Is it hard to learn how to play the harmonica?

Answer 1

There are many different types of harmonicas. It all depends if you are familiar with playing any other kind of instrument. The cheapest harmonica to start on is the standard diatonic blues harp. You have to buy the blues harp in the key you want to play in. This will make a difference if you intend to play along with others. If you're really in to music get a chromatic harmonica in the key of "C". all the draw and blow holes are notes in the C scale, that's like saying all the notes are like the white keys on a piano, however by pushing the slide button on a chromatic you can play every note (including sharps and flats) and if you can read music, you can play any song in any key. If you just play by ear then you will have to get multiple chromatics in various keys. There are also chord harmonicas (24 inches long) every major, minor and 7th chord, and bass harmonicas (all blow instrument). I've enjoyed playing harmonica for many years and hope this has been some help to you. It's not that more difficult to learn the harmonica than a lot of other instruments, but try carrying a guitar or trombone in your hip pocket!!!

Answer 2

It depends on what type of music u wanna play. Blues harp is pretty easy because it's mostly based on the pentatonic scale. Harmonicas come in different keys and you may need several of them to play everything you like.
Chromatic harmonicas are more difficult to learn, but you can learn quick if you have a decent ear. Have fun with it...

Answer 3

Easy to learn, but not so easy to master.

The Piedmont Blues set by Hohner is a good cheap starter selection of harps. I don't care for the wood-bodied harps (Marine Band,) as the wood gets nasty, and the cover-plates are flimsy. Lee Oskar harps are spendy, but the reed-plates can be replaced.

As most rock and blues is played in A, G, D, and E, you'll want to have a D, C, G, and A harp. This is because you'll most likely be playing in 2nd position (cross-harp,) which is a fourth below the key the harp is "tuned" to.

Many of the notes that give the harp it's unique sound are not "naturally" available on the harp, and can only by achieved by developing your technique for "bending." This is the "difficult to master" part, so get to blowin'!