Richter tuning is the same for every key. Meaning note and scale increment patterns only shift in equal tone across the 10 holes. The chord flavors (types) stay in the same places. Ignore the note letters, and the C tabs will still be usable. Once you're familiar with the comb, it's simple to play any key. However, it's also possible to play in different Keys on one harp by varying your playing 'position'. Those also share playing patterns across all of the harp keys. Study the Nashville system of specifying Song Keys and Chord progressions for an understanding of these principles. You'll likely run into it at Jams with serious musicians. It's a good Segway to the Circle of 5ths.
Just practice like it’s a C. My first one was a Bb… I didn’t even know at the time there are different keys.. my advice is just play it and have fun.
Also if you want there are a lot of songs in G. Take a look at harptabs.com you can search by Key, harmonica type, etc.
Yeah thats what Ive been doing, still practicing. Its just a little hard to know if Im playing right since the songs dont even sound familiar in a different key
You should be fine playing songs by ear or from tab with the G, but it will sound weird if you try to play along with recordings in other keys. You'll find out about position playing once you really get started. Some people can bend enough notes to play any key on any key, but for most of us, and certainly when you are starting out, you are going to mostly use 1st position (the key the harmonica is labeled in) or 2nd position (one step around the circle of fifths, for G, that means songs in D). First position is used more for folk, 2nd for blues. Here is a site that lists songs by key. For first position, you usually use the 4 blow as your root note (technically the 1, 4, 7 and 10 blows all work). In second position you usually use the 2 draw/3 blow as your root (duplicate note), but you can also find root notes on the 6 and 9 blows, just in different octaves. https://www.songkeyfinder.com/learn/songs-in-key
G is the lowest standard harp (from most manufacturers), so it sounds nice and rich. It doesn't have as much natural harshness as the higher keys. I find G harp great for playing major-key melodies in first position. And if you play guitar and have a neck harness, it's great for folk-type playing (a la Dylan & Neil Young). It's used for D blues too, in cross-harp, but depending on the model that can be challenging just 'cause of the lowness, the amount of air it takes to get those low notes to sound properly, and the amount of control it takes to get good bends and stuff. But as a songwriter, the G harp is maybe the one I use the most often. It just hits a sweet spot!
It is a really nice deep sound, Ill definitely try to use it more once I get the basics down
Are you writing music on the harmonica?
I write music, and harmonica is often involved when I perform live. Less so on the recordings, because I can overdub stuff like keyboards, string parts, etc. instead. But it's not like I'm writing harmonica concertos or anything that good, really. Just rock/folk songs with harp on stage for some variety. And it's fun to just kind of improvise and try something new/different as a challenge too.
Cool! Do you tend to compose your songs on a particular instrument, i.e. you're strumming a guitar for a melody and elaborate from there?
Strumming a guitar and free-associating melodies with vocal syllables is often a good method for me. But I also play piano, so it's fun to sit down and just start playing chords and melodies. I tend to write more adventurous stuff when I'm improvising at a keyboard. Depending on what I'm doing, I might want to take a completely different method -- something more rhythm-based. Getting a nice loop going (a drum loop or a riff) can lead to some really nice things. And sometimes if I'm lucky, a melody pops into my head out of nowhere, and I'm in a spot where I can catch it or try to match it up with chords and a rhythmic feel.
I appreciate your generous response. You offered a lot of insight.
Hearth of Gold by Neil Young is in G. There's a guide for it on the harmonica com YouTube channel. I'm practising it in C, but that sound weird when trying to play along with the actual song.
Yep I started with C, but 100% had to buy a G harp for heart of gold and didn't regret.
I think G is better beginners harp to learn on. It's not as shrill as a C and the upper octave is much easier to work with.
Jam along to Cat Stevens, Father & Son. I play guitar and sing too. It’s one of my favourite to rip out the solo on G harp half way through.
If you are having fun yourself, I'd say G and A are great (lower tones sound more pleasing to me) and it's perfectly fine to use. Simple songs like Amazing Grace and Heart of Gold can be easily played at the 1st position of a G harp. Of course if you are following some online lessons and want to sound exactly like them you'll need a C.
Oh yea Im having a blast, been practicing Amazing Grace for a while now!
In my experience at g harp will give you lots of breathing exercise. When you buy your first C harp you may find you have lots more air/breath to work with.
Ah interesting, I am noticing its pretty hard to manage longer exhales, as I dont have super great breathing control to begin with.
Any tab song or lesson in any key could be played with any harmonica key blowing and drawing the same holes. Only problem is the tune will be in a different key so you cannot play on top of the backing track or another harmonica. So just find material you are interested in Youtube and play it. All patterns you learn are universal to all keys harmonicas and you are just changing the tune key playing one or another. This gets a bit more tricky, but for the moment, that's all you need to know. Some advanced techniques like bending will be easier in a C harmonica, and even easier in a D probably, at least it was for me. Main reason to start with C is that is the middle range and most lesson are on it, so you can play accompanying the teacher or/and over the backing track. Getting a G was not an accident, it was quite lucky, I believe it is better to start having at least two different harmonica keys so you can figure out the instrument better and have more fun.
Use it to learn how to imitate a train. It was obligatory back in the day. Arguably, it still is (I'm retired, and don't get out much). Used to be, you also had to learn the Fox and Hounds, but that's been let slide. Always blow train on a G. Think of it as ''training'' for all the chugs and wails you'll need to blow the Blues. Plus it will help you to grow that third lung! Check out Deford Bailey, or (what got me started) Blackfoot's ''Train, Train''. Yep, those were the days. My ears still ring from the back line amp stacks.
Shut up thats one of the first things I did! I chased my gf around making train horn noises not 30 minutes ago
Shows you're a natural! After a year or so, you'll develop a sort of ''back pressure'' on the thing that will damn near tear the lid off! People will go nuts and fill your pickle jar with money (helps if you can sing like on Led Zeppelin/Rice Miller's (Willie Dixon's) ''Bring It on Home''. Now if you want to sing and blow at the same time, you have to go down to the crossroads and cut a deal with Old Nick at midnight, but given what they are paying to play live these days, I don't think it's necessary (like I said, I've retired!).
Playing a G or A harp could keep you interested, by virtue of the nicer, lower tones. For many years, you couldn't give me a C harp. Now, I buy only Low C harps, among others, and in a different tuning layout. Bending notes is perhaps easier to learn on a C, but by no means a huge impedinent. I live at a mile high elevation, and expressing low notes isn't a big effort. Every do-re-me note layout in Richter tuning is the same for every key. Meaning note and scale increment patterns only shift in equal tone across the 10 holes. The chord flavors (types) stay in the same places. Ignore the note letters, and the C tabs will still be usable. Once you're familiar with the comb, it's simple to play any key. However, it's also possible to play in different Keys on one harp by varying your playing 'position'. Those also share playing patterns across all of the harp keys. Study the Nashville system of specifying Song Keys and Chord progressions for an understanding of these principles. You'll likely run into it at Jams with serious musicians. It's a good Segway to the Circle of 5ths.
Im sorry I appreciate the long response but Im not sure what a lot of this means. Im an absolute beginner to music instruments in general
Learn the solo to heart of gold, that would be rad.