Ask Harmonica Expert Winslow Yerxa

Hey Winslow,

Before I get to the main topic of the post I just wanted to say that your book Harmonica for dummies is a great read. Not only does it have plenty useful resources and great tunes, but the writing style is very entertaining. I've been playing for eight months and I sure am fortunate to have stumbled upon this book early on in the game. continue reading...

Hey Winslow,

Why does a 3rd position blues scale sound better than a 2nd with a minor blues?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't both contain the same intervals of the blues scale.

Root,  3b,  4,  5b,  5, and  7b

By hole in 2nd,  2  3'  4+  4'  4   5   6+  and by hole in 3rd,  4   5   6+   6'   6   7+  8

So why then should one sound better to the ear?

I have a windsaver on the upper register that is not seating properly.  What can I do?  It looks like it has a crease in it.

If it has to be replaced can I do it or do I have to send it to the SUZUKI factory.

Thanks

Hi Winslow, I’m a beginner with the blues harmonica and now dealing with the bendings. On a C harp it seems to be more easy to bend, than e.g. on a G Harp. Therefore I have a question: Is it right, that it’s more or less difficult to bend some notes, depending on the key that I’m playing? And do harp players decide which key they use for a song according to the playability of a certain bend? continue reading...

Hi Winnslow. I'm hoping you can point me to a web site that will help me. I'm cleaning the slide assimly on my Saxony (which I love) but in reaasembly, I'm finding that I must be missong the proper way to reassemble the three pieces. I've been careful wiith the spring and screw sleeves, but its almost like I'm not able to fit the middle plate into the bottom plate properly and as a result when I place the slider on (being careful to get the spring into the hole) and then screw on the mouthpiece, the slide sticks but as I ease off the mouthpiece, the slider wil move.  continue reading...

Hi Winslow...I get lots of burps in when I play. Any insight into this. Its hard to finish a line lots of the time until I can belch a few times. Thanks...Fran

Is there sheet music available for Harp/guitar players, or is the music generally improvised?

Hi,

I watched your interview on Bluesharmonica.com, very entertaining and you are definitely a really good speaker, it was pleasent to hear you speaking and sharing your wisdom.

I have now been studying Big Walters Have a Good Time recently, really great tune with bunch of cool licks (not a single bad idea in the song I think).

I can pretty much pick the notes what he is playing, no problems. Played/studied his Boogie before and he uses some of the ideas here as well.  continue reading...

Hi there,

I have been practising with this chromatic harmonica and I find very difficult to get a good sound from the hole 2 draw (F note). the other holes sounds good, this hole instead makes a closed sound and it is impossible to slap it when I draw it. Is there anything I can check in the instrument ?

Hi Winslow, like many others before I want to get a litte bit familiar with the world of the chromatic harmonica. SO just a simple question: Should I start with a C-tuned harmonica? When it comes to the lessons: Which keys will I need? Is it easyer to start with a lower tuned harmoonica? Thx in advance 4 your advice :-)