It is an established fact that over 98 percent of harmonica players are white, English-speaking men between the ages of 30 and 65. (The other two percent are women and Ishmael Lo.) When they are not sleeping, eating or trying on ugly hats, these men typically divide their time between the following four activities…
Read more..I declare it’s a pity, and God knows it’s a crying shame Credit to a recent contribution on Harp-L for bringing this small, but important detail to our attention. It’s a recording of the wonderful Sonny Boy Williamson II, starting Nine Below Zero with his harp the wrong way round and on camera. As you [...]
Read more..So what kind of animal is the blues harp player? In the first chapter of the Apprenticeship Series, guest blogger Elwood takes us through part 1 of his blues ethnography, Figuring Out The Harp Player. For some, the journey to becoming a master takes them from the depths of frustration to the giddy heights of [...]
Read more..Playing harmonica with thick specs Otis, the Harp Surgery postman, stopped in this morning for a nice cup of tea and a sit down. He delivered a lovely letter from Mr Clive Langhorn who was the Harp Surgery’s very first student many years ago. Clive is now a great blues harp specialist who performs around [...]
Read more..If you’re visiting the Harp Surgery, chances are better than good that you’ve made that crucial transition from being a harmonica owner to a harmonica player. You might have come to realise – however late in the game – that those reeds are supposed to be bent, and now you have to figure out how. [...]
Read more..I’ll have to prescribe the strongest medicine I’ve got We have some important news dear reader. In recent weeks, the popularity of the Harp Surgery has been growing faster than a wheat field on eco-friendly fertilizer. ‘Great stuff’ we hear you say – and we don’t mean the cow poo. Unfortunately for the Good Doctor, [...]
Read more..Hark, what peaceful music rings! [This post is dedicated to the Memory of the great Herbert Harris, Bajan choirmaster and organist of All Saints Church, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, UK]. Welcome to the Harp Surgery, home of all things harmonica, where one minute we’re honking the blues and next minute we’re power harping to heavy metal. This [...]
Read more..If I leave my love behind, nobody’s fault but mine And so to the wonderful world of heavy metal harmonica. Use of the humble harp in big time rock’n’roll should not really be a surprise. It’s no secret the likes of Led Zeppelin, Cream, Aerosmith, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and their peers drew inspiration directly [...]
Read more..Athletes in a cave Having visited the lights of Las Vegas on a few occasions, the Good Doctor had resigned himself to two sad facts of life. Firstly, gambling never pays unless you’re standing behind the table. Secondly, the jewel of the Nevada desert is not an oasis of live blues. Other than a couple [...]
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